{"id":319,"date":"2017-10-24T11:08:15","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T15:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/?page_id=319"},"modified":"2025-02-10T11:03:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T16:03:15","slug":"henry-smilowitz","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/faculty-and-staff\/henry-smilowitz\/","title":{"rendered":"Henry Smilowitz"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HenryAssociate Professor
\nDepartment of Cell Biology<\/p>\n

Contact<\/h3>\n

Phone: 860-679-2710
\nEmail: smilowitz@uchc.edu
\n<\/a>Office: E2037<\/p>\n

UConn Health
\n263 Farmington Avenue
\nFarmington, CT 06030<\/p>\n

Research Interests<\/h3>\n
    <\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. <\/strong> Use of heavy-atom nanoparticles for tumor imaging, vascular imaging and as a radiation enhancer for tumor therapy.<\/li>\n
    2. <\/strong> Use of iron and gold nanoparticles for tumor hyperthermia<\/li>\n
    3. <\/strong> Development of novel brain tumor therapies for experimental, advanced, imminently lethal intracerebral malignant gliomas and melanomas in rats and mice using a combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy.<\/li>\n
    4. Tumor dormancy<\/li>\n
    5. <\/strong> Novel biomarkers in human breast cancer.<\/li>\n
    6. <\/strong> Use of heavy atom nanoparticles to study vulnerable plaque in mouse models of atherosclerosis<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Recent virtual talk at the 2020 Society for NeuroOncology meeting, November 18, 2020<\/p>\n

      https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/hrxqzdsf3hqngno\/Henery%2011.01.2020.mp4?dl=0<\/a><\/p>\n

      Research Projects <\/strong><\/p>\n

      Our laboratory is involved in a number of research projects in the fields of cancer, cancer immunotherapy, cancer therapy, tumor and vascular imaging, as can be seen by the following publications.\u00a0 Please contact the Smilowitz Lab for specific projects.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Experimental Therapeutics of Brain Tumors:<\/strong> We introduce glioma or melanoma cells into rat or mouse brains and allow the tumors to occupy about 2% of the brain (analogous to human brain tumors at the time of diagnosis) before therapy is started. We first treat with a form of radiation therapy followed by a form of experimental immunotherapy under development. A variety of immunological assays are performed in addition to survival studies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Selected Publications<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Ridwan SM, Emlein R, Mesbahi A, Annabi A, Hainfeld JF, Smilowitz HM<\/strong>. 2023. Radiation induced dormancy of intracerebral melanoma: Endotoxin inflammation leads to both shortened tumor dormancy and long-term survival with localized senescence. Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy<\/em>: 72: 385.<\/p>\n

        Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Micca PL, Sasso D, Wu Q, Dyment N, Kuo L. 2016. Increasing radiation dose greatly improves the efficacy of immunotherapy in a subgroup of mice. Both Radiation and immunotherapy promote intracerebral melanoma dormancy. Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy<\/em> 65:127-139.<\/p>\n

        Qiu Z, Huang H, Greiner J, Perez OA, Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Adler B, Khanna KM. 2015. Cytomegalovirus-Based Vaccine Expressing a Modified Tumor Antigen Induces Potent Tumor-Specific CD8(+) T-cell Response and Protects Mice from Melanoma. Cancer Immunology Research<\/em> 3:0F1-0F11. pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, Sasso, D., Lee, E., Goh, G., Micca, P.L., Dilmanian, F.A. 2013. Therapy model for advanced intracerebral B16 mouse melanoma using radiation therapy combined with immunotherapy.\u00a0 Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy<\/em> 62:1187-1197 pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, Slatkin, D.N., Micca, P.L., Miura, M. 2013. Microlocalization of lipophilic porphyrins, nontoxic enhancers of boron neutron capture therapy. International Journal of Radiation Biology\u00a0<\/em> 89:611-617.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Stoklasek, T., Colpitts, SL, Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> and Lefrancois, L 2010.\u00a0 MHC Class I and TCR avidity control the CD8 T cell response to IL15\/IL15Ra\u00a0complex J. Immunol<\/em>. 185: 6857-6865. pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>,<\/strong> Weissenberger, J.,O’Neill, R.,Brown, J., Weis , J. and Laissue, J.A.\u00a0 2007.\u00a0 Orthotopic transplantation of v-src expressing glioma cell lines into immunocompetent mice: establishment of a new transplantable in vivo model for malignant gliomas.\u00a0 J. Neurosurgery<\/em> 106: 1-8 (PMID 18644191). pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>,<\/strong> D.N. Slatkin, N. Lubimova, H. Blattman, E. Brauer-Krisch, A. Bravin,M. Di Michiel, J. Stepanek, G. Le Duc, J.-O. Gebbers, J.A. Laissue. 2006. Synergy of gene mediated immunoprophylaxis and microbeam radiation therapy (MRT)\u00a0 for advanced intracerebral rat 9L gliosarcomas. \u00a0J. Neuro-Oncology\u00a0<\/em> 78:135-143 (PMID 16598429). pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, J.A. Coderre, M.M. Nawrocky, A. Pinkerton, W. Tu and D.N. Slatkin. 2002. The combination of X-ray-mediated radiosurgery and gene-mediated immunoprophylaxis of an advanced intracerebral gliosarcoma in rats. J. Neuro-Oncology. 57: 9-18 (PMID12125969). pdf<\/p>\n

        Laissue, J.A., H. Blattmann, M. Di Michiel, D.N. Slatkin, N. Lyubimova, R. Guzman, W. Zimmermann, T. Bley, P. Kircher, R. Stettler, R. Fatzer, A. Jaggy, H.M. Smilowitz<\/strong>, E. Brauer, A. Bravin, G. Le Duc, C. Nemoz, M. Renier, W. Thomlinson,J. Stepanek and H.P. Wagner.2001. Weanling piglet cerebellum: a surrogate for tolerance to MRT (Microbeam Radiation Therapy) in pediatric neuro-oncology. In. Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications III, H. Roehrig, F. P. Doty, R. C. Schirato, E.J. Morton, Editors.\u00a0 Proceedings of SPIE, 4508: 65-73 (PMID N\/A).<\/p>\n

        Miura, M., D.D. Joel, H.M. Smilowitz<\/strong>, M.M. Nawrocky, P.L. Micca, D.A. Hoch, J.A. Coderre and D.N. Slatkin. 2001. Biodistribution of copper carboranyltetraphenylporphyrins in rodents bearing human or isogeneic neoplasms. J. Neuro-Oncology<\/em>, 52: 111-117 (PMID11508810). pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Weiner, R.E., D.E. Sasso, M.A. Gionfriddo, R.S. Thrall, S.S. Syrbu, H.M. Smilowitz<\/strong>, and J.Vento. 2001. Early detection of oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in rats using 111<\/sup>In labeled antibody directed against intracellular adhesion molecule-1. J. Nuclear Medicine, <\/em>42: 1109-1115 (PMID 11438635). pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, D.D. Joel, D.N. Slatkin, P.L. Micca, M.M. Nawrocky, K. Youngs, W. Tu and J.A.\u00a0\u00a0 Coderre. 2000. Long-term immunological memory in the resistance of rats to transplantable intracerebral 9L gliosarcoma (9LGS) following subcutaneous immunization with unmodified and X-irradiated 9LGS. J. Neuro-Oncology, 43:193-203 (PMID 10902851). pdf<\/p>\n

        Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, P.L. Micca, M.M. Nawrocky, D.N. Slatkin, W. Tu\u00a0 and J.A. Coderre. 2000. The combination of boron neutron-capture therapy and immunoprophylaxis for advanced intracerebral gliosarcomas in rats. J. Neuro-Oncology, 43:231-240 (109032854). pdf<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Gold and Iodine Nanoparticle Enhanced Radiation Therapy; Vascular and Tumor Imaging; Gold and Iron Nanoparticle Hyperthermia.<\/strong> We are working collaboratively with a company on Long Island that has developed novel preparations of heavy-atom nanoparticles. These non-toxic particles can be injected iv at very high doses. Larger particles circulate for extended periods, while smaller particles are excreted by the kidney. We are working on several projects to develop novel therapies and diagnostic tests that can be performed with these agents:<\/li>\n
        2. \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gold and Iodine Nanoparticle Enhanced Radiation Therapy: <\/strong>We have shown that gold nanoparticles can greatly increase the radiation dose a tumor receives and are therefore useful as radiation enhancers. We are currently working on breast cancer, bladder cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and glioma models using gold and other heavy-atom nanoparticles.
          \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gold and Iodine Nanoparticle Enhanced Imaging:<\/strong> We are working on several imaging projects including the development of virtual colonoscopy, breast cancer imaging, gold-based angiography, and kidney imaging.
          \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Iron and Gold Nanoparticle Mediated Hyperthermia:<\/strong> We are developing novel therapies whereby gold and iron nanoparticles can be used to treat tumors with hyperthermia.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Selected Publications<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Mesbahi A, Sadeghian M, Mesbahi A, Smilowitz H<\/strong>M, Hainfeld JF. 2022. In silico analysis of\u00a0optimum photon energy spectra and beam parameter if iodine nanoparticle-aided orthovoltage\u00a0radiation therapy of brain tumors. Simulation 99:539-552. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/00375497221135630<\/p>\n

          Mesbahi A, Rajabpoor S, Smilowitz, HM<\/strong>, Hainfeld, JF. 2022. Enhanced brachytherapy with the XOFT electronic source in association with iodine, gold, bismuth, gadolinium, and hafnium\u00a0nanoparticles. Brachytherapy 21:968-978 \u00a0doi: 10.1016\/j.brachy.2022.06.008.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld JF, Ridwan SM, StanishevskiyY, Smilowitz<\/strong> HM<\/strong>. 2022. Iodine nanoparticles (Niodx) for radiotherapy enhancement of glioblastoma and other cancers. An NCI Nanocharacterization Laboratory study. Pharmaceutics 14:508.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld JF and Smilowitz HM<\/strong>. 2022. Gold nanoparticles and infrared heating: Use of the Hydrosun wIRA- Irradiator In: Water filtered infrared-A radiation: From basics to practice. Peter Vaupel, Editor. Springer, 2022.<\/p>\n

          Ridwan SM Hainfeld JF, Ross V, StanishevskiyY, Smilowitz<\/strong> HM<\/strong>. 2021. Novel Iodine Nanoparticles Target Vascular Mimicry in Intracerebral Triple Negative Human MDA-MB-231 Breast Tumors. Scientific Reports. 11:1203.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld <\/sup>JF, Ridwan <\/sup>SM, Stanishevskiy <\/sup>FY, Smilowitz <\/sup>HM<\/strong>. 2020. Iodine Nanoparticle Radiotherapy of Human Breast Cancer Growing in the Brains of Athymic Mice. Scientific Reports. 2020 Sep 24;10(1):15627. doi: 10.1038\/s41598-020-72268-0.PMID:\u00a032973267<\/p>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>Ridwan <\/sup>SM, El-Tayyeb <\/sup>F, Hainfeld <\/sup>JF, Smilowitz <\/sup>HM<\/strong>. 2020. Distributions of IV Injected Iodine Nanoparticles in Orthotopic U87 Human Glioma Xenografts Over Time and Tumor Therapy. Nanomedicine. doi: 10.2217\/nnm-2020-0178. Online ahead of print.PMID:\u00a032975163<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld <\/sup>JF, Ridwan <\/sup>SM, Stanishevskiy <\/sup>Y, Smilowitz <\/sup>HM. 2020. Iodine Nanoparticles In Dr Jan Schuemann <\/sup>J,\u00a0Bagley <\/sup>A,\u00a0Berbeco <\/sup>R,\u00a0Bromma <\/sup>K,\u00a0Butterworth <\/sup>KT,\u00a0Byrne <\/sup>H,\u00a0Chithrani <\/sup>DB,\u00a0Professor Cho <\/sup>SH,\u00a0Cook <\/sup>J, Favaudon <\/sup>V, Gholami <\/sup>YH, Gargioni E, \u00a0Hainfeld <\/sup>JF, Hespeels, F, Heuskin <\/sup>A-C, Ibeh <\/sup>UM, Kuncic <\/sup>Z, Kunjachan, <\/sup>S, Lacombe <\/sup>S,\u00a0 <\/sup>Lucas S, Lux <\/sup>F, McMahon <\/sup>SJ, Nevozhay <\/sup>D, Ngwa <\/sup>W, Payne <\/sup>JD, Penninckx <\/sup>S, Porcel <\/sup>E, Prise <\/sup>KM, Rabus <\/sup>H, Ridwan <\/sup>SM, Rudek <\/sup>B, Sanche <\/sup>L, Singh <\/sup>B, Smilowitz<\/strong> <\/sup>HM, <\/strong>Sokolov <\/sup>KV,\u00a0Sridhar <\/sup>S, Stanishevskiy <\/sup>Y,\u00a0Sung <\/sup>W,Tillement O,\u00a0Virani <\/sup>NA, Yantasee <\/sup>W,\u00a0Krishnan S. 2020. Roadmap for metal nanoparticles in radiation therapy: current status, translational challenges, and future directions. Physics in Medicine & Biology doi: 10.1088\/1361-6560\/ab9159<\/p>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>Hainfeld JM, Sharif M. Ridwan, Yaroslav Stanishevskiy, Panchal R, Slatkin DN, Smilowitz HM. <\/strong>\u00a02019. Iodine Nanoparticles enhance radiotherapy of intracerebral human gliomas in mice and increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. Nature: Scientific Reports 9:4505<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld JM, Sharif M. Ridwan, Yaroslav Stanishevskiy, Nathaniel R. Smilowitz, James Davis, Smilowitz HM<\/strong> 2018 Novel, Long-Acting Iodine Nanoparticle Contrast Agent For Vascular Imaging. Nature: Scientific Reports. 8:13,803.<\/p>\n

          Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Meyers A, Rahman K, Dyment NA, Sasso D, Xue C, Oliver D, Lichtler A, Deng X, Ridwan SM, Tarmu LT, Wu Q, Salner AL, Bulsara KR, Slatkin DN, Hainfeld JF. 2018. IV injected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) access intracerebral F98 rat gliomas better than AuNPs infused directly into the tumor site by convection-enhanced delivery.\u00a0 Int J Nanomedicine. 13:3937-3948.<\/p>\n

          Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Tarmu LJ, Sanders M, Taylor JA III, Choudhary D, Xue C, Dyment N, Sasso D, Deng X, Hainfeld JF. 2017. Biodistribution of gold nanoparticles in BBN-induced muscle-invasive bladder cancer in mice. Int. J Nanomedicine.\u00a0 2017 Oct 27;12:7937-7946. doi: 10.2147\/IJN.S140977. eCollection 2017.<\/p>\n

          Sung W, Ye SJ, McNamara AL, McMahon SJ, Hainfeld J, Shin J, Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Paganetti H, Schuemann J. 2017. Correction: Dependence of gold nanoparticle radiosensitization on cell geometry. Nanoscale Aug 10;9(31):11338. doi: 10.1039\/c7nr90158e.<\/p>\n

          Sung W, Ye SJ, McNamara AL, McMahon SJ, Hainfeld J, Shin J, Smilowitz HM<\/strong>, Paganetti H, Schuemann J. 2017. Dependence of gold nanoparticle radiosensitization on cell geometry. Nanoscale 9:5843-5853.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Lin L, Slatkin D.N., Dilmanian F.A., Smilowitz H.M.<\/strong> 2014. Gold nanoparticle hyperthermia reduces radiation dose.\u00a0 Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine<\/em>. 10:1609-1617.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F.,\u00a0O\u2019Connor, M.J., Lin, P., Qian, L., Slatkin, D.N. Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> 2014. Infrared-transparent gold nanoparticles converted by tumors to infrared absorbers cure tumors in mice by photothermal therapy. PLoS 9:e88414.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong>, O\u2019Connor, M.J., Dilmanian, F.A., Slatkin, D.N. 2013. Gold nanoparticle imaging and radiotherapy of brain tumors in mice. Nanomedicine London<\/em> (Future Medicine).8:1601-1609. pdf <\/a><\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., O\u2019Connor, M.J., Dilmanian, F.A., Slatkin, D.N., Adams, D.J., Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> 2011. MicroCT enables microlocalization and quantification of Her-2-targeted gold nanoparticles within tumor regions.\u00a0 British Journal of Radiology<\/em>, 84:526-533.(PMID 21081567).<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., O\u2019Connor, M.J., Lin, P.P., Smilowitz, H.M. <\/strong>2010 Cancer therapy with wIRA and gold nanoparticles in water-filtered and infrared-A radiation: From Basic Principles to Clinical Applications.<\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Dilmanian, F.A., Zhong Z., Slatkin, D.N., Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> 2010 Gold nanoparticles enhance radiation therapy of a squamous cell carcinoma growing in mice. Physics in Medicine and Biology<\/em>, 55: 3045-3059 (PMID 20463371). pdf <\/a><\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Slatkin, D.N., Dilmanian, F.A., Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> 2008. Radiotherapy enhancement with gold nanoparticles. J. Pharmacy and Pharmacology,<\/em> 60: 977-985 (PMID 18644191) Volume 60 #8 is a Special Issue: Radiation Biology \u2013 Can New Concepts Achieve Better Treatment Outcomes? JPP has informed us that this paper is one of the top 25 most downloaded papers in 2008, >100X through 12\/08. pdf <\/a><\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Slatkin, D.N., Focella, T., Smilowitz, H.<\/strong> 2006. Gold nanoparticles\u00a0as X Ray contrast agents. British Journal of Radiology. 79: 248-253 (PMID 16498039). pdf <\/a><\/p>\n

          Hainfeld, J.F., Slatkin, D. N., Smilowitz, H.M.<\/strong> 2004. The use of gold nanoparticles to enhance radiotherapy in mice.\u00a0 Physics in Medicine and Biology,<\/em> 49: N309 (PMID 15509078). Note: This paper has been selected for inclusion in Institute of Physics (IOP) Select, Institute of Physics, London, England. pdf <\/a><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Novel Biomarkers in human breast cancer.<\/strong> Blood samples from women with breast cancer are being screened for the presence of novel biomarkers that may be linked to more aggressive disease.\n

            Helen Swede,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sharif M Ridwan,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Jillian Strandberg,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Andrew L Salner,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Jonathan R Sporn,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Lynn Kuo,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Karen Ru,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Henry M<\/strong> Smilowitz<\/strong>. <\/span>2024. Baseline sLAG-3 levels in Caucasian and African-American breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat.<\/em>\u00a0208(1):193-200.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          2. Heavy Atom Nanoparticles to Image Vulnerable Plaque:<\/strong> Gold and iodine nanoparticles and gold and iodine nanoparticle laden macrophage are being used to study vulnerable plaque in atherosclerotic mice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Ridwan SM, Smilowitz NR, Alisetty V, Chung B, Hussain SA, Hainfeld JF, Smilowitz HM.<\/strong> 2022. Monitoring atherosclerotic plaque over time with gold nanoparticles. Manuscript in preparation.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

              <\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Associate Professor Department of Cell Biology Contact Phone: 860-679-2710 Email: smilowitz@uchc.edu Office: E2037 UConn Health 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030 Research Interests Use of heavy-atom nanoparticles for tumor imaging, vascular imaging and as a radiation enhancer for tumor therapy. Use of iron and gold nanoparticles for tumor hyperthermia Development of novel brain tumor therapies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":187,"featured_media":0,"parent":69,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-23 08:03:45","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/187"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3700,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319\/revisions\/3700"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/cell-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}