Professor
Our laboratory investigates ways to prevent colon cancer. Our focus is on the chemoprevention of cancer - “Chemoprevention” is a discipline of cancer research that is less than 20 years old and embraces the idea that cancer can be prevented or precancers can be inhibited from progressing to cancer by the use of natural compounds or pharmaceuticals. We study cancer biology using a number of human cancer cell lines and also utilize novel animal models for colon cancer. Natural products can include substances from wine and green tea, fruits and vegetables, compounds in herbs and spices, vitamins and minerals, and dietary supplements. The lab has an interest in both terrestrial and marine botanicals. Via the pharmaceutical route, drug development has led to the discovery of compounds like tamoxifen for the prevention of breast cancer, aspirin for colon cancer.
Aerodigestive Cancer, Animal Models, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention
Population Science and Prevention Program
Funding Agency Morrison Trust Title Maximizing Dietary Vitamin D to Alleviate Chronic Colitis Status Complete Period 8/2016 - 12/2017 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail Funding Agency Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr. Medical Research Foundation Title Extended Studies of Euglenophycin for Cancer Prevention and Treatment Status Active Period 3/2014 - 12/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail
Funding Agency University of South Carolina Title Herbal and Botanical Preventives for Colon Cancer Status Complete Period - Present Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail Research & Productive Scholarship Grant Funding Agency CPRIT Title Chemoprevention of Colon Cancer by Anti-inflammatory Blockade Using Neem Status Active Period 3/2016 - 8/2019 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail
Showler, AT, Osbrink, WL, Morris JL, Wargovich MJ. Effects of two commercial neem-based insecticides on lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae): deterrence, mortality, and reproduction Biopesticides International 2017 Jun;13(1):1-16. Ramirez AG, Long-Parma, D., Munoz, E., Mendoza, K.D., Harb, C., Holden, A.E., Wargovich, m. An anti-inflammatory dietary intervention to reduce breast cancer recurrence risk: Study design and baseline data Contemporary Clinical Trails 2017 Jun;57:1-7. Morris J, Moseley VR, Cabang AB, Coleman K, Wei, W, Garrett-Mayer, E and Wargovich MJ. Reduction in promotor methylation utilizing EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) restores RXRα expression in human colon cancer cells Oncotarget 2016 May;7(23):35313-35326.
Patel MJ, Tripathy S, Mukhopadyay, KD, Morris, J, Wargovich MJ. A supercritical extract of Neem leaf (A. indica and its bioactive liminoid, nimbolide suppress colon cancer in preclinical models by modulating pro-inflammatory pathways Molecular Carcinogenesis 2018 Jan;. Cabang AB, De Mukhopadhyay K, Meyers S, Morris J, Zimba PV, Wargovich MJ. Therapeutic effects of the euglenoid ichthyotoxin, euglenophycin in colon cancer Oncotarget 2017 Nov;8(61):104347-104358. Luo H, Yang A, Schulte BA, Wargovich MJ, Wang GY. Resveratrol induces premature senescence in lung cancer cells via ROS-mediated DNA damage Plos one 2013 Jan;8(3):60065-60070.
Khoogar R, Kim BY, Morris J, Wargovich MJ. Targeting the Progression of Cancer with Natural Products: A Focus on Gastrointestinal Cancer Am J of Physiol Gastro and Liver Physiol 2016 Apr;310:G629-G644.