Gassman receives funding to explore reducing chemotherapy side effects

Natalie Gassman, Ph.D., is one of five
recipients of this year's intramural research
grants awarded to USA College of Medicine
faculty.

Natalie Gassman, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a cancer researcher at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, is examining strategies to mitigate the cardiac side effects of a chemotherapy drug in cancer survivors. Also a member of the USA Center for Lung Biology, Gassman is one of five recipients of the 2020 USA College of Medicine Faculty Intramural Grants Research Award. 

The research, conducted in Gassman’s lab at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, is a collaborative effort with Michael V. Cohen, M.D., professor of physiology and cell biology at the USA College of Medicine and a cardiologist with USA Health; and Yulia Maxuitenko, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine. 

Together, they are looking at ways to mitigate the cardiac side effects of doxorubicin, a powerful chemotherapy drug commonly known as the “red devil” because of its bright red color. It is often used in combination with other medications to treat a wide variety of cancers. Side effects can include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, skin rashes and, in some cases, cardiotoxicity.  

“We previously demonstrated that moderate dietary supplementation with vitamin D reduces cardiac side effects, but antioxidants are not recommended during chemotherapy because they may interfere with drug efficacy,” Gassman said. “Another potential strategy is to reduce the inflammatory signaling produced by doxorubicin in cardiac tissues, which are mediated by caspase 1 and the inflammasome.” 

The inflammasome is an immune response to infections or irritants, which is meant to help protect cells. However, if it is stimulated too much, it can damage the tissues it is trying to protect, Gassman said.

This grant will combine Cohen’s experience in cardiac research with Gassman’s and Maxuitenko’s expertise in breast cancer models to determine if caspase 1 inhibitors can reduce cardiac side effects without changing the tumor inhibition produced by doxorubicin.

“The funded proposal will provide new insight into doxorubicin-related cardiac injury and hopefully demonstrate the utility of a combination therapy that is both cardioprotective and tumor destructive,” Gassman said.

USA College of Medicine intramural grants provide funds through an annual competition to five full-time basic science faculty members. The grant program is designed to provide the resources needed to develop new or additional preliminary data to bolster success with extramural funding.