A5020588666- Cancer-related gene regulation
- TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Kruppel-like factors research
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Helicobacter pylori-related gastroenterology studies
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- RNA modifications and cancer
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment
- Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
- Mesenchymal stem cell research
- Cancer Research and Treatments
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments
- Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions
University of Central Florida
2016-2025
Florida College
2022
Vanderbilt University
2010-2017
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2013-2016
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
2012-2014
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
2012-2014
Nashville Oncology Associates
2011-2012
University of Pennsylvania
2000-2007
California University of Pennsylvania
2007
Abramson Cancer Center
2006
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is observed in a number of malignancies, especially those esophageal squamous cell origin. However, little known about the biological functions EGFR primary epithelial cells. Using newly established human cells as platform, we overexpressed through retroviral transduction and novel three-dimensional organotypic cultures. Additionally, was targeted type- tissue-specific fashion to epithelium transgenic mice. keratinocytes resulted...
Esophageal cancer is a prototypic squamous cell that carries poor prognosis, primarily due to presentation at advanced stages. We used human esophageal epithelial cells as platform recapitulate cancer, thereby providing insights into the molecular pathogenesis of cancers in general. This was achieved through retroviral-mediated transduction normal, primary epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), catalytic subunit telomerase (hTERT), and p53(R175H), genes are frequently altered cancer. These...
Tumor metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Recently, a strong link between microRNA dysregulation and human cancers has been established. However, the molecular mechanisms through which microRNAs regulate cancer progression remain unclear.We analyzed reciprocal expression regulation miR-31 SOX4 in esophageal squamous adenocarcinoma cell lines by qRT-PCR Western blotting using overexpression shRNA knock-down approaches. Furthermore, methylation studies were used to...
Abstract Epithelial tissues have sparse stroma, in contrast to their corresponding tumours. The effect of cancer cells on stromal is well recognized. Increasingly, components, such as endothelial and immune cells, are considered indispensable for progression. role desmoplastic contrast, poorly understood. Targeting cellular components within the tumour attractive. Recent evidence strongly points towards a dynamic cell participation progression that impacts patient prognosis. specific...
E-cigarettes (e-cigs) have drastically increased in popularity during the last decade, especially among teenagers. While recent studies started to explore effect of e-cigs oral cavity, little is known about their effects on microbiota and how they could affect health potentially lead disease, including periodontitis head neck cancers. To impact bacteria, we selected members genus Streptococcus, which are abundant cavity. We exposed commensals Streptococcus sanguinis gordonii opportunistic...
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activates several signaling cascades in response to stimulation. One of these events involves tyrosine phosphorylation signal transducer and activator transcription (STAT), whereas another activation the phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase pathway. Two possibilities for STAT exist: a janus (JAK)-dependent JAK-independent mechanism. Herein, we demonstrate that EGFR overexpression primary esophageal keratinocytes JAK-dependent fashion with functional...
The mechanisms that influence human longevity are complex and operate on cellular, tissue, organismal levels. To better understand the tissue-level mechanisms, we compared organization of cell proliferation, differentiation, cytoprotective protein expression in squamous epithelium esophagus between mammals with varying lifespans. Humans only species a quiescent basal stem layer is distinctly physically separated from parabasal transit-amplifying cells. In addition to these stark differences...
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed in esophageal carcinoma and its precursor lesions. To gain insights into how EGFR overexpression affects cellular functions primary human cells, we performed gene expression profiling identified insulin-like factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 as the most up-regulated gene. IGFBP-3 regulates cell proliferation through both factor-dependent independent mechanisms. We found that mRNA was increased EGFR-overexpressing immortalized...
E-cigarette (e-cig) vapor has been shown to play a pathological role in oral health and alter the microbiota, providing growth advantages for opportunistic pathogens. Enrichment of Staphylococcus aureus, commensal resident cavity, correlates with progression periodontal disease, suggesting as an pathogen. Environmental conditions, such cigarette smoke, are known increase S. aureus virulence, yet periodontitis preneoplasia is unknown. We exposed epithelial cells e-cig aerosols showed...
E-cadherin-mediated and desmosomal cell-cell adhesion have been implicated in the suppression of invasive metastatic behavior squamous cell carcinomas. Whether adhaerens junction represented by E-cadherin desmosomes interplay or distinct separate roles cancer progression is still unclear. We studied a cohort 200 primary tumors 56 lymph node metastases from different anatomic sites head neck region for changes synthesis E-cadherin, desmoplakin desmoglein immunohistochemistry (IHC). Selected...
Although the p53 tumor suppressor is relatively well characterized, much less known about functions of other members family, p73 and p63. Here, we present evidence that in specific pathological conditions caused by exposure normal cells to bile acids acidic conditions, protein plays predominant role DNA damage response. These frequently occur during gastric reflux human esophagus are associated with progression esophageal adenocarcinoma. We found despite strong induced acid exposure, only...
// Vikas Bhardwaj 1, 2 , Jennifer M. Noto 4 Jinxiong Wei Claudia Andl 2, 3 Wael El-Rifai Richard Peek 3, Alexander I. Zaika 1 Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Biology, Division Gastroenterology, Correspondence to: Zaika, e-mail: alex.zaika@vanderbilt.edu Keywords: p53, Helicobacter pylori gastric tumor, HDM2, CagA Abbreviations: -...
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) leads to the accumulation of bile-induced reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in esophageal tissues, causing inflammation DNA damage. The progression sequence from healthy esophagus GERD eventually cancer is associated with a microbiome shift. Lactobacillus are commensal organisms known for their probiotic antioxidant characteristics esophagus. This prompted us investigate how Lactobacilli survive bile-rich environment during GERD, identify...