Gregorio B. Begonia, Ph.D.
Interim Chair, Department of Biology
Professor of Biology

Tel. 601-979-3902
601-979-2586
Fax. (601) 979-2349
Email: gregorio.begonia@jsums.edu

School of Science and Technology
College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Cancer

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Dr. Stephen I.N. Ekunwe

Research activities in my laboratory include: (i) studies of
plant-derived modulators of wound healing and growth of
human colorectal cancer cells, (ii) isolation and
characterization of soil bacteria that may be potential
degraders of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and
their possible use in bioremediation applications, and (iii)
studies of the interaction between bacteriophage T4 and its
host, Escherichia coli K-12.

Dr. Carolyn Howard

Since regulation of neoplasia involves maintaining a balance between phase I enzymes, which activate carcinogens, and phase II enzymes which detoxify them, it is necessary to isolate active agents from V. amygdalina dietary extract which are major inducers of protective phase II detoxification enzymes. Many compounds can protect against the effects of carcinogens under conditions that evoke the induction of phase II enzymes in many tissues and novel anticarcinogens have been isolated and identified solely on the basis of their ability to induce phase II enzymes, thus altering the metabolism of carcinogens. Resolution of the issue of whether the anti-carcinogenic effects of V. amygdalina extract is mediated through induction of enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism is therefore the focal point of my research efforts. We have preliminary data and a recent manuscript which show the protective effects of V. amygdalina extract in MCF-7 cell line through induction of phase II detoxification enzymes without affecting phase I
xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. Further studies are supported through JSU's recently NIH-funded health disparities exploratory program center research core (cancer project 1) where I serve as a co-investigator.

Dr. Ibrahim Farah

My research involves studying the role of oxidative stress and environmental stressors especially xenobiotics/medications on the initiation, progression and development of cancer and resistance to cancer therapy. My research focuses on: (1) Cancer biology and intracellular manipulations; specifically breast and prostate cancers in reference to drug resistance, apoptosis and growth arrest mechanisms. (2) The study of the role of oxidation and oxidative demethylation, glycation, and lipid peroxidation in relation to DNA damage. It also focuses on the role of natural antioxidant such as thymoquinones and vitamins in cellular death and pro-oxidation potential mechanisms.

Dr. Ernest B. Izevbigie

Our long-term research goal is to characterize mechanisms involved in the inhibition of the hyper-proliferative activities of epithelial-derived tumor cells and to develop novel plant-derived drugs for the treatment and/or prevention cancer. One focus is understanding the functions of cell surface receptors coupled to the small GTP-binding proteins Ras, Rho, and Cdc42 and their downstream molecules such as mitogen-activated protein kinase family (JNK, P38, and ERKs) in cell cycle. Another focus is to use molecular, biochemical, cell biological experimental strategies, and mouse xenograft model to screen potential plant-derived anticancer drug candidates.

Dr. Jacqueline J. Stevens

We seek to assess the effects of lifestyle/environmental exposures on cellular consequences, especially those relating to breast cancer. It is proposed that multiple exposures increase the probability of breast cancer development by modulating cytochrome P450 (p450) protein synthesis and redirecting the metabolism of P450 substrates to more toxic pathways in breast cancer. Western blot and RT-PCR preliminary data indicated that low doeses of ethanol not only induced P450 2E1 protein and mRNA expression levels, but also induced modulations in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 gene product expression in MCF-7 cells. This observed alcohol dose effect is consistent with reports from others that there are dose-response relationships which effect gene transcription. We plan to compare P450 protein expression profiles obtained following alcohol/p-NP co-treatment to those observed following treatment with each compound alone in mouse mammary and liver samples. There will be several molecular recombinant techniques in our research goals.