Vincent C.o. Njar BSc, PhD

Dr. Vincent Njar has a long standing interest in the rational discovery and development of small molecules as anti-cancer agents. He is a leading medicinal chemist and oncopharmacologist who has made significant discoveries in the development of novel small molecules with potential for the treatments of a variety of cancers, especially breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Njar invented novel reactions that led to the synthesis novel inhibitors of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) metabolism enzyme (CYP26). These inhibitors are also referred to as retinoic acid metabolism blocking agents (RAMBAs). Some of our compounds are by far the most potent RAMBAs known. These inhibitors may be useful in enhancing the levels of endogenous ATRA, causing ‘ATRA-mimetic’ effects without the need for ATRA administration. Some of our novel RAMBAs are potent inhibitors of growth of both breast and prostate cancer cells and they are also strong inhibitors of breast and prostate cancer tumors in animal xenograft models.