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The faculty of Cooper University Health Care's Surgical Research Lab is active in grant research and research publication. Please select a member of our faculty to view their most recent publications. 

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Xiaoxin Luke Chen, MD, PhD

Director, Surgical Research Lab, Department of Surgery

For a complete list of publications, visit his bibliography at the National Library of Medicine or The Chen Lab at NCCU.

    Dr. Chen has two major research directions with grant support from the National Institutes of Health (CA244236 and AA030026):

    • Preclinical targeted therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): We are particularly interested in developing targeted therapy of ESCC in vitro and in vivo with specific molecular alterations. These studies can be potentially translated into clinical studies. Our current target is the Nrf2 signaling pathway.
    • Molecular mechanism and prevention of alcohol and tobacco-associated esophageal cancer: The goal of this research direction is to understand how alcohol and tobacco carcinogens may cause esophageal cancer, and how to prevent this type of cancer. Both pharmacological (pharmaceutical and dietary agents) and genetic approaches are employed to elucidate the mechanism of oro-esophageal carcinogenesis and design preventive strategies for clinical studies.

    Boopathi Subramaniyan, Yahui Li, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Candice Bui-Linh, Francis Spitz, Xiaoxin Chen. The PI3K pathway is a downstream effector of NRF2 activation in the esophagus:
    Publication in Translational Oncology, Volume 63, January 2026, 102629.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936523325003602

    Eva Richard, Hannah Marchuk, Mar Álvarez, Wentao He, Xiaoxin Chen, Lourdes R. Desviat, Guo‑Fang Zhang. Metabolic fux analysis in hiPSC‑CMs reveals insights into cardiac dysfunction in propionic acidemia, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences,15 March 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-025-05661-5

    Yahui Li, Zachary Ladd, Candice Bui-Linh, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Boopathi Subramaniyan, Huan Li, Haining Wang, Curt Balch, David D. Shersher, Francis Spitz and Xiaoxin Chen. Lymphatic Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Role of NRF2. Cancers, 31 May 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111853

    Xiaoxin Chen, Qing Cheng, Guo-Fang Zhang.
    Elevated propionate and its association with neurological dysfunctions in propionic acidemia. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 18 March 2025, Sec. Brain Disease Mechanisms, Volume 18-2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2025.1499376

    Jennifer Williams, MD, Kristen Knapp, MD, Brian Zilberman, MD, Andrew Lin, MD, Vincent Verchio, MD, Zeus Antonello, PhD, Ping Zhang, PhD, Drew Delong, VMD, Francis Spitz, MD, Julieta E. Barroeta, MD, Xiaoxin Chen, MD, and David Shersher, MD.
    Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Prevent Anastomotic Leak: A Porcine Ischemic Esophagectomy Model,
    Journal of Surgical Research, 2025-01-01, Volume 305, Pages 65-79, Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2024.10.054

    You Wang, Suhong Zhu, Wentao He, Hannah Marchuk, Eva Richard, Lourdes R. Desviat, Sarah P. Young, Dwight Koeberl, Takhar Kasumov, Xiaoxin Chen & Guo-Fang Zhang.
    The attenuated hepatic clearance of propionate increases cardiac oxidative stress in propionic acidemia. Basic Research in Cardiology, July 11, 2024. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00395-024-01066-w

    He W, Marchuk H, Koeberl D, Kasumov T, Chen X, Zhang GF. Fasting alleviates metabolic alterations in mice with propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency due to Pcca mutation. Commun Biol 2024; 7, 659. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06362-8.

    Paiboonrungruang C, Xiong Z, Lamson D, Li Y, Bowman B, Chembo J, Huang C, Li J, Livingston EW, Frank JE, Chen V, Li Y, Weissman B, Yuan H, Williams KP, Major MB, Chen X. Small Molecule Screen Identifies Pyrimethamine as an Inhibitor of NRF2-driven Esophageal Hyperplasia. Redox Biology 2023; 67:102901.

    Knapp K, Verchio V, Coburn-Flynn O, Li Y, Xiong Z, Morrison JC, Shersher DD, Spitz F, Chen X. Exploring cell competition for the prevention and therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol. 2023 Aug;214:115639.

    Li Y, Cheng Q, Xiong Z, Paiboonrungruang C, Adekoya T, Li Y, Chen X. Lymphatic Drainage System and Lymphatic Metastasis of Cancer Cells in the Mouse Esophagus. Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Mar;68(3):803-812.

    Xiong Z, Chen X. NRF2 Controls the Competitive Fitness of Squamous Epithelial Cells in the Mouse Esophagus. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Nov 6:S2352-345X(22)00221-1.

    Paiboonrungruang C, Simpson E, Xiong Z, Huang C, Li J, Li Y, Chen X. Development of targeted therapy of NRF2high esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal. 2021;86:110105.

Francis R Spitz, MD, FACS

Chairman and Chief, Department of Surgery
Surgical Oncologist, General Surgeon

For a complete list of publications, click here.

    Translational cancer research aiming at developing novel therapy for human cancer.

    • NRF2 activation in lung and head & neck cancer

    Zena Saleh, Matthew C. Moccia, Zachary Ladd, Upasana Joneja, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, and Tao Gao. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Signaling Pathways and Epigenetic Regulation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 1331. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021331.

    Knapp K, Verchio V, Coburn-Flynn O, Li Y, Xiong Z, Morrison JC, Shersher DD, Spitz F, Chen X. Exploring cell competition for the prevention and therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol. 2023 Aug;214:115639.

Young Ki Hong, MD, MPH, FACS, FSSO

Head, Division of Surgical Oncology
General Surgeon
Surgical Oncologist

    Translational cancer research aiming at developing novel therapy for human cancer.

    • Epigenetic therapy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET)
    • HIPEC with epigenetic drugs for peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal cancer

    Zena Saleh, Matthew C. Moccia, Zachary Ladd, Upasana Joneja, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, and Tao Gao. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Signaling Pathways and Epigenetic Regulation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 1331. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021331.

    Zhu C, Sandilos G, Williamson J, Emery R, Platoff R, Joneja U, Acharya NK, Lin A, Badach J, Zilberman B, Zadzo J, Jelinek J, Zhang P, Hong YK. Novel treatment strategy of targeting epigenetic dysregulation in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Surgery. 2023 Apr;173(4):1045-1051.

    Hong YK, Li Y, Wang X, Pandit H, Zheng Q, Yu Y, Shi X, Chen Y, Tan M, Pulliam Z, Bhutiani N, Lin A, Badach J, Zhang P, Martin RCG. Epigenetic modulation enhances immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Immunology. 2022 Nov 28;11(12).

    Hong YK, Li Y, Pandit H, Li S, Pulliam Z, Zheng Q, Yu Y, Martin RCG. Epigenetic modulation enhances immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Immunol. 2019 Feb;336:66-74

Madeline B. Torres, MD

Dr. Torres is a surgical oncologist committed to advancing the care of patients with gastrointestinal and soft tissue malignancies.

    Identifying and developing novel tumor markers and targets for solid tumors, specifically soft tissue sarcomas and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

    Gingrich A, Wangsiricharoen S, Torres MB, Ravi V, Ratan R, Keung EZ, Scally CP, Lazar AJ, Wang WL, Rolan CL, Hunt KK, Yu W, Torres KE. Clinical Variables Influencing Outcomes in Patients with Atypical Intradermal Smooth Muscle Neoplasms (Formerly Cutaneous Leiomyosarcomas): Single-Institution study of 95 Surgical Patients. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Nov; 31(12):7950-7956. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-15528-x. 

    Li N, Torres MB, Spetz MR, Wang R, Peng L, Tian M, Dower CM, Nguyen R, Sun M, Tai CH, de Val N, Cachau R, Wu X, Hewitt SM, Kaplan RN, Khan J, St Croix B, Thiele CJ, Ho M. CAR T cells targeting tumor-associated exons of glypican 2 regress neuroblastoma in mice. Cell Reports Med. June 2021. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm. 2021.100297 

    Li D, Li N, Zhang Y-F, Fu H, Feng M, Schneider D, Su L, Wu X, Zhou J, Mackay S, Kramer J, Duan Z, Yang H, Kolluri A, Hummer AM, Torres MB, Zhu H, Hall MD, Luo X, Chen J, Wang Q, Abate-Daga D, Dropublic, Hewitt SM, Orentas RJ, Greten TF, Ho M. Persistent Polyfunctional Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells That Target Glypican 3 Eliminate Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Mice. Gastroenterology. 2020 Jun;158(8):2250- 2265.e20. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.011.

Weam Elbezanti, PharmB, MS, PhD

Dr. Elbezanti's lab is committed to advancing innovative therapeutic approaches for human cancer, with a particular emphasis on FDA-approved medications that influence epigenetics. She is passionate about translational cancer research, where her primary goal is to pioneer new therapies for human cancer. Specifically, her research focuses on understanding the effects of these medications on chromatin remodeling, gene expression, and the tumor microenvironment.

    March 2, 2026 through February 26, 2027:
    New Jersey Health Foundation (PC 73-26)
    Comparative Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling of Epigenetic Modifiers Romidepsin and Mithramycin A Under Hyperthermic Conditions in a Murine Model of Colorectal Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis

    February 17, 2025 through February 16, 2027:
    New Jersey Health Foundation Grant # PC 52-25.
    Targeting Colorectal Cancer Peritoneal Carcinomatosis with Mithramycin A: A Preclinical Evaluation in a Hyperthermic Chemotherapy Model.

    Sarah Kim, Anurag Majumdar, James P. Waters, Gena V. Topper, Yazid Ghanem, Weam Elbezanti, Shumei Song, Young Ki Hong, Immunoresistant to immunosensitive - Histotripsy’s unique potential to overcome resistance: Publication in the Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology,” Volume 217, January 2026, 105054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.105054

    Elbezanti, W. O., Challagundla, K. B., & Pandey, M. K. (2024). The study of small RNA sequencing from biological samples (miRNA-seq). In V. J. Carabetta & O. Akintunde (Eds.), High throughput gene screening: Methods and protocols (pp. 175–188). Humana. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-4192-7_10

    Al-Odat OSF, Elbezanti WO, Gowda K, Srivastava S, Amin SG, Jonnalagadda SC, Budak-Alpdogan T, Pandey MK. KS18, a Mcl-1 inhibitor, improves the effectiveness of bortezomib and overcomes resistance in refractory multiple myeloma by triggering intrinsic apoptosis. Front Pharmacol. 2024; 15:1436786. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1436786.

    Bhowmick K, von Suskil M, Al-Odat OS, Elbezanti WO, Jonnalagadda SC, Budak-Alpdogan T, Pandey MK. Pathways to therapy resistance: The sheltering effect of the bone marrow microenvironment to multiple myeloma cells. Heliyon. 2024 Jun 14;10(12) . doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33091. PMID: 39021902; PMCID: PMC11252793.

    Weam Othman Elbezanti, Kishore B. Challagundla, Jonnalagadda, Subash, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan, and Manoj K. Pandey. Past, Present and a Glance into the Future of Multiple Myeloma Treatment. Pharmaceuticals. 2023 Mar 8;16(3):415. doi: 10.3390/ph16030415. PMID: 36986514; PMCID: PMC10056051.

    Elbezanti WO, Al-Odat OS, Chitren R, Singh JK, Srivastava SK, Gowda K, Amin S, Robertson GP, Nemmara VV, Jonnalagadda SC, Budak-Alpdogan T, Pandey MK. Development of a novel Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor that exerts anti-cancer activities potentiates response of chemotherapeutic agents in multiple myeloma stem cell-like cells. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Sep 9;13:894535. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.894535. PMID: 36160379; PMCID: PMC9500300.

    Al-Odat O, von Suskil M, Chitren R, Elbezanti W, Srivastava S, Budak-Alpddogan T, Jonnalagadda S, Aggarwal B, Pandey M. Mcl-1 Inhibition: Managing Malignancy in Multiple Myeloma. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Jul 19;12:699629. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.699629. Erratum in: Front Pharmacol. 2021 Aug 31;12:758130. PMID: 34349655; PMCID: PMC8327170.

    Lin A, Elbezanti WO, Schirling A, Ahmed A, Van Duyne R, Cocklin S, Klase Z. Alprazolam Prompts HIV-1 Transcriptional Reactivation and Enhances CTL Response Through RUNX1 Inhibition and STAT5 Activation. Front Neurol. 2021 Jul 22;12:663793. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.663793. PMID: 34367046; PMCID: PMC8339301.

    Von Suskil M, Sultana KN, Elbezanti WO, Al-Odat OS, Chitren R, Tiwari AK, Challagundla KB, Srivastava SK, Jonnalagadda SC, Budak-Alpdogan T, Pandey MK. Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Targeting in Multiple Myeloma. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 27;22(11):5707. doi: 10.3390/ijms22115707. PMID: 34071917; PMCID: PMC8198777.

    Elbezanti W, Lin A, Schirling A, Jackson A, Marshall M, Duyne RV, Maldarelli F, Sardo L, Klase Z. Benzodiazepines Drive Alteration of Chromatin at the Integrated HIV-1 LTR. Viruses. 2020 Feb 9;12(2):191. doi: 10.3390/v12020191. PMID: 32050449; PMCID: PMC7077212.

    Sardo L, Lin A, Khakhina S, Beckman L, Ricon L, Elbezanti W, Jaison T, Vishwasrao H, Shroff H, Janetopoulos C, Klase ZA. Real-time visualization of chromatin modification in isolated nuclei. J Cell Sci. 2017 Sep 1;130(17):2926-2940. doi: 10.1242/jcs.205823. Epub 2017 Jul 25. PMID: 28743737; PMCID: PMC5612227.

    Sardo L, Vakil PR, Elbezanti W, El-Sayed A, Klase Z. The inhibition of microRNAs by HIV-1 Tat suppresses beta catenin activity in astrocytes. Retrovirology. 2016 Apr 8;13:25. doi: 10.1186/s12977-016-0256-y. PMID: 27060080; PMCID: PMC4826512.

    Joglekar M, Elbezanti WO, Weitzman MD, Lehman HL, van Golen KL. Caveolin-1 mediates inflammatory breast cancer cell invasion via the Akt1 pathway and RhoC GTPase. J Cell Biochem. 2015 Jun;116(6):923-33. doi: 10.1002/jcb.25025. Erratum in: J Cell Biochem. 2017 May;118(5):1273. PMID: 25559359.

Tao Gao, PhD

    Dr. Gao's major research interest at Cooper Surgical Research Lab is to build a platform to develop novel therapies for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). PNET is a historically rare tumor, with an annual incidence of 0.32 per 100,000. As a result, these malignancies have a relative paucity of knowledge surrounding their treatment. Despite clinically available strategies, the rate of 5-year survival significantly decreases by stage – 60-100% for localized disease, 40% for regional disease, and 25% for metastatic disease. There remains a significant clinical need to develop novel therapy for this disease.

    Recent genomic and epigenomic studies have shown that PNETs are heterogenous in origin based on α-like, β-like islet cells of Langerhans, or intermediate type with associated ARX+ or PDX1+ transcriptional promotor hypermethylation profiles. Hypermethylation of promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes results in decreased expression of those genes and subsequent promotion of tumor growth. Previous research has shown hypermethylation of tumor suppressors in PNETs is mainly due to DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) overexpression. Epigenetic drugs activate anti-tumor immunity by inducing viral mimicry in tumor cells, regulate immune cells trafficking and infiltration, and reactivate exhausted immune cells.

    The research plan is to build a platform to develop novel epigenetic drugs which synergize with chemotherapy for PNET treatment through upregulation of tumor suppressor and immunomodulatory genes, via various studies including biochemistry, cell culture, next-generation sequencing, xenograft animal modeling, and systematic profiling of PNET patient samples. The lab will use this platform to provide basic research training to both Cooper medical residents and Rowan medical students, helping them to better understand the translational aspect of preclinical findings from basic research in clinical applications.

    February 15, 2026 through February 14, 2027:
    Camden Cancer Research Center
    Translational Research Grant
    Development of a Novel Syngeneic Mouse Model for Epigenetic–Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (in collaboration with Dr. Young Ki Hong)

    February 15, 2024 through February 16, 2025:
    New Jersey Health Foundation (PC 54-24):
    Development of Novel NRF2 Inhibitors for NRF2Mut ESCC

    Tao Gao, Young Ki Hong. Illuminating Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Biology Through Real-Time Murine Modeling, Reflection Commentary published online; Annals of Surgical Oncology, 10 February 2026. https://rdcu.be/e3ipL

    Matthew C. Moccia, Rachel Nation, T. Hess, Gena V. Topper, Ami Kalola, Michael Wang, Hannah Sofield, Zena Saleh, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Tao Gao, Young Ki Hong. Lighting up PNETs: Creating Murine Models with a Novel Bioluminescent Cell Line; Annals of Surgical Oncology, 3 February 2026, https://rdcu.be/e19P3

    Tao Gao, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, Zena Saleh, Rachel J. Nation, Matthew C. Moccia, Ami Kalola, Yazid Ghanem, Hansa Joshi, and Yahui Li. DNA Methyltransferase 1 Correlates with Immune Modulation in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Publication in the online journal Scientific Reports [(2025) 15:41497]
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25384-8

    Zena Saleh, Matthew C. Moccia, Zachary Ladd, Upasana Joneja, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, and Tao Gao. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Signaling Pathways and Epigenetic Regulation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 1331. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021331.

    Gao T, Wright-Jin EC, Sengupta R, Anderson JB, Mendelsohn CL, and Heuckeroth RO.  *Cell-autonomous retinoic acid receptor signaling alters enteric nervous system development with stage-specific effects in mice. JCI Insight 2021;6(10):e145854. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.145854. *Editors’ highlight

    Wright CM, Schneider S, Smith-Edwards KM, Mafra F, Leembruggen AJL, Gonzalez MV, Kothakapa DR, Anderson JB, Maguire BA, Gao T, et al. ScRNA-Seq Reveals New Enteric Nervous System Roles for GDNF, NRTN, and TBX3. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol (2021) Jan 11;S2352-345X(20)30213-7

    Gao T, Mckenna B, Li C, et al. Pdx1 maintains β-cell identity and function by repressing an α-cell identity. Cell Metabolism (2014) Feb 4,19(2):259-71

    Gao T, Zhou D, Yang C, et al. *Hippo Signaling Regulates Differentiation and Maintenance in the Exocrine Pancreas. Gastroenterology (2013) 144(7):1543-1553 *Cover story

    Srinivasan M, Dodds C, Ghanim H, Gao T, et al. Maternal obesity and fetal programming: effects of a high-carbohydrate nutritional modification in the immediate postnatal life of female rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2008) 295(4):E895-903.

    Gao T, O'Brian MR. Control of DegP-dependent degradation of c-type cytochromes by heme and the cytochrome c maturation system in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 2007 Sep;189(17):6253-9

    Gao T, O'Brian MR. Iron-dependent cytochrome c1 expression is mediated by the status of heme in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. J Bacteriol. 2005 Aug;187(15):5084-9

Hyun-Kyung Ko, PhD

    Dr. Ko has been conducting cancer research for over a decade, focusing on understanding the mechanisms of cancer progression and the identification of new targets for treatment-resistant cancers at advanced stage. She received her PhD in biophysics from Roswell Park Graduate Division of SUNY Buffalo. Her graduate work focused on the role of a scaffolding protein in cell migration and prostate cancer metastasis. Post-graduation, she pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Nima Sharifi in Cleveland Clinic, where she investigated the mechanism of treatment resistant prostate cancer with a focus on steroid metabolism pathways. Dr. Ko then moved to Oregon Health & Science University as a junior faculty and led research projects related to drug discovery targeting bone metastasis, tumor heterogeneity, and target discovery for drug resistant prostate cancer. 

    In 2024, Dr. Ko joined Cooper University Health Care as a Scientist -Clinical Research in the department of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, where she continues her research career with primary responsibility for conducting translational cancer research. she is also engaged in a research program in the surgery department as a research mentor for Cooper medical residents, guiding them through their research projects and providing expertise. For this lab's research, she works closely with Dr. Shumei Song to manage and implement all aspects of the study. The lab's research is currently focused on investigating the mechanisms of gastric cancer progression and metastasis and the identification of novel drug targets for advanced gastric cancer. They use a wide variety of systems, including cell lines, organoid samples, patient derived xenograft mouse models, human samples through Cooper Biobank, and clinical data. The long-term objective of this research is to develop novel and effective therapeutic strategies to treat cancers at advanced stage.

    February 15, 2026 through February 14, 2027:
    Camden Cancer Research Center
    Translational Research Grant
    Targeting MET in CDH1-Deficient Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis (in collaboration with Dr. Madeline Torres)

    Changhui Xue, Hyun-Kyung Ko, Kasen Shi, Janet Pittsenbarger, Lucien Vu Dao, Kaiyo Shi, Maximilian Libmann, Hao Geng, David Z. Qian. Understanding the development of enzalutamide resistance based on a functional single-cell approach. 2025. The prostate, in press.

    Hao Geng, Hyun-Kyung Ko, Janet Pittsenbarger, Christopher T Harvey, Changhui Xue, Qiong Liu, Sadie Wiens, Sushant K Kachhap, Tomasz M Beer, David Z Qian. HIF1 and ID1 Interplay Confers Adaptive Survival to HIF1α-Inhibition. 2021. Front Cell Dev Biol, 9: 724059. Role: Co-first author.

    Zhang L, Pattanayak A, Li W, Ko HK, Fowler G, Gordon R, Bergan R. A Multifunctional Therapy Approach for Cancer: Targeting Raf1- Mediated Inhibition of Cell Motility, Growth, and Interaction with the Microenvironment. 2019. Mol Cancer Ther, 19(1):39-51.

    Ziqi Zhu, Yoon-Mi Chung, Olga Sergeeva, Vladimir Kepe, Michael Berk, Jianneng Li, Hyun-Kyung Ko, Zhenfei Li, Marianne Petro, Frank P DiFilippo, Zhenghong Lee, Nima Sharifi. Loss of dihydrotestosterone-inactivation activity promotes prostate cancer castration resistance detectable by functional imaging. 2018. J Biol Chem, 293(46):17829-17837.

    Hyun-Kyung Ko, Michael Berk, Yoon-Mi Chung, Belinda Willard, Rohan Bareja, Mark Rubin, Andrea Sboner, Nima Sharifi. Loss of an androgen-inactivating and isoform-specific HSD17B4 splice form enables emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer. 2018. Cell Reports, 22(3):809-819.

    Hyun-Kyung Ko, Li-wu Guo, Bing Su, Lingqiu Gao and Irwin H. Gelman. Suppression of Chemotaxis by SSeCKS via Scaffolding of Phosphoinositol Phosphates and the Recruitment of the Cdc42 GEF, Frabin, to the Leading Edge. 2014. PLoS One, 9(10):e111534.

    Bing Su, Lingqiu Gao, Catherine Baranowski, Bryan Gillard, Jianmin Wang, Ryan Ransom, Hyun-Kyung Ko, and Irwin H. Gelman. A genome-wide RNAi screen identifies FOXO4 as a metastasis-suppressor through counteracting PI3K/AKT signal pathway in prostate cancer. 2014. PLoS One, 9(7):e101411

    Hyun-Kyung Ko, Shin Akakura, Jennifer Peresie, David W. Goodrich, Barbara A. Foster, and Irwin H. Gelman. A Transgenic model for early prostate metastasis to the lymph nodes. 2014. Cancer Research, 74(3):945-953.

Oscar Pellon, PhD

    Dr. Pellon's research program is dedicated to addressing the profound clinical challenges posed by two complex and aggressive malignancies: high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). His scientific journey has been guided by a central question: how are fundamental developmental and regenerative processes hijacked to fuel cancer? He pursued this question during his doctoral training in cell signaling under Dr. Crislyn D’Souza-Schorey at the University of Notre Dame, and later during his postdoctoral research in colon cancer genetics in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Verzi at Rutgers University.

    Dr. Pellon is now applying this expertise to cancers where a deep mechanistic understanding is critically needed. Soft-tissue sarcomas, a rare and diverse group of mesenchymal tumors, present significant clinical challenges, including a high rate of local recurrence following surgery and limited systemic therapeutic options, with anthracycline-based chemotherapy remaining the standard for advanced disease. Similarly, HGSOC, the most common and lethal form of ovarian cancer, is typically diagnosed at a late stage and frequently develops therapy resistance.

    Dr. Pellon's current research addresses these challenges using a multidisciplinary approach that integrates sophisticated preclinical models with advanced genomic and epigenomic profiling. Through single-cell technologies and mechanistic studies, they aim to deconstruct the signaling networks and cellular states that drive plasticity, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in HGSOC and STS. The goal is to identify and validate novel, targetable vulnerabilities, translating these insights into innovative therapeutic strategies that can improve outcomes for patients facing these difficult diseases.

    1. Pellon-Cardenas O, Rout P, Hassan S, Fokas E, Ping H, Patel I, Patel J, Plotsker O, Wu A, Kumar R, Akther M, Logerfo A, Wu S, Wagner DE, Boffelli D, Walton KD, Manieri E, Tong K, Spence JR, Bessman N, Shivdasani RA, Verzi MP. Dynamic Reprogramming of Stromal Pdgfra-expressing cells during WNT Mediated Transformation of the Intestinal Epithelium. [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 22:2025.01.22.634326. PMID: 39896606

    2. Li N, Myers RL, Zhu Q, Tian Y, Durning K, Wang X, Leu NA, Rhoades JH, Bankler-Jukes D, Monaghan KE, Adams-Tzivelekidis S, Pomp O, Pellon-Cardenas O, Blanco MA, Verzi MP, Klein PS, Lengner CJ. APC loss promotes intestinal transformation through induction of bistable stem cell states. [Preprint]. 2025 Mar 6:2025.03.06.641686.

    3. Chen L, Dupre A, Qiu X, Pellon-Cardenas O, Fan J, Xu X, Rout P, Walton KD, Burclaff J, Zhang R, Fang W, Ofer R, Logerfo A, Vemuri K, Bandyopadhyay S, Wang J, Barbet G, Wang Y, Gao N, Perekatt AO, Hu W, Magness ST, Spence JR, Verzi MP. TGFB1 Induces Fetal Reprogramming and Enhances Intestinal Regeneration. Cell Stem Cell. 2023 Nov 2;30(11):1520-1537. PMID: 37865088

    4. Childs CJ, Holloway EM, Sweet CW, Tsai YH, Wu A, Vallie A, Eiken MK, Capeling MM, Zwick RK, Pallkugl B, Trentesaux C, Wu JH, Pellon-Cardenas O, Zhang CJ, Glass IA, Loebel C, Yu Q, Camp JG, Sexton JZ, Klein OD, Verzi MP, Spence JR. EPIREGULIN creates a developmental niche for spatially organized human intestinal enteroids. JCI Insight. 2023 Feb 23;8(4):e165566. PMID: 36821371

    5. Aita R, Aldea D, Hassan S, Hur J, Pellon-Cardenas O, Cohen E, Chen L, Shroyer N, Christakos S, Verzi MP, Fleet JC. Genomic Analysis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 Action in Mouse Intestine Reveals Compartment and Segment-Specific Gene Regulatory Effects. J Biol Chem. 2022 Jun 29:102213. PMID: 35779631

    6. Guio H, Aliaga-Tobar V, Galarza M, Pellon-Cardenas O, Capristano S, Gomez HL, Olivera M, Sanchez C, Maracaja-Coutinho V. Comparative Profiling of Circulating Exosomal Small RNAs Derived From Peruvian Patients With Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Jun 30;12:909837. PMID: 35846752

    7. Gu W, Wang H, Huang X, Kralczy J, Singh NP, Ng C, Dagdeviren S, Houghton S, Pellon-Cardenas O, Lan Y, Nie Y, Zhang J, Onufer J, Warner BW, Spence J, Scherl E, Rafii S, Lee RT, Verzi M, Redmond D, Longman R, Helin K, Shivdasani RA, Zhou Q. The chromatin factor SATB2 maintains adult colonic stem cell identity and mediates mucosal plasticity between mature colon and small intestine. Cell Stem Cell. 2022 Jan 6;29(1):101-115. PMID: 34582804

    8. Das S, Feng Q, Balasubramanian I, Lin X, Liu H, Pellon-Cardenas O, Yu S, Zhang X, Liu Y, Wei Z, Bonder EM, Verzi MP, Hsu W, Zhang L, Wang TC, Gao N. Colonic healing requires WNT produced by epithelium as well as Tagln+ and Acta2+ stromal cells. Development. 2021 Jan 1;149(1):dev199587. PMID: 34910127

    9. Li S, De La Cruz J, Hutchens S, Mukhopadhyay S, Criss Z, Aita R, Pellon-Cardenas O, Hur J, Soteropoulos P, Husain S, Dhawan P, Verlinden P, Carmeliet G, Fleet J, Shroyer N, Verzi M, Christakos S. Analysis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 genomic action reveals calcium regulating and calcium independent effects in mouse intestine and human enteroids. Mol Cell Biol. 2021 Dec 21;41(1):e00372-20. PMID: 33139494

    10. Yareta J, Galarza M, Capristano S, Pellon-Cardenas O, Sanchez C, Ballon J, Guio H. Differential expression of circulating micro-RNAs in patients with active and latent tuberculosis. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2020 Jan-Mar;37(1):51-56. PMID: 32520192

    11. Tong KM*, Pellon-Cardenas O*, Sirihorachai V, Warder B, Kothari O, Perekatt A, Fokas E, Fullem R, Zhou A, Thackray J, Tran H, Zhang L, Xing J, Verzi M. Degree of Tissue Differentiation Dictates Susceptibility to BRAF-Driven Colorectal Cancer. Cell Reports. 2017 Dec 26;21(13):3833-3845. PMID: 29281831

    12. Chatterjee I, Kumar A, Castilla-Madrigal RM, Pellon-Cardenas O, Gill RK, Alrefai WA, Borthakur A, Verzi M, Dudeja PK. CDX2 upregulates SLC26A3 gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2017 Sep 1;313(3):G256-G264. PMID: 28572085

    13. Pellon-Cardenas O, Clancy J, Uwimpuhwe H, D'Souza-Schorey C. ARF6-regulated endocytosis of growth factor receptors links cadherin-based adhesion to canonical Wnt signaling in epithelia. Mol Cell Biol. 2013 Aug;33(15):2963-75. PMID: 23716594

    14. Pellon-Cardenas O, Schweitzer J, D'Souza-Schorey C. Endocytic Trafficking and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Curr Drug Targets. 2011 Jul 1;12(8):1216-22. PMID: 21561414

Shumei Song, MD, PhD

For a complete list of published work, click here.  

Boopathi Subramaniyan, M.Phil, PhD

For a complete list of publications, click here.
 

    Dr. Subramaniyan's research interest primarily focuses on NRF2's role in regulating kinases to promote proliferation, metastasis, radio- and chemo-resistance of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, the lab identified novel kinases downstream of the NRF2 signaling pathway, which may be considered treatment targets. He is also interested in how alcohol drinking contributes to ESCC as a carbon source.

    Boopathi Subramaniyan, Yahui Li, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Candice Bui-Linh, Francis Spitz, Xiaoxin Chen. The PI3K pathway is a downstream effector of NRF2 activation in the esophagus:
    Publication in Translational Oncology, Volume 63, January 2026, 102629.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936523325003602

    Yahui Li, Zachary Ladd, Candice Bui-Linh, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Boopathi Subramaniyan, Huan Li, Haining Wang, Curt Balch, David D. Shersher, Francis Spitz and Xiaoxin Chen. Lymphatic Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Role of NRF2. Cancers, 31 May 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111853

    Qin L, Dong Z, Huang C, Liu H, Beebe J, Subramaniyan B, Hao Y, Liu Y, He Z, Liu JY, Zhang JT. Reversible promoter demethylation of PDGFD confers gemcitabine resistance through STAT3 activation and RRM1 upregulation. Cancer Lett. 2023 Jul 28;567:216266. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216266. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37321532.

    Tilley AMC, Howard CM, Sridharan S, Subramaniyan B, Bearss NR, Alkhalili S, Raman D. The CXCR4-Dependent LASP1-Ago2 Interaction in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Aug 29;12(9):2455. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092455.PMID: 32872485.

    Subramaniyan B, Sridharan S, M Howard C, M C Tilley A, Basuroy T, de la Serna I, Butt E, Raman D. Role of the CXCR4-LASP1 Axis in the Stabilization of Snail1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Aug 21;12(9):2372. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092372.PMID: 32825729.

    Sridharan S, Robeson M, Bastihalli-Tukaramrao D, Howard CM, Subramaniyan B, Tilley AMC, Tiwari AK, Raman D. Targeting of the Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4A Against Breast Cancer Stemness. Front Oncol. 2019 Dec 6;9:1311. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01311. eCollection 2019. PMID: 31867270.

    Sridharan S, Howard CM, Tilley AMC, Subramaniyan B, Tiwari AK, Ruch RJ, Raman D. Novel and Alternative Targets Against Breast Cancer Stemness to Combat Chemoresistance. Front Oncol. 2019 Oct 16;9:1003. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01003. eCollection 2019.PMID: 31681564.

Huan Li, PhD

    Dr. Li's research is centered on the field of oncology, encompassing breast cancer, leukemia, colon cancer, and more. Her technical expertise lies at the intersection of cell biology, molecular biology, and in vivo experimentation, with a particular emphasis on cancer biology and drug development. She specializes in cell biology, drug resistance screening, chemo-/radio-sensitivity screening, and protein analysis techniques.

    Yahui Li, Zachary Ladd, Candice Bui-Linh, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Boopathi Subramaniyan, Huan Li, Haining Wang, Curt Balch, David D. Shersher, Francis Spitz and Xiaoxin Chen. Lymphatic Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Role of NRF2. Cancers, 31 May 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111853

    Huan Li, Srinivas Chatla, Xiaolei Liu, Zhen Tian, Umeshkumar Vekariya, Peng Wang, Dongwook Kim, Stacia Octaviani, Zhaorui Lian, George Morton, Zijie Feng, Dan Yang, Katherine Sullivan-Reed, Wayne Childers, Xiang Yu, Kumaraswamy Naidu Chitrala, Jozef Madzo, Tomasz Skorski, Jian Huang. 
    ZNF251 haploinsufficiency confers PARP inhibitors resistance in BRCA1-mutated cancer cells through activation of homologous recombination. Cancer Letters, 2025-01-31, Volume 613, 217505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2025.217505

    Minjun Xia, Yabim Jiao, Huan Li, Yushan Lin. Comparative Study on Four Phenolic Components of Dashain Refined Chinese Medicine and Common Chinese Medicine. Acta Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology 2017, 451:44-47.

    Huan Liming Xia, Yabin Jiao. The protective effect of total glucosides of paeony on rats with atherosclerosis and blood lipid regulation. Jiangxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2017; 4:56-58.

    Huan Li, Jindong Zhao, Guo sheng Wang. Treatment with Lingzi Capsules Suppresses Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting the Hepatocyte Growth Factor/c-Met Signal Transduction Pathway. Molecular Medicine Reports 2015; 11: 1865- 1870.

Yahui Li, MS

    Ms. Li's research includes studying the role of NRF2 in the mechanisms of lymphatic metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as investigating NRF2's involvement in esophageal carcinogenesis and metastasis through competitive interactions. She has successfully elucidated the mouse esophageal lymphatic drainage system.

    Matthew C. Moccia, Rachel Nation, T. Hess, Gena V. Topper, Ami Kalola, Michael Wang, Hannah Sofield, Zena Saleh, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Tao Gao, Young Ki Hong. Lighting up PNETs: Creating Murine Models with a Novel Bioluminescent Cell Line; Publication in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, 3 February 2026, https://rdcu.be/e19P3

    Boopathi Subramaniyan, Yahui Li, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Candice Bui-Linh, Francis Spitz, Xiaoxin Chen. The PI3K pathway is a downstream effector of NRF2 activation in the esophagus:
    Publication in Translational Oncology, Volume 63, January 2026, 102629.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936523325003602

    Tao Gao, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, Zena Saleh, Rachel J. Nation, Matthew C. Moccia, Ami Kalola, Yazid Ghanem, Hansa Joshi, and Yahui Li. DNA Methyltransferase 1 Correlates with Immune Modulation in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Publication in the online journal Scientific Reports [(2025) 15:41497]
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25384-8

    Yahui Li, Zachary Ladd, Candice Bui-Linh, Zhaohui Xiong, Chorlada Paiboonrungruang, Boopathi Subramaniyan, Huan Li, Haining Wang, Curt Balch, David D. Shersher, Francis Spitz and Xiaoxin Chen. Lymphatic Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Role of NRF2. Cancers, 31 May 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111853

    Zena Saleh, Matthew C. Moccia, Zachary Ladd, Upasana Joneja, Yahui Li, Francis Spitz, Young Ki Hong, and Tao Gao. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Signaling Pathways and Epigenetic Regulation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 1331. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021331.

    Paiboonrungruang C, Xiong Z, Lamson D, Li Y, Bowman B, Chembo J, Huang C, Li J, Livingston EW, Frank JE, Chen V, Li Y, Weissman B, Yuan H, Williams KP, Major MB, Chen X. Small Molecule Screen Identifies Pyrimethamine as an Inhibitor of NRF2-driven Esophageal Hyperplasia. Redox Biology 2023; 67:102901.

    Knapp K, Verchio V, Coburn-Flynn O, Li Y, Xiong Z, Morrison JC, Shersher DD, Spitz F, Chen X. Exploring Cell Competition for the Prevention and Therapy of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2023; 7:115639.

    Li Y, Cheng Q, Xiong Z, Paiboonrungruang C, Adekoya TO, Li Y, Chen X. Lymphatic drainage system and lymphatic metastasis of cancer cell in the mouse esophagus. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2023; 68.3: 803-812.

    Chen, X, Li, Y, Paiboonrungruang, C, Li, Y, Peters, H, Kist, R, & Xiong, Z. PAX9 in Cancer Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23.10: 5589.

    Li Y, Li Y, Chen X. Notch and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021; 1287:59-68.

    Adekoya TO, Smith N, Thomas AJ, Lane TS, Burnette N, Rivers EJ, Li Y, Chen X, Richardson RM. Host versus cell-dependent effects of β-arrestin 1 expression in prostate tumorigenesis. Carcinogenesis. 2021; 42:772-83.

    Cagle P, Smith N, Adekoya TO, Li Y, Kim S, Rios-Colon L, Deep G, Niture S, Albanese C, Suy S, Collins SP, Kumar D. Knockdown of microRNA-214-3p Promotes Tumor Growth and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer. Cancers. 2021; 13:5875.

    Paiboonrungruang C, Simpson E, Xiong Z, Huang C, Li J, Li Y, Chen X. Development of targeted therapy of NRF2high esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal. 2021; 86:110105.

    Shi M, Ren S, Chen H, Li J, Huang C, Li Y, Han Y, Li Y, Sun Z, Chen X, Xiong Z. Alcohol drinking inhibits NOTCH-PAX9 signaling in esophageal squamous epithelial cells. J Pathol. 2021; 253:384-395.