Dong Qianggang, Ph.D E-mail:：qgdong@shsci.org Tel： 86-21-64437181 Fax：86-21-64046615

The research program in my laboratory is focused on the cancer stem cells and the molecular diagnosis of malignant tumors including lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers. During the past decade, we developed a novel assay for detection of blood circulating tumor cells (CTC). Using this assay, the operable lung cancer patients with CTC were found to have a significantly worse prognosis in comparison with those without CTC. In addition, a serum circulating DNA-based assay was also developed for screening mutations in the gene encoding for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In advanced lung cancer patients, especially female and adenocarcinoma histology, the tumor cells with EGFR mutations were highly responsive to Gefitinib, a specific EGFR inhibitor. An improved prognosis was observed in these patients treated with the drug.

Currently, the cancer stem cells (CSC) are well recognized as the initiating cells of malignant tumors. CSC is the cell within a tumor that possesses the capacity to self-renew and to cause the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. CSC originates from the malignant transformation of somatic stem/progenitor cells in the given organ. These primitive, undifferentiated cancer cells exhibited several stemness genes for self-renewal. Among which, the Bmi-1 proto-oncogene received much interesting. In breast and prostate cancers, the expression of the Bmi-1-regulated genes was found to be resistant to chemotherapy, easily metastasis and worse in prognosis. We recently identified a cell subpopulation from lung adenocarcinoma that has properties with the bronchioalveolar stem cells and the embryonic stem (ES) cells. These lung cancer stem cells are highly tumorigenic in NOD-SCID mice and express some ES-related surface markers such as CD24 and CD221. Accordingly, a system biologic assay is initiating to screen for their unique target genes useful for diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile, the search for CSC in breast and pancreatic cancers is also on the way.

The newcomers who are interested in this research field are more than welcome.