Dr. Eswar Shankar | Caner biology | Editorial Board Member

Assistant Research Professor | Ohio State University | United States

Dr. Eswar Shankar is a multidisciplinary biomedical researcher recognized for advancing mechanistic understanding of cancer biology, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and natural product therapeutics through molecular, cellular, and translational investigations. His work has significantly illuminated the anticancer potential of phytochemicals, including chamomile-derived bioactives and the plant flavone apigenin, establishing their roles in targeting oncogenic signaling, modulating epigenetic regulators, suppressing NF-κB and IKK-driven pathways, and attenuating prostate cancer progression in diverse in vitro and in vivo models. He has contributed extensively to the understanding of diet–gene interactions by demonstrating how high-fat diets activate pro-inflammatory networks in prostate tissues through the interplay of NF-κB, Stat-3, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. His research further spans apoptosis signaling dynamics, revealing how PKCɛ, p53, Hdm2, Bid, and TRAIL pathways orchestrate cell survival or resistance in cancer systems. Dr. Shankar has also offered pivotal insights into dopaminergic control of insulin secretion, inflammatory cross-talk between oral and prostatic microenvironments, survivin–TGF-β–mTORC1 coordinated growth regulation, and the influence of microRNAs such as miR-644a on metabolic reprogramming and oncogenic transformation. His work integrates molecular pharmacology, epigenetic reactivation strategies, and biomarker discovery to inform innovative therapeutic approaches leveraging dietary compounds, targeted inhibitors, and biochemical modulation. Furthermore, his collaborative contributions extend to clinical and translational studies involving stereotactic radiotherapy, metabolic interventions such as statin use, and diagnostic evaluation of oxidative stress in cancer risk groups. Across these domains, he maintains a strong focus on translating molecular discoveries into impactful biomedical applications for cancer prevention, metabolic health, and precision therapeutics.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports, 3(6), 895–901.

Shankar, E., Goel, A., Gupta, K., & Gupta, S. (2017). Plant flavone apigenin: An emerging anticancer agent. Current Pharmacology Reports, 3(6), 423–446.

Shankar, E., Kanwal, R., Candamo, M., & Gupta, S. (2016). Dietary phytochemicals as epigenetic modifiers in cancer: Promise and challenges. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 40, 82–99.

Shukla, S., Shankar, E., Fu, P., MacLennan, G. T., & Gupta, S. (2015). Suppression of NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated gene expression by apigenin through IκBα and IKK pathway in TRAMP mice. PLOS ONE, 10(9), e0138710.

Shukla, S., Kanwal, R., Shankar, E., Datt, M., Chance, M. R., Fu, P., … Gupta, S. (2015). Apigenin blocks IKKα activation and suppresses prostate cancer progression. Oncotarget, 6(31), 31216–31228.