Urology
Our Team
Our Researchers
Shu-Yuan Yeh, Ph.D.
Research Overview
Dr. Yeh’s research work focuses on understanding the mechanisms and finding alternative therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating prostate cancer.
One of her studies is investigating modified forms of alpha-Vitamin E. There is already evidence that Vitamin E, found naturally in vegetable oil and nuts, among other foods, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. But natural alpha-Vitamin E is unstable, and has a lower anti-cancer effect. The modified forms might be more stable and more effective as cancer preventative and therapeutic agents. Currently, Dr. Yeh’s research team has found the Vitamin E succinate is one of the most effective chemical forms of vitamin E to inhibit the growth, and increase the cancer cell death. In prostate cancer, the molecules targeted by Vitamin E succinate include androgen receptor and prostate specific antigen and other cellular proteins important for cancer cell survival.
Another area she is studying involves understanding the transition of prostate cancer from androgen sensitive to androgen unresponsive stages in patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Suppressing the production and/or function of androgen (the male hormone) has been an effective way to prevent the recurrence and spread of prostate cancer, but it is not always effective after the long-term treatment. Dr. Yeh is trying to discover and understand the mechanisms in the body that allow cancer cells to escape the effect of removing the androgen. This understanding could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies, such as the combination of androgen suppression with new chemical compounds (such as modified alpha-Vitamin E), that will be more effective in fighting cancer.
A new area of Dr. Yeh’s research is studying the roles of estrogen and estrogen receptor (the female hormone and receptor, but found in men as well) in promoting malignant transformation and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, the medical term for an enlarged but non-cancerous prostate). Evidence currently suggests that early and/or increased exposure to estrogen during normal prostate development might lead to prostate malignancy or BPH. Some of the exposures may be from our living environment, because there are many compounds that have estrogen-like effects.
Faculty Title
Associate Professor, Departments of Urology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Education
University of Wisconsin, Madison- Ph.D. Endocrinology, 1996
Contact Information
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 626
Rochester, New York 14642
Medical Center room: 1-5340
Phone: (585) 275-3346
Fax: (585) 273-1068
Email: Shuyuan_Yeh@urmc.rochester.edu