Faculty

Liling Wan, PhD

Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology

Department: Cancer Biology

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

751 BRB II/III
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160

Office: (215)-898-3116
Fax: (215)-573-6725
Lab: (215)-898-3698

Email:
liling.wan@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Education:
B.S. (Biological Sciences and Biotechnology)
Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 2008.
PhD (Molecular Biology)
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 2014.

Links
Penn Epigenetics Institute
Department of Cancer Biology
Wan Lab Website
Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute

Permanent link

> Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details

Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests:
The research interests in the Wan Lab lie in the intersection of cancer biology and epigenetics.

Keywords:
cancer, epigenetics, genome organization, histone modifications, transcriptional condensates, cell fate plasticity, Leukemia, Kidney development, metastasis.

Research Details:
Chromatin - the complex of DNA and histone proteins - is the physiological template of the eukaryotic genome through which transcription factors, signaling pathways, and other internal and external cues alter gene activity and cellular phenotypes. Cancer genome studies have shown that at least 40% of human cancers harbor mutations in genes encoding chromatin-associated factors, highlighting the widespread impact of chromatin misregulation in cancer. Our research focuses on understanding chromatin function and its dysregulation in human cancer, particularly in exploring how these mechanisms regulate cellular fate transitions and plasticity that promote tumorigenic potential. In addition to our basic mechanistic discoveries, we are also committed to leveraging this knowledge for therapeutic development.

Our lab currently pursues several key areas of research: (1) Investigating the molecular basis and functional consequences of cancer-associated mutations in chromatin regulators; (2) Decoding the regulation and function of chromatin-associated transcriptional condensates; (3) Examining how epigenomic reprogramming influences transcriptional and cellular plasticity to affect cancer behaviors such as metastasis; and (4) Characterizing drugs targeting newly identified epigenetic mechanisms in cancer.

Research techniques:
We use a host of different approaches including mouse models of disease, genome-wide sequencing, advanced imaging, functional genomics, and biochemistry.

Rotation Projects:
Rotation projects are available in each area of interest in the lab. Please contact Dr. Wan for details.

Selected Publications

Yiman Liu, Qinglan Li, Lele Song, Chujie Gong, Sylvia Tang, Krista A. Budinich, Ashley Vanderbeck, Kaeli M. Mathias, Gerald Wertheim, Riley Outen, Ivan Maillard, Liling Wan.: Condensate-promoting ENL mutation drives tumorigenesis in vivo through dynamic regulation of histone modifications and gene expression. Cancer Discovery April 2024.

Song L, Li Q, Xia L, Sahay A, Qiu Q, Li Y, Li H, Sasaki K, Susztak K, Wu H, Wan L: Single-Cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape. Nature Communications 2024.

Mathias KM, Liu Y, Wan L: Dysregulation of transcriptional condensates in human disease: mechanisms, biological functions, and open questions. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development May 2024.

Wang X*, Fan D*, Liu Y*, Han Q*, Miao H, Wang X, Li Q, Chen D, Gore H, Himadewi P, Pfeifer G, Cierpicki T, Grembecka J, Su J#, Chong S#, Wan L#, Zhang X# (*co-first; #co-corresponding): Mutant NPM1 hijacks transcriptional hub to maintain pathogenic gene programs in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Discovery 2022.

Song L*, Yao X*, Li H, Peng B, Boka AP, Liu Y, Chen G, Liu Z, Mathias KM, Xia L, Li Q, Mir M, Li Y#, Li H#, Wan L# (*co-first; #co-corresponding): Hotspot mutations in the structured ENL YEATS domain link aberrant transcriptional condensates and cancer. Molecular Cell 82(21): 4080-4098, November 2022.

Liu Y, Li H, Alikarami F, Barrett DR, Khan TA, Michino M, Hill C, Mahdavi L, Song L, Tang S, Yang L, Li Y, Pokharel SP, Li Q, Stamford AW, Liverton N, Renzetti LM, Taylor S, Watt GF, Ladduwahetty T, Kargman S, Meinke PT, Foley MA, Shi J, Li H, Chen CW, Gardini A, Huggins DJ, Bernt KM#, Wan L# (#co-corresponding): Small-molecule inhibition of the acyl-lysine reader ENL as a strategy against acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Discovery 12(11): 2684-2709, November 2022.

Wan L#, Chong S, Fan X, Liang A, Cui X, Gates L, Carroll TS, Li Y, Feng L, Chen G, Wang S, Ortiz MV, Daley S, Wang X, Xuan H, Kentsis A, Muir TW, Roeder RG, Li H, Li W, Tjian R, Wen H#, Allis CD# (#co-corresponding): Impaired Cell Fate through Gain-of-function Mutations in a Chromatin Reader. Nature 577(7788): 121-126, January 2020.

Wan L*, Wen H*, Li Y*, Lyu J, Xi Y, Hoshii T, Joseph JK, Wang X, Loh YE, Erb MA, Souza AL, Bradner JE, Shen L, Li W, Li H#, Allis CD#, Armstrong SA#, Shi X# (*co-first; #co-senior): ENL Links Histone Acetylation to Oncogenic Gene Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemias. Nature 543(7644): 265-269, March 2017.

Wan L, Lu X, Yuan S, Wei Y, Guo F, Shen M, Yuan M, Chakrabarti R, Hua Y, Smith HA, Blanco MA, Chekmareva M, Wu H, Bronson RT, Haffty BG, Xing Y, Kang Y: MTDH-SND1 Interaction is Crucial for Expansion and Activity of Tumor-Initiating Cells in Diverse Oncogene- and Carcinogen-Induced Mammary Tumors. Cancer Cell 26(1): 92-105, July 2014.

Guo F*, Wan L*, Zheng A, Stanevich V, Wei Y, Satyshur KA, Shen M, Lee W, Kang Y#, Xing Y# (*co-first; #co-senior): Structural Insights into the Tumor-Promoting Function of the MTDH-SND1 Complex. Cell Reports 8(6): 1704-1713, September 2014.

Wan L, Hu G, Wei Y, Yuan M, Bronson RT, Yang Q, Siddiqui J, Pienta KJ, Kang Y: Genetic Ablation of Metadherin Inhibits Autochthonous Prostate Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancer Research 74(18): 5336-5347, September 2014.

Wan L, Pantel K, Kang Y: Tumor Metastasis: Moving New Biological Insights into the Clinic. Nature Medicine 19(11): 1450-1464, November 2013.