Staff Profile:Dr Philippa Darbre

Name:

Dr Philippa Darbre

Job Title:

Academic, Hopkins Building

Responsibilities:

Reader, Biomedical Sciences

Areas of Interest:

Endocrinology of breast cancer; endocrine disruption

OVERALL AIMS are to study the cellular and molecular basis of action of oestrogen and oestrogen-mimicking compounds on the development, growth and progression of breast cancer cells. Research is focused in two major areas as detailed below.

ENDOCRINE RESISTANCE OF BREAST CANCER: Clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies leave no doubt that oestrogen plays a major role in breast cancer and blockade of oestrogen action can be used as a successful therapeutic strategy to inhibit tumour growth. However, endocrine therapy is invaribly limited by the ability of the cancer cells to escape from growth inhibition imposed through oestrogen deprivation and to grow independently of oestrogen. I have developed human breast cancer cell culture models to investigate molecular mechanisms, and studies are currently focused on finding new ways of inhibiting the oestrogen-independent cells which might have therapeutic benefit.

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION AND BREAST CANCER: The central role of oestrogen in breast cancer poses serious unanswered questions concerning the role of the many environmental chemicals which possess oestrogenic activity and which can enter the human breast. In the modern world, the breast is exposed to numerous oestrogenic compounds through diet, the domestic environment and use of cosmetic products. Studies are focused on determining the cellular and molecular actions of oestrogenic compounds which can be measured in the human breast and on trying to understand how exposure to multiple compounds in the long-term may impact on breast biology. If exposure to complex mixtures of oestrogenic chemicals is a factor in breast cancer development, then a strategy for prevention of breast cancer might become a reality.

Research groups / Centres:

Development and endocrinology research group

Publications:

Y

Jump to: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Number of items: 36.

2012

• Barr, L., Metaxas, G., Harbach, C.A.J., Savoy, L.A. and Darbre, P. (2012) Measurement of paraben concentrations in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast from axilla to sternum. Journal of Applied Toxicology. ISSN 1099-1263 (In Press)

2011

• Darbre, P. D., Pugazhendhi, D. and Mannello, F. (2011) Aluminium and human breast diseases. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 105 (11). pp. 1484-1488. ISSN 0162-0134
• Ray, S. and Darbre, P. (2011) Crosstalk with insulin and dependence on PI3K/Akt/mTOR rather than MAPK pathways in upregulation of basal growth following long-term oestrogen deprivation in three human breast cancer cell lines. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation, 5 (2). pp. 53-65. ISSN 1868-1883
• Mannello, F., Tonti, G. A., Medda, V., Simone , P. and Darbre, P. D. (2011) Analysis of aluminium content and iron homeostasis in nipple aspirate fluids from healthy women and breast cancer-affected patients. Journal of Applied Toxicology. ISSN 1099-1263
• Ray, S., Fry, M. J. and Darbre, P. D. (2011) Enhanced sensitivity to rapamycin following long-term oestrogen deprivation in MCF-7, T-47-D and ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Endocrinology, 208. pp. 21-29. ISSN 0022-0795
• Darbre, P. (2011) Personal care products and breast cancer. In: Nriagu , J. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, Five-Volume Set. Elsevier, Burlington, pp. 395-406. ISBN 9780444522733

2010

• Pugazhendhi, D. and Darbre, P. D. (2010) Differential effects of overexpression of ERalpha and ERbeta in MCF10A immortalised, non-transformed human breast epithelail cells. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation, 1 (3). pp. 117-126. ISSN 1868-1883
• Darbre, P. D. and Charles, A. K. (2010) Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer: evidence for combined involvement of dietary, household and cosmetic xenoestrogens. Anticancer Research, 30 (3). pp. 815-827. ISSN 0250-7005
• Darbre, P. (2010) Exposure to environmental oestrogenic chemicals and breast cancer. Current Medical Literature - Breast Cancer, 22 (4). pp. 113-122. ISSN 0956-6511 [print] 1759-8060 [online]

2009

• Mannello, F., Tonti, G. A. and Darbre, P. D. (2009) Concentration of aluminium in breast cyst fluids collected from women affected by gross cystic breast disease. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 29 (1). pp. 1-6. ISSN 0260-437X
• Charles, A. K. and Darbre, P. D. (2009) Oestrogenic activity of benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and butylphenylmethylpropional (Lilial) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells in vitro. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 29 (5). pp. 422-434. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D. (2009) Underarm antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research, 11. p. 1. ISSN 1465-5411
• Sadler, A. J., Pugazhendhi, D. and Darbre, P. D. (2009) Use of global gene expression patterns in mechanistic studies of oestrogen action in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 114 (1-2). pp. 21-32. ISSN 0960-0760

2008

• Pugazhendhi, D., Watson, K. A., Mills, S., Botting, N., Pope, G. S. and Darbre, P. D. (2008) Effect of sulphation on the oestrogen agonist activity of the phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Endocrinology, 197 (3). pp. 503-515. ISSN 0022-0795
• Darbre, P. D. (2008) Environmental oestrogens and breast cancer. Anticancer Research, 28 (5C). p. 135. ISSN 0250-7005
• Gee, R. H., Charles, A., Taylor, N. and Darbre, P. D. (2008) Oestrogenic and androgenic activity of triclosan in breast cancer cells. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 28 (1). pp. 78-91. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D. and Harvey, P. W. (2008) Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 28 (5). pp. 561-578. ISSN 0260-437X

2007

• Exley, C., Charles, L. M., Barr, L., Martin, C., Polwart, A. and Darbre, P. D. (2007) Aluminium in human breast tissue. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 101 (9). pp. 1344-1346. ISSN 0162-0134
• Pugazhendhi, D., Sadler, A. J. and Darbre, P. D. (2007) Comparison of the global gene expression profiles produced by methylparaben, n-butylparaben and 17 beta-oestradiol in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 27 (1). pp. 67-77. ISSN 0260-437X

2006

• Shaw, L. E., Sadler, A. J., Pugazhendhi, D. and Darbre, P. D. (2006) Changes in oestrogen receptor-alpha and -beta during progression to acquired resistance to tamoxifen and fulvestrant (Faslodex, ICI 182,780) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 99 (1). pp. 19-32. ISSN 0960-0760
• Darbre, P. (2006) Endocrine disrupters - Preface. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 20 (1). vii-x. ISSN 1521-690X
• Darbre, P. D. (2006) Environmental oestrogens, cosmetics and breast cancer. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 20 (1). pp. 121-143. ISSN 1521-690X
• Sadler, A. and Darbre, P. (2006) Expression of adrenomedullin in long-term oestrogen-deprived human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research, 8 (Sup. 2). p. 22. ISSN 1465-5411
• Darbre, P. D. (2006) Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic burden of the human breast. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 26 (3). pp. 191-197. ISSN 0260-437X

2005

• Darbre, P. D. (2005) Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 99 (9). pp. 1912-1919. ISSN 0162-0134
• Matsumura, A., Ghosh, A., Pope, G. S. and Darbre, P. D. (2005) Comparative study of oestrogenic properties of eight phytoestrogens in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 94 (5). pp. 431-443. ISSN 0960-0760
• Pugazhendhi, D., Pope, G. S. and Darbre, P. D. (2005) Oestrogenic activity of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (common metabolite of paraben esters) and methylparaben in human breast cancer cell lines. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 25 (4). pp. 301-309. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D. (2005) Recorded quadrant incidence of female breast cancer in Great Britain suggests a disproportionate increase in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. Anticancer Research, 25 (3C). pp. 2543-2550. ISSN 0250-7005

2004

• Darbre, P. D., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G., Sauer, M. J. and Pope, G. S. (2004) Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24 (1). pp. 5-13. ISSN 0260-437X
• Harvey, P. W. and Darbre, P. (2004) Endocrine disrupters and human health: Could oestrogenic chemicals in body care cosmetics adversely affect breast cancer incidence in women? A review of evidence and call for further research. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24 (3). pp. 167-176. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D. (2004) Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 13 (2). p. 153. ISSN 0959-8278
• Darbre, P. D., Pope, G. S., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G. and Sauer, M. J. (2004) Untitled - reply to Alan M. Jeffrey and Gary M. Williams. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24 (4). pp. 303-304. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D., Pope, G. S., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G. and Sauer, M. J. (2004) Untitled - reply to Christopher Flower. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24 (4). pp. 305-306. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D., Pope, G. S., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G. and Sauer, M. J. (2004) Untitled - reply to Robert Golden and Jay Gandy. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24 (4). pp. 299-301. ISSN 0260-437X

2003

• Darbre, P. D., Byford, J. R., Shaw, L. E., Hall, S., Coldham, N. G., Pope, G. S. and Sauer, M. J. (2003) Oestrogenic activity of benzylparaben. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 23 (1). pp. 43-51. ISSN 0260-437X
• Darbre, P. D. (2003) Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 23 (2). pp. 89-95. ISSN 0260-437X

This list was generated on Thu Feb 23 06:20:59 2012 GMT.