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Research ProgramStructural Biology
Research InterestsOur current research interests involve the synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry of experimental cancer therapeutics. The investigations involve the multistep syntheses of the core structures, the synthesis of their analogues or metabolites and their disposition in the biological test system. These projects are parts of larger projects, conducted in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, which focus on the elucidation of the molecular target or the mode of action of the compounds as well as the design of analogues possessing a higher activity or selectivity. Compounds such as TNP-470 and thalidomide (shown below) are potent angiogenesis inhibitors and synthetic studies are currently underway which identify chemical analogues of these compounds as well as newer and more efficient asymmetric routes to their core structures. The binding of the ansa macrocycle geldanamycin to the chaperone heat shock protein (HSP-90) is of mechanistic importance. The interaction of geldanamycin with its target leads to inhibition of ATPase activity and cell cycle disruption, therefore the design and multistep synthesis of analogues are of interest in our laboratory.
Education
Education/Training
B.S., Vanderbilt University, Chemistry/Biology, 1976
M.S., Tufts University, Medford, MA, Organic Chemistry, 1979
Ph.D., Tufts University, Medford, MA, Organic Chemistry, 1982
Postdoc., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Organic Chemistry, 1982-1985
Research and Professional Experience
1978-1985
Consultant, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA
1985-1988
Senior Development Chemist, E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co.
1988-1995
Assistant Professor, University of Louisville, KY
1995-present
Associate Professor, University of Louisville, KY
Selected Awards and Professional Honors
1998-2002
Editorial Board, Letters in Organic Chemistry (Bentham Publishers), American Editor, Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (Elsevier)
1998
Associate Editor, Organic Reactions, Volume 53 (Wiley); Reviewer for J. Am. Chem. Soc.; J. Org. Chem.; J. Med. Chem.; Ort. Lett.; Tetrahedron, Tetrahedron Lett.; Tetrahedron Assym.; Bioorg. Med. Chem.; Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett.; Synthesis; Organic and Biomolecular Chem.; Mendeleev Commun.; Chem. Soc. Reviews, Synthetic Commun.; Org. Prep. Proc. Int.; Untrasonics Sonochem.
Publications
Luzzio FA, Thomas EM, Figg WD. Thalidomide metabolites. Part 1: Derivatives of (+)-2-(N-phthalimido)– [gamma]–hydroxyglutamic acid. Tetrahedron Lett 41:2275-2278, 2000.
Luzzio FA, Thomas EM, Figg WD. Thalidomide metabolites and analogs. Part II. Cyclic derivatives of 2-N-phthalimido-2S, 3S (3-hydroxy) ornithine. Tetrahedron Lett 41:7151-7155, 2000.
Luzzio FA, Fitch RW. A rearrangement route to fenvaleric Acid. J Prakt Chem 342:(5):498-501, 2000
Luzzio FA. The Henry Reaction: Recent examples. Tetrahedron 57:915-945, 2001.
Luzzio FA, Duveau DY. Enzymatic resolution of the 1, 3, 3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo [2.2.2.] octane (1,8-cineole) system. Tetrahedron:Asymmetry 13:1173-1180, 2002.
Luzzio FA, Mayorov AV. Palladium (0)-mediated preparation of trans-4-substituted-1-(phthalimido)-2-cyclopentenes. Synlett 4:532-536, 2003.
Ng SSW, Gutschow M, Weiss M, Hauschildt S, Teubert U, Luzzio FA, Kruger EA, Seger K, Figg WD. Antiangiogenic activity of N-substituted and tetrafluorinated thalidomide analogues. Cancer Res 63:3189-3194, 2003.
Luzzio FA, Mayorov AV, Ng SSW, Kruger EA, Figg WD. Thalidomide metabolites and analogs. Synthesis and antiangiogenic activity of the teratogenic and TNF-modulatory thalidomide analog 2-(2, 6-dioxopiperidine-3-yl) phthalimidine. J Med Chem 3793-3799, 2003.
Luzzio FA, Figg WD. Thalidomide analogues: Derivatives of an orphan drug with diverse biological activity. Expert Opin Ther Patents 14(2):1-15, 2004.
Lepper ER, Ng SSW, Gutschow M, Weiss M, Hecker TK, Luzzio FA, Eger K, Figg WD. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) of thalidomide analogs as angiogenesis inhibitors. J Med Chem 47:2219-2227, 2004.
Phone: Coming soon.
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