World Congress on
Cancer Science and Therapy

Biography:

Sanjay Gupta is Carter Kissell Associate Professor & Research Director in the Department of Urology at the Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He also holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Nutrition and Division of General Medical Sciences at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr Gupta obtained faculty position in 2002 at Case, School of Medicine.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta's research is primarily on prostate cancer and involves both basic and translational areas of focus. In basic research the focus is to develop appropriate biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of prostate cancer. Another focus is to identify novel targets to monitor the efficacy of treatment with chemopreventive or therapeutic agents. His research interests also include translation of bench research to its application in clinics. With this aim he has been working with bioactive dietary agents which could be developed as future chemopreventives.

Dr. Gupta has authored some 80 publications, including book chapters, research articles and reviews, and has spoken at several occasions in cancer prevention symposium, seminars and meetings. He has been serving in various study sections at National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Department of Defense (DOD) and reviewer for several prestigious scientific journals. His research programs have received support from National Cancer Institute, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. His innovative approach to develop these agents in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer has led to publications in several journals including Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, Oncogene, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, Journal of Clinical Oncology, FASEB Journal and has been featured on NBC-5 news and highlighted in the Plain Dealer, and American Association for Cancer Research press release.

Abstract:

Cancer stem cell (CSC) theory has been proposed to elucidate tumor heterogeneity and the process of carcinogenesis. CSCs possess the capacity to self-renew, drive tumor formation, maintain tumor homeostasis, mediate tumor metastasis, and confers resistance to therapy. We sought to investigate the stem-cell-related function and biological features of a subpopulation of CD133+ cells isolated from established primary human prostate cancer cell lines. The CD133+ cells sorted from human prostate cancer 22Rv1 exhibited high clonogenic and tumorigenic capabilities, sphere forming capacity and serially reinitiated transplantable tumors in NOD-SCID mice. Gene profiling analysis of CD133+ cells showed upregulation of markers of stem cell differentiation (CD44, Oct4, SOX9 and Nanog), epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (c-myc and BMI1), osteoblastic differentiation (Runx2), and skeletal morphogenesis (BMP2), compared to side population of CD133- cells. These cells are highly malignant and resistant to γ-radiation and chemotherapeutic drug, docetaxel. Importantly, a docetaxel-resistant subclone was more enriched in CD133+ cells with significant increase in Runx2 expression, compared to CD133- cells. Furthermore, knockdown of Runx2 in these cells resulted in differential response to chemotherapy, sensitizing them to increased cell death. Taken together, our results indicate that therapy-resistant populations with stem-like features are highly malignant subpopulation of cells resides within parental cell lines. The molecular features of CD133+ cells may provide a rationale for precise therapeutic targeting and prognostic predictability in the clinical management of prostate cancer.