Research Groups

Cancer Molecular and Cell Biology

Group Leader

Research Interests and Description

Group Members

Iqbal Parker

Director, ICGEB Cape Town Component

International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Wernher and Beit Building (South)
UCT Campus
Anzio Road, Observatory 7925
Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

E-mail: iqbal.parker@icgeb.org
Tel: +27-21-4066259
Fax: +27-21-4066060

Education

University of Cape Town, South Africa, BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry, 1975
University of Cape Town, South Africa, PhD, 1979

Career History

Since 2007, Director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa.
Since 2007, DST/NRF Personal Research Chair in Cancer Biology, Professor and Head, UCT, South Africa.
1998-2007, Professor and Head, Division of Medical Biochemistry, UCT, South Africa.
2003-2006, Director of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT.
2001-2003, Director, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT.
Since 1997, Director, MRC/UCT Oesophageal Cancer Research Unit.
1992-1998, Professor and Chair of Cancer Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT.
1990-1993, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry, UCT.
1984-1987, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers Medical School, NY, USA.
1981-1986, Chief Research Officer, Muscle Research Unit, MRU, UCT, South Africa.
1979-1980, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, USA.

Scientific Activity

Research interests focus on the molecular mechanisms of oesophageal cancer. A current project involves identification of differentially expressed genes in normal and tumour oesophageal tissue using genomic (differential display analysis, cDNA microarray analysis) and proteomic (2D-DIGE) approaches. Recent studies have shown the presence of Human Papillomavirus DNA in a large percentage of patients and the same approach is being used to identify genes affected by the HPV E6 and E7 proteins. A second study investigates the role of collagen synthesis and degradation in tumour cells invasion and metastasis.

Numerous talks presented at international meetings and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) in the portfolio, as Chair of the Committee on Symposia.

Selected publications

Torniainen, S., Parker, M.I., Holmberg, V., Lahtela, E., Dandara, C., Jarvela, I. 2009. Screening of variants for lactase persistence/non-persistence in populations from South Africa and Ghana. BMC Genetics 10, 1-5 PubMed link

Abrahams, A., Mowla, S., Parker, M.I., Goding, C.R.,Prince, S. 2008. UV-mediated regulation of the anti-senescence factor, Tbx2. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 2223-223 PubMed link

Davis, E., Teng, H., Bilican, B., Parker, M.I., Liu, B., Carriera, S., Goding, C.R., Prince, S. 2008. Ectopic Tbx2 expression results in polyploidy and cisplatin resistance. Oncogene, 27, 976-98 PubMed link

Donninger, H, Binder, A, Bohm, L, Parker, M.I. 2008. Differential Effects of Novel Tumour- Derived p53 Mutations on the Transformation of NIH 3T3 Cells. Biol. Chem 389, 57-67 PubMed link

van der Watt, P.J., Maske, C.P., Hendricks, D.T., Parker, M.I., Denny, L., Govender, D., Birrer, M.J., Leaner, V.D. 2009. The Karyopherin proteins, Crm1 and Karyopherin beta1, are overexpressed in cervical cancer and are critical for cancer cell survival and proliferation. Int J Cancer 124,1829-1840 PubMed link

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Wang, B., Khachigian, L.M., Birrer, M.J., Esau, L., Zhou, X., Parker, M.I., Hendricks, D.T. 2009. A key role for mediating and Maintaining GRO/CXCR2 proliferative signalling in oesophageal cancer. Mol Cancer Res 5, 755-764 PubMed link

Abrahams, A., Mowla, S., Parker, M.I., Goding, C.R.,Prince, S. 2008. UV Mediated Regulation of the Anti-Senescence Factor, Tbx2. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 2223-223

Copley, L., van der Watt, P., Wirtz, K.W., Parker, M.I., Leaner, V.D. 2008. Photolon™, a chlorin e6 derivative, triggers ROS production and light- dependent cell death via necrosis. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 40, 227-235

Donninger, H, Binder, A, Bohm, L, Parker, M.I. 2008. Differential Effects of Novel Tumour- Derived p53 Mutations on the Transformation of NIH 3T3 Cells. Biol. Chem 389, 57-67

Hunter, R., Kaschula, C.H., Parker, M.I., Caira, M.R., Richards, P., Travis, S., Taute, F., Qwebani, T. 2008. Substituted ajoenes as novel anti-cancer agents. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 18, 5277-5279

Li, D.-P., Dandara, C., Walther, G., Parker, M.I. 2008. Genetic polymorphisms of alcohol metabolizing enzymes: their role in susceptibility to oesophageal cancer. Clin. Chem. Lab. Med. 46, 323-328

Teng, H., Parker, M.I., Prince, S. 2008. Functional characterization of cis-acting elements involved in basal transcription of the human Tbx2 gene: A new insight into the role of Sp1 in transcriptional regulation. Gene, 423, 8-13

Fong, S.F.T., He, Q.-P., Dietzsch, E., Asunction, L., Hollosi, P., Parker, M.I., Csiszar, K. 2007. Lysyl-Oxidase-like-2 Expression is Increased in Colon and Esophageal Tumors and Associated with Less Differentiated Colon Tumors. Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 46, 644-65

Huajian T., Davis, E., Abrahams, A., Mowla, S., Parker M.I., Prince, S.2007. A Role for Tbx2 in the Regulation of the a2(1) Collagen Gene in Human Fibroblasts. J. Cell. Biochem, 102, 618-625

Matsha, T., Donninger, H., Erasmus, R.T., Hendricks, D., Stephen, A., Parker, M.I. 2007. Expression of p53 and its Homolog, p73, in HPV DNA Positive Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Virology 369, 182-190

Dandara, C., LI, D.-P., Walther, G., Parker, M.I. 2006. Gene-Environment Interaction: The Role of SULT1A1 and CYP3A5 Polymorphisms as Risk Modifiers for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oesophagus. Carcinogenesis 27, 791-797

Wang, B., Hendricks, D., Wamunyokoli, F., Parker, M.I. 2006. The GROα/CXCR2 and GROβ/CXCR2 Autocrine Loops Contribute to Cellular Proliferation in Oesophageal Cancer. Cancer Res 66, 3071-3077