My research work is devoted on the study of hormonal (opioids, steroids) and natural agents’ health beneficial effects. During the years of my research career, my interests evolved from the action of neuropeptides in modulating breast and prostate cancer, to the action of membrane steroid receptors in the same pathologies. Our lab described for the first time the identification and role of membrane steroid receptors as modulators of breast and prostate cancer cell growth and continued studying the nature of these receptors and the intracellular signaling pathways involved. We have also demonstrated that membrane steroid receptor (mSR) activation can lead to specific early (direct) transcriptional events, linking mSR with actin cytoskeleton changes, specific signaling events and modulation of the hypoxia-related (leading to EPOR transcription) and immune pathways. The latter included modification of TNF superfamily-related ligands and receptors. These findings initiated our studies on the role of several inflammatory mediators in the progression of breast cancer, in relation to sex-steroid expression and signaling. Additionally, our team is investigating the effects of polyphenols, (due to similarities with 17β-estradiol and their weak estrogenic action) in an attempt to provide new mechanisms of action in cancer. Interestingly, one important mechanism that we identified, includes binding of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) to membrane androgen receptors (mARs), which renders them as the first micromolecular agonists of mAR. Interestingly mAR activation leads to inhibition of tumor growth as we have shown in vitro and in vivo.
Currently, my work is focused on further studying the mechanisms involved in the membrane initiated steroid action and its significance in cancer. In fact, by microarray and proteomic analysis we have identified and characterize OXER1(an arachidonic acid metabolite receptor) as a new membrane androgen receptor in prostate and breast cancer cells. We are studying its role in cancer, especially in breast and prostate cancer, and inflammation and investigating by in silico, in vitro and animal studies its possible exploration as a therapeutic target especially using natural products.
In parallel, by in silico and in vitro studies we also explore natural micromolecules as antiviral agents especially against influenza viruses (Η1Ν1) and SARS-CoV-2 virus

Selected publications
1. Damianaki Α., Bakogeorgou Ε., Kampa M., Notas G., Hatzoglou Α., Panagiotou S., Gemetzi C., Kouroumalis E., Martin P-M., Castanas E. Potent inhibitory action of red wine polyphenols on human breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 78, 429-441, 2000.
2. Kampa M., Hatzoglou A., Notas G., Niniraki M., Kouroumalis E., Castanas E. Opioids are non-competitive inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase in T47D human breast cancer cells. Cell Death Differ. 8, 943-952, 2001.
3. Kallergi G, Tsapara A., Kampa M., Krasagakis K., Castanas E., Stournaras C. Distinct signaling pathways regulate differential opioid effects on actin cytoskeleton in malignant MCF7 and non-malignant MCF12A human breast epithelial cells. Exp. Cell Res 288, 94-109, 2003.
4. Kampa M., Alexaki VI., Notas G., Nifli AF., Nistikaki A., Hatzoglou A., Bakogeorgou E., Kouimtzoglou E., Blekas G., Boskou D., Gravanis A., Castanas E. Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of selective Phenolic acids on T47D human breast cancer cells: Potential mechanisms of action. Breast Cancer Res. 6: R63-R74, 2004.
5. Kampa M., Nifli AP, Charalampopoulos I., Alexaki VI., Theodoropoulos PA., Stathopoulos EN., Gravanis A., Castanas E. Opposing effects of estradiol- and testosterone-membrane binding sites on T47D breast cancer cell apoptosis. Exp. Cell. Res. Jul 1; 307(1):41-51, 2005.
6. Nifli AP., Bosson-Kouame A., Papadopoulou N., Kogia C., Kampa M., Castagnino C., Stournaras C., Vercauteren J., Castanas E. Monomeric and oligomeric flavanols are agonists of membrane androgen receptors. Exp. Cell. Res. 309, 329-339, 2005.
7. Pelekanou V., Kampa M., Kafousi M., Darivianaki K., Sanidas E., Tsiftsis D., Stathopoulos E., Tsapis A., Castanas E. Expression of TNF superfamily members BAFF and APRIL in breast cancer: Immunohistochemical study in 52 invasive ductal breast carcinomas BMC Cancer 2008 Mar 20;8:76.
8. Pelekanou V, Notas G, Sanidas E, Tsapis A, Castanas E, Kampa M. Testosterone membrane-initiated action in breast cancer cells: Interaction with the androgen signaling pathway and EPOR Mol Oncol. 2010 Apr;4(2):135-49.
9. Kampa M., Theodoropoulou K, Mavromati F, Pelekanou V, Notas G, Lagoudaki H, Nifli AP, Stathopoulos EN, Morel-Salmi C, Vercauteren J, Castanas E. Novel oligomeric proanthocyanidin analogs with specific affinity for membrane androgen receptors and a specific regressive effect in hormone-independent prostate cancer. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET) 2011 337(1):24-32.
10. Notas G, Nifli AP, Kampa M., Pelekanou V, Theodoropoulos P, Vercauteren J, Castanas E. Quercetin is transported into cells, accumulates in nuclear structures and triggers specific gene expression in epithelial cells. J Nutr Biochem. 2012 Jun;23(6):656-66.
11. Kampa M, Notas G, Pelekanou V, Troullinaki M, Andrianaki M, Azariadis K, Kampouri E, Lavrentaki K, Castanas E Early membrane initiated transcriptional effects of estrogens in breast cancer cells: First pharmacological evidence for a novel membrane estrogen receptor element (ERx). Steroids. 2012 Aug;77(10):959-67.
12. Notas G., Kampa M., Pelekanou V., Troullinaki M., Jacquot Y. Leclercq G., Castanas E. Whole transcriptome analysis of the ERα synthetic fragment P295-T311 (ERα17p) identifies specific ERα-isoform- (ERα, ERα36) dependent and independent actions in breast cancer cells. Mol Oncol. 2013 Jun;7(3):595-610.
13. Notas G, Pelekanou V, Kampa M, Alexakis K, Sfakianakis S, Laliotis A, Askoxilakis J, Tsentelierou E, Tzardi M, Tsapis A, Castanas E.Tamoxifen induces a pluripotency signature in breast cancer cells and human tumors. Mol Oncol. 2015 Nov;9(9):1744-59.
14. Kalyvianaki K., Gebhart V., Peroulis N., Panagiotopoulou C., Kiagiadaki F, Pediaditakis I., Aivaliotis M., Moustou E., Tzardi M., Notas G, Castanas E, Kampa M. Antagonizing effects of membrane-acting androgens on the eicosanoid receptor OXER1 in prostate cancer. Sci. Reports Mar 14;7:44418 DOI: 10.1038/srep44418, 2017.
15. Peroulis N, Androutsopoulos VP, Notas G, Koinaki S, Giakoumaki E, Spyros A, Manolopoulou Ε, Kargaki S, Tzardi M, Moustou E, Stephanou EG, Bakogeorgou E, Malliaraki N, Niniraki M, Lionis C, Castanas E, Kampa M. Significant metabolic improvement by a water extract of olives: animal and human evidence. Eur J Nutr. 2018 Aug 9.
16. Tsartsou E, Proutsos N, Castanas E, Kampa M. Network Meta-Analysis of Metabolic Effects of Olive-Oil in Humans Shows the Importance of Olive Oil Consumption With Moderate Polyphenol Levels as Part of the Mediterranean Diet. Front Nutr. 2019 Feb 12;6:6.
17. Panagiotopoulos AA, Papachristofi C, Kalyvianaki K, Malamos P, Theodoropoulos PA, Notas G, Calogeropoulou T, Castanas E, Kampa M. A simple open source bioinformatic methodology for initial exploration of GPCR ligands’ agonistic/antagonistic properties. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020 Aug;8(4):e00600.
18. Kalyvianaki K, Malamos P, Mastrodimou N, Manoura-Zonou I, Vamvoukaki R, Notas G, Malliaraki N, Moustou E, Tzardi M, Pirintsos S, Lionis C, Sourvinos G, Castanas E, Kampa M. Toxicity evaluation of an essential oil mixture from the Cretan herbs thyme, Greek sage and Cretan dittany. NPJ Sci Food. 2020 Nov 9;4(1):20.
19. Pirintsos SA, Bariotakis M, Kampa M, Sourvinos G, Lionis C, Castanas E. The Therapeutic Potential of the Essential Oil of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Origanum dictamnus L. and Salvia fruticosa Mill. And a Case of Plant-Based Pharmaceutical Development. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Nov 24;11:522213.
20. Panagiotopoulos AA, Polioudaki C, Ntallis SG, Dellis D, Notas G, Panagiotidis CA, Theodoropoulos PA, Castanas E, Kampa M. The sequence [EKRKI(E/R)(K/L/R/S/T)] is a nuclear localization signal for importin 7 binding (NLS7). Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2021 May;1865(5):129851.
21. Kalyvianaki K, Salampasi EM, Katsoulieris EN, Boukla E, Vogiatzoglou AP, Notas G, Castanas E, Kampa M. 5-Oxo-ETE/OXER1: A Link between Tumor Cells and Macrophages Leading to Regulation of Migration. Molecules. 2023 Dec 31;29(1):224. doi: 10.3390/molecules29010224.
22. Malamos P, Kalyvianaki K, Panagiotopoulos AA, Vogiatzoglou AP, Tsikalaki AA, Katifori A, Polioudaki H, Darivianaki MN, Theodoropoulos PA, Panagiotidis CA, Notas G, Castanas E, Kampa M. Nuclear translocation of the membrane oxoeicosanoid/androgen receptor, OXER1: Possible mechanisms involved. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2024 Dec 1;594:112357. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112357.

For the full list of publications please refer to Full CV or
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=KampaMarilena&sort=date

• ΕΕΒΜΒ (Hellenic Society of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
• EACR (European Association for Cancer Research)
• FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies)
• ISGE (International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology)