Amira T. Khattab

@amira.khattab@sci.dmu.edu.eg

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science.
Damnhour University

Amira T. Khattab


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https://researchid.co/amirat.khattab

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Cancer Research
5

Scopus Publications

4

Scholar Citations

1

Scholar h-index

Scopus Publications

  • Synergistic therapeutic impact of dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin in modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in breast carcinoma model
    Maha M. Salem, Amira T. Khattab, Doha M. Beltagy, Mai M. El-Keiy
    Scientific Reports, 2026
    Breast cancer is treated with chemotherapies causing severe organ side effects. Increased pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) enzymes in cancer cell metabolism lead to tumor resistance. This study examined dichloroacetate nanoparticles (DCA-PNPs)/doxorubicin (Dox) impact on PDK enzymes in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. DCA-PNPs were synthesized using poly D, L-lactic-co-glycolide, polyvinyl alcohol, and characterized by encapsulation efficiency, drug-loading capacity, spectroscopy, and microscopy. Molecular docking and ADMET analysis were conducted. Seventy female CD1 mice were divided into 10 groups (n = 7). (Gp1) was normal negative control. Gp2 to Gp4 received DCA (50 mg/kg), DCA-PNPs (50 mg/kg), and Dox (0.2 mg/kg), intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Gp5 to Gp10 were inoculated with EAC cells 0.5 × 10 6 /mouse. GP5 were untreated group, served as a positive control (EAC-untreated mice or EAC-bearing mice group). GP6 to GP10 were treated with Dox, DCA, DCA-PNPs, Dox/DCA, and Dox/DCA-PNPs (i.p.). On day 14, tumor profile, molecular analysis, and hepatorenal alterations were assessed. Results showed DCA-PNPs size was 22.5 ± 1.72 nm, and (ζ) was − 9.5 mV. Dox exhibited strongest binding affinity across PDKs (− 7.7 to − 8.3 kcal/mol), while DCA showed modest affinities (− 3.7 to − 4.0 kcal/mol). Dox/DCA-PNPs treatment decreased tumor profile and hepatorenal alterations with PDKs gene suppression, increased cancer cell apoptosis and cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase (76.1 and 64.8%). Dox/DCA-PNPs demonstrated anti-tumor activity via inhibiting PDK enzyme.
  • Berberine enhances cisplatin efficacy in ehrlich ascites carcinoma via modulation of apoptotic pathway and efferocytosis
    Maha M. Salem, Safia M. Dawod, Tarek M. Mohamed, Wafaa M. Ibrahim, Amira T. Khattab
    Scientific Reports, 2026
    Berberine, a bio-alkaloid from medicinal plants, shows therapeutic potential against various ailments, including cancer. This study evaluated berberine’s effects on the PI3K/Akt pathway and efferocytosis in an adenocarcinoma model to reduce cisplatin chemotherapy side effects and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) proliferation. Eighty Swiss albino mice were divided into eight groups: control, berberine, cisplatin, cisplatin & berberine, EAC, EAC & berberine, EAC & cisplatin, and EAC & cisplatin & berberine. Tumor response, weight change, cell count, survival analysis, biochemical analysis, molecular studies, and histopathological assessment were performed. Results showed berberine enhanced cisplatin’s antitumor efficacy in EAC-bearing mice by reducing tumor volume and cell counts. Berberine ameliorated cisplatin’s hepato-renal toxicity and downregulated Akt1, Axl, Mertk, and Gas6 gene expression. Histopathological analysis showed berberine’s ability to recover cisplatin’s lethal effects on liver tissue. In conclusion, berberine showed promising effects on the PI3K/Akt pathway and efferocytosis, reducing cisplatin’s side effects and EAC proliferation.
  • Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Treatment: Harnessing Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Model, Cancer Metabolism, and Nanotechnology-Enhanced Chemotherapy for Improved Patient Outcomes
    Amira T. Khattab, Mai M. El-Keey, Doha M. Beltagy, Maha M. Salem
    Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2026
  • Dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin combinatorial treatment augment the hepato-renal function in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells
    Amira T. Khattab, Mai M. El-Keiy, Doha M. Beltagy, Maha M. Salem
    BMC Research Notes, 2025
    Objectives Cancer cells are addressed through conventional chemotherapy, resulting in tumour resistance and systemic toxicities affecting organ functions. Nanoparticle (NPs) represent a promising approach to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects. This study aims to improve hepato-renal function by dichloroacetate nanoparticles (DCA-PNPs) and doxorubicin (Dox) combinatorial treatment in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model. Results Dichloroacetate nanoparticles characterizations showed effective drug encapsulation, optimal particles size, morphology, and distribution. Biochemical analysis showed normalized protein content, improved lipid profile, enhanced liver, kidney functions, antioxidant activity, and decreased oxidative-stress with Dox/DCA-PNPs combination treatment, indicating that NPs-based therapy enhanced therapeutic outcomes and minimized systemic toxicity via mitigated Dox side effects and maintained organ's function. This study elucidates that Dox/DCA-PNPs combination therapy provides a more effective strategy for EAC hepatorenal function improvements. Graphical Abstract
  • Knowledge, practice and attitude toward anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people practicing sports in the MENA region before and during COVID-19 lockdown
    Nael Kamel Eltewacy, Soha Nabil, Rahma Sweedy, Roy Rillera Marzo, Nouran Hamza, and
    Frontiers in Public Health, 2022
    IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, people's lifestyles have changed including their habits and physical activities. There has been an increase in anabolic hormones and nutritional supplement use among people who regularly do exercise in the MENA region. This study aims to assess knowledge, practice, and attitude toward the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people who regularly exercise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to compare their exercise habits and hormones and supplements usage between before and during COVID-19 lockdown.MethodsA self-administrated online Google form survey was carried out between February 2021 and April 2021. Five thousand eight hundred forty-five participants who regularly exercise and aged ≥18 years responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms and included five sections: demographic, training characters, knowledge, practice, and attitude.ResultsThe participants mean age was 27.4 ± 8.6 years. Males represented 58.2 % of participants. 75.3% of the study participants had not used either hormones or supplements, and about 19% used supplements only. The mean percent score for knowledge, practice, and attitude were 39.3 ± 30.5, 1.1 ± 9.5, and 21.3 ± 23.8, respectively. Level of knowledge was higher among participants who worked in the medical field or as sports coaches. The practice was higher among male participants. The most commonly used anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements were steroids and proteins with bodybuilding being the most common purpose. Internet was the main source of information and pharmacy was the main source for procuring these substances. There was a significant decrease in proteins, carbohydrates, and sports drinks used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before the COVID-19 lockdown, while a statistically significant increase in vitamins used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before COVID-19 lockdown.DiscussionIn the MENA region, there has been an increase in the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements. Most of the population has low knowledge of the harmful effect of uncontrolled, uninformed and unmonitored use of these substances Therefore, increasing the awareness level of participants and sports coaches should be a priority to limit the unsupervised use of hormones and supplements.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Berberine enhances cisplatin efficacy in ehrlich ascites carcinoma via modulation of apoptotic pathway and efferocytosis
    MM Salem, SM Dawod, TM Mohamed, WM Ibrahim, AT Khattab
    Scientific Reports 16 (1), 13637 , 2026
    2026
  • Synergistic therapeutic impact of dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin in modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in breast carcinoma model
    MM Salem, AT Khattab, DM Beltagy, MM El-Keiy
    Scientific Reports , 2026
    2026
  • Dichloroacetate nanoparticles ameliorate doxorubicin’s cardiotoxicity and inflammatory effect in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma
    AT Khattab, DM Beltagy, MM El-Keey, MM Salem
    Biochemistry Letters 21 (1), 174-187 , 2025
    2025
  • Dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin combinatorial treatment augment the hepato-renal function in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells
    AT Khattab, MM El-Keiy, DM Beltagy, MM Salem
    BMC Research Notes 18 (1), 481 , 2025
    2025
  • Revolutionizing breast cancer treatment: Harnessing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model, cancer metabolism, and nanotechnology-enhanced chemotherapy for improved patient outcomes
    AT Khattab, MM El-Keey, DM Beltagy, MM Salem
    Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1-20 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Knowledge, practice and attitude toward anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people practicing sports in the MENA region before and during COVID-19 lockdown
    NK Eltewacy, S Nabil, R Sweedy, RR Marzo, N Hamza, EARG Group
    Frontiers in Public Health 10, 1018757 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 3

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Knowledge, practice and attitude toward anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people practicing sports in the MENA region before and during COVID-19 lockdown
    NK Eltewacy, S Nabil, R Sweedy, RR Marzo, N Hamza, EARG Group
    Frontiers in Public Health 10, 1018757 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 3
  • Revolutionizing breast cancer treatment: Harnessing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model, cancer metabolism, and nanotechnology-enhanced chemotherapy for improved patient outcomes
    AT Khattab, MM El-Keey, DM Beltagy, MM Salem
    Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1-20 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Berberine enhances cisplatin efficacy in ehrlich ascites carcinoma via modulation of apoptotic pathway and efferocytosis
    MM Salem, SM Dawod, TM Mohamed, WM Ibrahim, AT Khattab
    Scientific Reports 16 (1), 13637 , 2026
    2026
  • Synergistic therapeutic impact of dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin in modulating pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in breast carcinoma model
    MM Salem, AT Khattab, DM Beltagy, MM El-Keiy
    Scientific Reports , 2026
    2026
  • Dichloroacetate nanoparticles ameliorate doxorubicin’s cardiotoxicity and inflammatory effect in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma
    AT Khattab, DM Beltagy, MM El-Keey, MM Salem
    Biochemistry Letters 21 (1), 174-187 , 2025
    2025
  • Dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin combinatorial treatment augment the hepato-renal function in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells
    AT Khattab, MM El-Keiy, DM Beltagy, MM Salem
    BMC Research Notes 18 (1), 481 , 2025
    2025