Skip to main content
Darina Lazarova, PhD

Associate Professor of Molecular Biology
Department of Medical Education
Master of Biomedical Sciences Program
Research & Scholarship
North Campus

LOCATION(S)
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Medical Sciences Building
525 Pine St.
Office 3042
Scranton, PA 18509
570-504-9645
Fax: 507-504-9639
dlazarova@som.geisinger.edu

Darina Lazarova, PhD

Research interests

Darina Lazarova, PhD, is associate professor of molecular biology in the Department of Medical Education. She received her PhD in cell biology at Fordham University, New York, and did her postdoctoral work at Yale University School of Medicine. Her research interests include the molecular mechanisms by which histone deacetylase inhibitors exercise their effects on cancer cells, the networks established between major signaling pathways that allow malignant cells to resist therapeutic interventions and the modulation of these networks to overcome the robustness of the tumors.

Student research opportunities

All projects described under “Research interests” are opportunities for student research involvement.

Recent publications

  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova D. Hypothesis: Obesity Is Associated with a Lower Mutation Threshold in Colon Cancer. J Cancer, 6(9): 825-831; 2015.
  • Lazarova D, Bordonaro M. Vimentin, colon cancer progression and resistance to butyrate and other HDACis. J Cell Mol Medicine, DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12850; 2016.
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova D. Determination of the role of CBP- and p300-mediated Wnt signaling on colonic cells. JMIR Res Protoc, 5(2): e66, DOI: 10.2196/resprot.5495, 2016.
  • Cho Y, Gutierrez L, Bordonaro M, Russo D, Anzelmi‎ F, Hooven JT, Cerra C, Lazarova DL. Effects of propolis and gamma-cyclodextrin on intestinal neoplasia in normal weight and obese mice. Cancer Med. 5(9):2448-58, 2016.
  • Bordonaro M., Shirasawa S, Lazarova DL. In hyperthermia increased ERK and WNT signaling suppress colorectal cancer cell growth. Cancers 8(5), pii: E49, 2016.
  • Lazarova D, Bordonaro, M.  ZEB1 Mediates Drug Resistance and EMT in p300-Deficient CRC. J Cancer 2017; 8(8): 1453-1459. Doi:10.7150/jca.18762.
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL. CREB-binding protein, p300, butyrate, and Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 21(27): 8238-8248; 2015.
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova D. Hypothesis: Obesity Is Associated with a Lower Mutation Threshold in Colon Cancer. J Cancer, 6(9): 825-831; 2015.
  • Bordonaro, M., Drago, E., Atamna, W., and Lazarova, D.L. Comprehensive suppression of all apoptosis-induced proliferation pathways as a proposed approach to colorectal cancer prevention and therapy. PLoS One 9: e115068 (2014).
  • Bordonaro, M., and Lazarova, D.L. Hypothesis: cell signaling influences age-related risk of colorectal cancer. J. Cell. Mol. Med. 19: 74-81 (2014).
  • Lazarova, D.L., Chiaro, C., and Bordonaro, M. Butyrate induced changes in Wnt-signaling specific gene expression in colorectal cancer cells. BMC Research Notes 7: 226 (2014).
  • Bordonaro, M., and Lazarova, D.L. Butyrate, WNT signaling, and colorectal cancer. In: Butyrate: Food sources, functions and health benefits. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (Hauppauge, NY) (2014).
  • Zeng, H., Lazarova, D.L., and Bordonaro, M. Mechanisms linking dietary fiber, gut microbiota and colon cancer prevention. World J. Gastrointestinal Oncol. 6 (2): 1-10 (2014).
  • Bordonaro, M., Venema, K., Putri, A.K., and Lazarova, D.L. Approaches that ascertain the role of dietary compounds in colonic cancer cells. World J. Gastrointestinal Oncol. 2014; 6 (1): 1-10 (2014). Full Text
  • Darina Lazarova1, Andrew Lee1, Terrence Wong1, Brigitte Marian2, Christopher Chiaro1, Christian Rainey3, Michael Bordonaro1. Modulation of Wnt Activity and Cell Physiology by Butyrate in LT97 Microadenoma Cells. J. Cancer. 2014; 5(3): 203-213. doi: 10.7150/jca.8569. Full Text
  • Huawei Zeng, Darina L Lazarova, Michael Bordonaro. Mechanisms linking dietary fiber, gut microbiota and colon cancer prevention. World J Gastrointest Oncol. Feb 2014; 15; 6(2): 41–51 . doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v6.i2.41
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL. Chapter 8: Butyrate, WNT Signaling and Colorectal Cancer, Cong-Jun Li (Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Maryland, USA) Butyrate: Food Sources, Functions and Health Benefits 2014. Biochemistry Research Trends . ISBN: 978-1-63117-657-9
  • Bordonaro M, Venema K, Putri AK, Lazarova, D.L. Approaches that ascertain the role of dietary compounds in colonic cancer cells. World J. Gastrointestinal Oncol. In Press (2013).
  • Drago E., Bordonaro M., Lee S., Atamna W., Lazarova DL. Propolis Augments Apoptosis Induced by Butyrate via Targeting Cell Survival Pathways. PLoS One. 8(9):e73151; 2013.
  • Lazarova DL, Wong T, Chiaro C, Drago E, Bordonaro M. p300 Influences Butyrate-Mediated WNT Hyperactivation In Colorectal Cancer Cells. J. Cancer 4:491-501, 2013.
  • Lazarova, DL, Chiaro C,, Wong T, Drago E, Rainey A, O’Malley S, Bordonaro M. CBP Activity Mediates Effects Of The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Butyrate On WNT Activity And Apoptosis In Colon Cancer Cells. J. Cancer 4(6): 481-490, 2013
  • Chiaro, C., D.L. Lazarova, and M. Bordonaro. Tcf3 and cell cycle factors contribute to butyrate resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Oct 11. pii: S0006-291X(12)01955-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.10.018, 2012.
  • Lazarova DL, and M. Bordonaro. Extreme fluctuations in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling as an approach for colon cancer prevention and therapy. Adv Studies Biol. 4:351-362; 2012.
  • Lazarova DL, Bordonaro M. Extreme fluctuations in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling as an approach for colon cancer prevention and therapy. Advanced Studies in Biology, (2012), 4:351-362.
  • Zeng H., and D. L. Lazarova, Obesity-related colon cancer: dietary factors and their mechanisms of anticancer action, Clin. Exp. Pharmacol, Physiol. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2011.05518.x; 2011. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Tewari S, Cicco C, Atamna W, Lazarova DL. A switch from canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling mediates drug resistance in colon cancer cells. PLoS One (2011), 6:e27308. Full Text
  • Bordonaro, M., Tewari, S., Atamna, W., and Lazarova, D.L., The notch ligand Delta-like 1 integrates inputs from TGFBeta/Activin and Wnt pathways, Exp. Cell Res. 317: 1368-1381, 2011. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. Role of Tcf-DNA binding and the chromatin remodeling factor Brg-1 in the modulation of Wnt activity by butyrate. Cell Cycle. 2008 Nov 5;7(21). PMID: 18948734. Full Text
  • Cai Y, Chin HF, Lazarova D, Menon S, Fu C, Cai H, Sclafani A, Rodgers DW, De La Cruz EM, Ferro-Novick S, Reinisch KM. The structural basis for activation of the Rab Ypt1p by the TRAPP membrane-tethering complexes. Cell. 2008 Jun 27;133(7):1202-13. PMID: 18585354. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. Hyperinduction of Wnt activity: a new paradigm for the treatment of colorectal cancer? Oncol Res. 2008;17(1):1-9. Review.PMID: 18488710. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. Butyrate and Wnt signaling: a possible solution to the puzzle of dietary fiber and colon cancer risk? Cell Cycle. 2008 May 1;7(9):1178-83Review. PMID: 18418037. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. The activation of beta-catenin by Wnt signaling mediates the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors. Exp Cell Res. 2007 May 1;313(8):1652-66. PMID: 17359971. Full Text
  • Cai H, Yu S, Menon S, Cai Y, Lazarova D, Fu C, Reinisch K, Hay JC, Ferro-Novick S TRAPPI tethers COPII vesicles by binding the coat subunit Sec23. Nature. 2007 Feb 22;445(7130):941-4. PMID: 17287728. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Carbone R, Sartorelli AC. Modulation of Wnt-specific colon cancer cell kill by butyrate and lithium. Oncol Res. 2004;14(9):427-38.PMID: 15490974. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Sartorelli AC. Pharmacological and genetic modulation of Wnt-targeted Cre-Lox-mediated gene expression in colorectal cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2004 May 11;32(8):2660-74. PMID: 15141037. Full Text
  • Lazarova DL, Bordonaro M, Carbone R, Sartorelli AC.Linear relationship between Wnt activity levels and apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma cells exposed to butyrate. Int J Cancer. 2004 Jul 1;110(4):523-31. PMID: 15122584. Full Text
  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL, Augenlicht LH, Sartorelli AC. Cell type- and promoter-dependent modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway by sodium butyrate. Int J Cancer. 2002 Jan 1;97(1):42-51. PMID: 11774242. Full Text
  • Lazarova DL, Bordonaro M, Sartorelli AC. Transcriptional regulation of the vitamin D(3) receptor gene by ZEB. Cell Growth Differ. 2001 Jun;12(6):319-26. PMID: 11432806. Full Text
  • Lazarova DL, Spengler BA, Biedler JL, Ross RA. HuD, a neuronal-specific RNA-binding protein, is a putative regulator of N-myc pre-mRNA processing/stability in malignant human neuroblasts. Oncogene. 1999 Apr 29;18(17):2703-10. PMID: 10348344. Full Text
  • Ross RA, Lazarova DL, Manley GT, Smitt PS, Spengler BA, Posner JB, Biedler JL.HuD, a neuronal-specific RNA-binding protein, is a potential regulator of MYCN expression in human neuroblastoma cells. Eur J Cancer. 1997 Oct;33(12):2071-4. PMID: 9516855. Full Text
  • Spengler BA, Lazarova DL, Ross RA, Biedler JL.Cell lineage and differentiation state are primary determinants of MYCN gene expression and malignant potential in human neuroblastoma cells. Oncol Res. 1997;9(9):467-76. PMID: 9495452. Full Text
  • Zueva NN, Dalev PG, Lazarova DL. Properties, production, and practical uses of alkaline phosphatase] Biokhimiia. 1993 Jul;58(7):1009-23. Review. Russian. PMID: 8364120. Full Text

Book chapters

  • Bordonaro M, Lazarova DL. Butyrate, Wnt Signaling and Colorectal Cancer (Chapter 8) in book “Butyrate: Food Sources, Functions and Health Benefits.” Editor Congjun Li, NOVA publishers, 2014; ISBN: 978-1-63117-657-9.

Patents

  • Therapeutic compositions and uses thereof, # WO 2014163513 A1. The patent characterizes propolis complexes and their application; it is filed by Manuka Health New Zealand Limited (Auckland, New Zealand).

Education

Bachelor – St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Master – St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia, Bulgaria
PhD – Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Postdoctoral – Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Content from General Links with modal content