Life Sciences Research

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Cancer Therapeutics

Southern Research has had long-standing success in cancer research. Five FDA-approved anticancer drugs (lomustine, carmustine, dacarbazine, fludarabine, and clofarabine) and one cytoprotective agent (Ethyol) to reduce toxicities associated with cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been discovered at Southern Research.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has broad research interests in tumor cell biology, mechanism of action of chemotherapeutic drugs, and development of novel therapeutic targets. The Department has strong research programs that are focused on 1) elucidating molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation, 2) understanding mechanisms of drug resistance, and 3) drug discovery based on purine and pyrimidine metabolism. The Department also has strong research interests in cancer chemoprevention with focused programs in retinoids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to investigate mechanism of action and enhance efficacy, while minimizing toxicity.

Senior Staff

Yonghe Li
Zhican Qu
William Parker
Gary A. Piazza
Jaideep Thottassery
Bo Xu

2008 AACR Presentations

Scientists from Southern Research will make the following presentations at the 2008 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting.

Minisymposium

A Novel ATM-dependent Pathway Regulates PP1 Activation and the G2/M Checkpoint in Response to DNA Damage

Posters

Evaluation of the Radiosensitizing Potential of Clofarabine in Six Xenograft

Screening for Specific Anti-angiogenic Agents

Quantitative Analysis of Azurin p28, an Anti-tumor Peptide: Serum Stability and Mouse Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics, Tissue Distribution, and Excretion of GGTI-2418, an Inhibitor of Geranylgeranyl Transferase I, in Mice

High-throughput Screening for Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Inhibitors

Repression of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation

Cks1 Regulates Expression of Pocket Proteins, Cdk1, Cyclin B1 and Securin in Cancer Cells

SRI 21009: A Novel Sulindac Derivative That Potently Inhibits Colon Tumor Cell Growth Without Inhibiting Cyclooxygenase

A Novel Non-cyclooxygenase Inhibitory Derivative of Sulindac That Potently and Selectively Inhibits the Growth and Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Tumor Cells

Novel Inhibitors of the MRP1 Mediated Multidrug Resistance Phenotype as Identified by HigH-throughput Screening.