Xin Chen, PhD
Program Co-Leader, Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Full Member, Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Academic Appointment(s):
Professor, (Researcher), Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Degree(s):
PhD, Harvard University
Postdoc Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University
Research Focus
Our lab studies molecular genetics and signaling pathways during liver cancer growth to develop new therapies to treat this deadly disease.
Based on genomic studies from human liver cancers using both in vitro cell culture system and in vivo modeling, we are characterizing the functional contribution of major signaling and metabolic cascades that contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. We are studying pathways that include:
- PI3K/AKT/mTOR
- Hippo/Yap
- Notch
- Ras/MAPK
- β-catenin signaling.
We are studying the genetic and biochemical crosstalk among these pathways and how they regulate liver cancer development, and we are testing novel, targeted therapies for liver cancer treatment using drugs which specifically target these pathways.
Why now
Liver cancer is the fifth-most-common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying liver cancer development remains poorly understood. Treatment options for liver cancer are very limited and generally ineffective. Sorafenib is the only approved targeted therapeutic drug for liver cancer. However, it only prolongs the survival of patients with advanced liver cancer for about three months, and it is very expensive. It is of great importance to elucidate the mechanisms leading to hepatic carcinogenesis and identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of this malignancy.
Selected Publications
Zhang Y, Xu H, Liang B, Chen X, Ko S, Gui G, Wang P, Wang H, Xu M, Wnag J, Pes GM, Ribback S, Zeng Y, Singhi A, Monga SP, Evert M, Tang L, Calvisi DF, Chen X. (2022). β-Catenin sustains and is required for YAP oncogenic activity in cholangiocarcinoma. Gastroenterology; Epub 2022 Apr. Pubmed summary
Wang H, Zhou Y, Xu H, Wang X, Zhang Y, Shang R, O’Farrell M, Roessler S, Sticht C, Stahl A, Evert M, Calvisi DF, Zeng Y, Chen X. (2022). Therapeutic efficacy of FANS inhibition in preclinical models of HCC. Hepatol; Epub 2022 Jan. Pubmed summary
Wang H, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Jia J, Wang J, Liu X, Zhang J, Song X, Che L, Ribback S, Cigliano A, Evert M, Liang B, Wu H, Calvisi DF, Zeng Y, Chen X. (2022). TAZ is indispensable for hepatocarcinogenesis induced by c-MYC. J Hepatol; 76(1), Jan. 2022, 123-134. Pubmed summary
Song X, Wang P, Wang J, Affo S, Wang H, Xu M, Schwabe RF, Chang TT, Bogl M, Pes GM, Ribback S, Evert M, Chen X#, Calvisi DF# (#Co-corresponding authors). (2021). Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) promotes cholangiocarcinoma development and progression via YAP activation. J Hepatol; 75(4), pp888-899. Pubmed summary
Liang B, Zhou Y, Qian M, Xu M, Wang J, Zhang Y, Song X, Wang H, Lin S, Ren C, Monga SP, Wang B, Evert M, Chen Y, Chen X, Huang Z, Calvisi DF, Chen X. (2021). TBX3 functions as a tumor suppressor downstream of activated CTNNB1 mutants during hepatocarcinogenesis. J Hepatol; 75(1), pp120-131. Pubmed summary
Publication list via PubMed or MyNCIBibliography link
Active Grants
X. Chen, PI
NIH/NCI
R01CA250227
“Investigating multifactorial beta-catenin activation in hepatocellular cancers”
1/7/2021-12/31/2025
X. Chen, PI
NIH/NCI
R01CA239251
“Signaling pathways during hepatocarcinogenesis”
3/1/2020-2/28/2025
X.Chen, Co-PI (PI: Stahl, A)
NIH/NCI
R01CA221916
“Role of protein mediated fatty acid uptake in liver cancer”
8/17/2018-7/31/2023
X. Chen, Co-PI (PI: Schwabe, R)
NIH/NCI
R01CA228483
“Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in cholangiocarcinoma”
6/19/2018-5/31/2023
