 |
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
PO Box 980614
Richmond, VA 23298-0614
Email: pdent@vcu.edu
Telephone: 804-628-0861
Education
- B.Sc. Biochemistry (1st class Hons.) University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1985-1988)
- Ph.D. Biochemistry (Prof. Sir Philip Cohen) University of Dundee (1988-1991)
Post-Doc
Dept. Clinical Pharmacology (Dr. Thomas W. Sturgill) University of Virginia (1992-1996)
Research
My laboratory has three main areas of interest. First, to understand the signaling
processes which regulate the survival of normal liver cells exposed to toxic stresses
such as bile acids and novel therapeutic agents. By understanding how the survival
of normal liver cells is controlled, we may better understand how to protect the
liver from drug and cholestatic-induced injury. Second, ionizing radiation doses
which are used in clinical radiotherapy can both kill cells and also unfortunately
cause survival / proliferation of other cells within the same tumor. Several
translational projects are understanding how radiation and novel signal transduction
modulators can alter tumor cell viability and proliferation in colon cancer, prostate
cancer and in breast cancer. Third, the novel cytokine mda-7 / IL-24 has been shown
by this laboratory to act as a radiosensitizer in many tumor cell types. Our studies
have shown that IL-24, administered as either a recombinant adenovirus or as a
purified protein radiosensitizes primary human glioma cells and enhances the
lethality of novel therapeutic agents which generate ROS in renal carcinoma. Several
projects are uncovering the mechanisms by which ROS generating agents and radiation
act to enhance IL-24 lethality.
Publications
|
|
 |
 |
1101 E Marshall St | PO Box 980614 | Richmond, VA 23298 | ph 804.828.9762 | fax 804.828.1473
Site Update July 20, 2008, Responsible Unit - Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, biochemgrad@mail.vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University,
VCU School of Medicine
|
