Academic Section(s):
Gynecologic Oncology, Adjunct - Department of Cell Biology; Adjunct - Department of Pathology
Education:
- Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA
- M.Sc., Zoology/Ecology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India
- B.Sc., Zoology/Chemistry, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India
Clinical/Research Interests:
Discovery of novel targets in cancer
My lab is focused on investigating the basic and clinical translational aspects of molecular signaling in vascular pathologies and in gynecologic cancers, primarily ovarian and uterine cancer. A special area of interest has been investigating new targets with little to no known biology. Recently, we discovered and characterized the biology of the lysine-rich coiled-coil 1 (KRCC1) as a potential target in cancer. Our work on KRCC1 spans across investigating the DNA damage response, DNA replication, DNA repair, and other signaling pathways.
From bench side to the clinic
In the aggressive and difficult to treat uterine carcinosarcoma, where there is no molecularly targeted therapy we have identified the TGF beta pathway to be an important molecular target. These ideas have culminated in a clinical trial NCT03206177.
Additionally, we are investigating BMI1 as a strategy to target chemoresistant stem-like cells in cancer. We are currently evaluating anti-Bmi1 therapy in ovarian cancer (NCT03206645).
Biology of CBS
Vascular biology
We are currently investigating pathways that regulate endothelial cell health and vascular hemostasis especially with respect to the metabolic enzyme, cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) that produces hydrogen sulfide. An important discovery is that the hypoxia inducible factor is regulated by hydrogen sulfide signaling even in normoxic conditions which has significant implications in endothelial signaling.
Cancer
We are exploring how CBS/hydrogen sulfide signaling impacts cancer cells, mitochondrial biology and chemoresistance.
Select Publications:
Publication Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1-SS84epnFtAS/bibliography/public/