Antonio J. López Quiñones is the Molecular Pharmacology Highlighted Trainee Author for the August 2020 issue. Mr. López Quiñones is a pre-doctoral trainee in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington. His mentor is Dr. Joanne Wang. The Molecular Pharmacology article that earned his selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Characterization of Meta-iodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) Transport by Polyspecific Organic Cation Transporters – Implication for mIBG Therapy” and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.120.119495

Mr. López Quiñones’s area of research concerns the roles that transporters play in the disposition and pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs. His research is focused on the polyspecific organic cation transporters and how they mediate the elimination and tissue-specific targeting of mIBG, a radiopharmaceutical used in the imaging and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. He has been working to elucidate the interaction, kinetics, and potential drug-drug interactions of mIBG with these transporters. In his article, he shows how these transporters are involved in the renal excretion and tissue-specific accumulation of mIBG and how other anticancer drugs might affect mIBG transport.

The anticipated impact of Mr. López Quiñones’s research is to improve the understanding of drug transporters and how they impact mIBG disposition, efficacy, and toxicity. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to help develop strategies targeting these transporters to improve mIBG tumor uptake and reduce its accumulation and toxicities in normal, healthy tissues. The findings from this research may also help to predict and prevent adverse drug interactions with mIBG. 

Outside of the lab, Antonio enjoys exploring new restaurants and food.  He also enjoys gaming, basketball, and doing cardio exercises.