Program Leader, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program
Professor and Wallin Chair in Cancer Prevention, University of Minnesota Cancer Center
American Cancer Society Research Professor
Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

hecht002@umn.edu
612-624-7604 — office

Research Interests

The goal of research in the Hecht laboratory is to understand the mechanisms by which carcinogens are metabolically activated and detoxified in humans, and use this knowledge to develop practical strategies for cancer prevention. This group studies the metabolism of carcinogens that are present in tobacco products, the human diet, and the general environment; particular focus is on nitrosamines, aldehydes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Studies in laboratory animals are used to understand metabolic pathways. Then methods are developed to quantify metabolism of these carcinogens in humans, typically by employing GC-MS, LC-MS, or related methods to analyze carcinogen metabolites in urine, or carcinogen DNA or protein adducts in tissue or blood. These methods are applied in molecular epidemiology studies designed to determine factors that influence susceptibility to cancer development in exposed humans. Naturally occurring compounds that can prevent the metabolic activation of carcinogens or enhance their detoxification are also investigated. Mechanisms by which these chemopreventive agents act are determined in laboratory animals, then investigated in humans to investigate potential efficacy in cancer prevention.

For a more detailed description of Dr. Hecht's research interests, please visit his College of Pharmacology Web site.

Selected Publications

Hecht, S.S. Tobacco carcinogens, their biomarkers and tobacco-induced cancer. Nature Rev. Cancer, 3: 733-744, 2003.

Hecht, S.S., Carmella, S.G., Le, K., Murphy, S.E., Boettcher, A.J., Le, C., Koopmeiners, J., An, L., and Hennrikus, D.J. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronides in the urine of infants exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers & Prev., 15: 988-992, 2006.

Lao, Y., Yu, N., Kassie, F., Villalta, P.W., and Hecht, S.S. Analysis of pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in F344 rats chronically treated with (R)- and (S)-N'-nitrosonornicotine. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 246-256, 2006.

Lao, Y., Yu, N., Kassie, F., Villalta, P.W., and Hecht, S.S. Formation and accumulation of pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in F344 rats chronically treated with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and enantiomers of its metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 235-245, 2006.

Chen, L., Wang, M., Villalta, P.W., Luo, X., Feuer, R., Jensen, J., Hatsukami, D.K., and Hecht, S.S. Quantitation of an acetaldehyde adduct in human leukocyte DNA and the effect of smoking cessation. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 108-113, 2007.

Wang, M., Lao, Y., Cheng, G., Shi, Y., Villalta, P.W., and Hecht, S.S. Identification of adducts formed in the reaction of alpha-acetoxy-N-nitrosopyrrolidine with deoxyribonucleosides and DNA. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 625-633, 2007.

Wang, M., Lao, Y., Cheng, G., Shi, Y., Villalta, P.W., Nishikawa, A. and Hecht, S.S. Analysis of adducts in hepatic DNA of rats treated with N-nitrosopyrrolidine. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 634-640, 2007.

Zhang, S., Villalta, P., Wang, M., and Hecht, S.S. Detection and quantitation of acrolein-derived 1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts in human lung by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 20: 565-571, 2007.