We are integrating cell, molecular, and biochemical approaches, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics in tandem with genetically engineered model systems and primary tumors.
The ultimate goal is to understand the mechanisms of tumor heterogeneity and uncover novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of cancer progression that can be used for patient stratification for personalized cancer therapy.
Research Interests
- Cancer/oncogenesis
- Cell growth and differentiation
- Tumor microenvironment
- Metastasis
- Tumor suppressor genes
- Inflammation
- Experimental therapeutics
Said, N and Theodorescu, D. Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) in Cancer. Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis, 4:3, 2013.
Said, N, Frierson, HF, Sanchez-Carbayo, M, Brekken, RA and Theodorescu, D. Loss of SPARC in a murine model of bladder cancer accelerates carcinogenesis and progression. J Clin Invest., 123 (2), 2013. Highlighted in UVA-SOM news
Said, N, and Theodorescu, D. RhoGDI2 suppresses bladder cancer metastasis via reduction of versican expression and macrophage infiltration. OncoImmunology, 1(7):1175-1177, 2012.
Al-Hassan, N, Behzadian, A, Caldwell, R, Ivanova, V, Syed, V, Motamed, K, and Said, N*. Differential Roles of uPAR in Peritoneal Ovarian Carcinomatosis. Neoplasia. 14 (4):259–270, 2012. *corresponding author; selected as cover page.
Said, N, Smith, SC, Sanchez-Carbayo, M and Theodorescu, D. RhoGDI2 suppresses lung metastasis in mice by reducing tumor versican expression and macrophage infiltration. J Clin Invest. 122(4):1503-18, 2012. Highlighted in Nature Reviews Urology Research Highlights; http://www.nature.com/nrurol/journal/v9/n5/full/nrurol.2012.60.html
Said, N, and Theodorescu, D. Permissive Role of Endothelin Receptors in Tumor Metastasis. Life Sci. 2012 Apr 17, 2012. [Epub ahead of print].
Said, N, Smith, SC, Sanchez-Carbayo, M, and Theodorescu, D. Tumor endothelin-1 enhances metastatic colonization of the lung in mouse xenograft models of bladder cancer. J Clin Invest. 4; 121(1):132-47, 2011.
Said, N, and Theodorescu, D. Pathways of Metastasis Suppression in Bladder Cancer. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 28(3-4): 327-333, 2009.
Said N, Frierson H, Chernauskas D, Motamed K, and Theodorescu D. The Role of SPARC in the TRAMP Model of Prostate Carcinogenesis and Progression. Oncogene, 28(39): 3487-98, 2009
Socha MJ, Said N, Dai YS, Kwong J, Ramalingam P, Trieu V, Desai N, Mok SC, and Motamed K. Aberrant promoter methylation of SPARC in ovarian cancer. Neoplasia, 11(2): 126-135, 2009.
Said N, Elmarakby AA, Imig JD, Fulton DJ, and Motamed K. SPARC Ameliorates Ovarian Cancer-associated Inflammation. Neoplasia, 10(10):1092-104, 2008.
Said N, Socha M, Olearczyk JJ, Elmarakby AA, Imig JD, and Motamed K. Normalization of the microenvironment of ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis by host SPARC. Mol Cancer Res., 5(10):1015-30, 2007.
Socha, M., Manhiani, M., Said, N., Imig, J.D., and Motamed, K. Targeted deletion of SPARC ameliorates Angiotensin II-induced renal damage independently of effects on blood pressure. Amer. J Pathol., 171(4):1104-12, 2007.
Said N., Najwer I., Socha M., Fulton D., Mok SC., and Motamed K. SPARC inhibits LPA-mediated mesothelial-ovarian cancer cell crosstalk. Neoplasia, 9(1): 23-35, 2007.
Said N., Najwer I. and Motamed K. SPARC Inhibits Integrin-mediated Adhesion and Growth Factor-dependent Survival in Ovarian Cancer. Amer. J. Pathol, 170(3):1054-63, 2007.
Said N. and Motamed K. Absence of host SPARC augments ovarian carcinoma metastasis and ascites formation in a syngeneic mouse model. Amer. J. Pathol., 167:1739-1752, 2005.
Said NA, Shoeir AT, Panjwani N, Garate M and Cao Z. Local and systemic humoral immune response during acute and chronic Acanthamoeba keratitis in rabbits. Curr. Eye Res. 29(6): 229-239, 2004.
Cao Z, Said N, Wu HK, Kuwabara I, Lui F-T, and Panjwani N. Galectin-7. a potential mediator of corneal epithelial cell migration. Arch. Ophthalmol. 121:82-85, 2003.
Cao Z, Said N, Amin S, Wu HK, Bruce A, Garate M, Hsu, DK, Kuwabara I, Lui FT, and Panjwani N. Galectins-3 and -7, but not galectin-1, play a role in re-epithelialization of wounds. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 42299-42305, 2002
Said NA and Salah El-Din MM. The prevalence of Acanthamoeba as a commensal in the conjunctiva. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 40 (4): s 263, 1999.