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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 in 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. Dr. Hofseth's research centers on 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. 

Current Grants:

1. A Transdisciplinary Approach to Investigating Metabolic Dysregulation in Obese Parent and Child Dyads and Risk of Colorectal Cancer
   • NCI/NIH (1U01CA272977)
   • Multi-PI Project
   • July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2027
2. Clinical and Translational Research at the University of South Carolina (CLINTRUSC)
   • NIGMS/NIH (P20GM155896)
   • Director, Professional Development
   • July 15, 2024 – June 30, 2029

Recently Completed Grants:

1. Harnessing the power of p53 with panaxynol from American Ginseng to suppress colitis and prevent colon cancer
   • NCI, NIH (3R01CA246809)
   • Principal Investigator
   • January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2024

2. Harnessing the power of p53 with panaxynol from American Ginseng to suppress colitis and prevent colon cancer (Re-entry Administrative Supplement)
   • NCI, NIH (3R01CA246809-03S2)
   • Principal Investigator
   • June 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024

Awards & Honors

• Presidential Coin of Excellence, University of South Carolina, 2021
• Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award, USC Office of the Vice President for Research, 2020
• Academic Leadership Fellow, AACP, 2018
• Runner-Up, Teacher of the Year, USC College of Pharmacy, 2018
• P3 Professor of the Year, USC College of Pharmacy, 2014
• Teacher of the Year, USC College of Pharmacy, 2014

Publications

Hofseth LJ, Hebert JR, Murphy EA, Trauner E, Vikas A, Harris Q, Chumanevich AA. Allura Red AC is a xenobiotic. Is it also a carcinogen? 2024 Oct 10;45(10):711-720. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgae057. PMID: 39129647

McDonald SJ, Bullard BM, VanderVeen BN, Cardaci TD, Huss AR, Fan D, Hofseth LJ, Murphy EA. Panaxynol alleviates colorectal cancer in a murine model via suppressing macrophages and inflammation. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 325(4):G318-G333, 2023. PMID: 37489869.

Zhang Q, Chumanevich AA, Nguyen I, Chumanevich AA, Sartawi N, Hogan J, Khazan M, Harris Q, Massey B, Chatzistamou I, Buckhaults PJ, Banister CE, Wirth M, Hebert JR, Murphy EA, Hofseth LJ. The synthetic food dye, Red 40, causes DNA damage, causes colonic inflammation, and impacts the microbiome in mice. Toxicol Rep. 11:221-232, 2023. PMID: 37719200

Hofseth LJ, Hebert JR, Chanda A, Chen H, Love BL, Pena MM, Murphy A, Sajish M, Sheth A, Buckhaults PJ, Berger FG. Mechanisms of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: Early Clues and Current Views. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jun;17(6):352-364. doi: 10.1038/s41575-019-0253-4. Epub 2020 Feb 21. PMID: 32086499 in press.

Chaparala A, Poudyal D, Tashkandi H, Witalison EE, Chumanevich AA, Nguyen I, Hardy O, Pittman DL, Wyatt MD, Windust A, Murphy EA, Nagarkatti M, Nagarkatti P, Hofseth LJ. Panaxynol, a bioactive component of American ginseng, targets macrophages and suppresses colitis in mice. 11(22):2026-2036, 2020. PMID: 32547701.

Chaparala A, Tashkandi H, Chumanevich AA, Witalison EE, Windust A, Cui T, Nagarkatti M, Nagarkatti P, Hofseth LJ. Molecules from American Ginseng Suppress Colitis through Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2. 2020 Jun 21;12(6):1850. doi: 10.3390/nu12061850. PMID: 32575883.

Oza M, Becker W, Gummadidala PM, Dias T, Omebeyinje MH, Chen L, Mitra C, Jesmin R, Chakraborty P, Sajish M, Hofseth LJ, Banerjee K, Wang Q, Moeller PDR, Nagarkatti M, Nagarkatti P, Chanda A. Acute and short-term administrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol modulate major gut metabolomic regulatory pathways in C57BL/6 mice. Sci Rep. 19;9(1):10520, 2019. PMID: 31324830; PMCID: PMC6642200.

Kadhim S, Singh NP, Zumbrun EE, Cui T, Chatterjee S, Hofseth L, Abood A, Nagarkatti P, Nagarkatti M. Resveratrol-Mediated Attenuation of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B-Induced Acute Liver Injury Is Associated With Regulation of microRNA and Induction of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells. Front Microbiol. 9:2910, 2018. PMID: 30619104 PMCID: PMC6304356.

Wirth MD, Sevoyan M, Hofseth L, Shivappa N, Hurley TG, Hébert JR. The Dietary Inflammatory Index is associated with elevated white blood cell counts in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Brain Behav Immun. 69:296-303, 2018. PMID: 29217263.

Zhang Q, Berger FG, Love B, Banister CE, Murphy EA, Hofseth LJ. Maternal stress and early-onset colorectal cancer. Med Hypotheses. 121:152-159, 2018. PMID: 30396471.

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

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