Fazlul H. Sarkar
Fazlul H. Sarkar, Ph.D.
Professor
4100 John R.
Hudson Webber CRC, 740
Detroit, MI 48201
313-576-8327
Assistant: Jacqui 313-576-8325
fsarkar@med.wayne.edu
Research Interests:
• NF-κB
• Natural chemopreventive agents
• Sensitization of cancer cells to therapeutics
• microRNAs (miRNAs)
• cell signaling and cancer stem cells or EMT phenotypic cells
Research Description:
Research in the Sarkar laboratory is focused on understanding the role of a “master” transcription factor, NF-κB and the regulation of its upstream and downstream signaling molecules in solid tumors. Other studies are directed toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms of action of “natural agents” and synthetic small molecules for cancer prevention and therapy. His work has led to the discovery of the role of chemopreventive agents in sensitization of cancer cells (reversal of drug-resistance) to conventional therapeutics (chemo-radio-therapy). Finally studies are focused on cancer stem cells, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), drug resistance and miRNAs.
Selected Publications:
Li Y, Kong D, Wang Z, et al. Inactivation of AR/TMPRSS2-ERG/Wnt Signaling Networks Attenuates the Aggressive Behavior of Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011 Sep;4(9):1495-506. PMCID: PMC316947
Banerjee S, Kong D, Wang Z, Bao B, Hillman GG, Sarkar FH. Attenuation of multi-targeted proliferation-linked signaling by 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM): From bench to clinic. Mutat Res. 2011 Jul-Oct;72891-2):47-66.
Wang Z, Y. Li, A. Ahmad, S. Banerjee, A. S. Azmi, D. Kong, and Sarkar FH. Pancreatic cancer: understanding and overcoming chemoresistance. Nat.Rev.Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2011 Jan;8(1):27-33.
Wang Z, Y. Li, A. Ahmad, S. Banerjee, A. S. Azmi, D. Kong, C. Wojewoda, L. Miele, and Sarkar FH. Down-regulation of Notch-1 is associated with Akt and FoxM1 in inducing cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. J Cell Biochem. 2011 Jan;112 (1):78-88.
Maitah MY, S. Ali, A. Ahmad, S. Gadgeel, and Sarkar FH. Up-regulation of sonic hedgehog contributes to TGF-beta1-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in NSCLC cells. PLoS.One. 2011 Jan 13;6(1):e16068. PMCID: PMC3020967
Ahmad A, Z. Wang, D. Kong, R. Ali, S. Ali, S. Banerjee, and Sarkar FH. Platelet-derived growth factor-D contributes to aggressiveness of breast cancer cells by up-regulating Notch and NF-kappaB signaling pathways. Breast Cancer Res.Treat. 2011 Feb;126(1):15-25.
Banerjee S, D. Kong, A. S. Azmi, Z. Wang, A. Ahmad, S. Sethi, and Sarkar FH. Restoring sensitivity to oxaliplatin by a novel approach in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Int.J Cancer. 2011 Mar1;128(5):1240-50. PMCID: PMC3038845
Azmi AS, Z. Wang, P. A. Philip, R. M. Mohammad, and Sarkar FH. Emerging Bcl-2 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. Expert.Opin.Emerg.Drugs. 2011 Mar;16(1):59-70. PMCID: PMC3084453
Bao B, S. Ali, D. Kong, S. H. Sarkar, Z. Wang, S. Banerjee, A. Aboukameel, S. Padhye, P. A. Philip, and Sarkar FH. Anti-Tumor Activity of a Novel Compound-CDF Is Mediated by Regulating miR-21, miR-200, and PTEN in Pancreatic Cancer. PLoS.One. 2011 Mar 9;6 (3):e17850. PMCID: PMC3052388
Ahmad A, A. Aboukameel, D. Kong, Z. Wang, S. Sethi, W. Chen, Sarkar FH, and Raz A. Phosphoglucose Isomerase/Autocrine Motility Factor mediates epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulated by miR-200 in breast cancer cells. Cancer Res. 2011 May 1;71(9):3400-9. PMCID: PMC3085607
Kanwar SS, Y. Yu, J. Nautiyal, B. B. Patel, S. Padhye, Sarkar FH, and Majumdar AP. Difluorinated-Curcumin (CDF): A Novel Curcumin Analog is a Potent Inhibitor of Colon Cancer Stem-Like Cells. Pharm.Res. 2011 Apr;28(4):827-38.
Bao B, Z. Wang, Y. Li, D. Kong, S. Ali, S. Banerjee, A. Ahmad, and Sarkar FH. The complexities of obesity and diabetes with the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Biochim.Biophys.Acta. 2011 Apr;1815(2):135-46. PMCID: PMC3056906
Roy S, Levi E, Majumdar AP, Sarkar FH. Expression of miR-34 is lost in colon cancer which can be re-expressed by a novel agent CDF. J Hematol Oncol. 2012 Sep 19;5(1):58.
Singh-Gupta V, Banerjee S, Yunker CK, Rakowski JT, Joiner MC, Konski AA, Sarkar FH, Hillman GG. B-DIM impairs radiation-induced survival pathways independently of androgen receptor expression and augments radiation efficacy in prostate cancer. Cancer Lett. 2012 May 1:318(1). PMCID: PMC3288414
Dandawate PR, Vyas A, Ahmad A, Banerjee S, Deshpande J, Swamy KV, Jamadar A, Dumhe-Klaire AC, Padhye S, Sarkar FH. Inclusion complex of novel curcumin analogue CDF and beta-cyclodextrin (1:2) and its enhanced in vivo anticancer activity against pancreatic cancer. Pharm Res. 2012 Jul;29(7):1775-86.
Li Y, Kong D, Bao B, Ahmad A, Sarkar FH. Induction of cancer cell death by isoflavone: the role of multiple signaling pathways. Nutrients. 2011Oct;3(10):877-96.PMCID: PMC3244210
Azmi AS, Ali S, Banerjee S, Bao B, Maitah MN, Padhye S, Philip PA, Mohammad RM, Sarkar FH. Network modeling of CDF treated pancreatic cancer cells reveals a novel c-myc-p73 dependent apoptotic mechanism. Am J Transl Res. 2011 Aug 15;3(4):374-82. PMCID: PMC3158739
Ali AS, Ali S, Ahmad A, Bao B, Philip PA, Sarkar FH. Expression of microRNAs: potential molecular link between obesity, diabetes and cancer. Obes Rev. 2011 Dec;12(12):1050-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00906.x.
Education and Training:
BSc in Physics (1971): Chemistry, and Math: Calcutta University, India (Distinction)
MSc in Biochemistry (1974): Aligarh Muslim University, India (First Class)
PhD in Biochemistry (1978): Banaras Hindu University, India