Barrie P. Bode, Ph.D.

Professor

Research Focus

My laboratory studies the role and regulation of amino acid transporters in human cancer cell growth and survival signaling. Specifically, we focus on two amino acid transporters: ASCT2 (encoded by the SLC1A5 gene) and LAT1 (encoded by the SLC7A5 gene).

A bioinformatics study from our laboratory showed that expression of both transporters is coordinately enhanced in a broad spectrum of human cancers compared to corresponding normal tissue. In normal liver, expression of ASCT2 and LAT1 is nearly undetectable, but is robustly increased upon cancerous transformation, making these transporters potential targets for directed therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Both ASCT2 and LAT1 are amino acid exchangers and physically associate with monocarboxylic acid transporters (MCT1/2) in human cancer cells. Work from our laboratory demonstrated an essential role for ASCT2 expression in human liver cancer growth and survival, as its targeted silencing led to rapid growth cessation and programmed cell death, independent of its role in amino acid delivery.

Degrees

Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1991

B.S., Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, 1984

Fields of Interest

Cancer Biology and Molecular Nutrition/Physiology

Grant

Our research is currently supported by Grant #2R15CA108519-02 from the National Cancer Institute.

Selected Publications

• Bode, B.P. (2011). Amino Acid Transporters in Cancer Imaging . In M.M. Goodman & J. McConathy (Eds.), Springer Publishing, New York, NY.
• Rashmi, R., Bode, B.P., Panesar, N., King, S.B., Rudloff, J.R., Gartner, M.R., Koenig, J.M. (2009). Siglec-9 and SHP-1 are differentially expressed in neonatal and adult neutrophils . Pediatric Research, 66, 266–271.
• Fuchs, B.C., Finger, R., Onan, M.C., Bode, B.P. (2007). ASCT2 Silencing Regulates Mammalian Target-of-Rapamycin Growth and Survival Signaling in Human Hepatoma Cells . American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, 293(1), C55–63.
• Fuchs, B.C., Bode, B.P. (2006). Stressing out over survival: Glutamine as a modulator of apoptosis . Journal of Surgical Research, 131, 26–40.
• Fuchs, B.C., Bode, B.P. (2005). Amino Acid Transporters ASCT2 and LAT1 in Cancer: Partners in Crime? . Seminars in Cancer Biology, 15, 254–266.
• Fuchs, B.C., Perez, J.C., Suetterlin, J.E., Chaudhry, S.B., Bode, B.P. (2004). Inducible antisense RNA targeting amino acid transporter ATB0/ASCT2 elicits apoptosis in human hepatoma cells . American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 286, G467–478.
• Bode, B.P., Fuchs, B.C., Hurley, B.C., Conroy, J.L., Suetterlin, J.E., Tanabe, K.K., Rhoads, D.B., Abcouwer, S.F., Souba, W.W. (2002). Molecular and functional analysis of glutamine uptake in human hepatoma and liver-derived cells . American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 283, G1062–G1073.
• Bode, B.P. (2001). Recent molecular advances in mammalian glutamine transport . Journal of Nutrition, 131(9 Suppl), 2475S–2487S.