Research is carried out in two major areas: 1) fetal
endocrine biology and 2) human ovarian biology and pathophysiology.
Fetal endocrinology:
We are assessing factors regulating growth and differentiated function
of the human fetal adrenal gland. We found that ACTH exerts its effect
on growth through the intermedia-cy of locally produced peptide growth
factors, of which insulin-like growth factor and basic fibroblast
growth factor play pivotal roles.
Ovary:
We described expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),
a significant peptide in angiogenesis during the cycle. Currently,
we are exploring angiogenesis in ovari-an carcinoma. VEGF is expressed
extensively in ovarian cancer cell lines and primary tumors. We introduced
cells from the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV 3 s.c. and i.p. in immunodeficient
athymic mice. Growth of the s.c. tumors was blocked by administration
of a monoclonal antibody hVEGF. Growth of i.p. tumors mimics growth
of ovarian carcinoma in women. Administration of the antibody to VEGF
i.p. prevents ascites.This raises possibilities for novel forms of
therapy. |
Mesiano, S, Katz, SL, Lee, JY, and Jaffe, RB.
Insulin-like growth factors augment steroid production and expression
of steroidogenic enzymes in human fetal adrenal cortical cells:
Implications for adrenal regulation. J. Clin. Endocrinol Metab,
82 (1997): 1390.
Shifren, J, Mesiano, S, Lee, J., Ferrara, N, Taylor, RN, and Jaffe,
RB. Adrenocorti-cotropic hormone increases vascular endothelial
growth factor in the human fetal adrenal. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab,
83 (1998): 1342-1347.
Brandenberger, AW, Tee, MK, and Jaffe, RB. Estrogen receptor alpha
(ER-a) and Beta (ER-b) mRNAs in normal ovary, ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma
and ovarian cancer cell lines: down-regulation of ER-b in neoplastic
tissues. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab, 83 (1998): 1025-1028.
information last updated February 2003 |
Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program
