Richard Hochberg, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Studies of hormone action, detection of tumors with steroid hormones labeled with radioactive tags, imaging the hormone responsive regions of the brain, and synthesis of unique estrogens for treatment of menopausal symptoms. Studies of an unusual family of the fatty acid esters of steroids.
Speciailzed Terms: Steroid biochemistry; Steroid receptors; Synthesis of estrogens; locally active estrogens; SERMs; Radiochemistry; Estrogens and Androgens labeled with high energy isotopes
Extensive Research Description
Dr Hochberg was trained in the field of steroid chemistry and biochemistry in the laboratory of the renowned Dr Seymour Lieberman where he investigated the unique biosynthetic pathways involving steroid sulfates as intermediates, as well as the mechanisms in steroid biosynthetic pathway.
Subsequently, he discovered the previously unknown “lipoidal derivatives”, fatty acid esters of the steroids which included the estrogens and androgens, the most potent of the naturally occurring steroid hormones. He designed and synthesized the first steroid hormones labeled with high energy isotopes: the estrogen, 16a-iodoestradiol (and the 11ß-methoxy analog) which when labeled with 123I was used for detecting breast cancer metastases and with 125I for unique neuroendocrine studies of the estrogen responsive regions of the brain; an androgen, 7a-fluoro-DHT designed to detect prostate metastases by androgen receptor mediated uptake when labeled with 18F.
He developed the first in vitro bioassay for estrogens a procedure that is still currently used for the accurate determinations of estrogenic potency applicable to humans. He has also synthesized “local estrogens” for the treatment of menopausal dyspareunia, compounds that are devoid of systemic action and unique SERMs
1. SPECT imaging the estrogen and androgen responsive regions of the primate brain
2. Developing SERMs that do not act on the brain and cause hot flashes.
3. Develop locally active antiandrogens for the treatment of skin
Research Interests
Biochemistry; Estrogens; Gynecology; Radiochemistry; Steroids; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
Selected Publications
- Estrogen to Antiestrogen with a Single Methylene Group Resulting in an Unusual Steroidal Selective Estrogen Receptor ModulatorZhang JX, Labaree DC, Mor G, Hochberg RB. Estrogen to Antiestrogen with a Single Methylene Group Resulting in an Unusual Steroidal Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator. The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2004, 89: 3527-3535. PMID: 15240642, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-032005.
- Synthesis and Evaluation of B-, C-, and D-Ring-Substituted Estradiol Carboxylic Acid Esters as Locally Active EstrogensLabaree DC, Zhang JX, Harris HA, O'Connor C, Reynolds TY, Hochberg RB. Synthesis and Evaluation of B-, C-, and D-Ring-Substituted Estradiol Carboxylic Acid Esters as Locally Active Estrogens. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry 2003, 46: 1886-1904. PMID: 12723952, DOI: 10.1021/jm0204340.
- Long-lived testosterone esters in the rat.Borg W, Shackleton CH, Pahuja SL, Hochberg RB. Long-lived testosterone esters in the rat. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1995, 92: 1545-1549. PMID: 7878017, PMCID: PMC42556, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.5.1545.
- Estrogen receptors colocalize with low-affinity nerve growth factor receptors in cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain.Toran-Allerand CD, Miranda RC, Bentham WD, Sohrabji F, Brown TJ, Hochberg RB, MacLusky NJ. Estrogen receptors colocalize with low-affinity nerve growth factor receptors in cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1992, 89: 4668-4672. PMID: 1316615, PMCID: PMC49144, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.89.10.4668.
- A simple and sensitive microtiter plate estrogen bioassay based on stimulation of alkaline phosphatase in Ishikawa cells: estrogenic action of delta 5 adrenal steroids.Littlefield BA, Gurpide E, Markiewicz L, McKinley B, Hochberg RB. A simple and sensitive microtiter plate estrogen bioassay based on stimulation of alkaline phosphatase in Ishikawa cells: estrogenic action of delta 5 adrenal steroids. Endocrinology 1990, 127: 2757-62. PMID: 2249627, DOI: 10.1210/endo-127-6-2757.
- The synthesis of 11 beta-methoxy-[16 alpha-123I] iodoestradiol and its interaction with the estrogen receptor in vivo and in vitro.Zielinski JE, Larner JM, Hoffer PB, Hochberg RB. The synthesis of 11 beta-methoxy-[16 alpha-123I] iodoestradiol and its interaction with the estrogen receptor in vivo and in vitro. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 1989, 30: 209-15. PMID: 2738649.
- Estradiol fatty acid esters. The isolation and identification of the lipoidal derivative of estradiol synthesized in the bovine uterus.Mellon-Nussbaum SH, Ponticorvo L, Schatz F, Hochberg RB. Estradiol fatty acid esters. The isolation and identification of the lipoidal derivative of estradiol synthesized in the bovine uterus. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 1982, 257: 5678-5684. PMID: 7068614, DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)83831-0.