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Nikki Delk
Faculty Fellow
Faculty Fellow in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
e-mail:[email protected]
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Ph.D Biochemistry & Cell Biology (2006) Rice University
B.S. Mathematics (1996) Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C.
Primary Department
Department of BioSciences
Research Areas
Determine cytoprotective/cytotoxic role of autophagy in metastatic prostate cancer (PCa);
Identify signaling pathways that regulate autophagy in PCa metastatic microenvironment
Research Statement
The 5-year survival rate for men with prostate cancer bone metastasis is only 28%, where
90% of patients who succumb to prostate cancer have bone metastasis. These statistics
highlight the virulence and treatment-resistance of bone metastatic prostate cancer. Thus it is
imperative to identify targetable signaling pathways by exploring why and how prostate
cancer cells thrive in the bone. My research is focused on the regulation and function of
autophagy in prostate cancer survival in the bone. Autophagy is the pro-survival degradation
and recycling of biomolecules and is implicated in cancer cell survival. My research group
found that bone cell-secreted cytokines can induce cytoprotective autophagy in prostate
cancer cells, as well as upregulate mRNA levels of the autophagy-related adaptor protein,
p62/SQSTM1.
Furthermore, our data suggests that targeting autophagy flux and/or p62/SQSTM1 function
may be an effective approach to prevent the accumulation of treatment-resistant prostate
cancer cells in the bone. We are currently investing the role of androgen receptor and
reactive oxygen signaling cascades in autophagy and p62/SQSTM1-mediated prostate cancer
survival.
Selected Publications
Refereed articles
Chang MA, Morgado M, Warren CR, Hinton CV, Farach-Carson MC, Delk NA "p62/SQSTM1 is
required for cell survival of apoptosis-resistant bone metastatic prostate cancer cell
lines." Prostate, 74(2) (2014) : 149-63.In Press
Delk N.A. and Farach-Carson M.C. "Interleukin-6: A Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Paracrine
Signal that Induces Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Modulates Autophagy in Bone
Metastatic PCa Cells." Autophagy (2012)
Tsai Y.C., Koo, Y., Delk N.A., Gehl B., Braam, J., "Calmodulin-related CML24 Interacts with
ATG4b and Affects Autophagy Regulation in Arabidopsis." Plant Journal (2012)
Presentations
Invited Talks
"Bone Cells Promote Bone Metastatic PCa Survival and Therapeutic Resistance." Experimental
Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX. (1 Apr 2013)
Posters
"Bone Marrow Stromal Cell-Secreted Inflammatory Cytokines Promote Treatment Resistance
and Survival of Prostate Cancer Cells." 6th American Association for Cancer Research, Science
of Cancer Health Disparities Conference, Atlanta, GA. (6-9 Dec 13) With Chang M., Morgado
M., Patel V., Gwede M., Farach-Carson M.C., Delk N.
"Cell Survival of Apoptosis- Resistant Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cell Lines is p62Dependent." 9th National Symposium on Prostate Cancer, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
GA. (17-20 Mar 13) With Chang M., Morgado M., Warren C., Hinton C.V., Farach M.C., Delk N.
"Bone marrow stromal cell paracrine signaling and IL-6 induce autophagy in bone metastatic
prostate cancer cells." American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2011,
Orlando, FL. (April 2011) With Farach-Carson M.C.
Editorial Positions
Other, British Journal of Cancer. Nature Publishing Group. (2013 - 2013)
Other, OncoTargets and Therapy. Dove Press. (2013 - 2013)
Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
NIH K01 Mentored Career Development Award,
Finalist, The 2012 Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Research Award,
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Leadership and VIII Scholarship,