Kaushik Biswas, PhD

Asstt. Professor
Division of Molecular Medicine
Ph.D: I.I.C.B, Jadavpur University (2001)

 Tel: 91-33-2569-3217
Fax:  91-33-2355-3886

E-mail: kbiswas_1@yahoo.com    kaushik@bic.boseinst.ernet.in



Research interest

 

  • Role of tumor derived glycosphingolipids in proliferation, migration, metastatic potential of tumor cells

  • Role of tumor derived products in Cancer Cell Signalling

  • Studying signaling events that occur in chronic inflammation induced carcinogenesis

  • Mechanism of tumor induced T cell apoptosis

 

Elicitation of an active immune response in response to an invading tumor has been well documented. However, in majority of cases this kind of immune response, characterized by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), eventually becomes ineffective in either arresting the growth of the tumor or in eradicating the tumor. This is because the tumor cells have developed strategies and mechanisms to make the immune cells dysfunctional. One of these mechanisms is through elaboration of tumor derived products like glycosphingolipids. Our research will aim in not only understanding the mechanism through which these tumor cells render the immune system dysfunctional (focusing mostly on defective T cell signaling) but also try to understand how some of the tumor derived products (like glycosphingolipids) help the tumor cells themselves to cause increased growth and migration and eventually lead to increased metastatic potential and aggressiveness.

The other focus of the lab will be aimed in understanding if and how chronic inflammation in many disease process (focusing mostly on chronic inflammation in gastric pathogenesis) may lead to carcinogenesis. In this aspect, research will primarily focus on understanding the signaling events that lead to chronic inflammation induced carcinogenesis using available model systems.

 

Collaborator :

James H. Finke, PhD.

Staff Scientist,

Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute

Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA

 

List of Publications :

  1. Biswas, S., Biswas, K., Richmond, A., Ko, J. et. al.  J. Immunol., 183, 5050-5058, 2009. “Elevated levels of select gangliosides in T cells from Renal Cell Carcinoma patients is associated with T-cell dysfunction.”

  2. Raval, G., Biswas, S., Rayman, P., Biswas, K., et. al.  J.Immunol., 178, 6642-6652, 2007. “TNF-a Induction of GM2 Expression on Renal Cell Carcinomas Promotes T cell Dysfunction.”  

  3. Biswas, K., Richmond, A., Rayman, P., Biswas, S., et. al.  Cancer Res., 66, 6816-6825, 2006. “GM2 Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma : Potential Role in Tumor Induced T cell Dysfunction.”  

  4. Chattopadhyay, I, Bandyopadhyay, U., Biswas, K., Maity, P. and Banerjee, R.K. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 40, 1397-1408, 2006. “Indomethacin inactivates gastric peroxidase to induce reactive-oxygen mediated gastric mucosal injury and curcumin protects it by preventing peroxidase peroxidase inactivation and scavenging reactive oxygen.”  

  5. Chahlavi, A., Rayman, P., Richmond, A.L., Biswas, K., et. al. Cancer Res., 65 (12), 5428-38, 2005. “Glioblastomas induce T-lymphocyte death by two distinct pathways involving gangliosides and CD70.”  

  6. Bandyopadhyay, U., Biswas, K., Sengupta, A., Moitra, P. et. al. Life Sci., 75, 2867-2878, 2004. “Clinical studies on the effect of Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark extract on gastric secretion and gastroduodenal ulcer.”

  7. Chattopadhyay, I, Nandi, B., Chatterjee, R., Biswas, K. et.al. Inflammopharmacology, 12, 153-176, 2004. “Mechanism of antiulcer effect of Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) leaf extract : effect on H+-K+-ATPase, oxidative damage and apoptosis.”

  8. Biswas, K., Bandyopadhyay, U., Chattopadhyay, I., Varadaraj, A. et. al.  J.Biol.Chem., 278, 10993-11001, 2003. “A novel antioxidant and antiapoptotic role of omeprazole to block gastric ulcer through scavenging of hydroxyl radical.” 

  9. Maity, P., Biswas, K., Roy, S., Banerjee, R.K. and Bandyopadhyay, U., Mol.Cell Biochem., 253, 329-338, 2003. “Smoking and the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcer – recent mechanistic update.”  

  10. Biswas, K., Chatterjee, I., Banerjee, R.K. and Bandyopadhyay, U., Curr. Sci., 82, 1336-1345, 2002. “Biological activity and medicinal uses of Neem ( Azadirachta indica ).”  

  11. Bandyopadhyay, U., Biswas, K., Chatterjee, R., Bandyopadhyay, D., et. al. Life Sci., 71, 2845-2865, 2002. “Gastroprotective effect of Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) bark extract through inhibition of H+-K+-ATPase and scavenging of hydroxyl   radical. ”  

  12. Bandyopadhyay, D., Biswas, K., Bhattacharya, M., Reiter, R.J. and Banerjee, R.K., Current Molecular Medicine, 1, 501 – 513, 2001. “Gastric toxicity and mucosal ulceration induced by oxygen – derived reactive species: protection by melatonin.”  

  13. Bandyopadhyay, D., Biswas, K., Bandyopadhyay, U., Reiter, R.J. and Banerjee, R.K., J. Pineal Res., 29, 143-151, 2000. “Melatonin protects stress – induced gastric lesions by scavenging the endogenous hydroxyl radical. ”  

  14. Bandyopadhyay, U., Biswas, K., Bandyopdhyay, D., Ganguly, C.K. and Banerjee, R.K., Mol. Cell Biochem., 202, 31-36, 1999. “Dexamethasone makes the gastric mucosa susceptible to ulceration by inhibiting prostaglandin synthetase and peroxidase – two important gastroprotective enzymes.”