Prof. Joseph Levy
Born: 1940, Bulgaria
Academic Qualifications:
    Ph.D. 1971, Hebrew University
    Prof. 1994.
Academic Positions:
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology - Professor Emeritus
Research Interests:
Cancer prevention by plant dietary ingredient such as Carotenoids (lycopene), phenols and isotiocyanats. Transcriptional regulation of enzymes which protect from carcinogens (phase II enzymes). Regulation of the Nrf2 transcription factor and cancer prevention. Attenuation of estrogen and androgen signaling in breast and prostate cancer cell by dietary ingredients. Improving bone health by plant derived active compounds. Combination of dietary compounds produce synergistic effect of in cancer prevention and bone health. Epigenetic mechanisms in cancer prevention
Research Projects:
Structure activity relationship of carotenoid derivatives in activation of the electrophile/antioxidant response element transcription system.
The Nrf2 transcription factor is involved in inhibition of estrogen signaling by dietary compounds in mammary and endometrial cancer cells
Activation by dietary compounds of the antioxidant response element transcription system via formation of keap1 complexes
Abstracts of Current Research:
  • Nutrition and Cancer: Molecular aspects: Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either a-carotene or b-carotene. Inhibition of cancer cell growth by lycopene is a result of carotenoid interception with growth factor stimulation and delay in the G1 to S phase cell cycle progression; Lycopene cooperates with retinoic acid ad other food derived compounds in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation; Modulation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors and membrane associated IGF-binding proteins in mammary and endometrial cancer cells by estrogen antagonists and carotenoids.
Publications:
  • Sharoni, Y., Giron, E., Rise, M. & Levy, J.. Effects of lycopene enriched tomato oleoresin on 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors Cancer Detection and Prevention 21(2): 118-123 (1997)
  • Karas, M., Danilenko, M., Fishman, D., LeRoith, D., Levy, J. & Sharoni, Y.. Membrane associated IGFBP-3 inhibits insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-induced IGF-I receptor signaling in Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells J Biol Chem 272: 16514-16520 (1997)
  • Levy, J., Bosin, E., Feldman, B., Giat, Y., Miinster, A., Danilenko M. & sharoni, Y.. Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either a-carotene or b-carotene Nutr. & Cancer 24: (257): 257 (1996)
  • Sharoni, Y., & Levy, J.. Anticarcinogenic properties of lycopene In: J. T. Kumpulainen and J. K. Salonen (eds.), Natural antioxidants and food quality in atherosclerosis and cancer prevention, pp. 378-385. Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry : 378-385 (1996)
  • Kleinman, D., Karas, M., Danilenko, M., Arbeli, A., Roberts, C.T., LeRoith, D., Levy, J. & Sharoni, Y.. Stimulation of endometrial cancer cell growth by tamoxifen is associated with increased IGF-I induced tyrosine phosphory-lation and reduction in IGF binding proteins Endocrinol. 137(3): 1089-1095 (1996)
Keywords:Carotenoids, Antiestrogens, Mammary Cancer, Cellproliferation, IGFs, Signal Transduction, Cell Cycle.
Phones:
  1. Phone: 972-8-6403423
  2. Fax: 972-8-6403177
Email:lyossi@bgu.ac.il