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Biochemistry and Microbiology BBSC, 1 John Marshall Drive , Huntington, WV 25755
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Richard M. Niles, Ph.D., Professor, Chair of Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Phone: (304) 696-7323 Fax: (304) 696-7253 E-Mail: niles@marshall.edu Office: BBSC 301B |
Major Research Interests
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Our laboratory is investigating the mechanism by which vitamin A and its
physiological metabolites (retinoids) arrest growth and induce differentiation
of cancer cells. We have focused our studies on melanoma, a cancer whose
incidence is rapidly increasing. In these studies we are currently using cDNA
microarrays, containing 30,000 different genes, to examine changes in gene
expression during different times of vitamin A treatment of melanoma cells. We
have identified several novel retinoid-regulated genes.
Another project is examining vitamin A metabolism and function in human melanoma
cells representing different phases of malignant progression. Our data suggest
that as melanoma cells become more aggressive and start to metastasize, they
have altered vitamin A metabolism and loose their ability to respond to addition
of exogenous retinoic acid. A recent area of investigation is production of
hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1alpha) by melanoma cells under conditions of
normal oxygen tension. HIF-1alpha is normally produced under hypoxic conditions
and allows tumor cells to recruit a blood supply (angiogenesis) and shift their
metabolism to produce energy under hypoxic conditions (glycolysis). The role of
HIF-1alpha expression by melanoma cells in normal oxygen conditions may
contribute to their malignant properties.
Representative Publications
Boskovic, G. and Niles, RM. Identification of Tbx-2 as an Immediate Early Gene
Target of Retinoic Acid in B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells. Exp. Cell Res. 295:
281-289, 2004.
Niles, R.M. Signaling Pathways in Retinoid Chemoprevention and Treatment of
Cancer. Mutat. Res. 555:81-96, 2004.
Niles, R.M., Cook, C.P., Meadows, G.G., Fu, Y.-M., McLaughlin, J.L., and Rankin,
G.O. Resveratrol is Rapidly Metabolized in Athymic (Nu/Nu) Mice and Does Not
Inhibit Human Melanoma Xenograft Tumor Growth. J. Nutrition, 136: 2542-2546,
2006.
Huang, Y., Minigh, J., Miles, S., and Niles, R.M. Retinoic Acid Decreases AFT-2
Phosphorylation and Sensitizes Melanoma Cells to Taxol Mediated Growth
Inhibition. J. Mol. Signaling Epub, 2008.
Recent Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellows
Sejal Desai, Ph.D. , 1992-1997 (graduate student), Senior Scientist, Clontech,
Palo Alto, CA
Harish Mahalingham, Ph.D. , 1992-1997 (graduate student), Director, Product
Safety and Efficacy, L ‘Oreal Cosmetics, Inc.
Dinakar Desai, Ph.D., 1992-1996 (postdoctoral fellow), Assistant Res. Prof. Mayo
Clinic, Rochester, MN
Ying Huang, Ph.D., 1998-2003 (graduate student), Postdoctoral Fellow University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Goran Boskovic, Ph.D., 1997-2004 (postdoctoral fellow), Manager, Microarray
Facility, Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Carolyn Mills, Ph.D., 2001-2007 (graduate student), Postdoctoral Fellow,
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama - Birmingham
Current Laboratory Personnel - select to view