AIMRC Seminar on Biological Sex Dimorphisms in the Onset of Cancer Cachexia

University Relations

Professor Nic Greene

The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center will host Nic Greene, professor and interim director of the U of A Exercise Science Research Center, at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, in ENGR 209. Greene will discuss approaches in the study of energy and protein metabolism, -omics and others to define early-stage alterations to the muscle that may define sex-specific and tumor type specific development of cachexia.

Abstract: Cancer cachexia is a wasting condition concomitant to many cancers, most commonly defined by atrophy of the skeletal muscle, with likely concurrent wasting of fat tissues. Cancer cachexia affects up to 80% of cancer patients and is directly attributed in 20%-40% of cancer-related deaths, depending upon type of cancer. Unfortunately, no effective approved therapies to prevent or reverse cancer cachexia have yet been identified. Greene's laboratory identified degeneration of the mitochondrial network and its function preceding skeletal muscle atrophy in tumor-bearing male mice. Subsequent experiments have demonstrated this effect to be specific to males, as female mice do not exhibit such early-stage mitochondrial impairments. Based upon these initial findings, Greene's laboratory is employing approaches in the study of energy and protein metabolism, -omics and others to define early-stage alterations to the muscle that may define sex-specific and tumor type specific development of cachexia.

Greene is an exercise physiologist and muscle biologist who focuses on the study of cancer-induced cachexia with specific regard to impacts on skeletal muscle metabolism across biological sexes. Greene seeks to uncover the initiating mechanisms of muscle loss in cachexia with primary goals to identify critical therapeutic targets to prevent and attenuate the development of cachexia. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of South Carolina and completed Ph.D. studies at Texas A&M University in kinesiology (exercise physiology) under Stephen Crouse and James Fluckey.

Following completion of his doctoral studies, Greene completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Virginia's Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center under Zhen Yan, where he received NIH funding in the form of T32 and F32 awards. In 2013, Greene was hired as faculty at the U of A in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation.

In his time at the U of A, Greene has received R15 and R01 research funding from the NIH/NIAMS, has twice received HHPR's outstanding research award and has received the College of Education and Health Professions Significant Research and George Denny STAR Awards. Greene's greatest passion is mentorship of his trainees. He has overseen four successfully completed dissertations as chair, with all four students subsequently obtaining prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, and trainees have received numerous awards for their research.

Greene currently serves as interim director of the Exercise Science Research Center and chair of the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee.

This seminar will also be available via Zoom. Pizza and beverages will be available during the seminar in ENGR 209.  

For additional information, please contact Kimberley Fuller at fullerk@uark.edu.

This event is supported by the NIGMS of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20GM139768. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.