Nagi B. Kumar, PhD, RD, FADA

Dr. Kumar focuses her research on examining the role of botanicals and biologics in the prevention, treatment and survival from cancer.  Using a systematic, science-based approach, and working with a multidisciplinary team, Dr. Kumar has initiated and completed several preclinical and early phase I-II clinical trials with purified isoflavones, curcuminoid complex, green tea catechins, n-3 fatty acids, tannic acid and lycopene, laying the foundation to develop a program to accelerate agent development and validation at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Funded by the National Institute of Health, the Program currently has two active phase II clinical trials evaluating  the safety and effectiveness of polyphenon E and in preventing progression of prostate cancer, This year, funding was received from Novartis pharma to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel agent BYM338X2202 in preventing progression of cancer cachexia.  Additionally, a grant was received from Indo-US S&T Forum (IUSSTF) to conduct an Indo-US Bilateral Workshop on Accelerating Botanicals and Biologics Agent Development Research for Cancer Chemoprevention, Treatment and Survival. 

• Chornokur G, Kumar NB. Prostate cancer chemoprevention in men of African descent: current state of the art and opportunities for future research. Cancer Causes Control. 2013 Jun. Pubmedid: 23737026.
• Deng GE, Rausch SM, Jones LW, Gulati A, Kumar NB, Greenlee H, Pietanza MC, Cassileth BR. Complementary Therapies and Integrative Medicine in Lung Cancer: Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. 2013 May;143(5 Suppl):e420S-e436S. Pubmedid: 23649450.
• Alexandrow MG, Song LJ, Altiok S, Gray J, Haura EB, Kumar NB. Curcumin: a novel Stat3 pathway inhibitor for chemoprevention of lung cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2012 Sep;21(5):407-412. Pubmedid: 22156994. Pmcid: PMC3319490.
• Connors SK, Chornokur G, Kumar NB. New insights into the mechanisms of green tea catechins in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2012 Jul;64(1):4-22. Pubmedid: 22098273. Pmcid: PMC3665011.
• Kumar N, Crocker T, Smith T, Pow-Sang J, Spiess PE, Egan K, Quinn G, Schell M, Sebti S, Kazi A, Chuang T, Salup R, Helal M, Zagaja G, Trabulsi E, McLarty J, Fazili T, Williams CR, Schreiber F, Slaton J, Anderson JK. Challenges and potential solutions to meeting accrual goals in a Phase II chemoprevention trial for prostate cancer. Contemp Clin Trials. 2012 Jun;33(2):279-285. Pubmedid: 22101219. Pmcid: PMC3268882.
• Ribeiro MdLC, Silva AS, Bailey KM, Kumar NB, Sellers TA, Gatenby RA, Arig IH, Gillies RJ. Buffer therapy for cancer. J Nutr Food Sci. 2012 Jan;1-7.
• Kumar N, Crocker T, Smith T, Pow-Sang J, Spiess PE, Connors S, Chornukur G, Dickinson SI, Bai W, Williams CR, Salup R, Fu W. Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention Targeting High Risk Populations: Model for Trial Design and Outcome Measures. J Cancer Sci Ther. 2012 Jan;2011(S3). Pubmedid: 22422102.
• Chornokur G, Dalton K, Borysova ME, Kumar NB. Disparities at presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and survival in African American men, affected by prostate cancer. Prostate. 2011 Jul;71(9):985-997. Pubmedid: 21541975. Pmcid: PMC3083484.
• Brem S, Kumar NB. Management of treatment-related symptoms in patients with breast cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Feb;15(1):63-71. Pubmedid: 21278042.
• Kumar NB, Kazi A, Smith T, Crocker T, Yu D, Reich RR, Reddy K, Hastings S, Exterman M, Balducci L, Dalton K, Bepler G. Cancer cachexia: traditional therapies and novel molecular mechanism-based approaches to treatment. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2010 Dec;11(3-4):107-117. Pubmedid: 21128029. Pmcid: PMC3016925.
• Kumar NB, Yu D, Akinremi TO, Odedina FT. Comparing dietary and other lifestyle factors among immigrant Nigerian men living in the US and indigenous men from Nigeria: potential implications for prostate cancer risk reduction. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009 Oct;11(5):391-399. Pubmedid: 19225888.
• Odedina FT, Yu D, Akinremi TO, Reams RR, Freedman ML, Kumar N. Prostate cancer cognitive-behavioral factors in a West African population. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009 Aug;11(4):258-267. Pubmedid: 19051034.
• Kumar N, Titus-Ernstoff L, Newcomb PA, Trentham-Dietz A, Anic G, Egan KM. Tea consumption and risk of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Jan;18(1):341-345. Pubmedid: 19124518. Pmcid: PMC3156033.
• Odedina FT, Akinremi TO, Chinegwundoh F, Roberts R, Yu D, Reams RR, Freedman ML, Rivers B, Green BL, Kumar N. Prostate cancer disparities in Black men of African descent: a comparative literature review of prostate cancer burden among Black men in the United States, Caribbean, United Kingdom, and West Africa. Infect Agent Cancer. 2009;4 Suppl 1:S2. Pubmedid: 19208207. Pmcid: PMC2638461.
• Reams RR, Agrawal D, Davis MB, Yoder S, Odedina FT, Kumar N, Higginbotham JM, Akinremi T, Suther S, Soliman KF. Microarray comparison of prostate tumor gene expression in African-American and Caucasian American males: a pilot project study. Infect Agent Cancer. 2009;4 Suppl 1:S3. Pubmedid: 19208208. Pmcid: PMC2638462.
• Deng GE, Frenkel M, Cohen L, Cassileth BR, Abrams DI, Capodice JL, Courneya KS, Dryden T, Hanser S, Kumar N, Labriola D, Wardell DW, Sagar S. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2009;7(3):85-120. Pubmedid: 19706235.
• Sellers TA, Vierkant RA, Djeu J, Celis E, Wang AH, Kumar N, Cerhan JR. Unpasteurized milk consumption and subsequent risk of cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2008 Oct;19(8):805-811. Pubmedid: 18344007.
• Dahan K, Fennal M, Kumar NB. Lycopene in the prevention of prostate cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008;6(1):29-36. Pubmedid: 18302908.
• Cassileth BR, Deng GE, Gomez JE, Johnstone PA, Kumar N, Vickers AJ. Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition). Chest. 2007 Sep;132(3 Suppl):340S-354S. Pubmedid: 17873179.
• Kumar NB, Krischer JP, Allen K, Riccardi D, Besterman-Dahan K, Salup R, Kang L, Xu P, Pow-Sang J. A Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of purified isoflavones in modulating steroid hormones in men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2007;59(2):163-168. Pubmedid: 18001210. Pmcid: PMC2435485.
• Kumar N, Shibata D, Helm J, Coppola D, Malafa M. Green tea polyphenols in the prevention of colon cancer. Front Biosci. 2007;12:2309-2315. Pubmedid: 17127241.
• Kumar N, Riccardi D, Cantor A, Dalton K, Allen K. A case-control study evaluating the association of purposeful physical activity, body fat distribution, and steroid hormones on premenopausal breast cancer risk. Breast J. 2005 Aug;11(4):266-272. Pubmedid: 15982394.
• Kumar N, Allen K, Bell H. Perioperative herbal supplement use in cancer patients: potential implications and recommendations for presurgical screening. Cancer Control. 2005 Jul;12(3):149-157. Pubmedid: 16062162.
• Harvie M, Howell A, Vierkant RA, Kumar N, Cerhan JR, Kelemen LE, Folsom AR, Sellers TA. Association of gain and loss of weight before and after menopause with risk of breast cancer in the Iowas women's health study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005 Mar;14(3):656-661. Pubmedid: 15767346.
• Moyers SB, Kumar NB. Green tea polyphenols and cancer chemoprevention: multiple mechanisms and endpoints for phase II trials. Nutr Rev. 2004 May;62(5):204-211. Pubmedid: 15212320.
• Kumar N, Allen K, Riccardi D, Bercu B, Cantor A, Minton S, Balducci L, Jacobsen P. Fatigue, weight gain, lethargy and amenorrhea in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy: is subclinical hypothyroidism the culprit. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004;83(2):149-159. Pubmedid: 14997046.
• Kumar N, Allen K, Riccardi D, Kazi A, Heine J. Isoflavones in breast cancer chemoprevention: where do we go from here. Front Biosci. 2004;9:2927-2934. Pubmedid: 15353326.
• Kumar N, Dalton K. Eicosapentaenoic acid: promising nutritional supplement in the treatment of cancer cachexia in elderly patients. J Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2004;1(3):189-194. Pubmedid: noPMID.
• Kazi A, Wang Z, Kumar N, Falsetti S, Chan T, Dou Q. Structure-activity relationships of synthetic analogs of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as proteasome inhibitors. Anticancer Res. 2004;24(2B):943-954. Pubmedid: 15161048.
• Kumar N, Cantor A, Allen K, Riccardi D, Besterman-Dahan K, Seigne J, Helal M, Salup R, Pow-Sang J. The specific role of isoflavones in reducing prostate cancer risk. Prostate. 2004;59(2):141-147. Pubmedid: 15042614.
• Kazi A, Daniel KG, Smith DM, Kumar NB, Dou QP. Inhibition of the proteasome activity, a novel mechanism associated with the tumor cell apoptosis-inducing ability of genistein. Biochem Pharmacol. 2003 Sep;66(6):965-976. Pubmedid: 12963483.
• Kazi A, Urbizu D, Kuhn D, Acebo A, Jackson E, Greenfelder G, Kumar N, Dou Q. A natural musaceas plant extract inhibits proteasome activity and induces apoptosis selectively in human tumor and transformed, but not normal and non-transformed, cells. Int J Mol Med. 2003;12(6):879-887. Pubmedid: 14612961.
• Kumar NB, Hopkins K, Allen K, Riccardi D, Besterman-Dahan K, Moyers S. Use of complementary/integrative nutritional therapies during cancer treatment: implications in clinical practice. Cancer Control. 2002 May;9(3):236-243. Pubmedid: 12060821.
• Kumar NB, Cantor A, Allen K, Riccardi D, Cox CE. The specific role of isoflavones on estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women. Cancer. 2002 Feb;94(4):1166-1174. Pubmedid: 11920488. Pmcid: PMC2377415.
• Burns P, Kumar N. Alternative and complementary nutritional therapies in cancer prevention and treatment: implications in clinical practice. Nutrition. 2001;17(3):274-275. Pubmedid: 11312079.
• Kumar N, Cantor A, Allen K, Cox C. Android obesity at diagnosis and breast carcinoma survival: Evaluation of the effects of anthropometric variables at diagnosis, including body composition and body fat distribution and weight gain during life span, and survival from breast carcinoma. Cancer. 2000;88(12):2751-2757. Pubmedid: 10870057.
• Kumar N, Besterman-Dahan K. Nutrients in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer: current and future prospects. Cancer Control. 1999;6(6):580-586. Pubmedid: 10756389.
• Kumar N, Allen K, Cantor A, Cox C, Greenberg H, Shah S, Lyman G. Weight gain associated with adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in stage I and II breast cancer: fact or artifact?. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1997;44:135-143. Pubmedid: 9232272.
• Kumar N, Lyman G, Allan K, Cox C, Shapira D. Progressive weight gain in women and breast cancer risk: opportunity for breast cancer prevention. Cancer Detect Prev. 1996;20:510-510.
• Kumar N, Lyman G, Allen K, Cox C, Schapira D. Timing of weight gain and breast cancer risk. Cancer. 1995;76(2):243-249. Pubmedid: 8625099.
• Schapira D, Clark R, Wolff P, Jarrett A, Kumar N. Visceral obesity and breast cancer risk. Cancer. 1994;74(2):632-639.
• Schapira D, Wolff P, Kumar N, Anderson J, Aziz N, Lyman G, Swanson M. The effect of weight loss on estimated breast cancer risk and sex hormone levels. Oncol Rep. 1994;1:613-617.
• Schapira D, Kumar N, Lyman G. Body fat distribution and breast cancer risk within families. Cancer. 1993;70:2764-2768.
• Schapira D, Kumar N, Lyman G. Variation in body fat distribution and breast cancer risk in the families of patients with breast cancer and control families. Cancer. 1993;71(9):2764-2768.
• Kumar N, Bostow D, Schapira D, Kritch K. Efficacy of interactive, automated programmed instruction in nutrition education for cancer prevention. J Cancer Educ. 1993;8(3):203-211.
• Schapira D, Pamies R, Kumar N, Herold A, VanDurme D, Woodward L, Roetzheim R. Cancer screening -knowledge, recommendations and practices of physicians. Cancer. 1993;71(3):839-843.
• Schapira D, Kumar N, Clark R, Yag C. Mammography screening credit card and compliance. Cancer. 1992;70:509-512.
• Schapira D, Kumar N, Lyman G, Cavanagh D, Roberts W, LaPolla J. Upper body fat distribution and endometrial cancer risk. Jama South American Edition. 1992;266:82-86.
• Kumar NB, Kang L, Pow-Sang J, Xu P, Allen K, Riccardi D, Besterman-Dahan K, Krischer JP. Results of a randomized phase I dose-finding trial of several doses of isoflavones in men with localized prostate cancer: administration prior to radical prostatectomy. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2010 Winter;8(1):3-13. Pubmedid: 20205984.