News
9/3/2021 MCO Welcomes 1st Year GSBS Students
The Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology (MCO) welcomed new PhD and MS students to a research information session. MCO Faculty and students shared the the wide range of exciting research in MCO labs.
MCO Chair ad interim, Dr. Yu, Faculty, and DA ad interim, Pat Lopez share their accomplishments and appreciation for MCO employees. Employees played games and sang along.
MCO trainees obtained endowed fellowship in FY21 cycle
Chunxiao Liu Ph.D., first author in J Hepatology published in April 2021 (mentor: Dr. Dihua Yu)—2021 Harold C. and Mary L. Dailey Endowment Fellowship ($2000)
Arseniy Yuzhalin Ph.D., Odyssey Postdoc Fellow (mentor: Dr. Dihua Yu)—2021 Harold C. and Mary L. Dailey Endowment Fellowship ($2,000)
Drs. Yi Xiao and Yuan Zhang interviewed by Oncology Learning Network
AACR interview request: Yuan Zhang (presenter, postdoctoral) , Jinyang Wang, Yi Xiao , Xiangliang Yuan, Ping Li, Yimin Duan, Victoria L Seewaldt, Dihua Yu .
Title: Boosting immune surveillance by low-dose PI3K inhibitor facilitates early intervention of breast cancer.
Interviewed by Alexis Hyams of Oncology Learning Network and the interview was posted in MD Anderson Cancer Center News on April 29, 2021. Read interview
Yutao Qi - MS Thesis Defense
4/23/21 Yutao Qi - MS Thesis Defense
4/23/21 Yutao Qi - MS Thesis Defense
4/23/21 Dr. Dihua Yu, mentor of Yutao Qi introduction to his committee members and other participants
4/23/21 Yutao Qi - MS Thesis Defense attendees
Yutao Qi received floral arrangement
2021 AACR Abstract Presenters
Dr. Yu encourages MCO members to participate in 2021 AACR meeting. She established the “2021 AACR Annual Meeting Virtual Travel Award”. The award covers a portion of the registration fee for the individual who
- Has a first authored abstract accepted by AACR
- Is a student, post-doc, res. scientist, or instructor
Title: MET inhibitor enhances efficacies of gemcitabine and olaparib in pancreatic cancer cells
Summary: PARP inhibitor and c-MET kinase inhibitor showed synergy in pancreatic cancer, this combination has a potential as novel targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer treatment
Authors: Mei-Kuang Chen (presenter, postdoc fellow), Yuan Gao, Dihua Yu, and Mien-Chie Hung
Title: Boosting immune surveillance by low-dose PI3K inhibitor facilitates early intervention of breast cancer
Summary: Study "Boosting immune surveillance by low-dose PI3K inhibitor facilitates early intervention of breast cancer" indicates that low-dose PI3K inhibitor treatment may intervene early stage ER- breast cancer development by enhancing immune surveillance via CCL5/CXCL10.
Authors: Yuan Zhang (presenter, postdoctoral), Jinyang Wang, Yi Xiao, Xiangliang Yuan, Ping Li, Yimin Duan, Victoria L Seewaldt, Dihua Yu
Title: Blocking histamine receptor H1 on macrophages with anti-allergy drugs restores T-cell anti-tumor immunity
Summary: We found that the allergy mediator, histamine, is secreted by many cancer cells and confers T-cell dysfunction in tumors. Histamine stimulates macrophage to suppress T-cell -mediated anti-tumor immunity. Anti-allergy drugs by blocking histamine receptor on macrophage reinvigorate T-cell function and enhance responses to immunotherapies/
Authors: Yi Xiao (presenter, Instructor), Hongzhong Li, Dihua Yu
Title: Secretory human ribonuclease 1 functions as Eph receptor A4 ligand to promote breast tumor initiation.
Summary: We unexpectedly identified secretory human ribonuclease 1 (hRNase1) as a new ligand of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ephrin A4 receptor (EphA4). Secretory hRNase1 binds to and activates EphA4 signaling to promote breast tumor initiation in an autocrine/paracrine manner, which is distinct from the classical ligand-receptor ephrin-EphA4 juxtacrine signaling through contact-dependent cell-cell communication. Our discovery highlighting the pathological relevance of the hRNase1-EphA4 axis in breast cancer would suggest a potential treatment strategy for breast cancer by inactivating the hRNase1-EphA4 axis.
Authors: Ying-Nai Wang (presenter, assistant professor RFA), Heng-Huan Lee, Wen-Hao Yang, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, Dihua Yu, and Mien-Chie Hung
12/11/2020 MCO Virtual Holiday Celebration
MCO first ever Ph.D. defense via Webex
Ms. Mei-Kuang Kathy Chen held MCO first ever PhD defense via Webex on Thurs April 9, 2020. There were more than 70 participants joining in.
Dr. Dihua Yu, chair of Ms. Chen’s advisory committee introduced Kathy to participants
Dr. Mien-Chie Hung, Ms. Chen’s thesis co-advisor, joined in from Taiwan praised Ms. Chen’s great qualifications as a PhD student and as a team player
MCO - Valentine's Social
Origami Heart
Winner #1 Vonta & Dr. Yu
Pat, Winner #2 Arseniy & Dr. Yu
Winners #3 Yuan, Yun, & Jianhua with Dr. Yu
Valentine's cake, cookies, & cupcakes
Arseniy, Akosua, Yi, Yohei, Xiangliang, Yutao
Andrea, Gerardo, & Marisela
Dr. Yu & Gerardo
Eric, Qian, & Ke
Valentine's goodies
Jason, Mei Si, Chunxiao, Zenbo, Eric, Jian, & Lanie
Jaw-Ching
Jessica Aubrey Suety Rosamaria Jingjing& Tiffany
Lanie, Yuan, Connie, Kathy, Lacey
Lin, Ping, Irene, Yuan, Xuedong, Yimin
Nie, Dr. Chiao, Zenbo
Pat & Dr. Yu
Ping & Yimin
Dr. Song & Dr. Lee
Gerardo & Andrea
Vonta, Jaw-Ching, Marisela, Jeng, & Gerardo
Jaw-Ching
Origami DNA
Jie, Lisa, Chengcao, Jianhua, Yajuan, Manish, & Shilpa
Nie, Dr. Chiao, Pat, Jian, & Zenbo
Liang, Xiaofei, Yanqing, & Shuai
Be Mine - Happy Valentine's Day
