Scholarly Interests

Dr. Basak’s research focuses on using small molecules in different cancers. His research involved functionalization of mutant p53 protein by employing thiol and redox modulating small molecules. He also worked on inhibition of O6-methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) protein in brain tumors using thiolating and nitrosylating agents. Apart from these, he also has an interest in downregulating NEK2 protein that is aberrantly over expressed in DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) using a variety of small molecule inhibitors.

Selected Publications

Saha, D, Kharbanda A, Essien N, Zhang L, Cooper R, Basak D, Kendrick S, Frett B, Li H. Intramolecular cyclization of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine via a silver mediated/palladium catalyzed C-H activation strategy. Organic Chemistry Frontiers 6 (13):2234-2239 (2019)

• Mostofa AGM, Hossain MK, Basak D, Bin Sayeed MS. Thymoquinone as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer Treatment: Evidence from Preclinical Studies. Frontiers in Pharmacology 8:295 (2017)
• Basak D, Punganuru SR, Srivenugopal KS. Piperlongumine exerts cytotoxic effects against cancer cells with mutant p53 proteins at least in part by restoring the biological functions of the tumor suppressor. International Journal of Oncology 48(4):1426-36 (2016)
• Srivenugopal KS, Rawat A, Niture SK, Paranjpe A, Velu C, Venugopal SN, Madala HR, Basak D, Punganuru SR. Posttranslational Regulation of O6-Methylguanine-DNAMethyltransferase (MGMT) and new opportunities for treatment of brain cancers. Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 16(6):455-64 (2016)
• Punganuru SR, Mostofa AGM, Madala HR, Basak D, Srivenugopal KS. Potent anti-proliferative actions of a non-diuretic glucosamine derivative of ethacrynic acid. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 26:2829-2833 (2016)
• Paranjpe A, Bailey NI, Konduri S, Bobustuc GC, Ali-Osman F, Yusuf MA, Punganuru SR, Madala HR, Basak D, Mostofa A, Srivenugopal KS. New insights into estrogenic regulation of O6-methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) in human breast cancer cells: Co-degradation of ER- α and MGMT proteins by fulvestrant or O6-benzylguanine indicates fresh avenues for therapy. Journal of Biomedical Research 30(5):393-410 (2016)

Publication list via Pubmed:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=debasish+basak

Selected Presentations

• Basak D, Srivenugopal KS. Redox-mediated inactivation of MGMT DNA repair through thiolation or nitrosylation of the active site cysteine145 sensitizes human gliomas to alkylating agents in vitro and in xenograft models. Submitted to American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, April 1-5, 2017, Washington DC, USA
• Mostofa AGM, Basak D, Madala HR, Punganuru SR, Srivenugopal KS. The S-phase checkpoint function of MGMT provides an unexpected rational route to profoundly increase the efficacy of anticancer antimetabolites in cell culture and xenograft models. Submitted to American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, April 1-5, 2017, Washington DC, USA
• Punganuru S, Madala HR, Basak D, Srivenugopal KS. Selective killing of cancer cells by the styryl lactone(R)-goniothalamin is mediated through glutathione conjugation, oxidative stress, and a marked reactivation of the R175H mutant p53 protein. American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, April 16-20, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Basak D, Srivenugopal KS. Thiol-modification induced reactivation of mutant p53 protein in human cancers using a non-toxic stabilized homoglutathione disulfide (American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, April 18-22, 2015, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania