Nursing and Human Sciences

Biographical Details:

Lecturer in Biological Sciences in the School of Nursing , DCU and Senior Programme Leader in Translational Cancer Pharmacology, at the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University. Our research focuses on investigating methods to improve the activity of cancer drug treatments using biological and analytical methodology, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms in haematological and solid tumours. Through collaboration with a number of clinicians, this research has led to clinical trial testing (phase I and II) in a number of malignancies. Member of the Irish Association for Cancer Research (IACR) and Chairman of the Translational group within the All-Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group (ICORG).

Research Interests:

Cancer, Cancer chemotherapy, cancer clinical trials, drug resistance, cancer drug resistance, molecular pharmacology, analytical pharmacology, LC-MS/MS cancer drug uptake/efflux, laboratory safety, biological safety

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

• Brougham DF, Ivanova G, Gottschalk M, Collins DM, Eustace AJ, O'Connor R, Havel J. 2011. Artificial Neural Networks for Classification in Metabolomic Studies of Whole Cells Using H-1 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Journal Of Biomedicine And Biotechnology,
• Fox, D, O'Connor, R Mallon, P McMahon, G. 2011. Simultaneous determination of efavirenz, rifampicin and its metabolite desacetyl rifampicin levels in human plasma. Journal Of Pharmaceutical And Biomedical Analysis, 56, 4, pp785-791.
• O'Neill AJ, Prencipe M, Dowling C, Fan Y, Mulrane L, Gallagher WM, O'Connor D, O'Connor R, Devery A, Corcoran C, Rani S, O'Driscoll L, Fitzpatrick JM, Watson RW. 2011. Characterisation and manipulation of docetaxel resistant prostate cancer cell lines. Molecular Cancer, 10,, pp126-126.
• Rajpal R, Dowling P, Meiller J, Clarke C, Murphy WG, O'Connor R, Kell M, Mitsiades C, Richardson P, Anderson KC, Clynes M, O'Gorman P. 2011. A novel panel of protein biomarkers for predicting response to thalidomide-based therapy in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. Proteomics, 11, 8, pp1391-1402.
• Collins DM, Crown J, O'Donovan N, Devery A, O'Sullivan F, O'Driscoll L, Clynes M, O'Connor R. 2010. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors potentiate the cytotoxicity of MDR-substrate anticancer agents independent of growth factor receptor status in lung cancer cell lines. Investigational New Drugs, 28, , pp433-444.
• Sheikh R, Walsh N , Clynes M, O'Connor R, McDermott R. 2010. Challenges of drug resistance in the management of pancreatic cancer. Expert Review Of Anticancer Therapy, 10, 10, pp1647-1661.
• Dunne G, Breen L, Collins DM, Roche S, Clynes M, O'Connor R. 2010. Modulation of P-gp expression by lapatinib. Investigational New Drugs,
• R. A. O'Connor, M. J. Kennedy, S. R. McDermott, D. Tryfanopoulos, C. McCreery, D. Collins, O. Martynyuk, R. Gethins, B. Moulton, J. Crown. 2009. Phase I evaluation of lapatinib (L) and epirubicin (E) in patients (pts) with anthracycline (anth)-naive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology, 27, , pp15s-15s.
• Roche S, McMahon G, Clynes M, O'Connor R. 2009. Development of a high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of cellular levels of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors lapatinib and dasatinib. Journal Of Chromatography B-biomedical Applications, 877, 31, pp3982-3990.
• Simeonova, M., Ivanova, G., Enchev, V., Markova, N., Kamburov, M., Petkov, C., Devery, A., O'Connor, R., Brougham, D. 2009. Physicochemical characterization and in vitro behavior of daunorubicin-loaded poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles. Acta Biomaterialia, 5, 6, pp2109-2121.
• McMahon G, O'Connor R. 2009. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Oncology; does it have a future?. 1, 3, pp507-511.
• Gottschalk, M., Ivanova, G., Collins, DM., Eustace, A O'Connor, R., Brougham, DF. 2008. Metabolomic studies of human lung carcinoma cell lines using in vitro H-1 NMR of whole cells and cellular extracts. Nmr In Biomedicine, 21, 8, pp809-819.
• Martinez, V., Kennedy, S., Doolan, P., Gammell, P., Joyce, H., Kenny, E., Mehta, JP., Ryan, E., O'Connor, R., Crown, J., Clynes, M., O'Driscoll, L.. 2008. Drug metabolism-related genes as potential biomarkers: analysis of expression in normal and tumour breast tissue. Breast Cancer Research And Treatment, 110, 3, pp521-530.
• Martinez, VG., Williams, KJ., Stratford, IJ., Clynes, M., O'Connor, R. 2008. Overexpression of cytochrome P450NADPH reductase sensitises MDA 231 breast carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil: Possible mechanisms involved. Toxicology In Vitro, 22, 3, pp582-588.
• Martinez, VG., O'Connor, R., Liang, Y., Clynes, M. 2008. CYPIBI expression is induced by docetaxel: effect on cell viability and drug resistance. British Journal Of Cancer, 98, 3, pp564-570.
• Martinez, V., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2007. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 are up-regulated in pulse-selected cell lines: Role in chemotherapy resistance. Anticancer Research, 27, , pp1382-13383.
• O'Connor R. 2007. The pharmacology of cancer resistance. Anticancer Research, 27, 3a, pp1267-1272.
• O'Connor, R., O'Donovan, N., Dowling, P., Clynes, M., O'Driscoll, L. 2007. Drug resistance in cancer; searching for mechanisms markers and therapeutic agents. Expert Opinion On Drug Delivery, 3, 6, pp805-817.
• O'Driscoll, L., Walsh, N., Larkin, A., Ballot, J., Ooi, WS., Gullo, G., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M., Crown, J Kennedy, S. 2007. MDR1/P-glycoprotein and MRP-1 drug efflux pumps in pancreatic carcinoma. Anticancer Research, 27, 4B, pp2115-2120.
• O¿Driscoll, L. Walsh, N. Larkin, A. Ballot, J. Ooi,W, Gullo, G. Clynes, M. O¿Connor, R. Crown, J, Kennedy S. 2007. Prevalence of MDR1/P-glycoprotein and MRP-1 Drug Efflux Pumps in Pancreatic Carcinoma. Anticancer Research, 27, 4b, pp2115-2120.
• Devery, A., Deegan, B., Kowalska, E., Gathergood, N., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2007. Macrocycles, a potential anticancer agent. Anticancer Research, 27, 3A, pp1380-1380.
• Eustace, A., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M., O'Donovan, N. 2007. Expression of ABC transporters in melanoma cell lines. Anticancer Research, 27, 3A, pp1381-1381.
• O'Connor, R., O'Leary, M., Ballot, J., Collins, CD., Kinsella, P., Mager, DE. Arnold, RD., O'Driscoll, L., Larkin, A., Kennedy, S., Fennelly, D., Clynes, M., Crown, J. 2007. A phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of the multi-drug resistance protein-1 (MRP-1) inhibitor sulindac, in combination with epirubicin in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer Chemotherapy And Pharmacology, 59, 1, pp79-87.
• Collins D, O¿Connor R, O¿Donovan N, Clynes M, Crown J. 2006. Lapatinib inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and synergistically enhances taxane cytotoxicity in P-gp+ cell lines. Annals Of Oncology, 17, s9, pp57-57.
• Collins, D., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Investigation of the effect of the NSAID Sulindac on taxane influx/efflux in the A549 cell line. Anticancer Research, 24, 2a, pp523-523.
• Duffy, K., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Effects of epirubicin-sulindac combination therapy on the lung cancer cell line DLKP. Anticancer Research, 24, 2a, pp528-529.
• Jampilek, J., Dolezal, M., Kunes, J., Vichova, P., Raich, I., Jun, D., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Preparation of 2-(4-{[4-(quinolin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl) propionic acid (VUFB 20615) and 2-methyl-2-(4-{[4-(quinolin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl)propionic acid (VUFB 20623) as potential antileukotrienic agents. Current Organic Chemistry, 8, 13, pp1235-1243.
• Kinsella, P., O'Connor, R., O'Leary, M., Clynes, M. 2004. Sulindac as a modulator of MRP-1 in epirubicin cancer therapy. Validation of a protocol for HPLC analysis of patient blood specimens from a cancer clinical trial. Anticancer Research, 24, 2a, pp531-531.
• Martinez, V., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Cytochrome P450 expression and sensitivity to anticancer agents. Anticancer Research, 24, 2a, pp535-536.
• O'Connor, R., Heenan, M., Connolly, L., Larkin, A., Clynes, M. 2004. Increased anti-tumour efficacy of doxorubicin when combined with sulindac in a xenograft model of an MRP-1-positive human lung cancer. Anticancer Research, 2, pp457-464.
• O'Leary, M., O'Connor, R., Crown, J., Clynes, M. 2004. A comparison of the uptake and efflux of selected anthracycline cytotoxic drugs in a lung carcinoma cell line. Anticancer Research, 24, 2a, pp537-537.
• O'Leary, M., O'Connor, R., Roy, S., Ballot, J., Ooi, W., Fennelly, D., Sheehan, L., Collins, C., Clynes, M., Crown, J. 2004. Phase I trial of the multi-drug resistance (MDR) protein-1 (MRP-1) modulating agent sulindac (S) plus epirubicin (E) in patients (pts) with advanced cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology, 22, 14, pp159s-159s.
• McCann, M., Coyle, B., McKay, S., McCormack, P., Kavanagh, K., Devereux, M., McKee, V., Kinsella, P., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [Ag(phendio)(2)]ClO4 (phendio=1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) and its effects on fungal and mammalian cells. Biometals, 17, 6, pp635-645.
• Glynn, S.A., Gammell, P., Heenan, M., O'Connor, R., Liang, Y., Keenan, J., Clynes, M. 2004. A new superinvasive in vitro phenotype induced by selection of human breast carcinoma cells with the chemotherapeutic drugs paclitaxel and doxorubicin. British Journal Of Cancer, 91, 10, pp1800-1807.
• Liang, Y.H., O'Driscoll, L., McDonnell, S., Doolan, P., Oglesby, I., Duffy, K., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Enhanced in vitro invasiveness and drug resistance with altered gene expression patterns in a human lung carcinoma cell line after pulse selection with anticancer drugs. International Journal Of Cancer, 111, 4, pp484-493.
• Jampilek, J., Dolezal, M., Kunes, J., Vichova, P., Jun, D., Hanika, J., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2004. Synthesis of (2E)-2-methyl-3-(4-{[4-(quinolin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl)prop -2-enoic acid (VUFB 20609) and 2-methyl-3-(4-{[4-(quinolin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl)propanoic acid (VUFB 20584) as potential antileukotrienic agents. Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmacology, 56, 6, pp783-794.
• Coyle, B., Kinsella, P., McCann, M., Devereux, M., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M., Kavanagh, K.,. 2004. Induction of apoptosis in yeast and mammalian cells by exposure to 1,10-phenanthroline metal complexes. Toxicology In Vitro, 18, 1, pp63-70.
• Clynes, M., O'Connor, R., O'Driscoll, L., Daly, C., Meleady, P. 2003. Challenges in molecular analysis for individualized cancer therapy. Drug Discovery Today, 8, 12, pp531-531.
• E. Moran, M. O'Keeffe, R. O'Connor, A. M. Larkin, P. Murphy and M. Clynes. 2002. Methods for generation of monoclonal antibodies to the very small drug hapten, 5-benzimidazolecarboxylic acid. Journal Of Immunological Methods, 271, 1-2, pp65-75.
• O'Connor R., Touhey, S., Clynes M., Maguire AR & Plunkett SJ. 2002. Structure-activity relationship of indomethacin analogues for MRP-1, COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition: identification of novel chemotherapeutic drug resistance modulators. European Journal Of Cancer, 38, 12, pp1661-1670.
• Maguire A.R.; Papot S.; Ford A.; Touhey S.; O'Connor R.; Clynes M. 2001. Enantioselective synthesis of Sulindac. Synlett, 1, , pp41-44.
• Maguire AR., Plunkett SJ., Papot S., Clynes M., O'Connor R & Touhey S. 2001. Synthesis of Indomethacin Analogues for Evaluation as Moderators of MRP Activity. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 9, 3, pp745-762.
• Clynes M; Daly C; NicAmhlaoibh R; Cronin D; Elliott C; O'Connor R; O'Doherty T; Connolly L; Howlett A; Scanlon K. 1998. Recent developments in drug resistance and apoptosis research. Critical Reviews In Oncology Hematology, 28,, pp181-205.
• Duffy CP; Elliott CJ; O'Connor RA; Heenan MM; Coyle S; Cleary IM; Kavanagh K; Verhaegen S; O'Loughlin CM; NicAmhlaoibh R; Clynes M. 1998. Enhancement of chemotherapeutic drug toxicity to human tumour cells in vitro by a sub-set of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). European Journal Of Cancer, 34, 8, pp1250-1259.
• O'Connor R, O'Sullivan S & O'Kennedy R. 1996. An improved method for analysis clofazimine in biological samples using HPLC. Journal Of Chromatography B-biomedical Applications, 681, , pp307-315.
• O'Connor R. 1995. The pharmacology, metabolism and chemistry of clofazimine. Drug Metabolism Reviews, 27, 4, pp591-614.
• O'Connor R,. 1995. Use of proton NMR spectroscopy in the toxicological evaluation of new anti-mycobacterial agents. Biochemical Society Transactions, 23, , pp357-357.

Selected Chapters

• Dr. Robert O'Connor. 2008. Resistance to Chemotherapy Drugs. Anticancer Therapeutics
• Meleady, P. & O'Connor, R. 2005. General Procedures for Cell culture. Cell Biology: a laboratory handbook 3rd ed., pp13-20.
• O'Connor, R. & O'Driscoll, L. 2005. Setting up a cell culture laboratory. Cell Biology: a laboratory handbook 3rd ed, pp5-12.
• O'Driscoll, L., O'Connor, R. & Clynes, M. 2005. Methods in apoptosis. Cell Biology: a laboratory handbook 3rd ed, pp335-343.
• O'Connor R, Heenan M & Duffy C. 1998. Miniaturised in vitro assays in toxicity testing. Animal Cell Culture Techniques

Reviews

• o'connor r. 2009. A Review of Mechanisms of Circumvention and Modulation of Chemotherapeutic Drug Resistance. Current Cancer Drug Targets, 9, pp273-280.

Selected Non-peer Reviewed Journals

• Corkery B, Crown J, Roche S, O'Connor R, Tryfanopoulos D , Clynes M, O'Donovan N. 2009. Constitutive Activation of Src Kinase as a Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to Dasatinib in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Research, 69, pp787S-787S.
• Ooi MG, O'Connor R, Jakubikova J, Meiller J, Klippel S, Delmore J, Kastritis E, McMillin D, Clynes M, Richardson P, Mitsiades CS, O'Gorman P, Anderson KC. 2009. The Interaction of Bortezomib with P-Gp, MRP-1 and BCRP Drug Transporters: Implications for Therapeutic Applications of Bortezomib in Advanced Multiple Myeloma and Other Neoplasias. Blood, 14, pp688-689.
• Sheikh R, O'connor R, Walsh N, Clynes M, Mcdermott R. 2009. Characterisation of the response of pancreatic cancer cells to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents alone and in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. European Journal of Cancer supplements, 7, pp399-399.
• Rajpal R, Dowling P, Meiller J Murphy W, Murphy P, O'Driscol L, O'Connor R, Anderson KC, Clynes M, O'Gorman P. 2009. Panel of Potential Proteomic Biomarkers for Predicting Response to Thalidomide in Multiple Myeloma . CLINICAL LYMPHOMA & MYELOMA, 9, ppS119-S120.
• O'Driscoll, L., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M. 2007. Proceedings and abstracts of the International Conference on Global mRNA and Protein Analysis, 7-8 September 2006, Dublin, Ireland - Preface. ANTICANCER RESEARCH, 27, pp1235-1235.
• Devery, A., Deegan, B., Kowalska, E., Gathergood, N., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M.. 2007. Macrocycles, a potential anticancer agent.MAY-JUN, 2007 . ANTICANCER RESEARCH , 27, pp1380-1380.
• Eustace, A., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M., O'Donovan, N.. 2007. Expression of ABC transporters in melanoma cell lines, MAY-JUN, 2007. ANTICANCER RESEARCH, 27, pp1382-1383.
• Martinez, V., O'Connor, R., Clynes, M.. 2007. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 are up-regulated in pulse-selected cell lines: Role in chemotherapy resistance, MAY-JUN 2007. . ANTICANCER RESEARCH, 27, pp1382-1383.
• O'Connor Robert. 2007. The pharmacology of cancer resistance, Ireland. . ANTICANCER RESEARCH, 27, pp1375-1375.
• Collins, DM., O'Connor, R., O'Donovan, N., Clynes, M., Crown, J.. 2006. Lapatinib inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-GP) and synergistically enhances taxane cytotoxicity in P-GP plus cell lines, SEP 29-OCT 03, 2006, Istanbul, Turkey. . ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY, 17, pp57-57.
• O'Leary, M., O'Connor, R., Roy, S., Ballot, J., Ooi, W., Fennelly, D., Sheehan, L., Collins, C., Clynes, M., Crown, J.. 2004. Phase I trial of the multi-drug resistance (MDR) protein-1 (MRP-1) modulating agent sulindac (S) plus epirubicin (E) in patients (pts) with advanced cancer., 40th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Clinical-Oncology, JUN 05-08, 2004, New Orleans, LA., . JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY , 22, pp2129-.

• *, An investigation of the SAR of NSAID analogues as inhibitors of MRP-1 in resistant cancer cells, 3 rd FEBS Advanced Lecture Course ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Proteins: From Genetic Disease to Multidrug Resistance, 03-MAR-01 - 10-MAR-01, Gossau, Austria