Rosalia Simmen, PhD

Research Program: Cancer Biology Faculty Rank: Professor Campus: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College: College of Medicine Department: Physiology & Cell Biology

Cancer Research Interest

• Disease Site Focus: Breast, Gynecology
• Research Focus Area: Prevention, Carcinogenesis
• Type of Research: Basic
• Research Interest Statement: My research is focused on defining the regulatory mechanisms implicated in the biology and pathobiology of the mammary gland and the uterus. We have a specific interest in elucidating the signaling pathways by which steroid hormone receptors, growth factors, cytokines and dietary components are engaged in the pathogenesis of breast and uterine cancers and endometriosis. We employ diverse cellular and molecular techniques and experimental models including proteomics and genomics for gene discovery, cell lines for analyses of signaling pathways, and human and mouse models of diseases to address basic science with translational potential. Current goals are to understand the role of metabolic dysregulation imposed by diabetes and obesity on the progression of these diseases and to discover novel strategies to mitigate treatment resistance.

Contact Information

• Email Address: SIMMENROSALIA@UAMS.EDU
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Publications

• Simmen FA, Pabona JMP, Al-Dwairi A, [et al., including Simmen RCM]. Malic Enzyme 1 (ME1) Promotes Adiposity and Hepatic Steatosis and Induces Circulating Insulin and Leptin in Obese Female Mice. International journal of molecular sciences. 2023 24(7). PMID: 37047583. PMCID: PMC10095602.
• Alhallak I, Quick CM, Graham GL, Simmen RCM. A Pilot Study on the Co-existence of Diabetes and Endometriosis in Reproductive-Age Women: Potential for Endometriosis Progression. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). 2023. PMID: 36788175.
• Brown AR, Alhallak I, Simmen RCM, [et al.]. Krüppel-like Factor 9 (KLF9) Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)-Promoting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet. Cancers. 2022 14(7). PMID: 35406507. PMCID: PMC8996893.
• Alhallak I, Wolter KG, Castro Munoz A, [et al., including Simmen RCM]. Breast adipose regulation of premenopausal breast epithelial phenotype involves interleukin 10. Journal of molecular endocrinology. 2021. PMID: 34382943. PMCID: PMC8489570.
• Heard-Lipsmeyer ME, Alhallak I, Simmen FA, [et al., including Simmen RCM]. Lesion Genotype Modifies High-Fat Diet Effects on Endometriosis Development in Mice. Frontiers in physiology. 2021 12:702674. PMID: 34712146. PMCID: PMC8547326.
• Saguyod SJU, Alhallak I, Simmen RCM, Velarde MC. Metformin regulation of progesterone receptor isoform-B expression in human endometrial cancer cells is glucose-dependent. Oncology letters. 2020 20(5):249. PMID: 32994812. PMCID: PMC7509689.
• Simmen FA, Alhallak I, Simmen RCM. Malic enzyme 1 (ME1) in the biology of cancer: it is not just intermediary metabolism. Journal of molecular endocrinology. 2020 65(4):R77-R90. PMID: 33064660. PMCID: PMC7577320.
• Pabona JMP, Burnett AF, Brown DM, [et al., including Simmen RC]. Metformin Promotes Anti-tumor Biomarkers in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). 2020 27(1):267-277. PMID: 32046384. PMCID: PMC7077930.
• Simmen RCM, Brown DM, Quick CM, [et al.]. Co-morbidity of type 1 diabetes and endometriosis: bringing a new paradigm into focus. The Journal of endocrinology. 2019. PMID: 31472479.
• Simmen RCM, Kelley AS. Seeing red: diet and endometriosis risk. Annals of translational medicine. 2018 6(Suppl 2):S119. PMID: 30740440. PMCID: PMC6330594.
• Fernandes LM, Al-Dwairi A, Simmen RCM, [et al.]. Malic Enzyme 1 (ME1) is pro-oncogenic in ApcMin/+ mice. Scientific reports. 2018 8(1):14268. PMID: 30250042. PMCID: PMC6155149.
• Brown DM, Lee HC, Liu S, [et al., including Simmen RCM]. Notch-1 Signaling Activation and Progesterone Receptor Expression in Ectopic Lesions of Women With Endometriosis. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2018 2(7):765-778. PMID: 30151432. PMCID: PMC6106104.
• Yu S, Wu X, Ferguson M, [et al., including Simmen RC]. Diets Containing Shiitake Mushroom Reduce Serum Lipids and Serum Lipophilic Antioxidant Capacity in Rats. The Journal of nutrition. 2016 146(12):2491-2496. PMID: 27798348. PMCID: PMC5118771.
• Simmen FA, Heard ME, Pabona JMP, [et al., including Simmen RCM]. Maternal Metabolic State and Cancer Risk: An Evolving Manifestation of Generational Impact, in Physiology in Health and Disease. Springer, 2016, pp 289-305.
• Montales MT, Melnyk SB, Liu SJ, [et al., including Simmen RC]. Metabolic history impacts mammary tumor epithelial hierarchy and early drug response in mice. Endocrine-related cancer. 2016 23(9):677-90. PMID: 27402613. PMCID: PMC4997088.
• Simmen RC, Simmen F, Kelley AS. Reversal of fortune: estrogen receptor-? in endometriosis. Journal of molecular endocrinology. 2016 57(2):F23-7. PMID: 27272520. PMCID: PMC4973618.
• Heard ME, Melnyk SB, Simmen FA, [et al., including Simmen RC]. High-Fat Diet Promotion of Endometriosis in an Immunocompetent Mouse Model is Associated With Altered Peripheral and Ectopic Lesion Redox and Inflammatory Status. Endocrinology. 2016 157(7):2870-82. PMID: 27175969. PMCID: PMC4929556.