The Voelkel-Johnson Lab investigates the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that drive cancer cell survival, stress responses, and resistance to therapy, with a particular focus on sphingolipid signaling pathways. Using a combination of mechanistic biology, advanced cellular models, and translational approaches, the lab seeks to define how these signaling networks influence tumor behavior and therapeutic outcomes. This work aims to generate insights that can inform more effective treatment strategies and open new avenues for targeting cancer at the molecular level.
Research Interests
- Sphingolipid metabolism and signaling
- Cancer cell death pathways
- Cancer therapeutics
Recent Publications
Lu P, White-Gilbertson S, Nganga R, Kester M, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Expression of the SNAI2 transcriptional repressor is regulated by C16-ceramide.” Cancer Biol Ther. 2019 Mar 5:1-9. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2019.1579962. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:30836822
Nganga R, Oleinik N, Kim J, Selvam SP, De Palma R, Johnson KA, Parikh RY, Gangaraju V, Peterson Y, Dany M, Stahelin RV, Voelkel-Johnson C, Szulc ZM, Bieberich E, Ogretmen B. “Receptor-interacting Ser/Thr kinase 1 (RIPK1) and myosin IIA-dependent ceramidosomes form membrane pores that mediate blebbing and necroptosis.” J Biol Chem. 2019 Jan 11;294(2):502-519. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.005865. Epub 2018 Nov 12.
PMID: 30420430
Voelkel-Johnson C, Norris JS, White-Gilbertson S. “Interdiction of Sphingolipid Metabolism Revisited: Focus on Prostate Cancer.” Adv Cancer Res. 2018;140:265-293. doi: 10.1016/bs.acr.2018.04.014. Epub 2018 Jun 20.
PMID:30060812
Scheffel MJ, Scurti G, Wyatt MM, Garrett-Mayer E, Paulos CM, Nishimura MI, Voelkel-Johnson C. “N-acetyl cysteine protects anti-melanoma cytotoxic T cells from exhaustion induced by rapid expansion via the downmodulation of Foxo1 in an Akt-dependent manner.” Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2018 Apr;67(4):691-702. doi: 10.1007/s00262-018-2120-5. Epub 2018 Feb 2.
PMID:29396710
Helke K, Angel P, Lu P, Garrett-Mayer E, Ogretmen B, Drake R, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Ceramide Synthase 6 Deficiency Enhances Inflammation in the DSS model of Colitis.” Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 26;8(1):1627. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20102-z.
PMID:29374263
Scheffel MJ, Helke K, Lu P, Bowers JS, Ogretmen B, Garrett-Mayer E, Paulos CM, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Adoptive Transfer of Ceramide Synthase 6 Deficient Splenocytes Reduces the Development of Colitis.” Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 14;7(1):15552. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15791-x.
PMID:29138469
Camp ER, Patterson LD, Kester M, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Therapeutic implications of bioactive sphingolipids: A focus on colorectal cancer.” Cancer Biol Ther. 2017 Sep 2;18(9):640-650. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2017.1345396. Epub 2017 Jul 7.
PMID:28686076
Scheffel MJ, Scurti G, Simms P, Garrett-Mayer E, Mehrotra S, Nishimura MI, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Efficacy of Adoptive T-cell Therapy Is Improved by Treatment with the Antioxidant N-Acetyl Cysteine, Which Limits Activation-Induced T-cell Death.” Cancer Res. 2016 Oct 15;76(20):6006-6016.
PMID:27742673
Lewis CS, Voelkel-Johnson C, Smith CD. “Suppression of c-Myc and RRM2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells by the sphingosine kinase-2 inhibitor ABC294640.” Oncotarget. 2016 Sep 13;7(37):60181-60192. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.11112.
PMID:27517489
White-Gilbertson S, Davis M, Voelkel-Johnson C, Kasman LM. “Sex differences in the MB49 syngeneic, murine model of bladder cancer.” Bladder (San Franc). 2016;3(1). pii: e22. Epub 2016 Feb 26.
PMID:26998503
Venant H, Rahmaniyan M, Jones EE, Lu P, Lilly MB, Garrett-Mayer E, Drake RR, Kraveka JM, Smith CD, Voelkel-Johnson C. “The Sphingosine Kinase 2 Inhibitor ABC294640 Reduces the Growth of Prostate Cancer Cells and Results in Accumulation of Dihydroceramides In Vitro and In Vivo.” Mol Cancer Ther. 2015 Dec;14(12):2744-52. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-15-0279. Epub 2015 Oct 22.
PMID:26494858
Tirodkar TS, Lu P, Bai A, Scheffel MJ, Gencer S, Garrett-Mayer E, Bielawska A, Ogretmen B, Voelkel-Johnson C. “Expression of Ceramide Synthase 6 Transcriptionally Activates Acid Ceramidase in a c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK)-dependent Manner.” J Biol Chem. 2015 May 22;290(21):13157-67. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.631325. Epub 2015 Apr 3.
PMID:25839235
