
Tanya Das
Emeritus Scientist
Tanya Das
Emeritus Scientist, Division of Molecular Medicine
PhD: University of Calcutta, 1989
Previous appointments:
1990-1992 Research Associate
1992-1993 Fellow Doctor
1994-1995 Pool Officer Indian
Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata
1995-1996 Pool
Officer Bose
Institute, Kolkata
1996-2000 Research Scientist Bose Institute, Kolkata
Research interests:
(a) To understand the contribution of cancer stem cells in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis : Is cancer a stem cell disease?
(b) Role of cancer stem cells in drug-resistance: A mechanistic evaluation for targeting
(c) Cancer stem cells and exosome signaling
(c) To map the molecular mechanisms underlying assymetric division of cancer stem cells: An approach towards targeting
(e) Repurposing of FDA-approved, commonly used, affordable drugs like aspirin for sensitizing highly resistant cancer stem cells
(f) Metabolomic approach towards targeting cancer stem cells: Role of hexokinase 2
(f) Contribution of cancer stem cells in immuno-editing: Involvement of macrophages and T cells
Contact:
Address: |
Division of Molecular Medicine Centenary Campus Bose Institute P-1/12 C.I.T. Scheme VII-M Kolkata - 700054, India |
E-Mail: | tanya[at]jcbose.ac.in |
Phone: | +91-33-25693257 |
Research:
To develop targeted therapy against cancer stem cells
Cancer is a multifactorial disease that involves de-regulation of various signaling pathways. Our aim is to develop a multiple signal modulation therapy of cancer adopting different approaches, i.e., (i) to induce apoptosis even in drug-resistant cancers, (ii) to retard metastasis, and (ii) to inhibit angiogenesis, in cancer cells. According to the recent hypothesis, tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug-resistance are driven by a limited subpopulation of tumor-initiating cells, i.e., cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs retain stem like properties, e.g., ability to self renew, increased proliferative capacity, and ability to differentiate into different lineages. Recent aim of our study is to uproot cancer from its origin by understanding the basic properties of CSCs and targeting them directly. To that end, my laboratory intends to map the molecular mechanisms of CSC-induced drug-resistance, metastasis, and angiogenesis in tumor-bearer and to repurpose commonly used FDA-approved drugs, e.g., aspirin, metformin, etc., and alternative medicines like thuja (homeopathy) in targeting CSCs. Aim of this study is also to delineate the fundamental properties of cancer stem cells in relation to their role in modulating the immune system so that pro-CSC immunity, which might be responsible for the failure of immunotherapy, can be targeted with the final aim of developing an effective immunotherapy of cancer.
Publications:
A. In peer reviewed journals
1.
1. Chakraborti
S, Chakraborty S, Saha S, Manna A, Banerjee S, Adhikary A, Sarwar S, Hazra TK, Das T, Chakrabarti P. PEG-functionalized zinc oxide
nanoparticles induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells through reactive oxygen
species-dependent impairment of DNA damage repair enzyme NEIL2. Free Radic Biol Med. 103:35-47.
doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.11.048, 2017 (Das
T and Chakrabarti P both are corresponding authors)
2.
Saha S, Mukherjee S, Khan P, Kajal K, Mazumdar
M, Manna A, Mukherjee S, De S, Jana D, Sarkar DK, Das T. Aspirin Suppresses the
Acquisition of Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer by Disrupting an NFκB-IL6
Signaling Axis Responsible for the Generation of Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Res. 2016 76(7):2000-12. doi:
10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-1360. (with cover page illustration from this work)
3. Mukherjee S, Manna A, Bhattacharjee P,
Mazumdar M, Saha S, Chakraborty S, Guha D, Adhikary A,
Jana D, Gorain M, Mukherjee S, Kundu GC,
Sarkar DK and Das T. Non-migratory tumorigenic intrinsic
cancer stem cells ensure tumor metastasis by continuous generation of CXCR4+
migrating cancer stem cells. Oncogene
doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.26., 2016
Recognition:
- Fellow of National Academy of Sciences (Allahabad), 2016
- RajKristo Dutta Memorial Award of Indian Science Congress Association, India, 2014
- Prof. P. B. Sen Memorial Oration Award of Physiological Society of India, 2012
- Sananda Nihar Samman , 2012
- Fellow of WB Academy of Science, India, and Fellow of Physiological Society, India , 2011
- National Young Woman Bio-scientist Award from DBT, Govt. of India , 2004
- Rupa Chakrabarty Memorial Award from Bethune College, Kolkata, for excellence in Science. ,
- Banglar Gourab Award for excellence in science, from Social Welfare Organization ‘Rupamanjari’, India ,
- Seva Samman for contribution in science and culture from Dakshin Kolkata Krira-O-Sangskriti Sangstha, India,
- Woman of the Year Award from Anwesa (a social welfare organization), India, for contribution in science and culture,
Teaching:
Board Member of Integrated M.Sc/Ph.DS course of Bose Institute
Teaching:
For Integrated M.Sc./Ph.D. students:
1st semester: Co-ordinator of Cell Biology and teach in the same course
2nd semester: Co-ordinator of Cell Signaling and Developmental Biology courses and teach in Cell Signaling course
3rd semester: Co-ordinator of Specialization 'Molecular and Cellular Biology', and teach in the same course
For Ph.D. students:
Co-ordinator of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, and teach in the same course
Students:
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