Chitra Thakur, MS, PhD

Chitra Thakur, MS, PhDChitra Thakur
Research Assistant Professor
Stony Brook Cancer Center
Lauterbur Drive Stony Brook, NY 11794
Email: Chitra.Thakur@stonybrookmedicine.edu 

Research Interests and Summary

Breast cancer, environmental carcinogenesis, epigenetics, cancer metastasis, mouse models My research is focused on mineral dust induced gene mdig in mediating breast cancer development and metastasis. I have a broad background in molecular oncology with specific training and expertise in transgenic mouse models for human cancers, pathology, and environmental toxicology in carcinogenesis research. With my skillsets on modeling tumorigenesis via in vitro and in vivo molecular and biochemical approaches, I laid the foundations of mdig research in breast cancer where my work provided the first evidence on the epigenetic regulation of mdig on breast cancer cells in mediating metastasis. I intend to study mdig mediated processes such as major signaling cascades implicated in the epigenetic reprogramming and genomic instability of breast cancer. This research work will reveal useful mechanistic insights about mdig’s role in cancer stem cells, neoplastic transformation and in the metastasis of breast cancer leading to the discovery of novel targets of therapeutic signifigance.

Education 
Institution/ Location Degree Year
Govt. Motilal Science College, Barkatullah University Bhopal, India BS  2004 
Department of Microbiology, Barkatullah University Bhopal, India   MS 2006
University of Wurzburg/ Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany   PhD 2012

Previous and Current Appointments
Year(s) Institution/ Location
2006-2007 Project Research Fellow, Evolutionary and Medical Genetics Laboratory, Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
2007-2012  Graduate School of Life Sciences Fellow at the University of Wurzburg/Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
2012-2017 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Wayne State University, Detroit MI
2017-2019 Research Associate, Wayne State University, Detroit MI 
2019-2021 Research Assistant Professor, Wayne State University, Detroit MI
7/2021-12/2021 Senior Research Scientist, Stony Brook Cancer Center, NY
2022-present Research Assistant Professor, Stony Brook Cancer Center, NY

 

 

 

 

 

Awards and Honors

2021: Postdoctoral Service Award by the Wayne State University
2019: Awarded the CORE INCENTIVE PROGRAM (CIP) funding on the project “Roles of mdig in breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis.”
2017: Selected for the 2nd Annual NIH-Funded Boot Camp on "Big Data Training for Translational Omics Research" Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2017: Travel award for the 2nd Annual NIH-Funded Boot Camp on "Big Data Training for Translational Omics Research" Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2016: Outstanding poster award, Annual Research symposium at Wayne State University
2015: Outstanding poster award, Annual Research symposium at Wayne State University
2007: DFG German Excellence Initiative award for doctoral studies
2006: University topper in Microbiology, Master of Science of the year
2004: College topper Bachelor of Science of the year  

Academic Services and Leadership Roles

2021-Co-spokesperson of the Graduate Faculty Membership Task Force of the Wayne State University
2019-2021 Speaker of the Pharmacy Career Fair-PPR 4255, Wayne State University
2019-Ex-officio advisory member of the Wayne State Post-Doctoral Association (WSU-PDA)
2018-Chair of the Wayne State Post-Doctoral Association (WSU-PDA)
2015-2017 Vice President of the Wayne State Post-Doctoral Association (WSU-PDA)
2015-2016 Chair of the Professional Development Committee of the WSU-PDA
2020 Fall- Course Coordinator for the course “PSC 6800: Introduction to Research” at Wayne State University
2021 Winter- Course Coordinator for the course “PSC 6285- Doctor of Pharmacy Program, Research Seminar Series” at Wayne State University
2021 Winter- Served as the PPS Facilitator [Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving, PPS] for PHA [Pharmacy] 5135 courses at Wayne State University

Professional Services


Scientific Journal Reviewer

Medicinal Research Reviews
Scientific Reports
WIREs Nanomedicine and Nano biotechnology
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
Molecules
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Cancer and Clinical Oncology
Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy
Current Biomarker Findings
Lung Cancer: Targets and Therapy
Oncotargets and Therapy
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Frontiers in Oncology  

Recent Publications

1. Thakur, C*., N.J. Carruthers, Q. Zhang, L. Xu, Y. Fu, Z. Bi, Y. Qin, W. Zhang, P. Wadgaonkar, B. Almutairy, C. Guo, P. M. Stemmer and F. Chen* (2022). "Depletion of Mdig Changes Proteomic Profiling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells." Biomedicines 10(8). (*corresponding authors)

2. Thakur, C*., Y. Qiu, Y. Fu, Z. Bi, W. Zhang, H. Ji and F. Chen* (2022). "Epigenetics and environment in breast cancer: New paradigms for anti-cancer therapies." Frontiers in Oncology 12. (*corresponding authors) 

3. Thakur, C., Y. Qin, Q. Zhang, N.J. Carruthers, M. Yu, Z. Bi, Y. Fu, P. Wadgaonkar, B. Almutairy, A. Seno, P. M. Stemmer and F. Chen (2022). "Deletion of mdig enhances H3K36me3 and metastatic potential of the triple negative breast cancer cells. iScience 25(10): 105057 Cancer Lett 346(2):257-263

4. Wadgaonkar, P.; Bi, Z.; Wan, J.; Fu, Y.; Zhang, Q.; Almutairy, B.; Zhang, W.; Qiu, Y.; Thakur, C.; Hüttemann, M.; Chen, F. Arsenic Activates the ER Stress-Associated Unfolded Protein Response via the Activating Transcription Factor 6 in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 967

5. Svenson, D. W., C. J. Davidson, C. Thakur and S. E. Bowen (2022). "ACUTE EXPOSURE TO ABUSE-LIKE CONCENTRATIONS OF TOLUENE INDUCES INFLAMMATION IN MOUSE LUNGS AND BRAIN." J Appl Toxicol. doi: 10.1002/jat.4285. Online ahead of print

6. Almutairy, B., Y. Fu, Z. Bi, W. Zhang, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Qiu, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2022). "Arsenic activates STAT3 signaling during the transformation of the human bronchial epithelial cells." Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 436: 115884

7. Bi, Z., Y. Fu, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Qiu, B. Almutairy, W. Zhang, A. Seno, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2022). "New Discoveries and Ambiguities of Nrf2 and ATF3 Signaling in Environmental Arsenic-Induced Carcinogenesis." Antioxidants 11(1): 77.

8.  Fu, Y., Z. Bi, L. Li, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Qiu, B. Almutairy, W. Zhang, A. Seno, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2022). "Metabolomic dynamics of the arsenic-transformed bronchial epithelial cells and the derived cancer stem-like cells." Int J Biol Sci 18(1): 301-314.

9.  Shi, J., C. Thakur*, Y. Zhao, Y. Li, L. Nie, Q. Zhang, Z. Bi, Y. Fu, P. Wadgaonkar, B. Almutairy, L. Xu, W. Zhang, Y. Qiu, M. Rice, H. Cui and F. Chen* (2021). "Pathological and Prognostic Indications of the mdig Gene in Human Lung Cancer." Cell Physiol Biochem 55(S2): 13-28 (*corresponding author).

10. Qiu, Y., Z. Bi, Y. Fu, L. Li, P. Wadgaonkar, B. Almutairy, W. Zhang, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2021). "Profiling of histone H3 trimethylation and distinct epigenetic pattern of chromosome Y in the transformed bronchial epithelial cells induced by consecutive arsenic treatment." Genes & Diseases.

11. Q. Zhang, Y. Fu, A. Seno, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Qiu, B. Almutairy, L. Xu, W. Zhang, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2021). "Cooperation between NRF2-mediated transcription and MDIG-dependent epigenetic modifications in arsenic-induced carcinogenesis and cancer stem cells." Semin Cancer Biol 76: 310-318.

12. Zhang, Q., P. Wadgaonkar, L. Xu, C. Thakur, Y. Fu, Z. Bi, Y. Qiu, B. Almutairy, W. Zhang, P. Stemmer and F. Chen (2021). "Environmentally-induced mdig contributes to the severity of COVID-19 through fostering expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor NRPs and glycan metabolism." Theranostics 11(16): 7970-7983.

13. Bi, Z., Q. Zhang, Y. Fu, P. Wadgaonkar, W. Zhang, B. Almutairy, L. Xu, M. Rice, Y. Qiu, C. Thakur and F. Chen (2020). "Nrf2 and HIF1α converge to arsenic-induced metabolic reprogramming and the formation of the cancer stem-like cells." Theranostics 10(9): 4134-4149.

14.  Zhang, Q., C. Thakur, Y. Fu, Z. Bi, P. Wadgaonkar, L. Xu, Z. Liu, W. Liu, J. Wang, B. L. Kidder and F. Chen (2020). "Mdig promotes oncogenic gene expression through antagonizing repressive histone methylation markers." Theranostics 10(2): 602-614.

15. Zhang, Q., Y. Fu, C. Thakur, Z. Bi, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Qiu, L. Xu, M. Rice, W. Zhang, B. Almutairy and F. Chen (2020). "CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing causes alternative splicing of the targeting mRNA." Biochem Biophys Res Commun 528(1): 54-61.

16. Thakur, C. and F. Chen (2019). "Connections between metabolism and epigenetics in cancers." Semin Cancer Biol 57: 52-58.

17. Li, L., Z. Bi, P. Wadgaonkar, Y. Lu, Q. Zhang, Y. Fu, C. Thakur, L. Wang and F. Chen (2019). "Metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming in the arsenic-induced cancer stem cells." Semin Cancer Biol 57: 10-18.

18. Zhang, Q., C. Thakur, J. Shi, J. Sun, Y. Fu, P. Stemmer and F. Chen (2019). "New discoveries of mdig in the epigenetic regulation of cancers." Semin Cancer Biol 57: 27-35.

19. Thakur, C*., U. R. Rapp and T. Rudel (2018). "Cysts mark the early stage of metastatic tumor development in non-small cell lung cancer." Oncotarget 9(5): 6518-6535 (*corresponding author).

20. Thakur, C., B. Chen, L. Li, Q. Zhang, Z. Q. Yang and F. Chen (2018). "Loss of mdig expression enhances DNA and histone methylation and metastasis of aggressive breast cancer." Signal Transduct Target Ther 3: 25.

21. Kumar, S. A., C. Thakur, L. Li, H. Cui and F. Chen (2017). "Pathological and prognostic role of mdig in pancreatic cancer." Genes Cancer 8(7-8): 650-658.

22. Wu, K., L. Li, C. Thakur, Y. Lu, X. Zhang, Z. Yi and F. Chen (2016). "Proteomic Characterization of the World Trade Center dust-activated mdig and c-myc signaling circuit linked to multiple myeloma." Sci Rep 6: 36305.

23. Thakur, C., M. Wolfarth, J. Sun, Y. Zhang, Y. Lu, L. Battelli, D. W. Porter and F. Chen (2015). "Oncoprotein mdig contributes to silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by altering balance between Th17 and Treg T cells." Oncotarget 6(6): 3722-3736.

24. Thakur, C. and F. Chen (2015). "Current understanding of mdig/MINA in human cancers." Genes Cancer 6(7-8): 288-302.

25. Thakur, C., Y. Lu, J. Sun, M. Yu, B. Chen and F. Chen (2014). "Increased expression of mdig predicts poorer survival of the breast cancer patients." Gene 535(2): 218-224.

26. Sun, J., M. Yu, Y. Lu, C. Thakur, B. Chen, P. Qiu, H. Zhao and F. Chen (2014). "Carcinogenic metalloid arsenic induces expression of mdig oncogene through JNK and STAT3 activation." Cancer Lett 346(2): 257-263.

27. Li, L., P. Qiu, B. Chen, Y. Lu, K. Wu, C. Thakur, Q. Chang, J. Sun and F. Chen (2014). "Reactive oxygen species contribute to arsenic-induced EZH2 phosphorylation in human bronchial epithelial cells and lung cancer cells." Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 276(3): 165-170.

28. Kopp, F., A. Hermawan, P. S. Oak, V. K. Ulaganathan, A. Herrmann, N. Elnikhely, C. Thakur, Z. Xiao, P. Knyazev, B. Ataseven, R. Savai, E. Wagner and A. Roidl (2014). "Sequential Salinomycin Treatment Results in Resistance Formation through Clonal Selection of Epithelial-Like Tumor Cells." Transl Oncol 7(6): 702-711.

29. Chang, Q., B. Chen, C. Thakur, Y. Lu and F. Chen (2014). "Arsenic-induced sub-lethal stress reprograms human bronchial epithelial cells to CD61¯ cancer stem cells." Oncotarget 5(5): 1290-1303.

30. Yu, M., J. Sun, C. Thakur, B. Chen, Y. Lu, H. Zhao and F. Chen (2014). "Paradoxical roles of mineral dust induced gene on cell proliferation and migration/invasion." PLoS One 9(2): e87998.

31. Wu, K., Q. Chang, Y. Lu, P. Qiu, B. Chen, C. Thakur, J. Sun, L. Li, A. Kowluru and F. Chen (2013). "Gefitinib resistance resulted from STAT3-mediated Akt activation in lung cancer cells." Oncotarget 4(12): 2430-2438.

32. Chen, B., M. Yu, Q. Chang, Y. Lu, C. Thakur, D. Ma, Z. Yi and F. Chen (2013). "Mdig de-represses H19 large intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) by down-regulating H3K9me3 and heterochromatin." Oncotarget 4(9): 1427-1437.

33. Oak, P. S., F. Kopp, C. Thakur, J. W. Ellwart, U. R. Rapp, A. Ullrich, E. Wagner, P. Knyazev and A. Roidl (2012). "Combinatorial treatment of mammospheres with trastuzumab and salinomycin efficiently targets HER2-positive cancer cells and cancer stem cells." Int J Cancer 131(12): 2808-2819.

34. Ceteci, F., S. Ceteci, E. Zanucco, C. Thakur, M. Becker, N. El-Nikhely, L. Fink, W. Seeger, R. Savai and U. R. Rapp (2012). "E-cadherin controls bronchiolar progenitor cells and onset of preneoplastic lesions in mice." Neoplasia 14(12): 1164-1177.

35. Ceteci, F., J. Xu, S. Ceteci, E. Zanucco, C. Thakur and U. R. Rapp (2011). "Conditional expression of oncogenic C-RAF in mouse pulmonary epithelial cells reveals differential tumorigenesis and induction of autophagy leading to tumor regression." Neoplasia 13(11): 1005-1018.

Book Chapters

36. Thakur, C. (2019). Chapter 2 - An Overview, Current Challenges of Drug Resistance, and Targeting Metastasis Associated With Lung Cancer. Nanotechnology-Based Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Lung Cancer. P. Kesharwani, Academic Press: 21-38

37. Thakur, C. (2018). Chapter 2 - Angiogenesis in Brain Tumors. Nanotechnology-Based Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Tumors. P. Kesharwani and U. Gupta, Academic Press: 27-47

PubMed My Bibliography
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/chitra.thakur.1/bibliography/public/

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=-MMW4LEAAAAJ&hl=en