Dr. Paul Sylvester's Research Interests

• Relationship of hormones and nutrition in breast cancer development and autonomy.
• Mitogenic and apoptotic signal transduction in normal and neoplastic mammary epithelial cells.
• Neuroendocrine regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion and reproductive function.

Currently our laboratory is characterizing the intracellular mechanisms mediating the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of tocotrienols in isolated normal, preneoplastic and neoplastic mouse mammary epithelial cells. Tocotrienols and tocopherols represent the two subgroups of compounds that make up the Vitamin E family.  However, experimental evidence indicates that tocotrienols have significantly greater anticancer activity than tocopherols, suggesting that tocotrienols may have significant value as therapeutic agents for breast cancer prevention and/or treatment.

The chemoprotective effects of tocotrienols are of particular interest because these compounds attenuate growth factor-induced mitogenesis and induce apoptosis at significantly lower doses in tumor versus normal mammary epithelial cells. Characterization of the intracellular mechanism(s) of action of tocotrienols would provide essential information necessary for understanding the potential health benefits of these compounds in preventing and/or reducing the risk of breast cancer in women.