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Professional Profile
Research Interests: -Identification of novel gene targets and understanding their mechanisms of action in cancer pathogenesis -Develop novel approaches for cancer therapy and chemo-prevention Honors and Academic Achievements: -Fellowship Award, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (1992-94) -Fellowship Award, ( Junior/Senior Research) University Grant Commission and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Govt. of India (1994-2001) -Dr. J. S. Pruthi Award by Indian Society of Spices, Calicut, India (2002) -Outstanding Performance Award, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (2004, 2005, 2007) -Invited faculty, Indian Society of Oncology Continuing Medical Education, Sushila Tiwari Memorial Cancer Research Institute, HIHT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (2008) Education: -Ph.D., Life Science, Devi Ahilya University, India. (2002) -M.S., Biotechnology, Aligarh M. University, India. (1994) -B.S., Zoology (Honors), Aligarh M. University, India. (1992) Professional Appointments: -Member, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, 2009-present -Member, Biomedical Research Training Program, UNMC (2006-2009) -Member, Graduate Faculty, UNMC (2006-2009) -Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UNMC (2006-2009) Service: -Review Panel, Department of Defense, Breast Cancer Research program, Molecular Biology and Genetics (2008) -Review Panel, Department of Defense, Prostate Cancer Research Program, Pre-Molecular Biology and Genetics-B and Molecular Biology and Genetics (2009) Scientific Focus: 1. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) signaling in human prostate cancer: In our recent studies, we identified many differentially-expressed genes and perturbed molecular pathways in androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer [Cancer Lett. 259(1):28-38, 2008]. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is one of the important targets, whose catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) was found to be downregulated in LNCaP-C81 (androgen-independent) prostate cancer cells as compared to LNCaP-C33 (androgen-dependent) prostate cancer cells [Cancer Lett. 259(1):28-38, 2008]. Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical specimens also corroborated this finding, suggesting a role of PP2A in prostate cancer. PP2A encompasses a family of serine/threonine phosphatases, minimally containing a well conserved catalytic subunit (PP2Ac). Studies are currently underway to examine the role of dysregulated PP2A signaling in prostate cancer progression by performing in vitro and in vivo functional assays. 2. MicroRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy. Hence, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease progression and development of novel approaches and tools for pancreatic cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are urgently needed. A new class of gene regulatory RNAs, termed as microRNAs (miRNAs) has gained significant interest for their ability to influence various biological process, including development, differentiation, and malignant transformation. A large number of miRNAs has been identified in humans; however, the target mRNAs have been assigned to only a few of them. We are currently investigating the role of a set of candidate MUC4-targeted miRNAs in pancreatic cancer progression and gene regulation. 3. Mucins as targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy: Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins that are widely expressed by the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinogenital tracts. They have gained prominence in recent years due to their multiple implications in cancer development and represent as attractive targets for the diagnosis and therapy [Lancet Oncol. 9(11): 1076-85, 2008; Cancer Res 67, 433-6, 2007]. We have demonstrated the pathological significance of a transmembrane mucin, MUC4, in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis [Cancer Res. 64(2): 622-30, 2004]. Importantly, our recent work has revealed that MUC4 is a novel interacting partner of the receptor tyrosine kinase, HER2, and is implicated in its stabilization and potentiation of downstream signaling [Cancer Res. 68(7): 2065-70, 2008]. We are currently focusing on exploiting the clinical usefulness of mucins in early and differential diagnosis of cancers, their prognostic importance and efficacy of targeting mucins for cancer therapy. Selected Publications: 1. Singh, A.P., Bafna, S., Chaudhary, K., Venkatraman, G., Smith, L., Johansson, S.L., Eudy, J, Batra, S.K. (2008) Genome-wide expression profiling reveals transcriptomic variation and perturbed gene networks in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Cancer Lett. 259(1): 28-38. 2. Singh, A.P., Senapati, S., Moorthy, P.P., Jain, M., Lele, S. Davis, J., Remenga, S., and Batra, S.K. (2008) The clinical potential of mucins in the diagnosis and therapy of ovarian cancer. Lancet Oncol. 9(11): 1076-1085. 3. Singh, A.P., Chauhan, S.C., Andrianifahanana, M., Moniaux, N., Meza, J.L., Copin, M.C., Hollingsworth, M.A., Aubert, J.P. and Batra, S.K. (2007) Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) regulates the expression of MUC4 mucin in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells by transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. Oncogene 26(1): 30-41. 4. Singh, A.P., Chaturvedi, P., Batra, S.K. (2007) Emerging roles of MUC4 in cancer: a novel target for diagnosis and therapy. Cancer Res. 67(2): 433-436. 5. Singh, A.P., Moniaux, N., Chauhan, S.C., Meza, J.L., and Batra, S.K. (2004) Inhibition of MUC4 mucin expression suppresses pancreatic tumor cell growth and metastasis. Cancer Res. 64(2): 622-630. Patents: -U. S. Patent 710565782 Compositions and methods for inhibiting pancreatic cancer metastasis (2006). -U. S. Patent PP14090 Generation of a new `Peppermint` mutant genotype. (2003) Active Grants: -PC073993 Department of Defense Protein phosphatase 2A signaling in prostate cancer Goals: To investigate the role of protein phosphatase 2A signaling in androgen-independent progression of human prostate cancer. Role: Principal Investigator 02/01/2009-01/31/2012 -1R03CA137513-01A1 National Institutes of Health MicroRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer Goals: To investigate the expression and functional significance of the candidate MUC4-targeted miRNAs in pancreatic cancer Role: Principal Investigator 7/20/09-6/30/11 |
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Ajay Singh, Ph.D.University of South Alabama - Mobile Alabama 36688-0002 Appointments: Medical, Surgical and Gynecologic Oncology: (251) 665-8000 Radiation Oncology: (251) 445-9615 Administration: (251) 460-6993 For questions or comments Contact Us Date last changed: October 15, 2009 9:35 AM http://www.southalabama.edu/mci/asingh.html |
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