David R. Soto Pantoja
Fourth Year Graduate Student, 2007-2008
Education: BS (Biology), 2002, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus / Wake Forest University.
Graduate Program: Molecular Genetics
Laboratory Department: Hypertension and Vascular Research Center
Email: dsotopan@wfubmc.edu
Advisors: Dr. Ann Tallant and Dr. Patricia Gallagher
"As a Wake student I take its motto pro humanitate genuinely, at the hypertension center I have the opportunity to apply my basic science knowledge not only in the laboratory but also to serve my community. I am interested in the molecular basis of breast tumor development. The magnificent combinations of disciplines in the hypertension center allows me to study cancer with unique different views allowing me to have a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving which will enrich my graduate career allowing me to become a resourceful independent scientist in the future"
Current Research:
At Wake I work with my mentors Drs. Ann Tallant and Patricia Gallagher were I investigate the effects of angiotensin-(1-7) on human breast cancer cells. Recent epidemiological studies of hypertensive patients treated with ACE inhibitors show that these patients have less risks of having gender related cancers. Also in published data from our group show that Angiotensin-(1-7) acts as Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell growth regulator. Therefore we want to investigate if these effects are translated to malignant breast cancer cells. Preliminary data shows a regulation of Cyclin dependent kinases and its inhibitors and transcriptional proteins. Also we are working on assessing the effect of the heptapeptide in vivo in nude mice and its effects on the development of tumor angiogenesis. These findings will help more than a quarter of million of women that are diagnosed with breast cancer in the US every year.
Abstracts:
Pantoja DS, Gallagher PE, Tallant EA. "Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer Cell growth by Angiotensin-(1-7)". Proceedings of The 95th American Association for Cancer Research. March 2004.
Poster Presentations:
Pantoja DS, Gallagher PE, Tallant EA. "Effect of Angiotensin-(1-7) in breast cancer cell growth." Wake Forest University PREP Research Day. June 12, 2003.
Pantoja DS, Gallagher PE, Tallant EA. "Effect of Angiotensin-(1-7) in human breast cancer cell growth." Wake Forest University Surgical Sciences Research Day. November 6, 2003.