Research Areas
Research Areas
High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
We study high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the most malignant form of ovarian cancer, and accounts for up to 70% of all ovarian cancer cases. To understand the initiation, progression, and metastasis of ovarian cancer, we apply novel genetically engineered mouse ovarian cancer models, 3D cell culture, fallopian tube organoids, and cancer omics such as cancer genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
Deubiquitinating Enzymes in Cancer
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) promote the reverse ubiquitination process by cleaving ubiquitin modifications from their substrate proteins9. There are approximately 100 DUBs in humans. DUBs regulate the stability or modification of target proteins at a post-translational level, and DUBs have become attractive targets for cancer treatment.
Currently, we study how DUBs are involved in cancer cell lineage plasticity and tumor heterogeneity. We aim to develop specific DUB inhibitor and therapeutics to target cancer plasticity via targeting DUBs.
An RNA-binding protein, DEAD-Box RNA Helicase 3X (DDX3X) regulates various types of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, small RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs. DDX3X regulates cellular endogenous dsRNA homeostasis, and inhibiting DDX3X triggers dsRNA-sensing innate immune signaling in cancers and enhances anti-tumor activity. Aligned with in-depth molecular mechanistic studies, immune-competent syngeneic mouse models, and our unique DDX3X conditional knockout mouse model, we study the molecular mechanism by which DDX3X controls oncogenic or immunogenic cellular non-coding RNAs, and explore the therapeutic implications of targeting DDX3X in cancer.