DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Cell Biology
Neuro-Oncology

Research Abstract

My research interests are centered on understanding basic mechanisms contributing to tumorigenesis, and extending basic research insights to the development of rationally designed anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. We have a particular interest in aberrant signal transduction and transcriptional pathways associated with tumorigenesis. Our research program extends from very basic tumor biology to the development of phase I clinical trials. We utilize a variety of experimental approaches, including diverse molecular and cell biological techniques, viral vectors, gene expression profiling, mouse genetic models, in vivo cellular and molecular imaging, high-throughput screening assays, biochemistry, and proteomic analysis. We have ongoing internal and external collaborations with academic scientists, clinicians, and industry. Active areas of research include:
• Role of hypoxia-regulated gene expression in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis.
• Discovering therapies targeting hypoxia-inducible transcription.
• Validation and development of therapies targeting IGF/IGF-1R.
• Elucidating mechanism of p300/CBP hematologic tumor suppression.
• Control of hematopoietic stem cell fate decisions by p300/CBP.
• Development of therapeutics targeting CXCR4 in brain tumors.
• Discovery of novel targets in acute leukemia.
• Development of therapies targeting histone modifying activities.
• In vivo cellular and molecular imaging for studying tumor biology.
• Development of clinically relevant preclinical models for drug evaluation.

Publications

• Stegmaier K, Wong JS, Ross KN, Chow KT, Peck D, Wright RD, Lessnick SL, Kung AL, Golub TR.Signature-based small molecule screening identifies cytosine arabinoside as an EWS/FLI modulator in Ewing sarcoma.PLoS Med 2007 Apr;4(4):e122.
  17425403
• Kung AL.Practices and pitfalls of mouse cancer models in drug discovery.Adv Cancer Res 2007;96:191-212.
  17161681
• Torres-Arzayus MI, Yuan J, DellaGatta JL, Lane H, Kung AL, Brown M.Targeting the AIB1 oncogene through mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition in the mammary gland.Cancer Res 2006 Dec 1;66(23):11381-8.
  17145884
• Redjal N, Chan JA, Segal RA, Kung AL.CXCR4 inhibition synergizes with cytotoxic chemotherapy in gliomas.Clin Cancer Res 2006 Nov 15;12(22):6765-71.
  17121897
• Alsayed Y, Ngo H, Runnels J, Leleu X, Singha UK, Pitsillides CM, Spencer JA, Kimlinger T, Ghobrial JM, Jia X, Lu G, Timm M, Kumar A, Côté D, Veilleux I, Hedin KE, Roodman GD, Witzig TE, Kung AL, Hideshima T, Anderson KC, Lin CP, Ghobrial IM.Mechanisms of
  17119115
• Weisberg E, Wright RD, Jiang J, Ray A, Moreno D, Manley PW, Fabbro D, Hall-Meyers E, Catley L, Podar K, Kung AL, Griffin JD.Effects of PKC412, nilotinib, and imatinib against GIST-associated PDGFRA mutants with differential imatinib sensitivity.Gastroente
  17087936
• Becker CM, Wright RD, Satchi-Fainaro R, Funakoshi T, Folkman J, Kung AL, D'Amato RJ.A novel noninvasive model of endometriosis for monitoring the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy.Am J Pathol 2006 Jun;168(6):2074-84.
  16723720
• Almog N, Henke V, Flores L, Hlatky L, Kung AL, Wright RD, Berger R, Hutchinson L, Naumov GN, Bender E, Akslen LA, Achilles EG, Folkman J.Prolonged dormancy of human liposarcoma is associated with impaired tumor angiogenesis.FASEB J 2006 May;20(7):947-9.
  16638967
• Szentirmai O, Baker CH, Lin N, Szucs S, Takahashi M, Kiryu S, Kung AL, Mulligan RC, Carter BS.Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging of luciferase expressing intracranial U87 xenografts: correlation with magnetic resonance imaging determined tumor volume and
  16462491
• Woerner BM, Warrington NM, Kung AL, Perry A, Rubin JB.Widespread CXCR4 activation in astrocytomas revealed by phospho-CXCR4-specific antibodies.Cancer Res 2005 Dec 15;65(24):11392-9.
  16357147
• Mitsiades CS, Mitsiades NS, McMullan CJ, Poulaki V, Kung AL, Davies FE, Morgan G, Akiyama M, Shringarpure R, Munshi NC, Richardson PG, Hideshima T, Chauhan D, Gu X, Bailey C, Joseph M, Libermann TA, Rosen NS, Anderson KC.Anti-myeloma activity of heat shoc
  16234364
• Dahia PL, Ross KN, Wright ME, Hayashida CY, Santagata S, Barontini M, Kung AL, Sanso G, Powers JF, Tischler AS, Hodin R, Heitritter S, Moore F, Dluhy R, Sosa JA, Ocal IT, Benn DE, Marsh DJ, Robinson BG, Schneider K, Garber J, Arum SM, Korbonits M, Grossma
  16103922
• Kanellopoulou C, Muljo SA, Kung AL, Ganesan S, Drapkin R, Jenuwein T, Livingston DM, Rajewsky K.Dicer-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells are defective in differentiation and centromeric silencing.Genes Dev 2005 Feb 15;19(4):489-501.
  15713842
• Kung AL, Zabludoff SD, France DS, Freedman SJ, Tanner EA, Vieira A, Cornell-Kennon S, Lee J, Wang B, Wang J, Memmert K, Naegeli HU, Petersen F, Eck MJ, Bair KW, Wood AW, Livingston DM.Small molecule blockade of transcriptional coactivation of the hypoxia-
  15261140
• Mitsiades CS, Mitsiades NS, McMullan CJ, Poulaki V, Shringarpure R, Akiyama M, Hideshima T, Chauhan D, Joseph M, Libermann TA, García-Echeverría C, Pearson MA, Hofmann F, Anderson KC, Kung AL.Inhibition of the insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 tyrosin
  15050914
• Rubin JB, Kung AL, Klein RS, Chan JA, Sun Y, Schmidt K, Kieran MW, Luster AD, Segal RA.A small-molecule antagonist of CXCR4 inhibits intracranial growth of primary brain tumors.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003 Nov 11;100(23):13513-8.
  14595012
• Armstrong SA, Kung AL, Mabon ME, Silverman LB, Stam RW, Den Boer ML, Pieters R, Kersey JH, Sallan SE, Fletcher JA, Golub TR, Griffin JD, Korsmeyer SJ.Inhibition of FLT3 in MLL. Validation of a therapeutic target identified by gene expression based classif
  12620411
• Rebel VI, Kung AL, Tanner EA, Yang H, Bronson RT, Livingston DM.Distinct roles for CREB-binding protein and p300 in hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002 Nov 12;99(23):14789-94.
  12397173