Research

Decoding Metastasis, Enabling Translational Medicine

Exploring the cellular and molecular basis of tumor growth and metastasis in breast, ovarian, oral, lung and prostate cancers — with emphasis on tumor–stroma interactions, cancer stem cells, metastasis suppressors (including microRNAs), and biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic intervention.

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Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis

Using isogenic high/low-metastatic cell pairs, syngeneic and xenograft mouse models, and clinical specimens to dissect how STAT3–Twist–AKT2, Vav3–Rac1 and CTH–H₂S signaling axes drive invasion and distant metastasis.

microRNAs & Biomarkers

Discovering metastasis-suppressing microRNAs — miR-149 and miR-491-5p (targeting GIT1), miR-138 (SOX4 / HIF-1α), and glucocorticoid-induced miR-708 (Rap1B) — toward diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Cancer Stem Cells, Resistance & Relapse

Investigating the role of cancer stem cells in chemoresistance — including the Twist–AKT2 mechanism of paclitaxel resistance — and relapse, seeking actionable vulnerabilities.

Herbal, Antibody & Immune-Modulating Translation

Leveraging the Chinese Medicine Research Center to evaluate botanicals and antibody therapeutics for immune modulation of the tumor microenvironment, advancing integrative anticancer strategies and drug development.

Three Phases of Research

1970s · Phase A

RNA Tumor Virus Gene Mapping

Mapped sarcoma- and envelope-specific sequences of avian tumor viruses using RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotide fingerprinting; classic work on viral recombination and gene mapping.

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1980s–2000s · Phase B

ros / Receptor PTK Signaling

The ros sequence and transforming protein of UR2, the human c-ros-1 receptor-like molecule, IGF–STAT3, RACK1 and Vav3 — crystallized in the STAT3 → Twist → AKT2 functional axis.

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2008–present · Phase C

Metastasis, miRNA, Microenvironment & Translation

Spanning breast, ovarian, oral, lung and prostate cancers — aiming at mechanism, prognostic biomarkers and testable intervention hypotheses.

Recent Research Highlights

CD24 Immune-Checkpoint Antibody (HH0146)

Identified the surface molecule CD24 as linked to breast cancer progression and lung/lymph-node metastasis (2015), publishing the first study on CD24-driven tumor growth and metastasis in 2018. The team subsequently developed the humanized anti-CD24 monoclonal antibody HH0146, which reactivates macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells and reverses the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, significantly suppressing triple-negative breast cancer growth and distant metastasis in animal models. The technology received the 2025 Future Tech Award and was selected by NSTC as a featured highlight, and is advancing toward IND-enabling studies.

Cancer Stem-Cell Regulation (EDIL3 / Themis2)

Cancer stem cells comprise only ~1–2% of a tumor yet drive post-chemotherapy relapse and metastasis. The team identified EDIL3 as a key regulator of cancer stemness linked to chemoresistance, and is developing an anti-EDIL3 monoclonal antibody as a candidate therapeutic against triple-negative breast and ovarian cancer recurrence. Themis2 is also being pursued as a therapeutic target to overcome drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer.

Cancer Metabolic Reprogramming (TKT / α-KG)

Found that the glucose-metabolism enzyme transketolase (TKT) increases with tumor growth and governs the balance between glycolysis and aerobic respiration. Suppressing TKT or supplementing its downstream tumor-suppressive metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) shifts breast cancer glucose metabolism toward normal aerobic respiration, inhibiting triple-negative breast cancer growth and metastasis in animal models — a new strategic direction for hard-to-treat breast cancer.

Botanical Formulas in Translation (HBK / SV)

Guided by an integrative Chinese–Western medicine vision, the Chinese Medicine Research Center team developed the non-toxic botanical formula Herbao-Kang (HBK): in mouse lung-cancer models it increased tumor-antagonizing immune cells, modulated the tumor microenvironment, and suppressed tumor growth, metastasis and post-surgical recurrence without observable toxicity. HBK has been licensed to Wilikon Biotech for commercialization. The team also continues long-term research on the immune-modulating and anticancer potential of the botanical formula SV.

Cancer Focus & Methodology

Breast Ovarian Oral Lung Prostate

Methodology: cell culture, syngeneic / xenograft mouse models, clinical specimens, selection of high- and low-invasive isogenic lines, and gene & miRNA microarray profiling.