Sumin Kang, PhD

Research Program

Cell and Molecular Biology
Phone Number

404-778-1880
Email Address

smkang@emory.edu

Biography

Sumin Kang, PhD, is a professor and Division Director of Basic and Translational Science in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Kang is a member of the Cell and Molecular Biology Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Education

Dr. Kang obtained her PhD from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. She completed her postdoctoral training at Emory University School of Medicine before joining the faculty in 2009.

Titles & Roles

Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology

Emory University School of Medicine
Division Director of Basic and Translational Science, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology

Emory University School of Medicine

Research

Dr. Kang's laboratory focuses on phosphor-proteomics based studies to elucidate signaling mechanisms underlying protein kinase or metabolic enzyme-dependent oncogenesis and tumor metastasis; translational and preclinical studies using in vitro cell assays and in vivo mouse models of tumors and metastases to evaluate small molecule inhibitors to treat human cancers; and studies to elucidate the role of post-translational modifications of protein kinases and metabolic enzymes in pathogenesis and disease progression of human cancers including leukemia and solid tumors.

Grants

View Grants

Grant Number	Title
1R01CA266613-01	Decoding and targeting saccharopine pathway in cancer metastasis
5R01CA266613-02	Decoding and targeting saccharopine pathway in cancer metastasis
5R01CA266613-03	Decoding and targeting saccharopine pathway in cancer metastasis
5T32CA272392-02	Graduate Program in Cancer Biology Training at Emory University

Publications

Dr. Kang has extensive publications in major peer-reviewed journals such as Cancer Cell, Molecular Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Blood.

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Succinyl-CoA ligase ADP-forming subunit beta promotes stress granule assembly to regulate redox and drive cancer metastasis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America	AC Boese, J Kang, JS Hwang, J Kim, K Eun, CM Malin, KR Magliocca, C Pan, L Jin, S Kang	06/06/2023
EGFR-phosphorylated GDH1 harmonizes with RSK2 to drive CREB activation and tumor metastasis in EGFR-activated lung cancer. Cell reports	J Kang, J Chun, JS Hwang, C Pan, J Li, AC Boese, I Young, CM Malin, Y Kang, DL Gibbons, G Sica, H Fu, SS Ramalingam, L Jin, S Kang	12/13/2022
Metabolic inhibitor screening identifies dihydrofolate reductase as an inducer of the tumor immune escape mediator CD24. Immunomedicine	AC Boese, JS Hwang, I Young, CM Malin, V Avalos, J Kang, S Kang	12/01/2022
Cisplatin-mediated activation of glucocorticoid receptor induces platinum resistance via MAST1. Nature communications	C Pan, J Kang, JS Hwang, J Li, AC Boese, X Wang, L Yang, TJ Boggon, GZ Chen, NF Saba, DM Shin, KR Magliocca, L Jin, S Kang	08/16/2021
Mitochondrial metabolism-mediated redox regulation in cancer progression. Redox biology	AC Boese, S Kang	06/01/2021
DGKA Provides Platinum Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Through Activation of c-JUN-WEE1 Signaling. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research	J Li, C Pan, AC Boese, J Kang, AD Umano, KR Magliocca, W Yang, Y Zhang, S Lonial, L Jin, S Kang	07/15/2020
New Approaches to SCLC Therapy: From the Laboratory to the Clinic. Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer	JT Poirier, J George, TK Owonikoko, A Berns, E Brambilla, LA Byers, D Carbone, HJ Chen, CL Christensen, C Dive, AF Farago, R Govindan, C Hann, MD Hellmann, L Horn, JE Johnson, YS Ju, S Kang, M Krasnow, J Lee, SH Lee, J Lehman, B Lok, C Lovly, D MacPherson, D McFadden, J Minna, M Oser, K Park, KS Park, Y Pommier, V Quaranta, N Ready, J Sage, G Scagliotti, ML Sos, KD Sutherland, WD Travis, CR Vakoc, SJ Wait, I Wistuba, KK Wong, H Zhang, J Daigneault, J Wiens, CM Rudin, TG Oliver	04/01/2020
Tumor Progression of Breast Cancer during Hyperinsulinemic Obesity. Trends in molecular medicine	AC Boese, S Kang	04/01/2020
Hsp90B enhances MAST1-mediated cisplatin resistance by protecting MAST1 from proteosomal degradation. The Journal of clinical investigation	C Pan, J Chun, D Li, AC Boese, J Li, J Kang, A Umano, Y Jiang, L Song, KR Magliocca, ZG Chen, NF Saba, DM Shin, TK Owonikoko, S Lonial, L Jin, S Kang	10/01/2019
Inositol-triphosphate 3-kinase B confers cisplatin resistance by regulating NOX4-dependent redox balance. The Journal of clinical investigation	C Pan, L Jin, X Wang, Y Li, J Chun, AC Boese, D Li, HB Kang, G Zhang, L Zhou, GZ Chen, NF Saba, DM Shin, KR Magliocca, TK Owonikoko, H Mao, S Lonial, S Kang	05/13/2019
Critical role of ASCT2-mediated amino acid metabolism in promoting leukaemia development and progression. Nature metabolism	F Ni, WM Yu, Z Li, DK Graham, L Jin, S Kang, MR Rossi, S Li, HE Broxmeyer, CK Qu	03/01/2019
Mitochondrial oxidation of the carbohydrate fuel is required for neural precursor/stem cell function and postnatal cerebellar development. Science advances	H Zheng, WM Yu, J Shen, S Kang, D Hambardzumyan, JY Li, Y Shen, AM Kenney, J Chen, CK Qu	10/01/2018
MAST1 Drives Cisplatin Resistance in Human Cancers by Rewiring cRaf-Independent MEK Activation. Cancer cell	L Jin, J Chun, C Pan, D Li, R Lin, GN Alesi, X Wang, HB Kang, L Song, D Wang, G Zhang, J Fan, TJ Boggon, L Zhou, J Kowalski, CK Qu, CE Steuer, GZ Chen, NF Saba, LH Boise, TK Owonikoko, FR Khuri, KR Magliocca, DM Shin, S Lonial, S Kang	08/13/2018
A ERK/RSK-mediated negative feedback loop regulates M-CSF-evoked PI3K/AKT activation in macrophages. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology	L Wang, C Iorio, K Yan, H Yang, S Takeshita, S Kang, BG Neel, W Yang	02/01/2018
The PLAG1-GDH1 Axis Promotes Anoikis Resistance and Tumor Metastasis through CamKK2-AMPK Signaling in LKB1-Deficient Lung Cancer. Molecular cell	L Jin, J Chun, C Pan, A Kumar, G Zhang, Y Ha, D Li, GN Alesi, Y Kang, L Zhou, WM Yu, KR Magliocca, FR Khuri, CK Qu, C Metallo, TK Owonikoko, S Kang	01/04/2018
Phosphorylation-mediated activation of LDHA promotes cancer cell invasion and tumour metastasis. Oncogene	L Jin, J Chun, C Pan, GN Alesi, D Li, KR Magliocca, Y Kang, ZG Chen, DM Shin, FR Khuri, J Fan, S Kang	07/06/2017
Inhibition of delta-secretase improves cognitive functions in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Nature communications	Z Zhang, O Obianyo, E Dall, Y Du, H Fu, X Liu, SS Kang, M Song, SP Yu, C Cabrele, M Schubert, X Li, JZ Wang, H Brandstetter, K Ye	03/27/2017
Tetrameric Acetyl-CoA Acetyltransferase 1 Is Important for Tumor Growth. Molecular cell	J Fan, R Lin, S Xia, D Chen, SE Elf, S Liu, Y Pan, H Xu, Z Qian, M Wang, C Shan, L Zhou, QY Lei, Y Li, H Mao, BH Lee, J Sudderth, RJ DeBerardinis, G Zhang, T Owonikoko, M Gaddh, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, S Kang, PW Doetsch, S Lonial, TJ Boggon, WJ Curran, J Chen	12/01/2016
RSK2 signals through stathmin to promote microtubule dynamics and tumor metastasis. Oncogene	GN Alesi, L Jin, D Li, KR Magliocca, Y Kang, ZG Chen, DM Shin, FR Khuri, S Kang	10/13/2016
6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase links oxidative PPP, lipogenesis and tumour growth by inhibiting LKB1-AMPK signalling. Nature cell biology	R Lin, S Elf, C Shan, HB Kang, Q Ji, L Zhou, T Hitosugi, L Zhang, S Zhang, JH Seo, J Xie, M Tucker, TL Gu, J Sudderth, L Jiang, M Mitsche, RJ DeBerardinis, S Wu, Y Li, H Mao, PR Chen, D Wang, GZ Chen, SJ Hurwitz, S Lonial, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, BH Lee, Q Lei, DJ Brat, K Ye, TJ Boggon, C He, S Kang, J Fan, J Chen	11/01/2015
Metabolic Rewiring by Oncogenic BRAF V600E Links Ketogenesis Pathway to BRAF-MEK1 Signaling. Molecular cell	HB Kang, J Fan, R Lin, S Elf, Q Ji, L Zhao, L Jin, JH Seo, C Shan, JL Arbiser, C Cohen, D Brat, HM Miziorko, E Kim, O Abdel-Wahab, T Merghoub, S Fröhling, C Scholl, P Tamayo, DA Barbie, L Zhou, BP Pollack, K Fisher, RR Kudchadkar, DH Lawson, G Sica, M Rossi, S Lonial, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, BH Lee, TJ Boggon, C He, S Kang, J Chen	08/06/2015
Glutamate dehydrogenase 1 signals through antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 1 to regulate redox homeostasis and tumor growth. Cancer cell	L Jin, D Li, GN Alesi, J Fan, HB Kang, Z Lu, TJ Boggon, P Jin, H Yi, ER Wright, D Duong, NT Seyfried, R Egnatchik, RJ DeBerardinis, KR Magliocca, C He, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, DM Shin, FR Khuri, S Kang	02/09/2015
Tyr-301 phosphorylation inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase by blocking substrate binding and promotes the Warburg effect. The Journal of biological chemistry	J Fan, HB Kang, C Shan, S Elf, R Lin, J Xie, TL Gu, M Aguiar, S Lonning, TW Chung, M Arellano, HJ Khoury, DM Shin, FR Khuri, TJ Boggon, S Kang, J Chen	09/19/2014
Lysine acetylation activates 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase to promote tumor growth. Molecular cell	C Shan, S Elf, Q Ji, HB Kang, L Zhou, T Hitosugi, L Jin, R Lin, L Zhang, JH Seo, J Xie, M Tucker, TL Gu, J Sudderth, L Jiang, RJ DeBerardinis, S Wu, Y Li, H Mao, PR Chen, D Wang, GZ Chen, S Lonial, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, BH Lee, DJ Brat, K Ye, TJ Boggon, C He, S Kang, J Fan, J Chen	08/21/2014
Tyr phosphorylation of PDP1 toggles recruitment between ACAT1 and SIRT3 to regulate the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Molecular cell	J Fan, C Shan, HB Kang, S Elf, J Xie, M Tucker, TL Gu, M Aguiar, S Lonning, H Chen, M Mohammadi, LM Britton, BA Garcia, M Alečković, Y Kang, S Kaluz, N Devi, EG Van Meir, T Hitosugi, JH Seo, S Lonial, M Gaddh, M Arellano, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, TJ Boggon, S Kang, J Chen	02/20/2014
The prometastatic ribosomal S6 kinase 2-cAMP response element-binding protein (RSK2-CREB) signaling pathway up-regulates the actin-binding protein fascin-1 to promote tumor metastasis. The Journal of biological chemistry	D Li, L Jin, GN Alesi, YM Kim, J Fan, JH Seo, D Wang, M Tucker, TL Gu, BH Lee, J Taunton, KR Magliocca, ZG Chen, DM Shin, FR Khuri, S Kang	11/08/2013
p90 RSK2 mediates antianoikis signals by both transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Molecular and cellular biology	L Jin, D Li, JS Lee, S Elf, GN Alesi, J Fan, HB Kang, D Wang, H Fu, J Taunton, TJ Boggon, M Tucker, TL Gu, ZG Chen, DM Shin, FR Khuri, S Kang	07/01/2013
Tyr26 phosphorylation of PGAM1 provides a metabolic advantage to tumours by stabilizing the active conformation. Nature communications	T Hitosugi, L Zhou, J Fan, S Elf, L Zhang, J Xie, Y Wang, TL Gu, M Alečković, G LeRoy, Y Kang, HB Kang, JH Seo, C Shan, P Jin, W Gong, S Lonial, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, GZ Chen, DM Shin, FR Khuri, TJ Boggon, S Kang, C He, J Chen	01/01/2013
Phosphoglycerate mutase 1 coordinates glycolysis and biosynthesis to promote tumor growth. Cancer cell	T Hitosugi, L Zhou, S Elf, J Fan, HB Kang, JH Seo, C Shan, Q Dai, L Zhang, J Xie, TL Gu, P Jin, M Alečković, G LeRoy, Y Kang, JA Sudderth, RJ DeBerardinis, CH Luan, GZ Chen, S Muller, DM Shin, TK Owonikoko, S Lonial, ML Arellano, HJ Khoury, FR Khuri, BH Lee, K Ye, TJ Boggon, S Kang, C He, J Chen	11/13/2012
Tyrosine phosphorylation of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 is important for cancer metabolism. Molecular cell	T Hitosugi, J Fan, TW Chung, K Lythgoe, X Wang, J Xie, Q Ge, TL Gu, RD Polakiewicz, JL Roesel, GZ Chen, TJ Boggon, S Lonial, H Fu, FR Khuri, S Kang, J Chen	12/23/2011
Tyrosine phosphorylation of lactate dehydrogenase A is important for NADH/NAD(+) redox homeostasis in cancer cells. Molecular and cellular biology	J Fan, T Hitosugi, TW Chung, J Xie, Q Ge, TL Gu, RD Polakiewicz, GZ Chen, TJ Boggon, S Lonial, FR Khuri, S Kang, J Chen	12/01/2011
Targeting RSK2 in myeloid leukemia: right for FLT3 but wrong for BCR-ABL. Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)	BH Lee, S Kang	11/01/2011
p90RSK2 is essential for FLT3-ITD- but dispensable for BCR-ABL-induced myeloid leukemia. Blood	S Elf, D Blevins, L Jin, TW Chung, IR Williams, BH Lee, JX Lin, WJ Leonard, J Taunton, HJ Khoury, S Kang	06/23/2011
Constitutively active FGFR3 with Lys650Glu mutation enhances bortezomib sensitivity in plasma cell malignancy. Anticancer research	M Otsuka, M Mizuki, J Fujita, S Kang, Y Kanakura	01/01/2011
Targeting RSK2 in human malignancies. Expert opinion on therapeutic targets	S Kang, J Chen	01/01/2011
ERK/ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) signaling positively regulates death receptor 5 expression through co-activation of CHOP and Elk1. The Journal of biological chemistry	YT Oh, X Liu, P Yue, S Kang, J Chen, J Taunton, FR Khuri, SY Sun	12/31/2010
p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 promotes invasion and metastasis of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. The Journal of clinical investigation	S Kang, S Elf, K Lythgoe, T Hitosugi, J Taunton, W Zhou, L Xiong, D Wang, S Muller, S Fan, SY Sun, AI Marcus, TL Gu, RD Polakiewicz, ZG Chen, FR Khuri, DM Shin, J Chen	04/01/2010
Tyrosine phosphorylation inhibits PKM2 to promote the Warburg effect and tumor growth. Science signaling	T Hitosugi, S Kang, MG Vander Heiden, TW Chung, S Elf, K Lythgoe, S Dong, S Lonial, X Wang, GZ Chen, J Xie, TL Gu, RD Polakiewicz, JL Roesel, TJ Boggon, FR Khuri, DG Gilliland, LC Cantley, J Kaufman, J Chen	11/17/2009
NGF inhibits human leukemia proliferation by downregulating cyclin A1 expression through promoting acinus/CtBP2 association. Oncogene	CB Chan, X Liu, SW Jang, SI Hsu, I Williams, S Kang, J Chen, K Ye	10/29/2009
Targeting 14-3-3 sensitizes native and mutant BCR-ABL to inhibition with U0126, rapamycin and Bcl-2 inhibitor GX15-070. Leukemia	S Dong, S Kang, S Lonial, HJ Khoury, J Viallet, J Chen	03/01/2008
Epidermal growth factor stimulates RSK2 activation through activation of the MEK/ERK pathway and src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of RSK2 at Tyr-529. The Journal of biological chemistry	S Kang, S Dong, A Guo, H Ruan, S Lonial, HJ Khoury, TL Gu, J Chen	02/22/2008
Deposits of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein in granular corneal dystrophy type II after LASIK. Cornea	TI Kim, MI Roh, HE Grossniklaus, SJ Kang, SM Hamilton, DF Schorderet, WB Lee, EK Kim	01/01/2008
FGFR3 activates RSK2 to mediate hematopoietic transformation through tyrosine phosphorylation of RSK2 and activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Cancer cell	S Kang, S Dong, TL Gu, A Guo, MS Cohen, S Lonial, HJ Khoury, D Fabbro, DG Gilliland, PL Bergsagel, J Taunton, RD Polakiewicz, J Chen	09/01/2007
14-3-3 Integrates prosurvival signals mediated by the AKT and MAPK pathways in ZNF198-FGFR1-transformed hematopoietic cells. Blood	S Dong, S Kang, TL Gu, S Kardar, H Fu, S Lonial, HJ Khoury, F Khuri, J Chen	07/01/2007

Awards

Dr. Kang is supported with competitive peer-reviewed federal grants including NIH R01 for transcription-dependent and independent signaling of RSK2 in cancer. She has received various prestigious awards including American Cancer Society Basic Research Scholar Award, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Special Fellow Award, Georgia Cancer Coalition Cancer Research Award and Robbins Scholar Award.