Featured Publications
KDM5B promotes immune evasion by recruiting SETDB1 to silence retroelements
Zhang SM, Cai WL, Liu X, Thakral D, Luo J, Chan LH, McGeary MK, Song E, Blenman KRM, Micevic G, Jessel S, Zhang Y, Yin M, Booth CJ, Jilaveanu LB, Damsky W, Sznol M, Kluger HM, Iwasaki A, Bosenberg MW, Yan Q. KDM5B promotes immune evasion by recruiting SETDB1 to silence retroelements. Nature 2021, 598: 682-687. PMID: 34671158, PMCID: PMC8555464, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03994-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell Line, TumorDNA-Binding ProteinsEpigenesis, GeneticGene SilencingHeterochromatinHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseHumansInterferon Type IJumonji Domain-Containing Histone DemethylasesMaleMelanomaMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNuclear ProteinsRepressor ProteinsRetroelementsTumor EscapeConceptsImmune checkpoint blockadeImmune evasionCheckpoint blockadeImmune responseAnti-tumor immune responseRobust adaptive immune responseTumor immune evasionAnti-tumor immunityAdaptive immune responsesType I interferon responseDNA-sensing pathwayMouse melanoma modelImmunotherapy resistanceMost patientsCurrent immunotherapiesTumor immunogenicityImmune memoryMelanoma modelCytosolic RNA sensingRole of KDM5BConsiderable efficacyInterferon responseImmunotherapyEpigenetic therapyBlockadeCECR2 drives breast cancer metastasis by promoting NF-κB signaling and macrophage-mediated immune suppression
Zhang M, Liu ZZ, Aoshima K, Cai WL, Sun H, Xu T, Zhang Y, An Y, Chen JF, Chan LH, Aoshima A, Lang SM, Tang Z, Che X, Li Y, Rutter SJ, Bossuyt V, Chen X, Morrow JS, Pusztai L, Rimm DL, Yin M, Yan Q. CECR2 drives breast cancer metastasis by promoting NF-κB signaling and macrophage-mediated immune suppression. Science Translational Medicine 2022, 14: eabf5473. PMID: 35108062, PMCID: PMC9003667, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf5473.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBreast cancer metastasisReticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog ACancer metastasisImmune suppressionM2 macrophagesWorse metastasis-free survivalMetastatic breast cancerMetastasis-free survivalV-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog ACancer-related deathPrimary breast tumorsMultiple mouse modelsNF-κB signalingImmunocompetent settingNuclear factor-κB family membersMetastasis-promoting genesDistant metastasisMetastatic sitesPrimary tumorEffective therapyBreast cancerMetastasis treatmentMouse modelBreast tumorsMetastasisHuman WDR5 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis via KMT2-independent translation regulation
Cai WL, Chen JF, Chen H, Wingrove E, Kurley SJ, Chan LH, Zhang M, Arnal-Estape A, Zhao M, Balabaki A, Li W, Yu X, Krop ED, Dou Y, Liu Y, Jin J, Westbrook TF, Nguyen DX, Yan Q. Human WDR5 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis via KMT2-independent translation regulation. ELife 2022, 11: e78163. PMID: 36043466, PMCID: PMC9584608, DOI: 10.7554/elife.78163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBreast cancer cellsMetastatic breast cancerBreast cancerRibosomal gene expressionCancer cellsKnockdown of WDR5Vivo genetic screenReversible epigenetic mechanismsGenetic screenTranslation regulationTriple-negative breast cancerEpigenetic regulatorsEpigenetic mechanismsBreast cancer growthCancer-related deathTranslation efficiencyWDR5Novel therapeutic strategiesTranslation rateGene expressionCell growthAdvanced diseaseEffective therapyMetastatic capabilityPotent suppressionCancer Epigenetics, Tumor Immunity, and Immunotherapy
Cao J, Yan Q. Cancer Epigenetics, Tumor Immunity, and Immunotherapy. Trends In Cancer 2020, 6: 580-592. PMID: 32610068, PMCID: PMC7330177, DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.02.003.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsImmune responseAntitumor immune responseCancer-immunity cycleAnticancer immune responseEpigenetic targeting agentsImpaired immunosurveillanceCurrent immunotherapiesTumor immunityImmunomodulatory drugsImmune cellsImmune restrictionTargeting agentEpigenetic mechanismsEpigenetic regulatorsImmunotherapyPharmaceutical modulationEpigenetic therapyTumorsImmunosurveillanceTherapyCurrent advancesDNA methylationImmunityResponseThe Crossroads of Cancer Epigenetics and Immune Checkpoint Therapy.
Micevic G, Bosenberg M, Yan Q. The Crossroads of Cancer Epigenetics and Immune Checkpoint Therapy. Clinical Cancer Research 2022, 29: 1173-1182. PMID: 36449280, PMCID: PMC10073242, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-0784.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsImmune checkpoint therapyT cell exhaustionCheckpoint therapyAntitumor immune responseT cell populationsCell-intrinsic immunityTypes of cancerViral mimicry responseLow response rateCheckpoint inhibitorsCurrent immunotherapiesPancreatic cancerSustained responsePreclinical modelsTreatment outcomesImmune responseEndogenous antigensResponse rateTumor typesMultiple epigenetic regulatorsCritical mediatorLow immunogenicityTherapyCancerPotent BRD4 inhibitor suppresses cancer cell-macrophage interaction
Yin M, Guo Y, Hu R, Cai WL, Li Y, Pei S, Sun H, Peng C, Li J, Ye R, Yang Q, Wang N, Tao Y, Chen X, Yan Q. Potent BRD4 inhibitor suppresses cancer cell-macrophage interaction. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 1833. PMID: 32286255, PMCID: PMC7156724, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15290-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdministration, OralAnimalsCell CommunicationCell Cycle ProteinsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDisease Models, AnimalDown-RegulationDrug DesignFemaleHumansHypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha SubunitMacrophage Colony-Stimulating FactorMacrophagesMice, Inbred BALB CMice, NudeNeoplasmsPhosphorylationProto-Oncogene Proteins c-mycReceptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating FactorSignal TransductionTranscription FactorsTreatment OutcomeConceptsTumor growthMajor clinical stagesBET inhibitorsProliferation of tumorsExtraterminal domain (BET) family proteinsTumor cell proliferationClinical stageTumor shrinkageSyngeneic modelPotent BRD4 inhibitorsSmall molecule inhibitorsSolid tumorsBRD4 inhibitionTumor cellsOral bioavailabilityCancer treatmentCell proliferationBRD4 inhibitorsMolecule inhibitorsMultiple mechanismsC-MycTumorsInhibitorsKDM5 histone demethylases repress immune response via suppression of STING
Wu L, Cao J, Cai WL, Lang SM, Horton JR, Jansen DJ, Liu ZZ, Chen JF, Zhang M, Mott BT, Pohida K, Rai G, Kales SC, Henderson MJ, Hu X, Jadhav A, Maloney DJ, Simeonov A, Zhu S, Iwasaki A, Hall MD, Cheng X, Shadel GS, Yan Q. KDM5 histone demethylases repress immune response via suppression of STING. PLOS Biology 2018, 16: e2006134. PMID: 30080846, PMCID: PMC6095604, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune responseSTING expressionCyclic GMP-AMP synthase stimulatorSuppression of STINGCancer cellsCancer immunotherapy agentsHuman papilloma virusAdaptive immune responsesMultiple clinical trialsExpression of STINGBreast cancer cellsInnate immune defenseRobust interferon responseMultiple cancer typesIntratumoral CD8Immunotherapy agentsAnticancer immunotherapyPatient survivalNeck cancerPapilloma virusClinical trialsT cellsSTING agonistsKDM5 histonePositive headEpigenetic markers and therapeutic targets for metastasis
Kravitz C, Yan Q, Nguyen D. Epigenetic markers and therapeutic targets for metastasis. Cancer And Metastasis Reviews 2023, 42: 427-443. PMID: 37286865, PMCID: PMC10595046, DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10109-y.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsEpigenomic alterationsLineage integrityTherapeutic targetEpigenetic markersCancer cellsGenetic aberrationsCurrent knowledgeHuman tumorsMalignant cell cloneTumor progressionDNANumber of discoveriesCell clonesDisseminated diseaseCertain organsPrimary tumorTherapeutic responseMetastatic cancerEpigenomeChromatinHistonesLiquid biopsyAlterationsClonesTarget
2024
Combined BET and MEK Inhibition synergistically suppresses melanoma by targeting YAP1
Hu R, Hou H, Li Y, Zhang M, Li X, Chen Y, Guo Y, Sun H, Zhao S, Liao M, Cao D, Yan Q, Chen X, Yin M. Combined BET and MEK Inhibition synergistically suppresses melanoma by targeting YAP1. Theranostics 2024, 14: 593-607. PMID: 38169595, PMCID: PMC10758063, DOI: 10.7150/thno.85437.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMEK inhibitor resistanceMEK inhibitor trametinibTrametinib treatmentInhibitor resistanceInhibitor trametinibMelanoma patientsYAP1 expressionMEK inhibitionBRAF-mutant melanoma patientsResistance to MEK inhibitionYAP1 inhibitionResistance to trametinibMelanoma growth <i>inInhibition of BRD4Trametinib resistanceAntitumor effectMelanoma growthTrametinibNHWD-870YAP1 inhibitorDrug resistanceMelanomaMelanoma samplesMelanoma cellsBRD4 depletion
2023
Lysine Demethylation in Pathogenesis
Cao J, Yan Q. Lysine Demethylation in Pathogenesis. Advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology 2023, 1433: 1-14. PMID: 37751133, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38176-8_1.ChaptersConceptsLysine demethylasesLSD1/KDM1AHistone lysine methylationHistone lysine methyltransferasesMajor epigenetic mechanismsNormal developmentNon-histone substratesSpecific small molecule inhibitorsSmall molecule inhibitorsLysine methylationLysine methyltransferasesHistone methylationHistone lysineLysine demethylationEpigenetic mechanismsDNA repairArginine residuesHuman diseasesMore subfamiliesMolecule inhibitorsLysine modificationDemethylasesMethylationTreatment of cancerEnzymeMammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes promote tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer
de Miguel F, Gentile C, Feng W, Silva S, Sankar A, Exposito F, Cai W, Melnick M, Robles-Oteiza C, Hinkley M, Tsai J, Hartley A, Wei J, Wurtz A, Li F, Toki M, Rimm D, Homer R, Wilen C, Xiao A, Qi J, Yan Q, Nguyen D, Jänne P, Kadoch C, Politi K. Mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes promote tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer. Cancer Cell 2023, 41: 1516-1534.e9. PMID: 37541244, PMCID: PMC10957226, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.07.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMammalian SWI/SNF chromatinSWI/SNF chromatinMSWI/SNF complexesGenome-wide localizationGene regulatory signaturesNon-genetic mechanismsEpithelial cell differentiationEGFR-mutant cellsChromatin accessibilitySNF complexCellular programsRegulatory signaturesTKI-resistant lung cancerGene targetsKinase inhibitor resistanceCell differentiationMesenchymal transitionTKI resistancePharmacologic disruptionTyrosine kinase inhibitor resistanceCell proliferationChromatinInhibitor resistanceEGFR-mutant lungKinase inhibitorsPharmacological disruption of mSWI/SNF complex activity restricts SARS-CoV-2 infection
Wei J, Patil A, Collings C, Alfajaro M, Liang Y, Cai W, Strine M, Filler R, DeWeirdt P, Hanna R, Menasche B, Ökten A, Peña-Hernández M, Klein J, McNamara A, Rosales R, McGovern B, Luis Rodriguez M, García-Sastre A, White K, Qin Y, Doench J, Yan Q, Iwasaki A, Zwaka T, Qi J, Kadoch C, Wilen C. Pharmacological disruption of mSWI/SNF complex activity restricts SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Genetics 2023, 55: 471-483. PMID: 36894709, PMCID: PMC10011139, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01307-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMSWI/SNF complexesAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionHost-directed therapeutic targetSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSARS-CoV-2 infectionSWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatinSARS-CoV-2 susceptibilityNon-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatinCoronavirus 2 infectionEnzyme 2 (ACE2) expressionSARS-CoV-2 variantsHuman cell typesPrimary human cell typesAirway epithelial cellsDrug-resistant variantsNew drug targetsChromatin accessibilitySNF complexACE2 locusACE2 expressionFactor complexHost determinantsTherapeutic targetConfer resistance
2022
Integrative molecular and clinical profiling of acral melanoma links focal amplification of 22q11.21 to metastasis
Farshidfar F, Rhrissorrakrai K, Levovitz C, Peng C, Knight J, Bacchiocchi A, Su J, Yin M, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Clune J, Olino K, Parida L, Nikolaus J, Zhang M, Zhao S, Wang Y, Huang G, Wan M, Li X, Cao J, Yan Q, Chen X, Newman AM, Halaban R. Integrative molecular and clinical profiling of acral melanoma links focal amplification of 22q11.21 to metastasis. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 898. PMID: 35197475, PMCID: PMC8866401, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28566-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcral melanomaMelanoma subtypesClinical profilingCommon melanoma subtypeImmune checkpoint blockadeCheckpoint blockadeInferior survivalMelanoma cell linesKey molecular driversPoor prognosisTherapeutic targetAnchorage-independent growthImmunomodulatory genesNon-white individualsHotspot mutationsMolecular driversCandidate oncogeneMelanomaApoptotic cell deathLZTR1Focal amplificationTumor promoterCell linesMetastasisTumor suppressor
2020
Genome-wide CRISPR Screens Reveal Host Factors Critical for SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Wei J, Alfajaro MM, DeWeirdt PC, Hanna RE, Lu-Culligan WJ, Cai WL, Strine MS, Zhang SM, Graziano VR, Schmitz CO, Chen JS, Mankowski MC, Filler RB, Ravindra NG, Gasque V, de Miguel FJ, Patil A, Chen H, Oguntuyo KY, Abriola L, Surovtseva YV, Orchard RC, Lee B, Lindenbach BD, Politi K, van Dijk D, Kadoch C, Simon MD, Yan Q, Doench JG, Wilen CB. Genome-wide CRISPR Screens Reveal Host Factors Critical for SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Cell 2020, 184: 76-91.e13. PMID: 33147444, PMCID: PMC7574718, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsCell LineChlorocebus aethiopsClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsCoronavirusCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19Gene Knockout TechniquesGene Regulatory NetworksGenome-Wide Association StudyHEK293 CellsHMGB1 ProteinHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansSARS-CoV-2Vero CellsVirus InternalizationConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionSARS-CoV-2Vesicular stomatitis virusGenome-wide CRISPR screenSWI/SNF chromatinSARS-CoV-2 host factorsAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionTherapeutic targetHost factorsCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesisSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionCRISPR screensHost genesGene productsMiddle East respiratory syndrome CoVCoronavirus 2 infectionGenetic hitsHuman cellsSARS-CoV-2 spikeNovel therapeutic targetPotential therapeutic targetVero E6 cellsSARS-CoV-1Small molecule antagonists