Identification of new therapeutic molecules against breast cancer: We are involved in characterizing new entity of synthetic/natural source against breast cancer. We do extensive in vitro screening and identification of mechanism of action of new compounds in a panel of breast carcinoma cell lines including MCF-7, MDA-MB-231. We use DMBA-induced mammary tumor and other in vivo models for efficacy testing and studying mechanism of promising new lead molecules.
Selected Publications in the area:

• Parihar S, Kumar A, Chaturvedi AK, Sachan NK, Luqman S, Changkija B, Manohar M, Prakash O, Chanda D, Khan F, Chanotiya CS, Shanker K, Dwivedi A, Konwar R, Negi AS. (2013) Synthesis of combretastatin A4 analogues on steroidal framework and their anti-breast cancer activity. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2013 Feb 28. doi:pii: S0960-0760(13)00040-X. 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.02.009. [Epub ahead of print].
• Gupta A., Asthana S., Konwar R., Chourasia M.K. (2013). An Insight into Potential of Nanoparticles-Assisted Chemotherapy of Cancer Using Gemcitabine and Its Fatty Acid Prodrug: A Comparative Study. J. Biomed. Nanotechnol. 9(5), 915-925.
• Saxena R., Chandra V., Manohar M., Hajela K., Debnath U., Prabhakar Y. S., Saini K. S., Konwar R., Kumar S., Megu K., Roy B.G., Dwivedi A. (2013) Chemotherapeutic potential of 2-[piperidinoethoxyphenyl]-3-phenyl-2H-benzo(b)pyran in estrogen receptor- negative breast cancer cells: action via prevention of EGFR activation and combined inhibition of PI-3-K/Akt/FOXO and MEK/Erk/AP-1 pathways. PLoS One. 8(6):e66246.
• Ajay A, Sharma S, Gupt MP, Bajpai V, Hamidullah, Kumar B, Kaushik MP, Konwar R, Ampapathi RS, Tripathi RP. (2012) Diversity oriented synthesis of pyran based polyfunctional stereogenic macrocyles and their conformational studies. Org Lett. 14(17):4306-9.
• Chakravarti B, Maurya R, Siddiqui JA, Bid HK, Rajendran SM, Yadav PP, Konwar R (2012) In vitro anti-breast cancer activity of ethanolic extract of Wrightia tomentosa: Role of pro-apoptotic effects of oleanolic acid and urosolic acid. J Ethnopharmacol 142(1):72-79.
• Parihar S, Gupta A, Chaturvedi AK, Agarwal J, Luqman S, Changkija B, Manohar M, Chanda D, Chanotiya CS, Shanker K, Dwivedi A, Konwar R, Negi AS (2012). Gallic acid based steroidal phenstatin analogues for selective targeting of breast cancer cells through inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Steroids 77(8-9):878-886.
• Kumar A, Tripathi VD, Kumar P, Gupta LP, Akanksha, Trivedi R, Bid HK, Nayak VL, Siddiqui JA, Chakravarti B, Saxena R, Dwivedi A, Siddiquee MI, Siddiqui U, Konwar R, and Chattopadhya N (2011) Design and synthesis of 1,3-biarylsulfanyl derivatives a new anti-breast cancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem. 19(18):5409-19.
• Chakravarti B, Siddiqui JA, Dwivedi SK, Deshpande S, Samanta K, Bhatta RS, Panda G, Prabhakar YS, Konwar R, Sanyal S, Chattopdhyay N. (2011) Specific Targeting of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Signaling in Human Estrogen Dependent Breast Cancer Cell by a Novel Tyrosine-based Benzoxazepine Derivative. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 338 (1-2):68-78.
• Sashidhara KV, Rosaiah JN, Kumar M, Gara RK, Nayak LV, Srivastava K, Bid HK, Konwar R (2010). Neo-tanshinlactone inspired synthesis, in vitro evaluation of novel substituted benzocoumarin derivatives as potent anti-breast cancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 20(23):7127-31.
• Sharma A, Chakravarti B, Gupt MP, Siddiqui JA., Konwar R, Tripathi RP. (2010). Synthesis and anti breast cancer activity of biphenyl based chalcones. Bioorg Med Chem, 18(13):4711-4720.
• Gupta U, Dwivedi SK, Bid HK, Konwar R, Jain NK. (2010).Ligand anchored dendrimers based nanoconstructs for effective targeting to cancer cells. Int J Pharm. Jun 30;393(1-2):185-96.
• Kumar S, Deshpande S, Chandra V, Kitchlu S, Dwivedi A, Nayak VL, Konwar R, Prabhakar YS, Sahu DP (2009). Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,3,4-triarylbenzopyran derivatives as SERM and anti-breast cancer agent Bioorg. Med Chem.. 17:19, 6832-6840.
• Reddy KP, Bid HK, Nayak VL, Chaudhary P, Chaturvedi JP, Arya KR,  Konwar R, Narender T. (2009) In-vitro and In-vivo Anticancer activity of 2-Deacetoxytaxnine J and Synthesis of Novel taxoids and their In-vitro Anticancer Activity. Euro J Med Chem 44:3947-3953.
• Shankar R, Chakravarti B, Singh US, Dwivedi SD, Kumar H, Konwar R, Kharkwal G, Chandra V, Dwivedi A, Hajela K (2009). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 3,4,6-Triaryl- 2-Pyranones as a Potential New Class of Anti-breast Cancer Agents. Bioorg. Med Chem. Jun 1;17(11):3847-56.
• Yadav PP., Arora A, Bid HK., Konwar R, Kanojiya S (2007). New cassane butenolide hemiketal diterpenes from the marine creeper Caesalpinia bonduc and their antiproliferative activity. Tetrahedron Lett.  1 October, 48(40):7194-7198.

Molecular genetics of breast cancer and cytokine biology in initiation and progression of breast cancer:We are interested in molecular genetics and other biomarker studies in breast cancer patients. We mostly investigate cytokines as candidate for gene polymorphism studies in patients with collaboration of clinician specialist. Along with this, we are also investigating some immunological aspect of breast cancer, especially role of few cytokines in breast cancer initiation and progression. We also want to understand the complexities of interactions of cytokines with other class of biomolecules like hormones/vitamins in breast cancer.
Selected Publications in the area:

• Pooja S, Chaudhary P, Nayak LV, Rajender S, Saini KS, Deol D, Kumar S, Bid HK, Konwar R. (2012) Polymorphic variations in IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 genes, their circulating serum levels and breast cancer risk in Indian women. Cytokine 60(1):122-8.
• Hammidullah, Bendangla Changkija, Rituraj Konwar (2012) Role of Interleukin-10 in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 133(1):11-21. (review)
• Pooja S, Francis A, Bid HK, Kumar S, Rajender S, Ramalingam K, Thangaraj K, Konwar R. (2011). Role of ethnic variations in TNF-α and TNF-β polymorphisms and risk of breast cancer in India. Breast Cancer Res Treat 126:739-47.
• Konwar R, Manchanda PK, Chaudhary P, Nayak VL, Singh V, Bid HK (2010). Glutathione S-transferase Gene Variants and Risk of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in a North Indian Population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 11(2):365-70.
• Bid HK, Konwar R, Saxena M, Chaudhari P, Aggarwal CG and Banerjee M (2010). Association of Glutathione S-transferase GSTM1, T1 & P1 gene polymorphisms with Type II diabetes mellitus in North India. J Post Grad. Med56:176-181.
• Konwar R, Chaudhary P, Kumar S, Mishra D, Chattopadhyay N, Bid HK (2009). Breast Cancer Risk Associated with Polymorphisms of IL-1RN and IL-4 Gene in Indian Women. Oncology Res 17(8):367-72.
• Bid HK, Konwar R, Aggarwal CG, Gautam S, Nayak VL, Banerjee M (2009). Vitamin D receptor (Fok-I, Bsm-I & Taq-I) gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A North Indian Study. Indian J Med Sci. May;63(5):187-94.
• Konwar R, Gara RK, Singh MM, Chattopadhya N, Bid HK (2008) Polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Urology 71: 868-872.
• Konwar R, Chattopadhyay N, Bid HK (2008). Genetic Polymorphism and Pathogenesis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BJU Int102(5):536-44. (review)

Karan Singh Saini (CSIR-SRF): Interaction of androgen and cytokine in breast cancer
Shivani Dixit (UGC-SRF): Indentifying new Vitamin D analogue and their role in breast cancer
Hamidullah (DBT-JRF): Investigating role of IL-10 in breast cancer
Jyotsna Singh (DST-Inspire Fellow): IGF-1 pathway/inhibitors on EMT in breast cancer
Ashutosh Arun (CSIR-JRF): Cytokines in breast cancer
Amar Nath (Project Research Associate, PROGRAM): Studying miRNA in follicullogenesis
Sonam Dwivedi (Project Fellow, BIODISCOVERY): Characterizing anti-cancer peptides
Ram Karan (Lab Assistant)