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Yuan Pan Laboratory

Yuan Pan, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

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Pan Laboratory

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Pan Laboratory
- Lab Members
- Publications

Areas of Research

Cancer Neuroscience
Cancer Predisposition Syndrome
Neuron-glial Interactions
Neurofibromatosis

Welcome to the Pan Laboratory, in MD Anderson's Department of Symptom Research. Our group studies neuron-cancer and neuron-glia crosstalk and how these interactions are influenced by modifiers such as genetic mutations and therapies. Our goal is to provide insights into the prediction, prevention, and treatment of nervous system cancer and neurological disorders. We leverage primary cell culture, genetically engineered mouse models, patient-derived xenograft models, neuromodulatory approaches, and cell and molecular biology approaches. Our research is supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program, The University of Texas System, the Gilbert Family Foundation, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Our Research Goal

The overall goal of the Pan lab is to provide insights into the prediction, prevention, and treatment of nervous system cancer and neurological disorders.

Current Research

Neuron-Cancer Crosstalk in Nervous System Tumors

Recent findings have shown the critical role of neurons in cancer initiation and progression and thus have contributed to the emerging field of cancer neuroscience.
Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), a cancer predisposition syndrome, is a valuable platform for understanding the interaction between neurons and neoplastic cells.
Children with NF1 are born with mutations in the Nf1 tumor suppressor gene and are predisposed to nervous system neoplasms (e.g., optic pathway gliomas [OPGs] and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors [MPNSTs]).
Using a genetically engineered mouse model of NF1-OPG, we discovered that neuronal activity synergizes with the germline Nf1 mutation to drive the initiation of NF1-OPG (Pan et al., Nature, 2021).
Using various genetically engineered mouse models of NF1, we aim to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the neuronal activity-mediated nervous system neoplasms associated with NF1.

Image: Neuronal activity synergizes with the Nf1 mutation to drive the initiation and maintenance of Nf1-OPG.

Neuron-Glia Interactions and Cognitive Function

In NF1, the germline Nf1 mutation affects every cell type, including neurons and glial cells. Our ongoing studies suggest that Nf1 mutations lead to dysregulated neuron-glia interactions and cognitive deficits, which could be exacerbated by chemotherapy.
Using neuroscience approaches and genetically engineered mouse models of NF1, we aim to determine how Nf1 mutations lead to deficits in neuron-glia interactions and neurological function and whether chemotherapy exacerbates the deficits.

Image: Nf1 mutations and chemotherapy in neuron-glia interactions and neurological function.

News and Accolades

November 2023
Khalil Kasm, Ph.D., presented our cancer neuroscience work at the Socienty for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting in Washington DC.

October 2023
Madeline, Nathan, Aishani, Sara, Samer, Eric, Jade, and Shungu join our group as Undergraduate Research Volunteers.

September 2023
We are now supported by two US Department of Defense NFRP grants to study cancer neuroscience in neurofibromatosis (NF)1-associated brain tumors and to study the effects of diet on cognitive function in NF1.

April 2023
Renae joins the lab as a Research Investigator.

March 2023
Kechen joins our group as a Research Scientist.

November 2022
Ben joins us as a Research Scientist.

October 2022
Anand joins our group as a Sr. Research Scientist.
We are now supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation to investigate optic nerve oligodendroglial dynamics and myelination in NF1.

September 2022
Tasneem joins our group as an Undergraduate Research Volunteer.
Khushboo joins the lab as a Research Scientist.

August 2022
New review article online: Pan Y, Monje M. Neuron-Glial Interactions in Health and Brain Cancer. Adv Biol (Weinh).2022:e2200122. doi: 10.1002/adbi.202200122. PMID: 35957525.

July 2022
Khalil joins our group as a Postdoctoral Researcher.

May 2022
Sama joins the lab as a Research Assistant.

February 2022
Hana joins our group as an Undergraduate Research Volunteer.

Join Our Lab

We highly value hard work, curiosity, innovation, teamwork and professional development in combination with a healthy work/life balance. We seek strong postdoctoral fellows to add to our team.