Research Interests
Our primary interest is the effects of body weight on the development of breast cancer using various mouse models. Studies include effects of genetic and dietary-induced obesity on breast/mammary tumor development particularly with respect to body fat and serum leptin levels. Also, we are determining if characteristics of the cancer cells determine response to nutrition interventions. These studies are complemented by in vitro tissue culture studies. Additional studies are focused on the effect of caloric restriction on the development of breast/mammary tumors and prostate cancer using mouse models. Mechanisms of the protective effect of caloric restriction on cancer development including leptin/leptin receptors and IGF-axis are being studied.

Selected Publications

Dogan S, Hu X, Zhang Y, Maihle NJ, Grande JP, Cleary MP. Effects of high fat diet and/or body weight on mammary tumor leptin and apoptosis signaling pathways in MMTV-TGF-alpha mice. Breast Cancer Res. (2007) Dec 27;9(6):R91.

Ray A, Nkhata KJ, Cleary MP. Effects of leptin on human breast cancer cell lines in relationship to estrogen receptor and HER2 status. Int J Oncol. (2007) Jun;30(6):1499-509.

Ray A, Nkhata KJ, Grande, JP, Cleary MP. Diet-induced obesity and mammary tumor development in relation to estrogen receptor status. Cancer Lett. (2007) Aug 18;253(2):291-300.

Cleary MP, Hu X, Grossmann ME, Juneja SC, Dogan S, Grande JP, Maihle NJ. Prevention of mammary tumorigenesis by intermittent caloric restriction: does caloric intake during refeeding modulate the response? Exp Biol Med (Maywood). (2007) Jan;232(1):70-80.

Malewicz B, Wang Z, Jiang C, Guo J, Cleary MP, Grande JP, Lu J. Enhancement of mammary carcinogenesis in two rodent models by silymarin dietary supplements. Carcinogenesis (2006) Sep;27(9):1739-47.

PubMed (a service of the National Library of Medicine) provides a comprehensive list of Dr. Cleary's recent publications.

Current Funding
Intermittent Food Restriction Prevents Mammary Tumors - National Institutes of Health
Body Weight Change, Leptin/Adiponectin & Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Role of Obesity in Prostate Cancer Development – Department of Defense
Dietary Obesity & Prostate Cancer Development – American Institute for Cancer Research

Nutrition and Metabolism Researchers
Front row: Katai Nkhata, Amitabha Ray, Margot Cleary, Olga Rogozina, Michael Grossmann
Back row: Nancy Mizuno, Melissa Bonorden, Soner Dogan, Kassandra Poffenberger