Mark O. Lively
Dr. Lively directs
the Protein Analysis Core Laboratory (PACL) of the Comprehensive Cancer Center
of Wake Forest University (CCCWFU). In addition to his responsibilities to the
core laboratory, he also conducts research. He is an expert protein and peptide
chemist who collaborates with a wide range of research projects that require
expertise in protein analysis. He is also an investigator on the NIH funded Community
Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) Research Base team.
Shared Resource Laboratory
The CCCWFU Protein
Analysis Core Lab was established by Dr. Lively in 1983. Services provided by
the PACL currently include: protein identification by mass spectrometry;
bioinformatics analysis of DNA, proteins, and peptides; amino acid sequence
analysis of proteins and peptides; quantitative amino acid composition
analyses; high performance liquid chromatography of proteins, peptides, amino
acids, and other biological molecules. Services that are now available
commercially and no longer offered by the PACL include: chemical synthesis of
peptides (1988-2008); oligonucleotide synthesis (1990-2011); Sanger sequencing
of DNA (1996-2012). The PACL consistently received “outstanding” rankings from
NCI site visit teams over the last 30 years of competitive renewal applications
for the CCCWFU. See http://www.wakehealth.edu/Bioanalytical-Laboratory/Protein-Analysis-Lab.htm
Research Projects
- Correlation
of Oropharyngeal Pepsin and Gastroesophageal Reflux
This project is a clinical study in a
pediatric population to validate the use of a custom ELISA assay for gastric pepsin
measured in saliva as a diagnostic indicator of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) in pediatric patients. Pepsin concentrations in saliva samples are
obtained from patients undergoing testing by multichannel intraluminal
impedance (MII) with pH measurement. A correlation between oropharyngeal pepsin
and pH/MII will greatly enhance the ability to diagnose GERD in a non-invasive
way to guide appropriate use of PPIs. Dr. Lively developed the ELISA method for
quantification of concentrations of gastric pepsin, an enzyme that is produced
only in the stomach. The presence of pepsin in the oropharynx indicates that
patients have experience recent reflux events that have crossed the upper
esophageal junction.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest
University CCOP Research Base.
Dr. Lively provides logistics support,
sample processing and tracking, and HPLC analytical services to the CCOP Research
Base protocols. A recently completed project was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of oral coenzyme Q10 to
relieve self-reported cancer treatment related fatigue in breast cancer patients.
Dr. Lively’s lab analysed all plasma samples for CoQ-10 and vitamin E. A
similar study was a phase II randomized placebo controlled, double blinded trial
to evaluate the effects of fruit and vegetable extracts on intermediate biomarkers
in head and neck cancer patients. Dr. Lively’s lab analyzed a range of
different lipid-soluble antioxidants in plasma samples. The lab is currently
providing logistical support to a study to develop and validate
prediction biomarkers for radiation therapy-induced acute and chronic skin
reactions and quality of life in five racial/ethnic groups of breast cancer
patients: Whites, Black/African Americans; Hispanic/Latinos; Asians/Native
Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders; and American Indians/Alaskan Natives. This project
will recruit 1000 breast cancer patients. -
Ephrin A1 released from cancer cells.
In a collaborative study with the laboratory of
Waldemar Debenski, Dr. Lively was able to show that ephrinA1, a GPI-linked
ligand for the EphA2 receptor, which is overexpressed in glioblastoma (GBM) is
released from the cell surface by metalloprotease cleavage. Using mass
spectrometry, three different forms of ephrinA1 were discovered in cell media
of cells overexpressing the protein.
Contact Info and Recent publications