Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, PhD
Leadership Title: Co-Leader, Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program
Academic Title: Associate Professor in the College of Medicine
Research Program: Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention
Columbus, Ohio 43210-2207
About Me
More info forI am the director of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and Laboratory in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (GHN) at The Ohio State University, as well as a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James. My research focuses on pancreatic diseases, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which is one of the most deadly human malignancies due to limited advancements in treatment.
The long-term goal of my research is to develop strategies for the detection, prevention and treatment of PDAC and pancreatitis by uncovering mechanisms related to the initiation of these diseases. We have shown that the molecule integrin alpha6beta4, the enzyme Cathepsin E (CTSE) and pH-sensitive imaging probes are all early biomarkers of PDAC development. I have been engaged in the development of novel imaging probes that have the potential to detect and treat pancreas containing early lesions of PDAC using the enzymatic activity of CTSE in pre-clinical mouse models. This technology applies to any other disease that expresses CTSE at high levels, which is the case of early pancreatic cancer.
In addition, my laboratory is interested in the prevention of obesity-associated tumor development. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of cancer development, in particular, PDAC. Obesity rates in adults and children have skyrocketed during the past two decades. Therefore, it is critical that we begin to understand the molecular mechanisms of how obesity promotes cancer development. To discover alternative methods of studying obesity and its relationship to PDAC development, my laboratory uses a mouse model of diet-induced, obesity-associated PDAC to study some of the mechanisms linking obesity and PDAC and test novel methods of cancer prevention involving weight loss via diet and or increased physical activity.
I have co-authored over 30 articles in peer-reviewed publications such as Cancer Research, Gastroenterology, Pancreas, PLOS One and Journal of Clinical Investigation. I am also a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Pancreatic Association, and I recently received the Faculty Advancement, Mentoring and Engagement (FAME) Early Career Achievement Award from Ohio State’s College of Medicine.
Research Interests
More info for- Exercise
- Molecular Biology
- Obesity
- Pancreatic Neoplasms
- Pancreatitis, Chronic
- Cell Biology
Education & Training
More info forDoctorate Degree - PhD
- University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
USA
Post-doctoral
- University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
USA
- University of Texas Medical Branch
Academic Office & Contact Information
More info forAcademic Office:
400 W 12th Ave
Columbus, Ohio 43210-2207Phone:
614-685-8266Videos
More info forPublications
More info forSeptember 11, 2024MG53 suppresses tumor growth via transcriptional inhibition of KIF11 in pancreatic cancer.
Wang XL, He X, Gao T, Zhou X, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Tsung A, Ma J, Cai C
Transl Oncol
May 24, 2024Urine Proteomics Profiling Identifies Novel Acute Pancreatitis Diagnostic Biomarkers in a Pediatric Population.
Akshintala VS, Moore M, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Nathan JD, Searle BC, Abu-El-Haija M
Gastroenterology
May 22, 2024Physical Activity Decreases Inflammation and Delays Development of Obesity-Associated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
Pita-Grisanti V, Vélez-Bonet E, Chasser K, Hurst Z, Liette A, Vulic G, Dubay K, Lahooti A, Badi N, Ueltschi O, Gumpper-Fedus K, Hsueh HY, Lahooti I, Chavez-Tomar M, Terhorst S, Knoblaugh SE, Cao L, Huang W, Coss CC, Mace TA, Choueiry F, Hinton A, Culp S, Mitchell JM, Schmandt R, Onstad Grinsfelder M, Basen-Engquist K, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Cancer Res
April 15, 2024CD200 is overexpressed in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment and predictive of overall survival.
Wedig J, Jasani S, Mukherjee D, Lathrop H, Matreja P, Pfau T, D'Alesio L, Guenther A, Fenn L, Kaiser M, Torok MA, McGue J, Sizemore GM, Noonan AM, Dillhoff ME, Blaser BW, Frankel TL, Culp S, Hart PA, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Mace TA
Cancer Immunol Immunother
March 13, 2024Differences in Plasma Fatty Acid Composition Related to Chronic Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study.
Gumpper-Fedus K, Crowe O, Hart PA, Pita-Grisanti V, Velez-Bonet E, Belury MA, Ramsey ML, Cole RM, Badi N, Culp S, Hinton A, Lara LF, Krishna SG, Conwell DL, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Pancreas
January 26, 2024Systemic Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Alterations in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study.
Gumpper-Fedus K, Chasser K, Pita-Grisanti V, Torok M, Pfau T, Mace TA, Cole RM, Belury MA, Culp S, Hart PA, Krishna SG, Lara LF, Ramsey ML, Fisher W, Fogel EL, Forsmark CE, Li L, Pandol S, Park WG, Serrano J, Van Den Eeden SK, Vege SS, Yadav D, Conwell DL, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC)
Clin Transl Gastroenterol
December 14, 2023Exploring the role of hyperinsulinemia in obesity-associated tumor development.
Vélez-Bonet E, Gumpper-Fedus K, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Cancer Res
June 1, 2023Increased renal elimination of endogenous and synthetic pyrimidine nucleosides in concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 deficient mice.
Persaud AK, Bernier MC, Massey MA, Agrawal S, Kaur T, Nayak D, Xie Z, Weadick B, Raj R, Hill K, Abbott N, Joshi A, Anabtawi N, Bryant C, Somogyi A, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Amari F, Coppola V, Sparreboom A, Baker SD, Unadkat JD, Phelps MA, Govindarajan R
Nat Commun
April 1, 2023Integrated Physiology of the Exocrine and Endocrine Compartments in Pancreatic Diseases: Workshop Proceedings.
Mastracci TL, Apte M, Amundadottir LT, Alvarsson A, Artandi S, Bellin MD, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Caicedo A, Campbell-Thompson M, Cruz-Monserrate Z, El Ouaamari A, Gaulton KJ, Geisz A, Goodarzi MO, Hara M, Hull-Meichle RL, Kleger A, Klein AP, Kopp JL, Kulkarni RN, Muzumdar MD, Naren AP, Oakes SA, Olesen SS, Phelps EA, Powers AC, Stabler CL, Tirkes T, Whitcomb DC, Yadav D, Yong J, Zaghloul NA, Pandol SJ, Sander M
Diabetes
March 11, 2023The Role of Genetic, Metabolic, Inflammatory, and Immunologic Mediators in the Progression of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms to Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.
Shockley KE, To B, Chen W, Lozanski G, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Krishna SG
Cancers (Basel)
December 15, 2022The phase 1/2 trial of indomethacin in chronic pancreatitis (The PAIR trial): Protocol for a parallel multi-center randomized controlled trial.
Han S, Conwell DL, Li L, Cervantes A, Hart PA, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Hao W, Lesinski GB, Mace T, Palermo TM, Saloman JL, Yadav D, Vege SS, Topazian M, Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC)
Pancreatology
October 1, 2022Integrated Physiology of the Exocrine and Endocrine Compartments in Pancreatic Diseases: Workshop Proceedings.
Mastracci TL, Apte M, Amundadottir LT, Alvarsson A, Artandi S, Bellin MD, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Caicedo A, Campbell-Thompson M, Cruz-Monserrate Z, El Ouaamari A, Gaulton KJ, Geisz A, Goodarzi MO, Hara M, Hull-Meichle RL, Kleger A, Klein AP, Kopp JL, Kulkarni RN, Muzumdar MD, Naren AP, Oakes SA, Olesen SS, Phelps EA, Powers AC, Stabler CL, Tirkes T, Whitcomb DC, Yadav D, Yong J, Zaghloul NA, Sander M, Pandol SJ
Pancreas
August 1, 2022Clinical Trials in Pancreatitis: Opportunities and Challenges in the Design and Conduct of Patient-Focused Clinical Trials in Recurrent Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: Summary of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop.
Hart PA, Andersen DK, Lyons E, Cote GA, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Dworkin RH, Elmunzer BJ, Fogel EL, Forsmark CE, Gilron I, Golden M, Gozu A, McNair L, Pandol SJ, Perito ER, Phillips AE, Rabbitts JA, Whitcomb DC, Windsor JA, Yadav D, Palermo TM
Pancreas
July 27, 2022Urine Proteomics Reveals Sex-Specific Response to Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation.
Bennike TB, Templeton K, Fujimura K, Bellin MD, Ahmed S, Schlaffner CN, Arora R, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Arnaout R, Beilman GJ, Grover AS, Conwell DL, Steen H
Pancreas
June 25, 2022The Neonatal Fc Receptor Is Elevated in Monocyte-Derived Immune Cells in Pancreatic Cancer.
Thomas J, Torok MA, Agrawal K, Pfau T, Vu TT, Lyberger J, Chang H, Castillo AMM, Chen M, Remaily B, Kim K, Xie Z, Dillhoff ME, Kulp SK, Behbehani GK, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Ganesan LP, Owen DH, Phelps MA, Coss CC, Mace TA
Int J Mol Sci
March 7, 2022Altered Plasma Fatty Acid Abundance Is Associated with Cachexia in Treatment-Naïve Pancreatic Cancer.
Gumpper-Fedus K, Hart PA, Belury MA, Crowe O, Cole RM, Pita Grisanti V, Badi N, Liva S, Hinton A, Coss C, Ramsey ML, Noonan A, Conwell DL, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Cells
January 1, 2022Understanding the Potential and Risk of Bacterial Siderophores in Cancer.
Pita-Grisanti V, Chasser K, Sobol T, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Front Oncol
October 26, 2021A review of physical activity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Epidemiology, intervention, animal models, and clinical trials.
Hsueh HY, Pita-Grisanti V, Gumpper-Fedus K, Lahooti A, Chavez-Tomar M, Schadler K, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Pancreatology
April 7, 2021Dietary Patterns of Insulinemia, Inflammation and Glycemia and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative.
Jin Q, Hart PA, Shi N, Joseph JJ, Donneyong M, Conwell DL, Clinton SK, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Brasky TM, Tinker LF, Liu S, Shadyab AH, Thomson CA, Qi L, Rohan TE, Tabung FK
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
January 22, 2021Biomarkers of Chronic Pancreatitis: A systematic literature review.
Cruz-Monserrate Z, Gumpper K, Pita V, Hart PA, Forsmark C, Whitcomb DC, Yadav D, Waldron RT, Pandol S, Steen H, Anani V, Kanwar N, Vege SS, Appana S, Li L, Serrano J, Rinaudo JAS, Topazian M, Conwell DL, Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatology
January 1, 2021Delayed Processing of Secretin-Induced Pancreas Fluid Influences the Quality and Integrity of Proteins and Nucleic Acids.
Cruz-Monserrate Z, Gumpper K, Kaul S, Badi N, Terhorst S, Dubay K, Lesinski GB, Fisher W, McElhany A, Lara LF, Krishna S, Mace T, Higuita-Castro N, Ortega-Pineda L, Freitas MA, Hinton A, Yadav D, Hart PA, Pandol SJ, Ahmed S, Fatou B, Steen H, Conwell DL, Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer##
Pancreas
October 21, 2020Altered Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel Scheduling Improves Therapeutic Efficacy Compared to Standard Concurrent Treatment in Pre-clinical Models of Pancreatic Cancer.
Wolfe AR, Robb R, Hegazi A, Abushahin L, Yang L, Shyu DL, Trevino JG, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Jacob JR, Palanichamy K, Chakravarti A, Williams TM
Clin Cancer Res
August 23, 2020Class III obesity rather than metabolic syndrome impacts clinical outcomes of acute pancreatitis: A propensity score weighted analysis.
Blaszczak AM, Krishna SG, Hart PA, Bradley D, Hsueh W, Lara LF, Hussan H, Hinton A, Conwell DL, Cruz-Monserrate Z
Pancreatology
June 19, 2020Biological Functions and Therapeutic Potential of Lipocalin 2 in Cancer.
Santiago-Sánchez GS, Pita-Grisanti V, Quiñones-Díaz B, Gumpper K, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Vivas-Mejía PE
Int J Mol Sci
June 6, 2020Reduction of inflammation in chronic pancreatitis using a soy bread intervention: A feasibility study.
Ahn-Jarvis J, Lombardo E, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Badi N, Crowe O, Kaul S, Komar H, Krishna SG, Lesinski GB, Mace TA, Ramsey ML, Roberts K, Stinehart K, Traczek M, Conwell DL, Vodovotz Y, Hart PA
Pancreatology
June 1, 2020CD200 promotes immunosuppression in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment.
Choueiry F, Torok M, Shakya R, Agrawal K, Deems A, Benner B, Hinton A, Shaffer J, Blaser BW, Noonan AM, Williams TM, Dillhoff M, Conwell DL, Hart PA, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Bai XF, Carson Iii WE, Mace TA
J Immunother Cancer
April 1, 2020Rising Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults Corresponds With Increasing Surgical Resections in Obese Patients.
Hussan H, Patel A, Le Roux M, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Porter K, Clinton SK, Carethers JM, Courneya KS
Clin Transl Gastroenterol