The Zhang Laboratory has long-standing interest in breast cancer-related basic and translational research. The lab has been expanding on several new projects critically addressing current clinical complications in breast-cancer progression, prevention and therapy. The lab has been working on both cancer-cell intrinsic signaling pathways and tumor microenvironment (TME), with special focuses on:
1) How immune system controls or promotes breast cancer under comorbid conditions such as obesity and diabetes etc.;
1-1: Selected Publications: PMIDs 27706238; 27617861; 27429211; 27708283; 32060884; 30518876
1-2: Grant Supports:
The V Scholar Award. 11/01/2014-10/31/2017; The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Title: NLRC4 inflammasome at the crossroads of obesity, inflammation and Cancer.
R01 CA200673 12/01/2015-11/30/2021; NIH/National Cancer Institute
Title: Obesity, inflammation and breast cancer
2) How two layers of mammary epithelial cells interact during normal physiology and breast cancer;
2-1: Selected Publications: PMIDs 23602409; 25769722; 29879416; 31137681; 31619506; 32042113
2-2: Grant Supports:
KG080649 8/2008-07/2011; Postdoc fellowship from Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Title: Role of IKK/NF-kappaB/Bmi-1 in mammary carcinogenesis and metastasis
K99/R00 CA158055 08/01/2011-07/31/2015; NIH/National Cancer Institute
Title: Myofibroblasts, T cells and malignant cells interplay in breast cancer metastasis
R01 CA203834 07/01/2016-06/30/2021; NIH/National Cancer Institute
Title: CD177 suppresses breast-cancer development by inhibiting beta-catenin
3) Therapeutic targeting human cancer regulatory T cells.
3-1: Selected Publications: PMIDs 33627663; 33523451; 33504936; 31792461; 37609171; 37745359; 37572669; 36588105
3-2: Grant Supports:
R01 CA260239 04/01/2021-03/30/2026; NIH/National Cancer Institute
Title: Proteolysis-targeting chimera against BCL-XL inhibits breast cancer metastasis
Breast Cancer Research Program, Breakthrough Level 1. 11/1/2020-10/31/2023; CDMRP/DOD
Title: Developing a novel PROTAC-based NR4A1 degrader for breast-cancer therapy.
Sanofi-iAward. 11/01/2020-10/30/2021.
Title: Validation NR4A1 as a viable target for cancer therapy
R01 CA290792 04/01/2024-03/31/2029; NIH/NIH/National Cancer Institute
Title: Proteolysis targeting chimera against nuclear receptor NR4A1 for melanoma therapy
4) How cancer genetics/epigenetics interact with immune system to modulate cancer pathogenesis.
4-1: Selected Publications: 37745359
Grant Supports:
4-2: Breast Cancer Research Program, Breakthrough Level 1. 04/01/2019-03/31/2022; CDMRP/DOD
Title: Modulating cancer genetics for immune regulation and breast cancer therapy.
5) Clearance of senescent immune cells for renal cancer therapy.
5-1: Selected publications: PMIDs 27706238; 33504936; 34599187; 34831009
5.2: Grant supports:
R01CA269661 09/01/2022-08/31/2027. NIH/NCI PD/PI: Weizhou Zhang, 8%. Exploring novel therapeutic strategies for combinatory therapy to treat renal clear cell carcinomas.
6) We have been collaborating with several investigators in cancer immunology and autoimmunity field.
6-1: Selected publications: PMIDs: 36895729; 37115913; 37539872; 37961699; 34615877 ……
6-2: Grant supports:
NIH Grants:
R01 CA248371 (PI: Ting-Yuan Cheng; Co-I: Weizhou Zhang, 5% effort) 04/01/2021-03/30/2028
R21: AR079693. (PI: SeungHee Cha; co-I Weizhou Zhang, 3% effort) 09/22/2021-08/31/2023
R01: (PI: SeungHee Cha; co-I: Weizhou Zhang, 5% effort) 10/1/2023-09/30/2028