Anait S Levenson
Associate Professor
Tumor Cell Biology Program
M.D. Biophysics, The Second Moscow State Medical Institute, Moscow, USSR, 1981
Ph.D. Immunology, Institute of Tuberculosis, Moscow, USSR, 1989
Posdoc, 1991-1994, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Posdoc, 1994-1998, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Contact Information
2500 N State Street, R603
Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: 601-815-6072
Email: alevenson@umc.edu
Research Interests
- Molecular mechanisms of progression to bone metastases in prostate and breast cancer
- Chemopreventive and therapeutic potentials of resveratrol in prostate cancer
- Epigenetic mechanisms of resveratrol action in prostate cancer : the role of MTA1
- microRNAs: promising role in cancer therapy
Research Synopsis
Major focus of my research in both breast and prostate cancer is to dissect molecular mechanisms of bone metastases. These studies include identification of genes that are involved in the interaction of cancer cells with the bone using gene array technology and further determination of their functional roles in bone metastases by applying siRNA technology and intracardiac models in vivo. Identification of "bone metastastatic signature" allowed us to focus on selected candidate genes that hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of bone metastases. We recently demonstrated that one of these genes, metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) plays critical role in prostate cancer progression by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting angiogenesis. We also have evidence that MTA1 can serve as an independent prognostic marker for aggressive prostate cancer. Another major interest is the role of dietary compounds in chemoprevention of cancer. We are particularly interested in epigenetic mechanisms of resveratrol anticancer effects in prostate cancer, which includes its HDAC properties and the ability to modulate microRNA expression.
Selected Publications
Levenson A.S. and Jordan V.C. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulation. Millenium Review 2000. Eur J Cancer 35: 1628-1639, 1999
Levenson A.S. et al Gene expression profiles with activation of the ER-SERM complex in breast cancer cells expressing wtER. Cancer Res 62: 4419-4426, 2002
Levenson A.S. et al Resveratrol acts as an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist in breast cancer cells stably transfected with ERα. Int J Cancer. 104: 587-596, 2003 (Cover art, May 1)
Kai L, Samuel SK, Levenson AS. Resveratrol enhances p53 acetylation and apoptosis in prostate cancer by inhibiting MTA1/NuRD complex. Int J Cancer. 126:1538-48, 2010 (Cover art, April 1)
Kai L,Wang J, Ivanovoic M, Chung Y-T, Laskin WB, Schulze-Hoepfner F, Mirochnik Y, Satcher RL, Levenson A.S. Targeting prostate cancer angiogenesis through metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1). The Prostate. Online published, Aug. 2010
