Link to
Dr.Darwiche's FMIS Profile
Research Area
Our research focuses on cancer prevention and targeted therapy, with a particular emphasis on retinoids, natural products, and anticancer inhibitors of DNA polymerases. We explore drug development from medicinal plants and innovative drug formulations using nanoparticles, with a strong focus on sesquiterpene lactones—plant-derived compounds that serve as lead anticancer agents in clinical development. Utilizing in vitro and in vivo models of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, glioblastoma, epidermal carcinogenesis, adult T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma, and various leukemias, we investigate key aspects of cancer biology, including cell death mechanisms, retinoid signaling and resistance, DNA damage responses, and targeted therapy strategies. Our work also extends to studying cancer metabolism, epigenetic regulation, microbiome interactions, intermittent fasting in cancer treatment, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery, aiming to advance novel therapeutic approaches for improved patient outcomes.
Research Interests
- Cancer prevention and targeted cancer therapy
- Retinoids, medicinal plants, and mannose in cancer therapy
- Targeting cancer metabolism and cancer stem cells
- Fasting in cancer prevention and therapy
- Anticancer drug development using nanoparticles
Selected Publications
* Principal Investigator
- Assi, S., Hayar, B., Pisano, C., *Darwiche, N, and Saad, W. Novel ST1926 nanoparticle drug formulation enhances drug therapeutic efficiency in colorectal cancer xenografted mice. Nanomaterials: 14(17): 1380, 2024. PMID: 39269042
- Abou Staiteieh, S., Faddoul, N., Hayar, B., Houshaymi, B., *Darwiche, N. and Abou Merhi, R. Primary effusion lymphoma: Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting viral and cellular mechanisms. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy. 2025. DOI: 10.1080/14737140. 2025.2474728.
- Mneimneh, A.T., Hayar, B., Al Hadeethi, S., *Darwiche, N. and Mehanna, M.M. Application of Box-Behnken Design in the development and optimization of albendazole-loaded zein nanoparticles as a propitious approach in colorectal cancer management. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules: 281(Pt 4):136437. 2024. PMID: 39414215
- Mneimneh, A.T., Darwiche, N. and Mehanna, M.M. Investigating the therapeutic promise of drug-repurposed nanocarriers: Pioneering strategies in advancing colorectal cancer treatment. International Journal of Pharmaceutics: 664:124473, 2024. PMID: 39025341
- AlZaim, I., El-Nikhely, N., Al-Saidi, A., Mougharbil, N., *Darwiche, N., Abou-Kheir, W. and El-Yazbi, A.F. Periprostatic adipose tissue thromboinflammation triggers prostatic neoplasia in early metabolic impairment: Interruption by rivaroxaban. Life Sciences 334:122225, 2023. PMID: 38084675
- El-Baba, C., Ayache, Z., Goli, M., Kawtharani, Z., Hayar, B., Pisano, C., Kobeissy, F., Mechref, Y. and *Darwiche, N. The antitumor effect of the DNA Polymerase Alpha inhibitor ST1926 in glioblastoma: A proteomics approach. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(18): 14069, 2023. PMID: 37762371
- Al Hadeethi, S., El-Baba, C., Araji, k., Hayar, B., Cheikh I.A., El-Khoury, R., Usta, J. and *Darwiche, N. Mannose inhibits the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in colorectal cancer and enhances sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil therapy. Cancers 15(8): 2268, 2023. PMID: 37190196
- Assi, S., El Hajj, H., Hayar, B., Pisano, C., Saad, W. and *Darwiche, N. Development and challenges of synthetic retinoid formulations in cancer. Current Drug Delivery 20(9):1314-1326, 2023. PMID: 35950256
- Cheikh, I., El-Baba, C., Youssef, A., Saliba, N., Ghantous, A. and *Darwiche, N. Lessons learned from the discovery and development of sesquiterpene lactones in cancer therapy and prevention. Expert Opinion Drug Discovery 17(12):1377-1405, 2022. PMID: 36373806
- Ghanem, N., El-Baba, C., Araji, K., El-Khoury, R., Usta, J. and *Darwiche, N. The Pentose Phosphate Pathway in cancer: Regulation and therapeutic opportunities. Chemotherapy Nov 12:1-13, 2021. PMID: 34775382
- El-Baba, C., Baassiri, A., Kiriako, G., Dia, B., Fadlallah, S., Moodad, S. and *Darwiche, N. Terpenoids' anti-cancer effects: Focus on autophagy. Apoptosis Jul 16, 2021. PMID: 34269920
- Ghandour, B., Dbaibo, and *Darwiche, N. The unfolding role of ceramide in coordinating retinoid-based cancer therapy. The Biochemical Journal Oct 15;478(19):3621-3642, 2021. PMID: 34648006
- Al Aaraj, L., Hayar, B., Jaber, Z., Saad, W., Saliba, N.A., *Darwiche, N., and Ghaddar, T. The effect of different ester chain modifications of two guaianolides for inhibition of colorectal cancer cell growth. Molecules 26 (18): 5481, 2021. PMID: 34576952
- Karam, L., Abou Staitieh, S., Chaaban, R., Ismail. B., Neipel, F., *Darwiche, N. and Abou Merhi, R. Anti-cancer activities of parthenolide in primary effusion lymphoma preclinical models. Molecular Carcinogenesis 60(8): 567-581, 2021. PMID: 34101920
- *Darwiche, N. Epigenetic mechanisms and the hallmarks of cancer: An intimate affair. American Journal of Cancer Research Jul 1;10(7):1954-1978, 2020. PMID: 32774995
- Ghandour, B., Pisano, C., *Darwiche, N. and Dbaibo, G. Restoration of ceramide de novo synthesis by the synthetic retinoid ST1926 as it induces adult T-cell leukemia cell death. Bioscience Reports Oct 13. 2020. PMID: 33048123
- Moussalem, C.K., Massaad, E., Baassiri, W., Anwar, M.A., Kobeissy, F., Eid, A., Darwiche, N. and Omeis. I. Spinal sarcomas and immunity: An undervalued relationship. Seminars in Cancer Biology Aug; 64:36-50, 2020. PMID:31254615
Awards
2024
| Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Medicine Dean's Excellence Award, American University of Beirut |
| 2023 | Tenure, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut
|
2023-2025
| Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society Award- Elected as Full Member |
2023
| Travel Grant Award- European Association for Cancer Research, Torino, Italy
|
| 2018-2019 | Dubai Harvard Foundation scholarship to Harvard Medical School's Cancer Biology and Therapeutics: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2016 | Future Leader in Cancer Research from Low- and Middle-Income Countries, World Health Organization, International Agency for Research, Lyon, France |
| 2011-2019 | Biomedical Research Day, Best Poster or Presentation, American University of Beirut/Lebanon
|
| 2011 | Lindbergh Foundation Award Recipient- For Balancing Technology and the Environment, Minnesota, USA |
Ongoing Research Projects
- Efficacy of DNA Polymerase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer using Breast Intraductal Mouse Model
- Therapeutic Opportunities in Targeting Metabolism and Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer
- Efficacy of DNA Polymerase Inhibitors in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Primary Effusion Lymphoma
- Mannose in Colorectal Cancer and Diabetes Therapy
- Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in Colorectal Cancer Therapy
- Mannose and Intermittent Fasting in Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Any Role for the Gut Microbiota?
- Fasting for Hope: Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of Intermittent Fasting in Glioblastoma Patients
- Evaluating the Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Prospective Study
Lab Members
Lab Manager
Berthe Hayar MS Biochemistry bh48@aub.edu.lb
Research Assistant
Karim El-Halabi MS Biochemistry kke05@aub.edu.lb
Students
Israa Cheikh PhD Biomedical Sciences iac06@mail.aub.edu
Sadaf Al Hadeethi PhD Biomedical Sciences saa174@mail.aub.edu
Soumaiah Abou Staiteieh PhD Cancerology somaia_30_6@hotmail.com
AbdulMajid Shehab MS Biochemistry ams156@mail.aub.edu
Alaa El Moghrabi MS Biochemistry aae116@mail.aub.edu
Sally Fayad MS Biochemistry shf13@mail.aub.edu
Mariam Zhour MS Biochemistry maz45@mail.aub.edu
Sara Houeidi MS Biomedical Engineering ssh50@mail.aub.edu
Amir El Jurdi MS Biomedical Engineering ate07@mail.aub.edu
Malek Bazzi BS Biology mmb80@mail.aub.edu
Paolo Chreif BS Biology pmc02@mail.aub.edu