Michael Wargovich, Ph.D.        

 

Professor of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology
Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Medical University of South Carolina

 
Ph.D., Texas Tech University
 
 wargovic@musc.edu    
Research:

 “Chemoprevention” is a discipline of cancer research that is less than 20 years old and embraces the idea that cancer can be prevented or precancers can be inhibited from progressing to cancer by the use of natural compounds or pharmaceuticals.  Natural products can include substances from wine and green tea, fruits and vegetables, compounds in herbs and spices, vitamins and minerals, and dietary supplements. The lab has an interest in both terrestrial and marine botanicals.  Via the pharmaceutical route, drug development has led to the discovery of compounds like tamoxifen for the prevention of breast cancer, aspirin for colon cancer prevention, and finesteride for prostate cancer prevention.

 

The focus of the lab is on the role of inflammation in setting up a high risk for colon cancer. We’re convinced that chronic, clinically undetectable inflammation at the cellular level enables many of the common cancers to form and grow. Tumors corrupt inflammatory pathways to survive. We are looking at ways to prevent this.

 

 

Publications:

Kotakadi V, Jin Y, Hofseth AB, Ying L, Cui X, Volate S, Chumanevich A, Wood P, Price R, McNeal A, Singh UP, Singh N, Nagarkatti M, Nagarkatti P, Matesic LE, Auclair K, Wargovich MJ, Hofseth LJ.  Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 has anti-inflammatory properties and ameliorates colitis in mice by driving effector T cell apoptosis.  Carcinogenesis, In press, 2008.

 

Zhang H , VanDerveer D, Wang X, Chen F,, Wargovich MJ. 1,3,7,Trideacetylkhivorin. Acta Crystall Section E: Struct Rep Online, E63, 2007.

 

Zhang H , VanDerveer D, Chen F, Wang X , Wargovich MJ. 3,7-dideacetylkhivorin. Acta Crystall Section E: Struct Rep Online, E63, o4162, 2007

 

Issa AY, Volate SR, Nitcheva D, Muga SJ, Smith TJ, Wargovich MJ.  Epigenetic Modulation of the Retinoid X Receptor α by Green Tea in the Azoxymethane-ApcMin Mouse Model of Intestinal Cancer  Mol Cancer Therap (in press, 2007.)

 

Ahnen DJ. Guerciolini R, Hauptman J, Blotner S, Wood CJ, Whittington J , Wargovich MJ.  Effect of orlistat on fecal fat, fecal biliary acids, and colonic cell proliferation in obese subjects, Clin Gastro Hepatol 5:1291-1299, 2007.

 

Zhang H, Wang X, Chen F, Androulakis XM, Wargovich MJ.  Anticancer activity of a limonoid from Khaya senegalensis. Phytother Res. 21(8): 731-734, 2007.

 

Zhang H, VanDerveer D, Wang X, Chen F, Androulakis XM, Wargovich MJ. 6S, 8a-dihydroxy-14,15-dihydrocarapin (khayanone) from the stem bark of Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae): isolation and its crystal structure. J Chemical Crystallography 37:463-467, 2007.

 

Hofseth, LJ, Wargovich MJ. Inflammation, cancer, and targets of ginseng. J Nutr, 137:183S-185S, 2007.

 

Issa AY, Volate SR, Nitcheva D, Muga SJ, Smith TJ, Wargovich MJ. Green tea selectively targets initial stages of colon carcinogenesis in the AOM-ApcMin+/- mouse model. Carcinogenesis. 28(9):1978-84,2007

 

Quraishi I, Rishi M,Feldman M,Wargovich MJ, Weber B. Clinical validation of breast cancer biomarkers using tissue microarray technology. Appl Immunohist. Mol Morphol, 15(1)45-49, 2007.

 

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