Education

Ph.D.  Simon Fraser University, Canada, 1996
B.S. Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Canada
 
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Michigan State University (1996-2000)
National Cancer Institute (2000-2004)

Background

Lorne Hofseth received his Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada in 1996.  After completing postdocs at Michigan State University and the National Cancer Institute, he joined the faculty in the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy in 2004. 

Dr. Hofseth is a professor, director of the Center for Colon Cancer Research, and associate dean for Research for the College of Pharmacy. He has published over 100 times, supports his program through multiple NIH awards, and has founded two companies centering around inflammation and health. His lab studies the ability of diet, complementary and alternative medicines, and drugs to suppress low-grade tissue-specific inflammation and global, systemic inflammation as a means of preventing colorectal cancer.

The Hofseth Lab has recently focused its efforts on identifying dietary ingredients that are pro-inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory, and how we can use this information to drive policy and individual change for healthier outcomes.

Research Interests

• Chronic inflammation
• Colorectal cancer
• Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs)
• Cancer disparities

Research Lab

Chronic inflammation is dangerous to human health. It drives many prevalent diseases in our society, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cancer. Current treatment strategies that have a single target to dampen signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation are limited, and fraught with side-effects. Our lab is dedicated to identifying novel targets and therapeutic approaches to suppressing inflammation, with minimal toxicity. One way is through the use of common complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) that have anti-inflammatory properties. Another way is to team up with biochemists who synthesize small molecule inhibitors of specific pro-inflammatory molecules with low toxicity. Our lab also carries out clinical trials to examine the role of anti-oxidants in suppressing systemic inflammation, and improve overall health. Recent projects have involved the used of genetically modified plants to synthesize microRNAs for chemopreventive properties.  We are interested in colon cancer disparities and are tackling this issue in collaboration with other leaders at the university, including Drs. Hebert, Berger, and Roninson.  Our bench-to-bedside approach and collaborative efforts will have far-reaching health implications on millions of people suffering from auto-immune and chronic inflammatory diseases. 

Awards & Honors

• Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award, USC Office of the Vice President for Research, 2020

Publications

Hofseth LJ. Getting rigorous with scientific rigor. Carcinogenesis. 39(1), 21-25, 2018. PMID: 28968787.

Witalison EE, Cui X, Hofseth AB, Subramanian V, Causey CP, Thompson PR, Hofseth LJ. Inhibiting protein arginine deiminases has antioxidant consequences. JPET;353(1):64-70, 2015. PMID: 25635139.  PMCID: PMC4366755.

Cui X, Jin Y, Singh UP, Chumanevich AA, Harmon B, Cavicchia P, Hofseth AB, Kotakadi V, Poudyal D, Stroud B, Volate SR, Hurley TG, Hebert JR, Hofseth LJ.  Suppression of DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a juice concentrate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Mol Nutr Food Res. 56:666-70, 2012.  PMID: 22383296.

Harmon BE, Wirth MD, Boushey CJ, Wilkens LR, Draluck E, Shivappa N, Steck SE, Hofseth L, Haiman CA, Le Marchand L, Hébert JR. The Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort. J Nutr. 147(3), 430-438, 2017. PMID: 28179489

Chumanevich AA, Chaparala A, Witalison EE, Tashkandi H, Hofseth AB, Lane C, Pena E, Liu P, Pittman DL, Nagarkatti P, Nagarkatti M, Hofseth LJ, Chumanevich AA. Looking for the best anti-colitis medicine: A comparative analysis of current and prospective compounds. Oncotarget. 8(1), 228-237, 2017. PMID: 27974688.

Chumanevich AA, Witalison EE, Chaparala A, Chumanevich A, Nagarkatti P, Nagarkatti M, Hofseth LJ. Repurposing the anti-malarial drug, quinacrine: new anti-colitis properties. Oncotarget. 7(33), 52928-52939, 2016.

Block KI, et al. Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment. Semin Cancer Biol. 35, suppl. S276-304, 2015. PMID: 26590477.

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