Professor Rhonda Rosengren

Position	Professor
Department	Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Qualifications	BS PhD(Texas A & M)
Research summary	Breast and prostate cancer, nanomedicine, drug metabolism
Memberships	Professor Rhonda Rosengren is a member of the Auckland Cancer Research Network

Research

Toxicological research in my laboratory involves the identification of novel treatments for various cancers including estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, hormone refractory prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. In conjunction with Dr. Bill Hawkins in the department of Chemistry we are synthesizing novel curcumin derivatives and examining their activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. We have also discovered new roles for tamoxifen and raloxifene in breast and prostate cancer when given as part of a novel combination therapy or in novel formulations. We also have research collaborations with Dr. Andrew Cridge in the Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Jonathan Bray Head of Small Animal Surgery at Massey University Veterinary School, Dr. Heather Cunliffe in the Department of Pathology and Dr. Mihnea Bostina in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The Otago Medical Research Foundation and grants from the University of Otago currently fund our work.

Additional details

In the news

Breast cancer breakthrough (New Zealand Herald)
Cancer research funding (Otago Daily Times)
$300K made available to support innovative breast cancer research in NZ (New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation)
New projects take NZBCF research spend to $800,000 over the next two years (New Zealand Doctor)
Research targets better drug treatment for breast cancers (Scoop)
University promotes academics (Otago Daily Times)
Otago announces professorial promotions (Scoop)

Publications

Shrestha, N., Lateef, Z., Martey, O., Bland, A. R., Nimick, M., Rosengren, R., & Ashton, J. C. (2019). Does the mouse tail vein injection method provide a good model of lung cancer? F1000Research, 8, 190. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.17964.1

Chen, S., Nimick, M., Cridge, A. G., Hawkins, B. C., & Rosengren, R. J. (2018). Anticancer potential of novel curcumin analogs towards castrate-resistant prostate cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 52(2), 579-588. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2017.4207

Keats, T., Rosengren, R. J., & Ashton, J. C. (2018). The rationale for repurposing sildenafil for lung cancer treatment. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 18(3), 367-374. doi: 10.2174/1871520617666171103100959

Revalde, J. L., Li, Y., Wijeratne, T. S., Budge, P., Hawkins, B. C., Rosengren, R. J., & Paxton, J. W. (2017). Curcumin and its cyclohexanone analogue inhibited human Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) in pancreatic cancer cells. European Journal of Pharmacology, 803, 167-173. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.03.055

Martey, O., Nimick, M., Taurin, S., Sundararajan, V., Greish, K., & Rosengren, R. J. (2017). Styrene maleic acid-encapsulated RL71 micelles suppress tumor growth in a murine xenograft model of triple negative breast cancer. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 12, 7225-7237. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s148908

Chapter in Book - Research
Journal - Research Article
Journal - Research Other

Chapter in Book - Research

Sundararajan, V., Rosengren, R. J., & Greish, K. (2014). Curcumin analogues for the treatment of breast cancer revisited: The nanotechnology approach. In D. L. Pouliquen (Ed.), Curcumin: Synthesis, emerging role in pain management and health implications. (pp. 347-378). Nova Science.

Rosengren, R. J. (2009). Utility of epigallocatechin gallate in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer: Molecular mechanisms for tumor suppression. In H. McKinley & M. Jamieson (Eds.), Handbook of green tea and health research. (pp. 301-323). New York: Nova.

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Journal - Research Article

Megna, B. W., Carney, P. R., Depke, M. G., Nukaya, M., McNally, J., Larsen, L., Rosengren, R. J., & Kennedy, G. D. (2017). The aryl hydrocarbon receptor as an antitumor target of synthetic curcuminoids in colorectal cancer. Journal of Surgical Research, 213, 16-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.02.010

Archibald, M., Pritchard, T., Nehoff, H., Rosengren, R. J., Greish, K., & Taurin, S. (2016). A combination of sorafenib and nilotinib reduces the growth of castrate-resistant prostate cancer. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 11, 179-201. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s97286

Taurin, S., Nimick, M., Larsen, L., & Rosengren, R. J. (2016). A novel curcumin derivative increases the cytotoxicity of raloxifene in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cell lines. International Journal of Oncology, 48, 385-398. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2015.3252

Pritchard, T., Rosengren, R. J., Greish, K., & Taurin, S. (2016). Raloxifene nanomicelles reduce the growth of castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Journal of Drug Targeting, 24(5), 441-449. doi: 10.3109/1061186x.2015.1086360

Revalde, J. L., Li, Y., Hawkins, B. C., Rosengren, R. J., & Paxton, J. W. (2015). Heterocyclic cyclohexanone monocarbonyl analogues of curcumin can inhibit the activity of ATP-binding cassette transporters in cancer multidrug resistance. Biochemical Pharmacology, 93(3), 305-317. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.12.012

Taurin, S., Nehoff, H., van Aswegen, T., Rosengren, R. J., & Greish, K. (2014). A novel role for raloxifene nanomicelles in management of castrate resistant prostate cancer. BioMed Research International, 2014, 323594. doi: 10.1155/2014/323594

Taurin, S., Nehoff, H., Diong, J., Larsen, L., Rosengren, R. J., & Greish, K. (2013). Curcumin-derivative nanomicelles for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Journal of Drug Targeting, 21(7), 675-683. doi: 10.3109/1061186X.2013.796955

Cridge, B. J., Larsen, L., & Rosengren, R. J. (2013). Curcumin and its derivatives in breast cancer: Current developments and potential for the treatment of drug-resistant cancers. Oncology Discovery, 1(6). doi: 10.7243/2052-6199-1-6

Taurin, S., Allen, K. M., Scandlyn, M. J., & Rosengren, R. J. (2013). Raloxifene reduces triple-negative breast cancer tumor growth and decreases EGFR expression. International Journal of Oncology, 43(3), 785-792. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2013.2012

Cridge, B. J., & Rosengren, R. J. (2013). Critical appraisal of the potential use of cannabinoids in cancer management. Cancer Management & Research, 5, 301-313. doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S36105

Leung, E., Rewcastle, G. W., Joseph, W. R., Rosengren, R. J., Larsen, L., & Baguley, B. C. (2012). Identification of cyclohexanone derivatives that act as catalytic inhibitors of topoisomerase I: Effects on tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cancer cells. Investigational New Drugs, 30, 2103-2112. doi: 10.1007/s10637-011-9768-4

Gandhy, S. U., Kim, K., Larsen, L., Rosengren, R. J., & Safe, S. (2012). Curcumin and synthetic analogs induce reactive oxygen species and decreases specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors by targeting MicroRNAs. BMC Cancer, 12(1), 564. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-564

Yadav, B., Taurin, S., Larsen, L., & Rosengren, R. J. (2012). RL66 a second-generation curcumin analog has potent in vivo and in vitro anticancer activity in ERnegative breast cancer models. International Journal of Oncology, 41(5), 1723-1732. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1625

Yadav, B., Taurin, S., Larsen, L., & Rosengren, R. J. (2012). RL71, a second-generation curcumin analog, induces apoptosis and downregulates Akt in ER-negative breast cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 41(3), 1119-1127. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1521

Somers-Edgar, T. J., Taurin, S., Larsen, L., Chandramouli, A., Nelson, M. A., & Rosengren, R. J. (2011). Mechanisms for the activity of heterocyclic cyclohexanone curcumin derivatives in estrogen receptor negative human breast cancer cell lines. Investigational New Drugs, 29(1), 87-97. doi: 10.1007/s10637-009-9339-0

Stuart, E. C., Jarvis, R. M., & Rosengren, R. J. (2010). In vitro mechanism of action for the cytotoxicity elicited by the combination of epigallocatechin gallate and raloxifene in MDA-MB-231 cells. Oncology Reports, 24(3), 779-785. doi: 10.3892/or_00000921

Yadav, B., Taurin, S., Rosengren, R. J., Schumacher, M., Diederich, M., Somers-Edgar, T. J., & Larsen, L. (2010). Synthesis and cytotoxic potential of heterocyclic cyclohexanone analogues of curcumin. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 18(18), 6701-6707. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2010.07.063

Fraser, A., Haines, S. R., Stuart, E. C., Scandlyn, M. J., Alexander, A., Somers-Edgar, T. J., & Rosengren, R. J. (2010). Deer velvet supplementation decreases the grade and metastasis of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in the male rat. Food & Chemical Toxicology, 48, 1288-1292. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.02.024

Somers-Edgar, T. J., & Rosengren, R. J. (2009). Coenzyme Q₀ induces apoptosis and modulates the cell cycle in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 20(1), 33-40. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0b013e328314b5c5

Alexander, A., Smith, P. F., & Rosengren, R. J. (2009). Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer. Cancer Letters, 285(1), 6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.04.005

Scandlyn, M. J., Stuart, E. C., Somers-Edgar, T. J., Menzies, A. R., & Rosengren, R. J. (2008). A new role for tamoxifen in oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer when it is combined with epigallocatechin gallate. British Journal of Cancer, 99(7), 1056-1063. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604634

Somers-Edgar, T. J., Scandlyn, M. J., Stuart, E. C., Le Nedelec, M. J., Valentine, S. P., & Rosengren, R. J. (2008). The combination of epigallocatechin gallate and curcumin suppresses ERα-breast cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. International Journal of Cancer, 122(9), 1966-1971.

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Journal - Research Other

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Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology staff profiles