FACULTY PROFILE

Edmond J. LaVoie, PhD Professor Department of Medicinal Chemistry Phone: (732) 445 2674 Fax: (732) 445 6312 Email: elavoie@rci.rutgers.edu PhD, State University of New York-Buffalo

Bio

PhD, State University of New York-Buffalo

Research

Our primary research interests are in the discovery and the development of novel pharmaceuticals. For several years our research group has focused on the design and synthesis of novel non-camptothecin topoisomerase I-targeting antitumor agents. Several potent topoisomerase I-targeting agents have been identified. Studies are in progress to identify among these compounds the more promising candidates for development into the clinic. Recently, studies in our laboratory have been undertaken to develop agents that will selectively bind and stabilize G-quadruplex DNA. We are presently exploring the promise and full potential of these G-quadruplex stabilizers in cancer chemotherapy. In addition, our research group has initiated research into the discovery of new lead compounds for the development of isozyme specific topoisomerase II-targeting agents for the future development of an improved clinical agent within this class of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Representative Publications

Barbieri, CM, Srinivasan, AR, Rzuczek, SG, Rice, JE, LaVoie, EJ, and Pilch, D, Defining the mode, energetics and specificity with which a macrocyclic hexaoxazole binds to human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. Nucleic Acids Res., 35: 3272-3286, 2007.

Minhas, GS, Pilch, DS, Kerrigan, JE, LaVoie, EJ, and Rice, JE Synthesis and G-quadruplex stabilizing properties of a series of oxazole-containing macrocycles. Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 16: 3891-3895, 2006.

Zhu, S, Ruchelman, AL Zhou, N,  Liu,A,  Liu, LF and LaVoie, EJ, 6-Susbstituted 6H-Dibenzo[c,h]naphthyridine-5-ones: Reversed Lactam Analogues of ARC-111 with Potent Topoisomerase I-targeting Activity and Cytotoxicity, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 14: 3131-3143, 2006.

Zhu, S, Ruchelman, AL, Zhou, N, Liu, A Liu, LF and LaVoie, EJ, Derivatives of 2,3-Dimethoxy-8,9-methylenedioxybenzo[i]phenathridiene-12-carboxylic acid with Potent Topoisomerase I-targeting Activity and Cytotoxicity. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 13: 6782-6794, 2005.

Ruchelman, AL, Zhou, N, Liu, A, Liu, LF and LaVoie EJ, 5-(2-Aminoethyl)dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-ones: Variation of N-Alkyl Substituents Modulates Sensitivity to Efflux Transport Associated with Multidrug Resistance, J. Med. Chem., 48: 792-804, 2005.