EDUCATION
Ph.D., Physiology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Postdoctoral fellow, Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard University, Boston MA
Postdoctoral fellow, Anatomy, UCSF, San Francisco, CA

EMPLYOMENT
DAROU Biologics
Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, CA
Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Stratford, NJ

PUBLICATIONS

Tsai CY, Larson CA, Safaei R, Howell SB. Molecular modulation of the copper and cisplatin transport function of CTR1 and its interaction with IRS-4. Biochem Pharmacol. 90(4):379-87 2014
Safaei R, Adams PL, Mathews RA, Manorek G, Howell SB. The role of metal binding and phosphorylation domains in the regulation of cisplatin-induced trafficking of ATP7B. Metallomics, 5(8):964-72, 2013
Safaei R, Adams PL, Maktabi MH, Mathews RA, Howell SB. The CXXC motifs in the metal-binding domains are required for ATP7B to mediate resistance to cisplatin. J Inorg Biochem. 110C:8-17, 2012
Blair BG, Larson CA, Adams PL, Abada PB, Pesce CE, Safaei R, Howell SB: Copper transporter 2 regulates endocytosis and controls tumor growth and sensitivity to cisplatin In vivo. Mol Pharmacol. 79(1):157-66, 2011.
Howell SB, Safaei R, Larson CA, Sailor MJ. Copper transporters and the cellular pharmacology of the platinum-containing cancer drugs. Mol Pharmacol. 887-94, 2010
Blair BG, Larson CA, Adams PL, Abada PB, Safaei R, Howell SB. Regulation of copper transporter 2 expressions by copper and cisplatin in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Mol Pharmacol. 77(6):912-21, 2010
Larson CA, Adams PL, Jandial DD, Blair BG, Safaei R, Howell SB. The role of the N-terminus of mammalian copper transporter 1 in the cellular accumulation of cisplatin. Biochem Pharmacol. 80(4):448-54, 2010
Larson CA, Adams PL, Blair BG, Safaei R, Howell SB. The role of the methionines and histidines in the transmembrane domain of mammalian copper transporter 1 in the cellular accumulation of cisplatin. Mol Pharmacol. 78(3):333-9, 2010.
Blair BG, Larson CA, Safaei R, Howell SB. Copper transporter 2 regulates the cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of cisplatin and carboplatin. Clin Cancer Res. 15(13):4312-21, 2009
Safaei R, Maktabi MH, Blair BG, Larson CA, Howell SB. Effects of the loss of Atox1 on the cellular pharmacology of cisplatin. J Inorg Biochem. 103 (3):333-41 2009
Larson CA, Blair BG, Safaei R, Howell SB. The role of the mammalian copper transporter 1 in the cellular accumulation of platinum-based drugs. Mol Pharmacol. 75(2):324-30, 2009
Safaei R, Howell SB. Regulation of export of platinum-containing drugs by the copper efflux transporters ATP7A and ATP7B. In: Platinum and other heavy metal compounds in cancer chemotherapy. Eds, Bonetti A, Leone R, Muggia FM, Howell SB. Humana Press. PP: 95-100, 2009.
Howell SB, Safaei R, CTR1 as a determinant of platinum drug transport. In: Platinum and other heavy metal compounds in cancer chemotherapy. Eds, Bonetti A, Leone R, Muggia FM, Howell SB. Humana Press. PP: 89-94, 2009
Safaei R, Otani S, Larson BJ, Rasmussen ML, Howell SB. Transport of cisplatin by the copper efflux transporter ATP7B. Mol Pharmacol. 73(2):461-8, 2008
Safaei R. Role of copper transporters in the uptake and efflux of platinum containing drugs. Cancer Lett. 8;234(1):34-9, 2006
Safaei R, Howell SB. Regulation of the cellular pharmacology and cytotoxicity of cisplatin by copper transporters. In: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press, Inc. Beverly A. Teicher, Ph.D., Series Editor Cancer Drug Resistance. Part III, Chapter 17: 309-327, 2006
Safaei R, Katano K, Larson B, Samimi G, Holzer AK, Naerdemann W, Tomioka M, Goodman M, Howell S. Intracellular localization and trafficking of fluorescein-labeled cisplatin in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Clinical Cancer Research 11: 756-67, 2005
Safaei R, Howell SB. Copper transporters regulate the cellular pharmacology and sensitivity to Pt drugs. Crit. Rev. Hematology. 53: 13-23, 2005
Safaei R, Larson BJ, Cheng TC, Gibson MA, Otani S, Naerdemann W, Howell SB. Abnormal lysosomal trafficking and enhanced exosomal export of cisplatin in drug-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 10:1595-604, 2005.
Safaei R, Holzer, AK, Katano K, Samimi G, Howell SB. The role of copper transporters in the development of resistance to Pt drugs. J Inorg Bioche. 98:1607-1613, 2004
Samimi, G., Safaei, R., Katano, K., Holzer, A. K., Rochdi, M., Tomioka, M., Goodman, M., and Howell, S. B. Increased expression of the copper efflux transporter ATP7A mediates resistance to cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin in ovarian cancer cells. Clin Cancer Research. 10:4661-4669, 2004
Holzer AK, Samimi G, Katano K, Naerdemann W, Lin X, Safaei R, Howell SB. The copper influx transporter human copper transport protein 1 regulates the uptake of cisplatin in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Mol Pharmacol. 66:817-823, 2004
Katano K, Safaei R, Samimi G, Holzer A, Tomioka M, Goodman M, Howell SB. Confocal microscopic analysis of the interaction between cisplatin and the copper transporter ATP7B in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Clin Cancer Res, 10: 4578-4588, 2004
Samimi G, Katano K, Holzer AK, Safaei R, Howell SB. Modulation of the cellular pharmacology of cisplatin and its analogs by the copper exporters ATP7A and ATP7B. Mol Pharmacol, 66: 25-32, 2004
Safaei R, Katano K, Samimi G, Naerdemann W, Stevenson JL, Rochdi M, Howell SB. Cross-resistance to cisplatin in cells with acquired resistance to copper. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 53: 239-246, 2004
Katano K, Safaei R, Samimi G, Holzer A, Rochdi M, Howell SB. The copper export pump ATP7B modulates the cellular pharmacology of carboplatin in ovarian carcinoma cells. Mol Pharmacol, 64: 466 – 473, 2003
Samimi G, Varki NM, Wilczynski S, Safaei R, Alberts DS, Howell SB. Increase in expression of the copper transporter ATP7A during platinum drug-based treatment Is associated with poor survival in ovarian cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res, 9: 5853-5859, 2003
Katano K, Kondo A, Safaei R, Holzer A, Samimi G, Mishima M, Kuo Y-M, Rochdi M, Howell S. Acquisition of resistance to cisplatin is accompanied by changes in the cellular pharmacology of copper. Cancer Res, 62: 6559-6565, 2002
Kondo A, Safaei R, Mishima M, Lin X, Niedner H, Howell SB. Hypoxia-induced enrichment and mutagenesis of cells that have lost DNA mismatch repair. Cancer Res, 61: 7603-7607, 2002
Fakhrai H, Gramatikova S, Safaei R. Downregulation of transforming growth factor ß as therapeutic approach for brain tumors. In: Brain Tumor Immunotherapy. Liau, L. M., Cloughsey, T. F. and Becker, D. P. eds. Human Press Inc. NJ pp. 289-305, 2001
Safaei R. A target of the HoxB5 gene from the mouse nervous system. Dev. Brain Res. 100: 5-12, 1997
Sakach M, Safaei R. Localization of the HoxB5 protein in the developing CNS of late gestational mouse embryos. Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 14: 567-573, 1996
Safaei R, Prochazka V, Detmer K, Boncinneli A, Lawrence HJ, Largman C. Modulation of HOX 2 gene expression following differentiation of neuronal cell lines. Differentiation 5: 39-47, 1992
Fischer I, Richter-Landsberg C, Safaei R. Regulation of Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) expressions by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells. Exp. Cell Res. 194: 195-201, 1991
Safaei R, Fischer I. Turnover of cytoskeletal proteins in vivo. Brain Res. 533: 83-90, 1990.
Safaei R, Fischer I. Regulation of Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) mRNA expression during rat brain development. J. Mol. Neurosci. 1: 189-198, 1989
Safaei R, Fischer I. Cloning of a cDNA encoding MAP1B in rat brain: Regulation of mRNA levels during development. J. Neurochem. 52: 1871-1879, 1989
Ramos P, Safaei R, Kayalar C, Ellis L. Isolation and sequence of λgt11 cDNA clones encoding the 5B4 antigen expressed on sprouting neurons. Mol. Brain Res. 5: 297-303, 1989
Safaei R, Moussavi R, Meisami E. Postnatal development of cholinergic enzymes and acetylcholine content in the rat olfactory bulb. Ann. NY Acad. Of Sci. 510: 580-583, 1987
Safaei R, Timiras PS. Thyroid hormone binding and regulation of adrenergic enzymes in two neuroblastoma cell lines. J. Neurochem. 45: 1405-1410, 1985
Safaei R. Thyroid hormones and the regulation of biochemical properties of nervous tumor cell lines. 1983 University of California at Berkeley Press.
Safaei, R. Effects of hypothyroidism on the development of spinal cord, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb in the rat. Tehran University Press 1976