Gerardo G. Mackenzie, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D., Cell Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• B.S., Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Research Interests

Dr. Mackenzie´s research focuses on the role of diet and other lifestyle factors in cancer development, prevention and treatment. Current research projects include: 1) Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the link between obesity, inflammation and cancer; 2) Evaluating the impact of dietary interventions, such as the ketogenic diet, alongside standard-of-care chemotherapy as a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer; and 3) Investigating the use of select nutraceuticals as potential chemopreventive agents.

Dr. Mackenzie is the Program Director for the Nutritional Biology Graduate Admissions Pathways (NUTGAP) program.  NUTGAP provides students from Fort Valley State University and Savannah State University with experience in nutritional biology research with UC Davis faculty, professional development, and long-term mentoring with a goal of increasing the number of scientists from underrepresented groups who pursue research careers in nutritional biology.

Selected Publications

For a full publications record, please visit Dr. Mackenzie's Google Scholar website.

Guorgui J, Wang R, Mattheolabakis G, Mackenzie GG. Curcumin formulated in solid lipid nanoparticles has enhanced efficacy in Hodgkin's lymphoma in mice. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2018 Jun 15;648:12-19. [PubMed]

Mallangada NA, Vargas JM, Thomas S, DiGiovanni MG, Vaeth BM, Nemesure MD, Wang R, LaComb JF, Williams JL, Golub LM, Johnson F, Mackenzie GG. A novel tricarbonylmethane agent (CMC2.24) reduces human pancreatic tumor growth in mice by targeting Ras. Mol Carcinog. 2018 Apr 23. [PubMed]

Salem AA, Mackenzie GG. Pancreatic cancer: A critical review of dietary risk. Nutr Res. 2018 Apr;52:1-13. [PubMed]

Matteolabakis G, Wang R, Rigas B and Mackenzie GG. Phospho-Valproic Acid inhibits pancreatic cancer growth in mice: enhanced efficacy by its formulation in poly-(L)lactic acid-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles. International Journal of Oncology Oct; 51(4):1035-1044. 2017 Oct. [PubMed]

Supasai S, Aimo L, Adamo AM, Mackenzie GG and Oteiza PI. Zinc deficiency affects the STAT1/3 signaling pathways in part through redox-mediated mechanisms. Redox Biology 11:469-48. 2017 Apr. [PubMed]

Queisser N, Schupp N, Schwarz E, Hartmann C, Mackenzie GG and Oteiza PI. Aldosterone activates the oncogenic signals ERK1/2 and STAT3 via a redox-regulated mechanisms. Molecular Carcinogenesis Aug 56(8):1868-1883. 2017 Apr. [PubMed]

Mattheolabakis G, Papayannis I, Yang J, Vaeth BM, Wang R, Bandovic J, Ouyang N, Rigas B and Mackenzie GG. Phospho-aspirin (MDC-22) prevents pancreatic carcinogenesis in mice. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016 Jul;9(7):624-34. [PubMed]

Bartels LE, Mattheolabakis G, Vaeth BM, LaComb JF, Wang R, Zhi J, Komninou D, Rigas B and Mackenzie GG. The novel agent phospho-glycerol-ibuprofen-amide (MDC-330) inhibits glioblastoma growth in mice: An effect mediated by cyclin D1. Carcinogenesis. 2016 Apr;37(4):420-9. [PubMed]

Choy YY, Fraga M, Mackenzie GG, Waterhouse AL, Cremonini E, and Oteiza PI. The PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in procyanidin-mediated suppression of human colorectal cancer cell growth. Mol Carcinog. 2016 Jan 15. (epub ahead of print) [PubMed]

Nuttall JR, Supasai S, Kha J, Vaeth BM, Mackenzie GG, Adamo AM, and Oteiza PI. Gestational Marginal Zinc Deficiency Impaired Fetal Neural Progenitor Cell Proliferation by Disrupting the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2015 Nov;26(11):1116-23 (2015). [PubMed]

Son JS, Khair S, Pettet III DW, Ouyang N, Tian X, Zhang Y, Zhu W, Mackenzie GG, Robertson CE, Ir D, Frank DN, Rigas B and Ellen Li. Altered interactions between the gut microbiome and colonic mucosa precede polyposis in APCMin/+ mice. PLoS ONE; Jun 29;10(6):e0127985. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127985 (2015). [PubMed]

Huang L, Wong CC, Mackenzie GG, Sun Y, Cheng KW, Vrankova K, Alston N, Ouyang N, Rigas B. Phospho-aspirin (MDC-22) inhibits breast cancer in preclinical animal models: an effect mediated by EGFR inhibition, p53 acetylation and oxidative stress. BCM Cancer Feb 28; 14:141 (2014). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Bartels LE, Xie G, Papayannis I, Alston N, Vrankova K, Ouyang N and Rigas B. A novel Ras inhibitor (MDC-1016) reduces human pancreatic tumor growth in mice. Neoplasia 15(10): 1184-95 (2013). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Huang L, Alston N, Ouyang N, Vrankova K, Mattheolabakis G, Constantinides PP and Rigas B. Targeting Mitochondrial STAT3 with the Novel Phospho-Valproic Acid (MDC-1112) Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Growth in Mice. PLoS ONE 8(5): e61532; (2013). [PubMed]

Cheng KW, Wong CC, Alston N, Mackenzie GG, Huang L, Ouyang N, Xie G, Wiedmann T, Rigas B. Aerosol administration of phospho-sulindac inhibits lung tumorigenesis. Mol Cancer Ther. [PubMed]

Mattheolabakis G, Mackenzie GG, Huang L, Ouyang N, Cheng KW and Rigas B. Topically Applied Phospho-Sulindac Hydrogel is Efficacious and Safe in the Treatment of Experimental Arthritis in Rats. Pharmaceutical Research Jun;30(6):1471-82 (2013). [PubMed]

Zhou D, Papayannis I, Mackenzie GG, Alston N, Ouyang N, Huang L, Nie T, Wong CC and Rigas B. The anticancer effect of phospho-tyrosol-indomethacin (MPI-621), a novel phosphoderivative of indomethacin: in vitro and in vivo studies. Carcinogenesis. Apr;34(4):943-51 (2013). [PubMed]

Zhu R, Cheng KW, Mackenzie GG, Huang L, Sun Y, Xie G, Vrankova K, Constantinides PP and Rigas, B. Phospho-Sulindac (OXT-328) inhibits the growth of human lung cancer xenografts in mice: Enhanced efficacy and mitochondria targeting by its formulation in solid lipid nanoparticles Pharmaceutical Research. Nov;29(11):3090-101. (2012). [PubMed]

Sun Y, Rowehl LM, Huang L, Mackenzie GG, Vrankova K, Komninou, D and Rigas, B. Phospho-ibuprofen (MDC-917) suppresses breast cancer growth: an effect controlled by the thioredoxin system. Breast Cancer Research. Jan 31;14(1):R20 (2012). [PubMed]

Xie G, Nie T, Mackenzie GG, Sun Y, Huang L, Ouyang N, Komninou, D, Kopelovich L, and Rigas, B. The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of phospho-sulindac (OXT-328) and the effect of difluoromethylornithine. British Journal of Pharmacology. 165(7):2152-66 (2012). [PubMed]

Huang L, Mackenzie GG, Sun Y, Xie G, Johnson F, Komninou D and Rigas, B. Chemotherapeutic properties of phospho-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a new class of anticancer compounds. Cancer Research; Dec 15; 71(24):7617-27 (2011). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Salvador GA, Romero C, Keen, CL, and Oteiza, PI. A deficit in zinc availability can cause alterations in tubulin thiol redox status in cultured neurons and in the developing fetal rat brain. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 51(2): 480-489 (2011). [PubMed]

Sun Y, Huang L, Mackenzie GG, and Rigas B. Oxidative stress mediates through apoptosis the anticancer effect of phospho-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Implications for the role of oxidative stress in the action of anticancer agents. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Sep;338(3):775-83 (2011). Highlighted by the editors as one in 4 out of 31 papers in the issue; in the journal’s section: “Highlighted Papers”; JPET 2011; 338: 731. [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Ouyang N, Xie G, Vrankova K, Huang L, Sun Y, Komninou D, Kopelovich L and Rigas B. Phospho-sulindac (OXT-328) combined with difluoromethylornithine prevents colon cancer in mice. Cancer Prevention Research. Jul;4(7):1052-60 (2011). [PubMed]

Xie G, Sun Y, Nie T, Mackenzie GG, Huang L, Kopelovich L, Komninou D and Rigas B. Phospho-ibuprofen (MDC-917) is a novel agent against colon cancer: Efficacy, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in mouse models. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Jun;337(3):876-886 (2011). Highlighted by the editors as one in 4 out of 34 papers in the issue; in the journal’s section: “Highlighted Papers”; JPET 2011; 337: 571. [PubMed]

Huang L, Mackenzie GG, Ouyang N, Sun Y, Xie G, Johnson F, Komninou D and Rigas, B. The novel phospho-NSAIDs OXT-328, MDC-22 and MDC-917 inhibit adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat. British Journal of Pharmacology: Apr;162(7):1521-33. (2011). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Sun Y, Huang L, Xie G, Ouyang N, Gupta RC, Johnson F, Komninou D, Kopelovich L, and Rigas B. Phospho-Sulindac (OXT-328), a novel sulindac derivative, is safe and effective for colon cancer prevention in mice. Gastroenterology 139(4):1320-32 (2010). Highlighted by the editors as one in 4 out of 40 papers in the issue; in the journal’s section: “This month in Gastroenterology”; Gastroenterology 2010; 139: 1069-1072. [PubMed]

Huang L, Zhu CH, Sun, Y, Xie G, Mackenzie GG, Qiao G, Komninou D. and Rigas B. Phosphosulindac (OXT-922) inhibits the growth of human colon cancer cell lines: A redox/polyamine dependent effect. Carcinogenesis: Nov;31(11):1982-90 (2010). [PubMed]

Verstraeten SV, Mackenzie GG, and Oteiza, P.I. The plasma membrane plays a central role in cells response to mechanical stress. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1798: 1739-1749 (2010). [PubMed]

Aimo L., Mackenzie GG, Keenan AH and Oteiza, P.I. Gestational Zinc deficiency affects the regulation of transcription factor AP-1, NF-κB and NFAT in fetal brain. J Nutritional Biochemistry Nov;21(11):1069-75 (2010). [PubMed]

Adamo AM, Zago MP, Mackenzie GG, Aimo L., Keen CL, Keenan AH and Oteiza PI. The role of zinc in the modulation of neuronal proliferation and apoptosis. Neurotox Res. 17(1):1-14 (2010). [PubMed]

Hua A, Mackenzie GG and Rigas B. The differential cell signaling effects of two positional isomers of the anticancer NO-donating aspirin. International Journal of Oncology 35(4):837-844 (2009). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Delfino JM., Keen CL, Fraga CG and Oteiza P.I. The interaction between dimeric procyanidins and the DNA-binding sites of transcription factor NF-κB. Biochemical Pharmacology Nov 1;78(9):1252-62 (2009). [PubMed]

Zhao W, Mackenzie GG, Murray OT, Zhang Z. and Rigas B. Phosphoaspirin (MDC-43), a novel benzyl ester of aspirin, inhibits the growth of human cancer cell lines more potently than aspirin: A redox-dependent effect. Carcinogenesis; 30(3):512-9 (2009). [PubMed]

Verstraeten SV, Mackenzie GG, Oteiza PI and Fraga, C.G. (-)Epicatechin and related procyanidins modulate intracellular calcium and prevented oxidation in Jurkat T cells. Free Radical Research 42(10):864-72 (2008). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Rasheed S, Wertheim W and Rigas B. NO-donating-NSAIDs, PPARδ and Cancer: Does PPARδ contribute to colon carcinogenesis? PPAR Research 2008;2008:919572. [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Queisser N, Wolfson, M., Fraga CG, Adamo AM and Oteiza PI. Curcumin induces cell-arrest and apoptosis in association with the inhibition of constitutive active NF-κB and STAT3 pathways in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. International J. Cancer 123(1):56-65. (2008).  [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Adamo AM, Decker NP and Oteiza PI. Dimeric procyanidin B2 inhibits constitutively active NF-κB and NF-κB-dependent gene expression in Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells. Biochemical Pharmacology 75:1461-1471 (2008).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Zago MP, Aimo L and Oteiza PI. Zinc deficiency in neuronal biology. IUBMB Life 59(4-5): 299-307 (2007).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG and Oteiza PI. Zinc and the cytoskeleton in the neuronal modulation of transcription factor NFAT. Journal of Cellular Physiology 210(1):246-256 (2007).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG and Oteiza PI. Modulation of transcription factor NF-κB in Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell lines: effect of (-)-epicatechin. Free Radical Research 40(10):1086-1094 (2006).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. Microtubules are required for NF-κB nuclear translocation in neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells: modulation by zinc. Journal of Neurochemistry 99(2): 402-415 (2006).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Zago MP, Erlejman AG, Aimo L, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. α-Lipoic acid and N-acetyl cysteine prevent zinc deficiency-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1 transcription factors in human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells. Free Radical Research. 40(1):75-84 (2006).[PubMed]

Zago MP, Mackenzie GG, Adamo AM, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. Differential modulation of MAP kinases by zinc deficiency in IMR-32 cells: role of H2O2. Antioxid Redox Signal. 7(11-12):1773-82 (2005).[PubMed]

Oteiza PI. and Mackenzie GG. Zinc, oxidant-triggered cell signaling, and human health. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 26(4-5):245-255 (2005).[PubMed]

Oteiza PI, Mackenzie GG and Verstraeten SV. Metals in neurodegeneration: involvement of oxidants and oxidant-sensitive transcription factors. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 25(1-2):103-15 (2004).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Carrasquedo F, Delfino JM, Keen CL, Fraga CG and Oteiza PI. Epicatechin, catechin and dimeric procyanidins inhibit PMA-induced NF-κB activation at multiple steps in Jurkat T cells. FASEB Journal 18: 167-169 (2004).[PubMed]

Verstraeten SV, Zago MP, Mackenzie GG, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. Influence of zinc deficiency on cell membrane fluidity in Jurkat T, 3T3 and IMR-32 cells. Biochemical Journal 378:579-587 (2004).[PubMed]

Actis-Goretta L, Mackenzie GG, Oteiza PI and Fraga CG. Comparative study of the antioxidant capacity of wines and other plant-derived beverages. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 957: 279-83 (2002). [PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. Zinc status of human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells influences their susceptibility to iron-induced oxidative stress. Developmental Neuroscience 24: 125-133 (2002).[PubMed]

Mackenzie GG, Zago MP, Keen CL and Oteiza PI. Low intracellular zinc impairs the translocation of activated NF-κB to the nuclei in human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277:34610-34617 (2002). [PubMed]