Cancer Pharmacology Division Home > Research Groups   Overview | Missions and goals | Competencies | People | Area of research | Facilities | Current research | Projects   Download Brochure 262.0KB Overview Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality world over. In 1996, anticancer programme was initiated as the national facility at the Institute with the objective to develop anticancer therapeutics from natural sources such as plants, fungi and bacteria. Later, semi-synthetic and synthetic molecules were also included. We have state of art facilities for in vitro cytotoxicity studies against human cancer cell lines, in vivo murine tumor models for in vivo anticancer studies and in vitro mechanistic studies for carrying out the target based diverse studies for the discovery of novel anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Interest is growing in the posttranslational modifications that comprise mainly the evaluation of histone code and their relationship to cancer development. This is because; the perturbation of normal histone modifications has been associated with undesirable cellular phenotypic changes in cancer. In addition, a small group is also involved in the search for hepatoprotective agents from selected medicinal plants for the development of safe, efficacious, chemically defined, biologically standardized and economical herbal preparation/molecules. Missions and goals Discovery of anticancer therapeutics form natural products. Conducts and supports research, training, and other programs with respect for cancer research. Competencies The group has competencies/expertise in the following area In vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines. In vivo anticancer activity against murine models such as Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor (solid), Sarcoma-180 Ascites, Sarcoma-180 (solid), Methyl cholanthere induced ascites, L1210 Lymphoid leukemia, P388 Lymphocytic leukemia. Event based mechanistic studies Detection of nuclei condensation Detection of apoptosis / necrosis Cell cycle analysis ROS estimation Nitric oxide estimation Mitochondrial membrane potential Tunnel Assay for apoptosis Intracellular Calcium measurement DNA fragmentation Genotoxicity COMET Assay Target based mechanistic studies Apoptotic Signaling Cascades TNF-R1, Fas, DR4, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, Cyt C, Bid, Nf-kB, IkB, Surviivn, HSP70, HSP-90, STAT-3, Akt, PI-3, Telomerase, iNOS , DRP-1, Smac/Diablo, AIF etc. Determination of Caspases activity Topoisomerase I & II People: Sr. NO Name Expertise E-mail 1. AK Saxena In Vitro Anti-cancer Screening aksaxena@iiim.res.in 2. DM Mondhe In Vivo Anti-cancer Screening dmmondhe@iiim.res.in 3. Shashank K Singh Mechanistic Based Anti-cancer Studies sksingh@iiim.res.in 4. Fayaz A Malik Cell Signaling and Tumor Immunology in Cancer Drug Discovery fmalik@iiim.res.in 5. Shashi Bhushan Apoptotic Cell Signaling & Formulation Development sbhushan@iiim.res.in 6. Abid Hamid Dar Epigenetics, Nutrigenomics & Posttranslational Therapeutic Targets in Cancer ahdar@iiim.res.in 7. B. K. Chandan Hepatoprotective activity in vitro and in vivo bkrishan@iiim.ac.in 8. P. R. Sharma Cellular Ultrastructural Changes During Anti-cancer Activity prsharma@iiim.res.in Supporting Staff: Sr. NO Name Sr. No. Name 1. Ravinder Kaur 2 Neelam Sharma 3. Kuldeep Singh 3 Jasbir Singh 5. Santosh Baigra     Students 1. Ajay Kumar 2 Satyam K Agrawal 3. Madhunika Sharma 4 Harish Chandra Pal 5. Irum Sehar 6 Gousia Chashoo 7. Sheema Khan 8 Arpita Saxena 9. Zahoor Ahmad Wani 10 Nidhi Sharma 11. Yasrib Qurishi 12 Tandeep Kaur 13. Rabia Majeed 14 Asif Khurshid Qazi 15. Bilal Ahmad Rah 16 Nitasha Suri Area of research Anticancer Drug Discovery Facilities: Cell Culture Facilitiesc In Vivo Facilities in Animal Isolators Cytometer with Cell Sorter Confocal & Electron Microscope Gel Documentation System ELISA Reader Multiplate Detection Reader (UV-visible, Fluorescence, Illumnicence) Robotic Liquid Handling System Aided MTS Electroblotter PCR Machine( Thermocycler ) Other Accessories [Deep Freezers (-20°C,-80°C); Refrigerated Centrifuges; Protein, RNA & DNA Electrophoretic Apparatus; Magnetic Stirrer; pH Meter; Water Bath; High Precision Weighing Balance etc] Current research : Cancer Drug Discovery Plant extracts, microbial extracts, fungal extracts, semi-synthetic molecules, synthetic molecules are being evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines. The promising extracts are subjected to bio-assay guided fractionation for isolation of active fraction(s)/molecule(s). The active isolates / compounds are subjected to in vivo anticancer activity using murine models to determine their real potential. The isolates / compounds active in vivo are further subjected to target / event based mechanistic studies to determine their mode of action. Projects 1. SUPRA-INSTITUTIONAL PROJECT: Development of novel target based anti- cancer therapeutics (SIP-0027). 2. CSIR NETWORK PROJECT: Discovery and preclinical studies of new bioactive molecules (natural & semi-synthetic) and traditional preparations. (NWP-0037). 3. CSIR NETWORK R & D PROJECT: Biological and chemical transformation of plant compounds for production of value added products of therapeutic/aroma activity (NWP-0009). 4. RC APPROVED PROJECT: Resourcing of biomolecules from medicinal plants and microflora including higher fungi (MLP-3008). DST funded project: Evaluation of 2-chloroethylnitrosourea derivatives of substituted naphthalimides as novel group of anticancer agents.