- BS, University of Arizona, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics / Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2004
- PhD, University of Arizona, Cancer Biology / Medical Pharmacology (minor), 2008
- MD, Phd, University of Arizona, 2012
- Residency, University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Pediatrics
My doctoral research was performed in the Laurence Hurley laboratory and focused on identifying and developing novel compounds for the treatment of human cancers. Using a molecular targeted approach, we selected compounds that interact with two key cancer targets, the G-quadruplex of the c-Myc promoter and p-glycoprotein. c-Myc is an oncogene that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and has a unique secondary structure, the G-quadruplex. Because the secondary structure of the c-Myc promoter has been involved in transcription regulation, we selected a compound that stabilizes the G-quadruplex, resulting in transcriptional repression of c-Myc. Our other project focused on targeting the p-glycoprotein, an ABC transporter that has been implicated in multidrug resistance and poor patient prognosis. In order to prevent multidrug resistance, we further developed a natural product Psorospermin. Although Psorospermin had previously been developed as an alkylating agent, we identified additional activity as a multidrug resistance modulator. We have shown that Psorospermin can directly interact with p-glycoprotein to inhibit p-glycoprotein-mediated efflux of chemotherapeutic agents from cancer cells. We believe that the compounds identified in these projects can be further optimized and eventually enter clinical trials.
Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Leadership Award, 2010.
Leadership Award for Excellence, 2010.
Publications:
- Li Q, Feldman RA, Radhakrishnan VM, Carey S, Martinez JD.
Hsf1 is required for the nuclear translocation of p53 tumor suppressor.
Neoplasia. 2008 Oct;10(10):1138-45.
PMID: 18813348 - Carey SS, Gleason-Guzman M, Shaw A, Gokhole V, Hurley LH.
Psorospermin structural requirements for P-glycoprotein resistance reversal.
Mol Cancer Ther. 2008 Nov;7(11): 3617-23.
PMID: 19001443 - Dexheimer TS, Carey SS, Zuohe S, Gokhale VM, Hu X, Murata LB, Maes EM, Weichsel A, Sun D, Meuillet EJ, Montfort WR, Hurley LH.
NM23-H2 may play an indirect role in transcriptional activation of c-myc gene expression but does not cleave the nuclease hypersensitive element III1.
Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 May;8(5): 1363-77. Epub 2009 May 12.
PMID: 19435876 - Qaddoumi I, Carey SS, Conklin H, Jenkins J, Sabin N, Boop F, Pai-Panandiker A, Baker J, Wright K, Broniscer A, Gajjar A.
Characterization, Treatment, and Outcome of Intracranial Neoplasms in the First 120 Days of Life.
J Child Neurol. 2011 May 3.
Publications Prior to Entering MD-PhD Program:
- Stea B, Falsey R, Kislin K, Patel J, Glanzberg H, Carey S, Ambrad AA, Meuillet EJ, Martinez JD.
Time and dose-dependent radiosensitization of the glioblastoma multiforme U251 cells by the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD1839 (‘Iressa’).
Cancer Lett. 2003 Dec 8;202(1):43-51.
PMID: 14643025
Presentations and Abstracts (outside the University of Arizona):
- Carey SS.
Regulation of Nuclear Localization of the p53 Tumor-Suppressor Protein.
Presenter, Western Student Medical Research Forum, Carmel, CA. February 2005.
Journal of Investigative Medicine, Vol. 53, (1) #418, 2005. - Carey SS, Gleason-Guzman M, Shaw A, Gokhole V, Hurley LH.
Identification of the Structural Basis of Drug Resistance-Reversal by Psorospermin.
Presenter, American Association of Cancer Researchers Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. April 2007. - Carey SS.
Drug Targeting of the G-quadruplex/nm23-H2 Complex in the c-Myc Promoter.
Presenter, Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope 2008 Meeting, Baltimore, MD. June 2008. - Carey SS.
Characterization of treatment and outcome of intracranial neoplasms in the first 120 days of life.
Presenter, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. August 2009.