Qihong Huang
Assistant Professor

Cancer Biology Program

Address

351 Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Office tel.: 215 495-6835
Lab tel.: 215 495-6836
Fax: 215 898-7952
E-mail: qhuang@wistar.org


Education

Shanghai Medical University: MD, 1993.

University of California-Davis: Ph.D., (Microbiology), 2000.

Research Interests

• Functional fenomics in metastasis
• Non-coding RNA in tumor development and metastasis
• Selective chemotherapies

Key words: cancer, metastasis, functional genomics, microRNA, chemotherapy.

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Description of Research

Our laboratory is developing and applying high-throughput technologies to functional genomics and cancer research. These technologies allow us to systemically study the functions of genes in the human genome and their roles in tumor development. Our laboratory is using these technologies to identify genes which control tumor metastasis and novel biomarkers and chemotherapies to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment.

Tumor Growth and Metastasis: Cancer affects approximately one in three individuals. The deaths of most cancer patients are the result of metastasis. The process of metastasis is a complex, multi-step, poorly understood process: it involves tumor growth, invasion, survival in the blood stream or lymphatics, avoidance of immune surveillance, extravasation, and growth at a distant site. Little is known about the mechanisms that affect tumor invasion and metastatic spread. Our laboratory is applying functional genomics technologies to in vivo animal models to identify genes that control metastasis process and understand the mechanisms of tumor invasion and dissemination. Such genes may make excellent anti-cancer drug targets, because their disruption results in the inability of tumors to grow or spread.

Non-coding RNA and Tumor Development: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded noncoding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides and represent a novel class of gene regulators. They function as negative gene regulators by binding to 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and suppressing their translation or promoting their degradation. It is estimated that each miRNA controls hundreds of gene targets and as a group they regulate 30% of human genes and almost every genetic pathway. MicroRNAs play important roles in processes as diverse as normal development and cellular homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests that they can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Combining a miRNA expression library in a cell-based assay, we recently identified miR-373 and 520c as promoters of tumor migration, invasion and metastasis. Our laboratory is currently using forward genetic screens to identify novel non-coding RNAs including miRNAs that regulate tumor development and metastasis

Recent Publications

Huang, Q., Gumireddy, K., Schrier, M., le Sage, C., Nagel, R., Nair, S., Egan, D. A., Li, A., Huang, G., Klein-Szanto, A. J., Gimotty, P. A., Katsaros, D., Zhang, L. Coukos, G., Zhang, L., Puré, E., Agami, R. (2008) The microRNAs miR-373 and miR-520c Promote Tumor Migration, Invasion and Metastasis. Nature Cell Biology 10(2):202-210

Gumireddy, K., Sun, F., Klein-Szanto, A. J., Gibbins, G. M., Gimotty, P. A., Saunders, A. J., Schultz, P. G., Huang, Q. (2007) An in vivo Selection for Metastasis Promoting Genes in the Mouse. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 104(16): 6696-6701.

Huang, Q., Raya, A., DeJesus, P., Chao, J., Quon, K. C., Caldwell, J. S., Chanda, S. K., Izpisua-Belmonte, J. C., and Schultz, P. G. (2004) Identification of p53 Regulators by Genome-wide Functional Analysis. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 101(10):3456-3461.

Huang, Q., Deveraux, Q. L., Maeda, S., Salvesen, G. S., Stennicke, H. R., Hammock, B. D., and Reed, J. C. (2000) Evolutionary Conservation of Apoptosis Mechanism: Lepidopteran and Baculoviral IAPs are Inhibitors of Mammalian Caspase-9. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 97(4):1427-1432

Rotation Projects

• Identification of novel genes and non-coding RNA in tumor development and metastasis using genome-wide cDNA, RNAi, and non-coding RNA libraries
• Development of targeted chemotherapies

Lab personnel:

Kiranmai Gumireddy
Rajareddy Singareddy
Anping Li