Education/CredentialsDoctoral Degree: University of Cincinnati School of Medicine Dermatology (Dermatology)Doctoral Degree: University of Sao Paulo (Physiology)Master's Degree: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Cell Biology)Master's Degree: University of Sao Paulo (Physiology)Bachelor's Degree: University of Sao Paulo (Biological Sciences) Contact Information Medical Sciences Building 1201A Office 513-558-6659 Email kadekaal@ucmail.uc.edu Research InterestsSunlight is the most important environmental factor for melanoma development. Regardless of which spectrum of UVR is important in the genesis of melanoma, there is strong evidence in support of oxidative stress as the main cause of the malignant transformation of human melanocytes (MCs). A large percentage of individuals from Caucasian populations are carriers of disabling mutations on the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene, the receptor of a-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) and major regulator of ... Peer Reviewed Publications Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Dunaway, Spencer; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Andl, Thomas; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2018. Suppression of MAPK signaling in BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient melanoma by blocking ?-catenin signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 31 2, 297-307AbdulSalam, Safnas F; Gurjar, Purujit N; Zhu, Haizhou; Liu, Jing; Johnson, Emma S; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Landero-Figueroa, Julio; Merino, Edward J 2017. Self-Cyclizing Antioxidants to Prevent DNA Damage Caused by Hydroxyl Radical. Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology, 18 20, 2007-2011Andl, Thomas; Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2017. YAP and WWTR1: New targets for skin cancer treatment. Cancer letters, 396 , 30-41Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Wickett, R Randall; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2016. Targeted deactivation of cancer-associated fibroblasts by ?-catenin ablation suppresses melanoma growth. Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine, 37 10, 14235-14248Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Chen, Juping; Yang, Jennifer; Chen, Shuna; Jameson, Joshua; Swope, Viki B; Cheng, Tan; Kadakia, Madhavi; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa 2012. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone suppresses oxidative stress through a p53-mediated signaling pathway in human melanocytes. Molecular cancer research : MCR, 10 6, 778-86Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B 2010. Stepping up melanocytes to the challenge of UV exposure. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 23 2, 171-86Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Leachman, Sancy; Kavanagh, Renny J; Swope, Viki; Cassidy, Pamela; Supp, Dorothy; Sartor, Maureen; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Koshoffer, Amy; Boissy, Raymond E; Manga, Prashiela; Sturm, Richard A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2010. Melanocortin 1 receptor genotype: an important determinant of the damage response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 24 10, 3850-60Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Ruwe, Andrew; Kavanagh-Starner, Renny; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Koikov, Leonid; Knittel, James J 2009. alpha-MSH tripeptide analogs activate the melanocortin 1 receptor and reduce UV-induced DNA damage in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 5, 635-44Song, Xiuzu; Mosby, Nicole; Yang, Jennifer; Xu, Aie; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa 2009. alpha-MSH activates immediate defense responses to UV-induced oxidative stress in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 6, 809-18Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2007. Walking in the footsteps of giants: melanocortins and human pigmentation, a historical perspective. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 20 3, 150-2Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Todorovic, Aleksandar; Koikov, Leonid N; McNulty, Joseph C; Jackson, Pilgrim J; Millhauser, Glenn L; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Knittel, James J 2006. Melanoma prevention strategy based on using tetrapeptide alpha-MSH analogs that protect human melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 20 9, 1561-3Hauser, Jennifer E; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Terzieva, Silva; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Rao, M B; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Melanin content and MC1R function independently affect UVR-induced DNA damage in cultured human melanocytes. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 19 4, 303-14Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Cutaneous photoprotection and melanoma susceptibility: reaching beyond melanin content to the frontiers of DNA repair. Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library, 11 , 2157-73Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny; Kanto, Hiromi; Terzieva, Silva; Hauser, Jennifer; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Schwemberger, Sandy; Cornelius, James; Babcock, George; Shertzer, Howard G; Scott, Glynis; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2005. alpha-Melanocortin and endothelin-1 activate antiapoptotic pathways and reduce DNA damage in human melanocytes. Cancer research, 65 10, 4292-9Rouzaud, Francois; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Hearing, Vincent J 2005. MC1R and the response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. Mutation research, 571 1-2, 133-52Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Andrade, Luciana N S; Floeter-Winter, Lucile M; Rollag, Mark D; Virador, Victoria; Vieira, Wilfred; Castrucci, Ana Maria de L 2004. MT-1 melatonin receptor expression increases the antiproliferative effect of melatonin on S-91 murine melanoma cells. Journal of pineal research, 36 3, 204-11Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kanto, Hiromi; Kavanagh, Renny; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Significance of the melanocortin 1 receptor in regulating human melanocyte pigmentation, proliferation, and survival. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 994 , 359-65Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Pipitone, Michelle A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Cutaneous photobiology. The melanocyte vs. the sun: who will win the final round? Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 16 5, 434-47Scott, M Cathy; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Groden, Joanna; Kavanagh, Renny; Takakuwa, Takako; Virador, Victoria; Hearing, Vincent J; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2002. Human melanocortin 1 receptor variants, receptor function and melanocyte response to UV radiation. Journal of cell science, 115 Pt 11, 2349-55Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Knittel, James; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B; Starner, Renny . The melanocortin 1 receptor and the UV response of human melanocytes--a shift in paradigm. Photochemistry and photobiology, 84 2, 501-8
Research InterestsSunlight is the most important environmental factor for melanoma development. Regardless of which spectrum of UVR is important in the genesis of melanoma, there is strong evidence in support of oxidative stress as the main cause of the malignant transformation of human melanocytes (MCs). A large percentage of individuals from Caucasian populations are carriers of disabling mutations on the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene, the receptor of a-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) and major regulator of ...
Peer Reviewed Publications Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Dunaway, Spencer; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Andl, Thomas; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2018. Suppression of MAPK signaling in BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient melanoma by blocking ?-catenin signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 31 2, 297-307AbdulSalam, Safnas F; Gurjar, Purujit N; Zhu, Haizhou; Liu, Jing; Johnson, Emma S; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Landero-Figueroa, Julio; Merino, Edward J 2017. Self-Cyclizing Antioxidants to Prevent DNA Damage Caused by Hydroxyl Radical. Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology, 18 20, 2007-2011Andl, Thomas; Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2017. YAP and WWTR1: New targets for skin cancer treatment. Cancer letters, 396 , 30-41Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Wickett, R Randall; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2016. Targeted deactivation of cancer-associated fibroblasts by ?-catenin ablation suppresses melanoma growth. Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine, 37 10, 14235-14248Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Chen, Juping; Yang, Jennifer; Chen, Shuna; Jameson, Joshua; Swope, Viki B; Cheng, Tan; Kadakia, Madhavi; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa 2012. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone suppresses oxidative stress through a p53-mediated signaling pathway in human melanocytes. Molecular cancer research : MCR, 10 6, 778-86Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B 2010. Stepping up melanocytes to the challenge of UV exposure. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 23 2, 171-86Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Leachman, Sancy; Kavanagh, Renny J; Swope, Viki; Cassidy, Pamela; Supp, Dorothy; Sartor, Maureen; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Koshoffer, Amy; Boissy, Raymond E; Manga, Prashiela; Sturm, Richard A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2010. Melanocortin 1 receptor genotype: an important determinant of the damage response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 24 10, 3850-60Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Ruwe, Andrew; Kavanagh-Starner, Renny; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Koikov, Leonid; Knittel, James J 2009. alpha-MSH tripeptide analogs activate the melanocortin 1 receptor and reduce UV-induced DNA damage in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 5, 635-44Song, Xiuzu; Mosby, Nicole; Yang, Jennifer; Xu, Aie; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa 2009. alpha-MSH activates immediate defense responses to UV-induced oxidative stress in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 6, 809-18Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2007. Walking in the footsteps of giants: melanocortins and human pigmentation, a historical perspective. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 20 3, 150-2Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Todorovic, Aleksandar; Koikov, Leonid N; McNulty, Joseph C; Jackson, Pilgrim J; Millhauser, Glenn L; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Knittel, James J 2006. Melanoma prevention strategy based on using tetrapeptide alpha-MSH analogs that protect human melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 20 9, 1561-3Hauser, Jennifer E; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Terzieva, Silva; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Rao, M B; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Melanin content and MC1R function independently affect UVR-induced DNA damage in cultured human melanocytes. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 19 4, 303-14Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Cutaneous photoprotection and melanoma susceptibility: reaching beyond melanin content to the frontiers of DNA repair. Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library, 11 , 2157-73Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny; Kanto, Hiromi; Terzieva, Silva; Hauser, Jennifer; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Schwemberger, Sandy; Cornelius, James; Babcock, George; Shertzer, Howard G; Scott, Glynis; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2005. alpha-Melanocortin and endothelin-1 activate antiapoptotic pathways and reduce DNA damage in human melanocytes. Cancer research, 65 10, 4292-9Rouzaud, Francois; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Hearing, Vincent J 2005. MC1R and the response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. Mutation research, 571 1-2, 133-52Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Andrade, Luciana N S; Floeter-Winter, Lucile M; Rollag, Mark D; Virador, Victoria; Vieira, Wilfred; Castrucci, Ana Maria de L 2004. MT-1 melatonin receptor expression increases the antiproliferative effect of melatonin on S-91 murine melanoma cells. Journal of pineal research, 36 3, 204-11Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kanto, Hiromi; Kavanagh, Renny; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Significance of the melanocortin 1 receptor in regulating human melanocyte pigmentation, proliferation, and survival. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 994 , 359-65Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Pipitone, Michelle A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Cutaneous photobiology. The melanocyte vs. the sun: who will win the final round? Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 16 5, 434-47Scott, M Cathy; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Groden, Joanna; Kavanagh, Renny; Takakuwa, Takako; Virador, Victoria; Hearing, Vincent J; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2002. Human melanocortin 1 receptor variants, receptor function and melanocyte response to UV radiation. Journal of cell science, 115 Pt 11, 2349-55Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Knittel, James; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B; Starner, Renny . The melanocortin 1 receptor and the UV response of human melanocytes--a shift in paradigm. Photochemistry and photobiology, 84 2, 501-8
Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Dunaway, Spencer; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Andl, Thomas; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2018. Suppression of MAPK signaling in BRAF-activated PTEN-deficient melanoma by blocking ?-catenin signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 31 2, 297-307AbdulSalam, Safnas F; Gurjar, Purujit N; Zhu, Haizhou; Liu, Jing; Johnson, Emma S; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Landero-Figueroa, Julio; Merino, Edward J 2017. Self-Cyclizing Antioxidants to Prevent DNA Damage Caused by Hydroxyl Radical. Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology, 18 20, 2007-2011Andl, Thomas; Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2017. YAP and WWTR1: New targets for skin cancer treatment. Cancer letters, 396 , 30-41Zhou, Linli; Yang, Kun; Wickett, R Randall; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Zhang, Yuhang 2016. Targeted deactivation of cancer-associated fibroblasts by ?-catenin ablation suppresses melanoma growth. Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine, 37 10, 14235-14248Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Chen, Juping; Yang, Jennifer; Chen, Shuna; Jameson, Joshua; Swope, Viki B; Cheng, Tan; Kadakia, Madhavi; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa 2012. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone suppresses oxidative stress through a p53-mediated signaling pathway in human melanocytes. Molecular cancer research : MCR, 10 6, 778-86Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B 2010. Stepping up melanocytes to the challenge of UV exposure. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 23 2, 171-86Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Leachman, Sancy; Kavanagh, Renny J; Swope, Viki; Cassidy, Pamela; Supp, Dorothy; Sartor, Maureen; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Koshoffer, Amy; Boissy, Raymond E; Manga, Prashiela; Sturm, Richard A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2010. Melanocortin 1 receptor genotype: an important determinant of the damage response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 24 10, 3850-60Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Ruwe, Andrew; Kavanagh-Starner, Renny; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Koikov, Leonid; Knittel, James J 2009. alpha-MSH tripeptide analogs activate the melanocortin 1 receptor and reduce UV-induced DNA damage in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 5, 635-44Song, Xiuzu; Mosby, Nicole; Yang, Jennifer; Xu, Aie; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa 2009. alpha-MSH activates immediate defense responses to UV-induced oxidative stress in human melanocytes. Pigment cell & melanoma research, 22 6, 809-18Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2007. Walking in the footsteps of giants: melanocortins and human pigmentation, a historical perspective. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 20 3, 150-2Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Todorovic, Aleksandar; Koikov, Leonid N; McNulty, Joseph C; Jackson, Pilgrim J; Millhauser, Glenn L; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Haskell-Luevano, Carrie; Knittel, James J 2006. Melanoma prevention strategy based on using tetrapeptide alpha-MSH analogs that protect human melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 20 9, 1561-3Hauser, Jennifer E; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Terzieva, Silva; Schwemberger, Sandy; Babcock, George; Rao, M B; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Melanin content and MC1R function independently affect UVR-induced DNA damage in cultured human melanocytes. Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 19 4, 303-14Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2006. Cutaneous photoprotection and melanoma susceptibility: reaching beyond melanin content to the frontiers of DNA repair. Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library, 11 , 2157-73Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny; Kanto, Hiromi; Terzieva, Silva; Hauser, Jennifer; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Schwemberger, Sandy; Cornelius, James; Babcock, George; Shertzer, Howard G; Scott, Glynis; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2005. alpha-Melanocortin and endothelin-1 activate antiapoptotic pathways and reduce DNA damage in human melanocytes. Cancer research, 65 10, 4292-9Rouzaud, Francois; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Hearing, Vincent J 2005. MC1R and the response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation. Mutation research, 571 1-2, 133-52Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Andrade, Luciana N S; Floeter-Winter, Lucile M; Rollag, Mark D; Virador, Victoria; Vieira, Wilfred; Castrucci, Ana Maria de L 2004. MT-1 melatonin receptor expression increases the antiproliferative effect of melatonin on S-91 murine melanoma cells. Journal of pineal research, 36 3, 204-11Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kanto, Hiromi; Kavanagh, Renny; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Significance of the melanocortin 1 receptor in regulating human melanocyte pigmentation, proliferation, and survival. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 994 , 359-65Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kavanagh, Renny J; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Pipitone, Michelle A; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2003. Cutaneous photobiology. The melanocyte vs. the sun: who will win the final round? Pigment cell research / sponsored by the European Society for Pigment Cell Research and the International Pigment Cell Society, 16 5, 434-47Scott, M Cathy; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; Ito, Shosuke; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko; Groden, Joanna; Kavanagh, Renny; Takakuwa, Takako; Virador, Victoria; Hearing, Vincent J; Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A 2002. Human melanocortin 1 receptor variants, receptor function and melanocyte response to UV radiation. Journal of cell science, 115 Pt 11, 2349-55Abdel-Malek, Zalfa A; Knittel, James; Kadekaro, Ana Luisa; Swope, Viki B; Starner, Renny . The melanocortin 1 receptor and the UV response of human melanocytes--a shift in paradigm. Photochemistry and photobiology, 84 2, 501-8