Photo of Zhenglun Zhu,  MD, PhD

Zhenglun Zhu, MD, PhD

Brigham And Women's Hospital

Brigham And Women's Hospital


zzhu@partners.org

Zhenglun Zhu, MD, PhD

Brigham And Women's Hospital

EDUCATIONAL TITLES

  • Assistant Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School
  • Assistant Professor, Medicine, Brigham And Women's Hospital

DF/HCC PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Research Abstract

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is an essential cell fate determination pathway of early embryogenesis. Gain of function mutations of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of malignancies, such as colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Our laboratory utilizes vertebrate embryogenesis model to identify potential methods of regulating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Current efforts are focused on the role of a homeobox protein Xom on Wnt/beta-catenin signaling during early embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. Xom is an essential cell fate determination factor, thus, it is expected that our investigation on the role of Xom in cell fate determination during early embryogenesis and tumorigenesis will allow us to identify novel targets of intervention for cancer management.

Publications from Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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  • Le Y, Gao H, Richards WG, Zhao L, Bleday R, Clancy T, Zhu Z. VentX expression in tumor associated macrophages promotes phagocytosis and immunity against pancreatic cancers. JCI Insight 2020. PubMed
  • Le Y, Gao H, Bleday R, Zhu Z. The homeobox protein VentX reverts immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2175. PubMed
  • Wu B, Gao H, Le Y, Wu X, Zhu Z. Xom induces proteolysis of β-catenin through GSK3β-mediated pathway. FEBS Lett 2017. PubMed
  • Gao H, Wu B, Le Y, Zhu Z. Homeobox protein VentX induces p53-independent apoptosis in cancer cells. 2016. PubMed
  • Zhu Z, Golay HG, Barbie DA. Targeting pathways downstream of KRAS in lung adenocarcinoma. Pharmacogenomics 2014; 15:1507-18. PubMed
  • Wu X, Gao H, Bleday R, Zhu Z. Homeobox transcription factor VentX regulates differentiation and maturation of human dendritic cells. J Biol Chem 2014. PubMed
  • Gao H, Wu X, Sun Y, Zhou S, Silberstein LE, Zhu Z. Suppression of homeobox transcription factor VentX promotes expansion of human hematopoietic stem/multipotent progenitor cells. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:29979-87. PubMed
  • Wu X, Gao H, Ke W, Hager M, Xiao S, Freeman MR, Zhu Z. VentX trans-activates p53 and p16ink4a to regulate cellular senescence. J Biol Chem 2011. PubMed
  • Gao H, Le Y, Wu X, Silberstein LE, Giese RW, Zhu Z. VentX, a novel lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factor-associated transcription repressor, is a putative tumor suppressor. Cancer Res 2010; 70:202-11. PubMed
  • Liu W, Gao X, Cai Q, Li J, Zhu Z, Li C, Yao X, Yang Q, Xiang M, Yan M, Zhu Z. Identification of novel serum biomarkers for gastric cancer by magnetic bead. Front Biosci (Elite Ed) 2010; 2:961-71. PubMed
  • Gao H, Wu B, Giese R, Zhu Z. Xom interacts with and stimulates transcriptional activity of LEF1/TCFs: implications for ventral cell fate determination during vertebrate embryogenesis. Cell Res 2007; 17:345-56. PubMed