The University of Toledo

Faculty - Keith A. Crist, Ph.D.

Faculty Appointment Associate Professor, Surgery, Physiology & Pathology

Degree

PhD: University of California at Davis

Post Doctoral

Michigan State University

Research Interests

Dr. Crist's lab is currently interested in the progression of ovarian cancer and the role which matrix metalloproteinases, implicated in progression to metastatic disease, also play in chronic non-healing venous ulcers.

Ovarian cancer is not generally detected until the presence of stage III/IV disease. Initial clinical response to therapy at this stage is often positive but followed by relapse with chemoresistant tumor. We are working with a chemically induced rat model of ovarian carcinogenesis for evaluation of potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic compounds. Comparison of altered gene expression between these and human tumor samples may help to better predict re therapeutic response and optimal therapeutic regimen.

Wound fluid from chronic non-healing venous ulcers is associated with high levels of collagenase activity, predominantly of neutrophil origin. Continuing degradation of collagen matrix may limit the capacity for regranulation of the wound site. Alternative therapies in wound care are being evaluated for their ability to segregate collagenase activity and the implications this has for understanding the biology of wound healing.

Recent Publications

Herzog CR, Crist KA, Sabourin CLK, Kelloff GJ, Boone CW, You M. Chromosome 3p tumor-suppressor gene alterations in cervical carcinomas. Molecular Carcinogenesis 3:159-68, 2001.

Lantry LE, Zhang Z, Crist KA, Wang Y, Hara M, Zeeck A, Lubet RA, You M. Chemopreventive efficacy of promising farnesyltransferase inhibitors. Experimental Cell Research 26:773-790, 2000.

Lantry LE, Zhang A, Yao R, Crist KA, Wang Y, Ohkanda J, Hamilton AD, Sebti SM, Kelloff GJ, Lubet RA, You M. Effect of farnesyltransferase inhibitor FTI-276 on established lung adenomas from A/J mice induced by 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. Carcinogenesis 21:113-116, 2000.

Pohlod-Miller S, Fanning J, Gu P, Crist KA, You M.  Detection of genomic alterations in human endometrial cancer by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186:855-857, 2002.

Wang Y, Hu L, Yao R, Wang M, Crist KA, Grubbs CJ, Johanning GL, Lubet RA, You M. Altered gene expression profile in chemically induced rat mammary adenocarcinomas and its modulation by an aromatase inhibitor. Oncogene 20:7710-7721, 2001.