Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, and also occurs in adults. Despite significant progress in development of treatments for this cancer, the mortality rate of medulloblastoma is still very high. Our research seeks to elucidate the mechanisms of medulloblastoma initiation and progression, with the aim of translating the findings into improved strategies for the treatment of medulloblastoma.
To study the basis of medulloblastoma formation, we first focus on the tumor cell itself, to define what genetic and/or epigenetic events could convert a normal cell into a tumor cell. We are also examining the functions of tumor-supporting cells (the tumor stroma and other constituents of the tumor microenvironment) in medulloblstoma formation. We hope to find a more effective way to control medulloblastoma growth, through targeting both tumor cells and their supporting stroma.
Gordon RE, Zhang L, Peri S, Kuo YM, Du F, Egleston BL, Ng JMY, Andrews AJ, Astsaturov I, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Statins Synergize with Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors for Treatment of Medulloblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research. 2018; 24(6):1375-1388.
Liu Y, Yuelling LW, Wang Y, Du F, Gordon RE, O'Brien JA, Ng JMY, Robins S, Lee EH, Liu H, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Astrocytes Promote Medulloblastoma Progression through Hedgehog Secretion. Cancer research. 2017; 77(23):6692-6703. PubMed
Gordon RE, Zhang L, Yang ZJ. Restore the brake on tumor progression. Biochemical pharmacology. 2017; 138:1-6. PubMed
Li P, Lee EH, Du F, Gordon RE, Yuelling LW, Liu Y, Ng JM, Zhang H, Wu J, Korshunov A, Pfister SM, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Nestin Mediates Hedgehog Pathway Tumorigenesis. Cancer Research. 2016; 76 (18): 5573-83. PubMed
Li P, Du F, Yuelling LW, Lin T, Muradimova RE, Tricarica R, Wang J, Enikolopov G, Bellacosa A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Yang ZJ. A population of Nestin-expressing progenitors in the cerebellum exhibits increased tumorigenicity. Nature Neuroscience. 2013 Dec, 16: 1737-1744. (Highlighted by a news report: “New Progenitors Nestin(g) in the EGL”, Nature Neuroscience, 2013 Dec. 16: 1710-1712.) PubMed
Zengjie.Yang@fccc.edu
Office Phone: 215-214-1545
Fax: 215-728-2471
Office: W345
Zengjie.Yang@fccc.edu
Office Phone: 215-214-1545
Fax: 215-728-2471
Office: W345
Associate Professor
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, and also occurs in adults. Despite significant progress in development of treatments for this cancer, the mortality rate of medulloblastoma is still very high. Our research seeks to elucidate the mechanisms of medulloblastoma initiation and progression, with the aim of translating the findings into improved strategies for the treatment of medulloblastoma.
To study the basis of medulloblastoma formation, we first focus on the tumor cell itself, to define what genetic and/or epigenetic events could convert a normal cell into a tumor cell. We are also examining the functions of tumor-supporting cells (the tumor stroma and other constituents of the tumor microenvironment) in medulloblstoma formation. We hope to find a more effective way to control medulloblastoma growth, through targeting both tumor cells and their supporting stroma.
Gordon RE, Zhang L, Peri S, Kuo YM, Du F, Egleston BL, Ng JMY, Andrews AJ, Astsaturov I, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Statins Synergize with Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors for Treatment of Medulloblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research. 2018; 24(6):1375-1388.
Liu Y, Yuelling LW, Wang Y, Du F, Gordon RE, O'Brien JA, Ng JMY, Robins S, Lee EH, Liu H, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Astrocytes Promote Medulloblastoma Progression through Hedgehog Secretion. Cancer research. 2017; 77(23):6692-6703. PubMed
Gordon RE, Zhang L, Yang ZJ. Restore the brake on tumor progression. Biochemical pharmacology. 2017; 138:1-6. PubMed
Li P, Lee EH, Du F, Gordon RE, Yuelling LW, Liu Y, Ng JM, Zhang H, Wu J, Korshunov A, Pfister SM, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Nestin Mediates Hedgehog Pathway Tumorigenesis. Cancer Research. 2016; 76 (18): 5573-83. PubMed
Li P, Du F, Yuelling LW, Lin T, Muradimova RE, Tricarica R, Wang J, Enikolopov G, Bellacosa A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Yang ZJ. A population of Nestin-expressing progenitors in the cerebellum exhibits increased tumorigenicity. Nature Neuroscience. 2013 Dec, 16: 1737-1744. (Highlighted by a news report: “New Progenitors Nestin(g) in the EGL”, Nature Neuroscience, 2013 Dec. 16: 1710-1712.) PubMed
This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship.
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