Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Kyle Selcer became a faculty member at Duquesne University in 1992. His research centers on understanding how steroid hormones, particularly androgens and estrogens, influence hormone-dependent cancers. Alongside his research endeavors, Dr. Selcer plays an active role in teaching courses related to human physiology and endocrinology.

His laboratory is dedicated to understanding the function of these hormones in both normal and pathological processes. One significant area of investigation concerns environmental estrogens, chemical pollutants that mimic estrogen's actions. Dr. Selcer's team is developing bioassays for their detection, using the biomarker vitellogenin found in wild animal blood samples.

Furthermore, they explore the role of steroid sulfatase—an enzyme—in hormone-dependent cancer growth. They are developing inhibitors for steroid sulfatase as potential treatments for breast and prostate carcinomas. Additionally, they are investigating the regulation of steroid sulfatase in various tissues, including breast, bone, and ovarian tissues.

Another area of emphasis is the role of androgens in the reproduction of female nonmammalian vertebrates. Their research suggests that androgen levels in females may be as high as those in males for certain species of reptiles and amphibians, hinting at a potential function in female reproduction. The laboratory employs diverse model systems such as fish, frogs, turtles, rats, human placenta, and human breast and prostate cancer cell lines to further their investigations.

Education

  • NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Texas Tech University Medical School
  • Ph.D. Biology, Texas Tech University, 1986
  • M.S. Biology, University of Texas-Pan American, 1982
  • B.S. Biology, University of Texas-Pan American, 1980

Research Interests

Role of estrogens and androgens in reproduction and cancer

Estrogens and androgens are sex steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands and the gonads. These two hormones have important roles in normal reproductive processes; however, they are also implicated in certain abnormal processes, including hormone-dependent cancers. My laboratory is studying the function of androgens and estrogens in normal and pathological processes. One area of study is on chemical pollutants that mimic the action of estrogen, so called "environmental estrogens. We are particularly interested in developing bioassays for detection of these environmental estrogens, based on the presence of the biomarker vitellogenin in the blood of wild animals. Another area of study is the role of the enzyme steroid sulfatase in the growth of hormone-dependent cancer. We are developing steroid sulfatase inhibitors as potential agents for the treatment of breast and prostate carcinomas. We are also investigating the regulation of steroid sulfatase in breast, bone and ovarian tissues. A third area of emphasis is the role of androgens in reproduction of female nonmammalian vertebrates. Androgen levels of females may be as high as those in males for many species of reptiles and amphibians, suggesting that androgens may function in female reproduction. Model systems used in my laboratory include fish, frogs, turtles, rats, human placenta, and human breast and prostate cancer cell lines.

 

School

About

  1. Balasubramonian B, Selcer KW. The phytochemical curcumin inhibits steroid sulfatase activity in rat liver tissue and NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Steroids. 2023 Mar;191:109163. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109163. Epub 2022 Dec 27. PMID: 36581086.
  2. Selcer K, Balasubramonian B, Miller D, Kerr J, DiFrancesco M, Ojha S, Urbano R. Steroid sulfatase in the mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblast cell line: Characterization, and downregulation by glucocorticoids. Steroids. 2021 Oct;174:108890. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2021.108890. Epub 2021 Jul 17. PMID: 34280393.
  3. Feng Y, Xie Y, Xu M, Li L, Selcer KW, Oberly PJ, Poloyac SM, Wang H, Li C, Dong F, Yu C, Xie W. Hepatic steroid sulfatase critically determines estrogenic activities of conjugated equine estrogens in human cells in vitro and in mice. J Biol Chem. 2019 Aug 9;294(32):12112-12121. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.009181. Epub 2019 Jun 19. PMID: 31217279; PMCID: PMC6690699.
  4. Bi Y, Jiang M, Guo W, Guan X, Xu M, Ren S, Yang D, Gaikwad NW, Selcer KW, Xie W. Sex-Dimorphic and Sex Hormone-Dependent Role of Steroid Sulfatase in Adipose Inflammation and Energy Homeostasis. Endocrinology. 2018 Sep 1;159(9):3365-3377. doi: 10.1210/en.2018-00531. PMID: 30060148; PMCID: PMC6112598.
  5. Dias NJ, Selcer KW. Steroid sulfatase in the human MG-63 preosteoblastic cell line: Antagonistic regulation by glucocorticoids and NFκB. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2016 Jan 15;420:85-96. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.11.029. Epub 2015 Nov 26. PMID: 26631368.
  6. Jiang M, Klein M, Zanger UM, Mohammad MK, Cave MC, Gaikwad NW, Dias NJ, Selcer KW, Guo Y, He J, Zhang X, Shen Q, Qin W, Li J, Li S, Xie W. Inflammatory regulation of steroid sulfatase: A novel mechanism to control estrogen homeostasis and inflammation in chronic liver disease. J Hepatol. 2016 Jan;64(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.07.022. Epub 2015 Jul 26. PMID: 26220752; PMCID: PMC4691383.
  7. Jandegian CM, Deem SL, Bhandari RK, Holliday CM, Nicks D, Rosenfeld CS, Selcer KW, Tillitt DE, Vom Saal FS, Vélez-Rivera V, Yang Y, Holliday DK. Developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) alters sexual differentiation in painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2015 May 15;216:77-85. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 8. Erratum in: Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2017 Jun 1;247:223. PMID: 25863134.
  8. Dias NJ, Selcer KW. Steroid sulfatase mediated growth of human MG-63 pre-osteoblastic cells. Steroids. 2014 Oct;88:77-82. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2014.07.001. Epub 2014 Jul 17. PMID: 25042472.
  9. Selcer KW, Verbanic JD. Vitellogenin of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens): development of an ELISA assay and evaluation of induction after immersion in xenobiotic estrogens. Chemosphere. 2014 Oct;112:348-54. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.04.073. Epub 2014 May 22. PMID: 25048926.
  10. Selcer KW, Difrancesca HM. Characterization of steroid sulfatase in the MC3T3-E1 mouse pre-osteoblastic cell line. Steroids. 2012 May;77(6):696-702. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2012.02.024. Epub 2012 Mar 9. PMID: 22426324.
1. Derivatives of estra 1,3,5(10)triene-17-one, 3 amino compounds and their use.
Inventors: P.K. Li and K.W. Selcer
US Patent # 5,571,933, reissued as # 5,866,603
Filed 11/17/94, Issued 11/5/96, reissued 2/2/99

2. Steroid sulfatase inhibitors and methods for making and using the same.
Inventors: P.K. Li and K.W. Selcer
US Patent # 5,880,115
Filed 6/30/97, Issued 3/6/99

3. Compounds for the treatment of estrogen-dependent illnesses and methods for making and using the same.
Inventors: P.K. Li and K.W. Selcer
Filed 8/1/98
Approved 1/18/01, Application # 09/164/889
Continuation in part filed 3/24/2000, approved 9/11/2001
US Patent # 6,288,107 B1
  • BIOL 315/515: Human Physiology
  • BIOL 330: General Ecology
  • BIOL 401/501: Ornithology
  • BIOL 460/560: Endocrinology