Research Associate Professor

Contact Information Hide Contact Information

Address: 1501 N Campbell LSN #625 PO Box 245044
Tucson, AZ 85724
Phone: (520) 626-3934
E-Mail: kdvorak@email.arizona.edu

Research Interests

My major research interest is focused on the role of bile acids and gastric acids in the development of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. We study signaling pathways induced by bile acids and gastric acids in esophageal cell lines as well as in human biopsies with major focus on anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, such as JAK-STAT and NF-kB pathways.

Selected Publications

Bernstein C, Bernstein H, Payne CM, Dvorak K, Garewal H. Feb 2008. Field defects in progression to gastrointestinal tract cancers. Cancer Lett, 260:1-10

Dvorak K Chavarria M Payne CM Ramsey L Crowley-Weber C Dvorakova B Dvorak B Bernstein H Holubec H Sampliner RE Bernstein C Prasad A Green SB Garewal H. Sep 2007. Activation of the Interleukin-6/STAT3 Antiapoptotic Pathway in Esophageal Cells by Bile Acids and Low pH: Relevance to Barrett's Esophagus. Clin Cancer Res, 13:5305-5313

Bernstein H Holubec H Bernstein C Ignatenko NA Gerner E Dvorak K Besselsen D Blohm-Mangone KA Padilla-Torres J Dvorakova B Garewal H Payne CM. Mar 2007. Deoxycholate-induced colitis is markedly attenuated in Nos2 knockout mice in association with modulation of gene expression profiles. Dig Dis Sci, 52:628-42

Guy NC, Garewal H, Holubec H, Bernstein H, Payne CM, Bernstein C, Bhattacharyya AK, Dvorak K. Dec 2006. A novel dietary-related model of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus, a premalignant lesion. Nutr Cancer, 59:217-27