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Rajeev Sharad Samant, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Oncologic Sciences

Head: Cellular and Biomolecular Imaging Facility

Office:
USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
1660 Springhill Avenue
Mobile, AL. 36604
(251) 445-9858
rsamant@usouthal.edu

Research Interests:
-Heat shock proteins in cancer
-Wnt pathway
-EMT and MET
-Cancer metastasis

Honors and Academic Achievements:
-Investigator NSF-REU 2006-09
-Investigator, DOD-BCRP, DAMD17-01-1-0362, 2001-2004
-“Saving the Science” award AACR 2006
-Investigator, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, BCTR0503488, 2005-08

Education:
-Ph.D.: Molecular Biology, Bacterial Genetics, Biotechnology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Bombay, India. (1998)
-M.S.: Biotechnology, Biotechnology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Bombay, India. (1993)
-B.S.: Chemistry, University of Bombay, Bombay, India. (1991)

Professional Appointments:
-Research Instructor (Department of Pathology/ Molecular and Cellular Pathology) University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL. 2003-2004
-Associate Scientist (Women’s Cancer Program) Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL. 2003-2004
-Assistant Professor, Center for Basic and Translational Science, Department of Oncologic sciences,USA- Mitchell Cancer Institute. 2004 – Present
-Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama 2004-Present

Service:
-Reviewer New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research 2001-02
-Reviewer Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 2004-07 (Chair -TCB: 05 & 06)
-Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Scientific advisor (Advocate reviewer group) 2005
-Komen for the cure: Grants Program Redesign (Member working group) 2007
-Reviewer DOD-Breast Cancer Research Program, 2006-09
-Reviewer DOD-Prostate Cancer Research Program, 2006-08
-Reviewer NIH/NCI BMCT 2011

Our laboratory focuses on identification and characterization of novel genes involved in tumor progression and metastasis. The principal focus is to identify and understand the unique transcriptional switch(es) in tumor progression and metastasis. Ongoing research in the laboratory focuses on two molecues, NMI and MRJ

NMI (N-Myc Interactor) is known to be associated with BRCA1 and STAT signaling. Our group demonstrated the functional role of this molecule in breast cancer and melanoma. We also found that NMI inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

MRJ (DNAJB6) is a heat shock protein. Our laboratory demonstrated its potential role in regulating breast cancer and melanoma tumor progression.

We use yeast two hybrid, reporter assays, microarrays, quantitive PCR as well as Protein FPLC and mass spectrometry routinely. We extensively use in vitro in metastasis assays as well as in vivo tumor-metastasis models that use athymic mice. Our focus is not restricted to a specific cancer type; however we mainly work with breast cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer. We also plan to use these models for pharmaco-kinetic studies to test potential agents that block cancer progression. Thus our laboratory deals with target identification and characterization towards possible prognostic or diagnostic gains.

1. Menezes, M.E., Devine, D.R., Shevde, L.A., Samant, R.S. (2011) Dickkopf1: A tumor suppressor or metastasis promoter? Accepted for publication in Int. J. Cancer.

2. Samant RS, Shevde LA.(2011) Recent advances in anti-angiogenic therapy of cancer. Oncotarget. ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21399234#) 2011 Mar;2(3):122-34.

3. Mitra, A., Menezes, M.E., Shevde, L.A., Samant RS. (2010) DNAJB6 induces degradation of ß-catenin and causes partial reversal of mesenchymal phenotype. J Biol Chem. 2010 Aug 6;285(32):24686-94.

4. Fillmore, R.A., Mitra, A., Xi, Y., Ju, J., Scammell, J., Shevde, L.A. Samant, R.S. (2009) Nmi (N-Myc interactor) inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin siganaling and retards tumor growth. Int J Cancer 125(3): 556-564.

5. Mitra, A., Shevde, L.A., Samant, R.S. (2009) Multi-faceted role of HSP40 in cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis. 26(6): 559-567.

6. Mitra, A., Fillmore, R.A., Metge, B.M., Rajesh, M., Xi, Y., King, J., Pannell, L., Shevde, L.A., Samant, R.S. (2008) Large isoform of MRJ (DNAJB6) reduces malignant activity of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 10(22): R22.

7. Hurst, D.R., Mehta, A., Moore, B.P., Phadke, P.A., Meehan, W.J., Accavitti, M.A., Shevde, L.A., Hopper, J.E., Xie, Y., Welch, D.R., Samant R.S. (2006) Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) is stablilized by the Hsp90 chaperone. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 348: 1429-1435.

-1R01CA140472-01A1
NCI/NIH
Titled: Role Of Nmi In Retarding Breast Tumor Growth
Goals: Investigate the role of N-myc interactor in modulating breast tumor progression
Role: Principal Investigator
3/1/2010-12/31/2014.

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