Research Interests

The mission of my laboratory is to elucidate cellular and molecular alterations underpinning the malignant progression of tumors, with the aim of developing new treatment modality for cancer patients. In the first project, we are studying how some cancer (stem) cells survive from radiation treatment at potential lethal dosage using in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis models. Efforts are being made to determine the role of lipoxygenases, tumor angiogenicity and plasticity in the recurrence of tumors after radiotherapy. In the second project, we are determining how seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors regulate the cytoskeleton reorganization during tumor cell migration. Several cytoskeleton stabilizing agents are being evaluated for their activity to keep tumor cells from migrating and metastasizing to distant organs. In the third project, using several well-defined tumorigenesis systems, we study changes in bioenergetic metabolism in tumor cells to sustain the invasive growth and progression of tumors. The research is expected to generate novel approaches to “power down” tumor progression.

Selected Publications

Nie D., Krishnamoorthy S, Jin R, Tang K, Chen Y, Qiao Y, Zacharek A, Guo Y, Milanini J, Pages G, Honn KV. Mechanisms regulating tumor angiogenesis by 12-lipoxygenase in prostate cancer cells. J Biol Chem 281: 18601 – 18609, 2006. Pub Med

Nie D. and Honn, KV. Eicosanoid Regulation of Angiogenesis in Tumors. Semin Thromb Hemost 30: 119 – 125, 2004. Pub Med

Nie D, Che M, Zacharek, A; Qiao, Y; Cai Y; Tang, K; Lamberti, M; Grignon, D and Honn, KV. Differential Expression of Thromboxane Synthase Expression in Prostate Cancer: Role in Tumor Cell Motility. American Journal of Pathology 164: 429 – 439, 2004. Pub Med

Kandouz M, Nie D, Pidgeon GP, Krishnamoorthy S, Maddipati KR, and Honn KV. Platelet-type 12-Lipoxygenase Activates NF-kappa B in Prostate Cancer Cells. Prostaglandins and other Lipid Mediators 71: 189 – 204, 2003. Pub Med

Nie D, J Nemeth, Y Qiao, L Li, K Tang, GG Hillman, ML Cher,  DJ Grignon, and KV Honn.
Increased Metastatic Potential by Overexpression of Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis 20: 657 - 663, 2003. Pub Med