Daniel E. Bassi, PhD

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This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
Learn more about Research Volunteering.

Assistant Research Professor

  • PC's expression in normal or cancer cell lines

  • PC's expression in tumors and survival time

  • Furin expression in tumors

     

    Educational Background

    • PhD, Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1991-1996
    • Masters in Clinical Pathology, University of Buenos Aires, 1992-1994
    • Masters in Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires , 1981-1989

     

    Research Interests

    Ovarian Tumor Progression

    My research interests center in determining the role of a family of nine serine proteases, the proprotein-convertases (PCs) in ovarian tumor progression. Most PCs activate protein precursors after limited proteolysis at the consensus sequence RXR/KR. Many of these precursors are associated with tumor progression, such as growth factors and their receptors, metalloproteinases and adhesion molecules, pointing to a PCs role in regulating tumor progression. For instance, increased expression of these PCs has been correlated with increase histopathological grade and advanced metastatic behavior.

     

    We have determined that increased furin, the prototype of the family, predicts poor survival in ovarian cancer, regardless the specific type of tumor. Moreover, specific blockage of its activity by protein inhibitors and siRNA technology resulted in decreased proliferation and signaling through the insulin-like receptor pathway. Interestingly, a closely related PC, PACE4, also associated with tumor progression in skin and other malignancies, showed an opposite effect in ovarian cancer; more benign and less malignant tumors expressed higher levels of this extracellular protease. In this context, therapies aimed at decreasing ovarian tumor burden should address these differences to exploit this antagonistic effect exerted by these two proteases.

    Selected Publications

    Cukierman E, Bassi, DE. The mesenchymal tumor microenvironment: A drug-resistant niche. Cell Adh Migr. 2012 May 1;6(3):285-96. Epub 2012 May 1. PubMed

    Bassi DE, Zhang J, Cenna J, Litwin S, Cukierman E, Klein-Szanto AJ. Proprotein Convertase Inhibition Results in Decreased Skin Cell Proliferation, Tumorigenesis, and Metastasis. Neoplasia. 2010 Jul;12(7):516-26. PubMed

    Page RE, Klein-Szanto AJ, Litwin S, Nicolas E, Al-Jumaily R, Alexander P, Godwin AK, Ross EA, Schilder RJ, Bassi DE. Increased expression of the pro-protein convertasefurin predicts decreased survival in ovarian cancer. Cell Oncol. 2007;29(4):289-99. PubMed

    Bassi DE, Lopez de Cicco R, Cenna J, Cukierman E, Klein-Szanto AJ. PACE 4 Expression in Mouse Basal Keratinocytes Results in Basement Membrane Disruption and Acceleration of Tumor Progression. Cancer Res. 2005;65:7310-7319. PubMed

    Bassi B, Lopez De Cicco R, Mahloogi H, Zucker S, Thomas G, Klein-Szanto AJ. Furin Inhibition Results in Absent or Decreased Invasiveness and Tumorigenicity of Human Cancer Cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci. (USA) 2001;98:10326-10331. PubMed

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    This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
    Learn more about Research Volunteering.