A5021122769- HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Estrogen and related hormone effects
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Bone health and treatments
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Applications
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
- Phytoestrogen effects and research
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Cancer Research and Treatments
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Congenital heart defects research
- Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Cancer Treatment and Pharmacology
- Chemical Synthesis and Characterization
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras
2018-2025
University of Puerto Rico System
2018-2023
Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico
2023
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2012-2018
University of Michigan
1992-2011
Abstract Altered expression of the human septin gene, SEPT9, and its murine homologue, Sept9, has been implicated in neoplasia. However, their role(s) oncogenesis remains poorly understood. We found amplification SEPT9 67% breast cancer cells (BCC) when compared with immortalized mammary epithelial (IHMEC) as well high levels majority (61%) BCCs studied, unlike IHMECs. Expression profiling variant transcripts translated products revealed that variant, SEPT9_v1, contrast to other variants,...
Estrogen stimulation promotes epithelial cell proliferation in estrogen receptor (ERα)-positive breast cancer. Many ERα target genes have been enumerated, but the identities of key effectors mediating signal remain obscure. During mouse mammary gland development, growth factor (EGFR) ligand amphiregulin acts as an important stage-specific effector signaling. In this study, we investigated role cancer using human tissue samples and tumor xenografts mice. Amphiregulin was enriched ERα-positive...
Extended bisphosphonate-based coordination polymers (BPCPs) were produced when 1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-bisphosphonic acid (BPBPA), the analogue of 1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic (BPDC), reacted with bioactive metals (Ca2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+). BPBPA-Ca (11 Å × 12 Å), BPBPA-Zn (10 13 BPBPA-Mg (8 11 Å) possess channels that allow encapsulation letrozole (LET), an antineoplastic drug combined BPs treats breast-cancer-induced osteolytic metastases (OM). Dissolution curves obtained in phosphate-buffered...
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and a marker of poor prognosis this patient population. Because activating mutations kinase are very rare events cancer, we screened tumor gene expression profiles to examine the distribution EGFR ligand expression. Of six known ligands, transforming alpha (TGFα) was more highly tumors than other subtypes. TGFα synthesized as transmembrane precursor requiring necrosis converting enzyme...
GATA3, a transcription factor expressed in luminal breast epithelial cells, is required for mammary gland development. Heterozygous GATA3 mutations occur up to 15% of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors and have been proposed be null alleles resulting haploinsufficiency; however, the mutation spectrum cancer sharp contrast that found HDR syndrome, true haploinsufficiency disease.
Abstract Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and lacks effective therapies. The MDA-MB-231 cell line, derived from TNBC, used to evaluate new therapeutic strategies. Acetate, a microbial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), key source acetyl-CoA during metabolic stress plays critical role in regulating epigenetics transcriptomics. Acetate’s signaling functions may be significant factor growth progression, however acetate TNBC remains...
Abstract Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype with poor prognosis, affecting approximately 5% of patients and lacking targeted therapies. Recent studies highlight the potential short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolic byproducts microbiome, as anticancer agents. Among these, butyrate exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antineoplastic effects in several types. Our preliminary data shows that exerts cytotoxic, anti-migratory,...
Missense mutations can alter the biochemical properties of proteins, including stability, structure, and function, potentially contributing to development multiple human diseases. Mutations in TBX5, a transcription factor (TF) necessary for heart development, are among causes congenital diseases (CHD). However, further research on biophysical mechanisms is needed understand how missense TFs their function regulating gene expression. In this work, we applied vitro silico approaches five TBX5...
Hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with recurrent episodes of focal neuropathy primarily affecting the brachial plexus. Point mutations in SEPT9 gene have been previously identified as molecular basis HNA some pedigrees. However many families, including those from North America demonstrating a genetic founder haplotype, no sequence detected. We report intragenic 38 Kb duplication that linked to 12 American families share common haplotype....
The phase-inversion hydrothermal synthesis of alendronate and Ca(<sc>ii</sc>) promotes the formation a coordination complex whose solid-state, stability, particle size cytotoxicity were assessed optimized to potentiate its biomedical applications.
The coordination between benzene 1,4-bis(bisphosphonic acid) (BBPA), the bisphosphonate (BP) analogue of 1,4-dicarboxylic acid (BDC), and bioactive metals led to formation extended bisphosphonate-based polymers (BPCPs). Four distinct crystalline phases were obtained, namely, BBPA-Ca forms I II, BBPA-Zn, BBPA-Mg. Among these, (7 × 9 Å2) II (8 12 possess channels large enough encapsulate 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug prescribed in combination with BPs treat breast cancer-induced osteolytic...
Abstract Septins are highly conserved cytoskeletal GTP‐binding proteins implicated in numerous cellular processes from apoptosis to vesicle trafficking. have been associated with leukemia and solid tumor malignancies, including breast, ovarian, prostate. We previously reported that high SEPT9_i1 expression human mammary epithelial cell lines (HMECs) led malignant phenotypes such as increased proliferation, invasiveness, motility, genomic instability. Our goal here was better understand how...
Formation of nano -Ca@ZOLE with viable properties in terms structure, dissolution, stability, binding, and cytotoxicity, to render it suitable for osteolytic metastasis therapy.
Coordination of clinically employed bisphosphonate, risedronate (RISE), to bioactive metals, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+, allowed the formation bisphosphonate-based coordination complexes (BPCCs). Three RISE-based BPCCs, RISE-Ca, RISE-Mg, RISE-Zn, were produced, their structures elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, addition an auxiliary ligand, etidronic acid (HEDP), resulted in recrystallized protonated form H-RISE. The pH-dependent structural stability BPCCs was measured...
Expression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ligand, Amphiregulin, has been associated with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. As Amphiregulin is proteolytically released from surface cancer cells, we investigated levels in serum patients and cancer-free women to evaluate its potential utility as a biomarker.Serum were quantified by ELISA 125 114 patients. No significant association between status was detected at two cut-points evaluated.Measurement lacks necessary sensitivity...
Functionalization of highly pure rutile phase titanium dioxide (TiO
Hepatocyte transplantation is an attractive alternative to liver transplantation. Thus far, however, extensive repopulation by adult hepatocytes has required ongoing genetic, physical, or chemical injury host liver. We hypothesized that providing a regulated proliferative and/or survival advantage transplanted should enable in normal microenvironment. Here, we repopulated livers of DPPIV- (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) rats and Ugt1a1 (uridinediphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase...
Abstract The poor prognosis for patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) emphasizes the need to better understand molecular signature of this disease goal developing effective targeted therapeutics. Importantly, 20-40% IBC cases are triple-negative cancers (TNBC) in which hormone therapy is not effective. Interestingly, approximately 1/2 overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member ErbB family receptors involve cell proliferation, migration, and cytoskeleton...
Abstract Objectives Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of affecting 5% all patients with no known treatment. Hispanic women show a higher risk developing this type at an early age. Heterogeneity TNBC between makes it challenging to devolop effective The compostion microbiome amongst has high variablity that could affect production microbial products. changes in products have not been previously evaluated and possibly contribute chronic inflammation patients....