Expertise
Dr. Burnstein's clinical interests include: endocrinology of sex steroid actions and steroid hormone receptors.
Dr. Burnstein's research interests include: steroid hormone receptors, hormonal regulation of cell cycle in prostate cancer. Dr. Burnstein's research focuses on mechanisms of signaling cross talk that control cellular responses to steroid hormones.
A major interest is the antiproliferative action of the hormonal form of vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3), which is mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the steroid receptor family. VDRs have a wide tissue distribution and affect a broad array of cell types.
The Burnstein lab has also investigated possible intracellular signaling alterations and found that Rac1, a Rho GTPase (Ras-related small G protein), is hyperactive in the more malignant, hormone independent cancer cells.