Robert Chatterton

Robert Chatterton
Professor PhD, Cornell University
Chat@northwestern.edu	Prentice 1516	(312) 926-1569

Our laboratory is involved in studies of steroid hormones and growth factors as they relate to breast and prostate cancer. We collaborate with members of the Department of Preventive Medicine in epidemiologic studies of the effect of dietary factors such as isoflavones and lignans in regulation of signal transduction pathways known to increase risk factors for these cancers.

Studies include investigation of biosynthetic pathways for estrogen and androgen biosynthesis and autocrine and paracrine secretion of growth factors and cytokines by breast and prostate tissues. Factors that limit lactation in human subjects, including suppression of prolactin and oxytocin secretion by stress hormones are being explored in a new study.

We are also studying the hormonal requirements and cell cycle dependency of the process of formation of mammary hyperplastic lesions by known carcinogens in an animal model. Of particular interest is the role of ribonuclease H as a mediator of the hormonal response. Recent studies indicate that this enzyme is increased by hormonal conditions that promote cell proliferation in mammary and endometrial tumor cell lines, and that the enzyme may play a critical role in the regulation of DNA synthesis.

Selected Publications:

Chatterton RT, Jr., Choi JW. (June, 2001) Estradiol acts to stimulate ribonuclease H2 activity by a receptor mediated, non-genomic process. Presented at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, Denver, CO.

Gann PH, Giovanazzi S, Van Horn L, Branning A, Chatterton RT, Jr. (2001) Saliva as a medium for investigating intra- and inter-individual differences in sex hormone levels in premenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers & Prevention 10:59-64.

Chatterton RT, Jr., Hill PD, Aldag JC, Hodges KR, Belknap SM, Zinaman MJ. (2000) Relation of plasma oxytocin and prolactin concentrations to milk production in mothers of preterm infants: Influence of stress. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85: 3661-3668.

Kamath SK, Murillo G, Chatterton RT, Jr., Hussain EA, Amin D, Mortillaro E, Peterson CT, Alekel DL. (1999) Breast cancer risk factors in two distinct ethnic groups: Indian and Pakastani caucasian versus American caucasian premenopausal females. Nutr. Cancer 35:16-26.

Gann, PH, Klein KG, Chatterton RT, Ellman AE, Grayhack JT, Nadler RB, Lee C. (1999) Growth factors in expressed prostatic fluid from men with prostate cancer, BPH, and clinically normal prostates. The Prostate 40:248-255.

Lu, Yu-cai, R.T. Chatterton, Jr., K.M. Vogelsong, and L.K. May (1997) Direct radioimmunoassay of progesterone in saliva. J. Immunoassay 18:149-163.

Gann, P.H., R.T. Chatterton, K.M. Vogelsong, J.T. Grayhack, and C. Lee (1997) Epidermal growth factor-related peptides in human prostatic fluid: sources of variability in assay results. The Prostate 32:234-240.

Gann, P., R. Chatterton, K. Vogelsong, J. Dupuis, and A. Ellman (1997) Mitogenic growth factors in breast fluid obtained from healthy women: Evaluation of biological and extraneous sources of variability. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers & Prevention 6:421-428.

Chatterton, R.T., Jr., and N. Krett (1998) Independence of estradiol-induced changes in ribonuclease H activity from effects on cell growth. Presented at the 80th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, New Orleans.

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