UMGCC Research Program:
Hormone Responsive Cancers Program
Education/Training:
College Degree:
B.A., Catholic University of America
Ph.D., University of Virginia
Post Doctoral
Degree:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Johns Hopkins University
Contact
Information:
Mailing Address:
Bressler Research Building, 9-045
655 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email:
apass001@umaryland.edu
Phone:
410-328-5470
Fax:
410-328-6559
Research Interests:
Research efforts in our laboratory are focused on transcriptional regulation of angiogenesis and tumor growth with specific interests in targeting endothelial cells (EC) and tumor vasculature for therapeutic application.
We are currently studying the role of the DNA-binding transcription factor Cbfa1/RUNX2 (core binding factor alpha) in EC migration, proliferation, and survival through its regulation of the p21(CIP1) gene, which is important in controlling cell-cycle progression. We have found that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) activates RUNX2 DNA binding through a signal transduction pathway dependent on PI3K and ERK, resulting in increased cell survival. Our plans are to identify and test RUNX2-specific drugs to inhibit DNA binding and transcriptional activity to reduce angiogenesis and inhibit tumor growth.
Publications:
Qiao, M., Shapiro, P., Kumar, R., and Passaniti, A. (2004) Insulin-like growth factor-1 regulates endogenous RUNX2 activity in endothelial cells through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/ERK-dependent and Akt-independent signaling pathway. J. Biol. Chem., 279: 42709-18.
Vucenik, I., Passaniti, A., Tantivejkul, K., Eggleton, P., Vitolo, M., and Shamsuddin, A.M. (2004) Anti-angiogenic activity of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). Carcinogenesis. 11: 2115-23.
Sun, L., Vitolo, M.I., Qiao, M., Anglin, I.E., and Passaniti, A. (2004) Regulation of TGFß-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis by RUNX2 isoforms in endothelial cells. Oncogene 23:4722-34.
Anglin, I. and Passaniti, A. (2004) Runx protein signaling in human cancers. Cancer Treat Res 119:189-215.
Üren A, Merchant M.S., Sun C.J., Vitolo M., Sun Y., Tsokos M., Ladanyi M., Passaniti A, Mackall C., and Toretsky J.A. (2003) Beta-Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Mediates Motility and Growth of Ewings Sarcoma Cells. Oncogene 22:2334-42.
Young BA, Sui X, Kiser TD, Hyun SW, Wang P, Sakarya S, Angelini DJ, Schaphorst KL, Hasday JD, Cross AS, Romer LH, Passaniti A, and Goldblum, SE. (2003) Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity regulates endothelial cell-cell interactions, the paracellular pathway and capillary tube stability. Am J Physiol, Lung Cell Mol Physiol 285:L63-L75.
Sun, L. Vitolo, M., and Passaniti, A. (2001) Runt-related gene-2 in endothelial cells: Inducible expression and positive regulation of cell migration and invasion. Cancer Res. 61:4994-5001.
