Wei Zhou, PhD

Research Program

Cell and Molecular Biology
Phone Number

404-778-2134
Email Address

wzhou2@emory.edu

Biography

Wei Zhou, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, having joined the faculty in 2001. Dr. Zhou serves as co-leader of the Cell and Molecular Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. He is a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Research Scholar and American Cancer Society Research Scholar.

Education

Dr. Zhou obtained his PhD from Emory University and did his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow.

Titles & Roles

Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology

Emory University School of Medicine
Co-Leader, Cell and Molecular Biology Research Program

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Professional Memberships

Dr. Zhou holds professional memberships with the American Association for Cancer Research and American Association for Advancement of Science.

Research

Dr. Zhou's laboratory studies the functions of novel tumor suppressor genes in the context of specific human cancers. His group recently discovered a tumor suppressor gene called Sox7 that is inactivated in both colon and prostate tumors, thus allowing the aberrant activation of WNT signaling. However, the gene's protein product, Sox7, acts as a regulator of a subset of genes that are specifically expressed in prostate tumors, including the androgen-responsive genes. Dr. Zhou's team is currently investigating the specific effect of Sox7 inactivation in prostate cancers.

In a related area of interest, Dr. Zhou is also intrigued by the molecular basis for the tumor-type specific inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. A recent area of focus is the LKB1 tumor suppressor, which is preferentially inactivated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The group discovered a potential mechanism that could explain the lack of LKB1 mutations in other major tumor types. In addition, as each mechanism is studied, the opportunities for developing new and better targeted cancer therapies increase, ultimately providing benefits to cancer patients. For example, Dr. Zhou is currently developing a unique therapeutic approach for NSCLC tumors that lack the LKB1 function.

Grants

View Grants

Grant Number	Title
1R01CA284648-01	Targeting LKB1-null lung adenocarcinoma with innate immune system
5R01CA284648-02	Targeting LKB1-null lung adenocarcinoma with innate immune system

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Uncovering the rewired IAP-JAK regulatory axis as an immune-dependent vulnerability of LKB1-mutant lung cancer. Nature communications	C Shu, J Li, J Rui, D Fan, Q Niu, R Bai, D Cicka, S Doyle, A Wahafu, X Zheng, Y Du, AA Ivanov, DB Doxie, KM Dhodapkar, J Carlisle, T Owonikoko, G Sica, Y Liu, S Ramalingam, MV Dhodapkar, W Zhou, X Mo, H Fu	03/08/2025
Live-Cell Invasive Phenotyping Uncovers ALK2 as a Therapeutic Target in LKB1-Mutant Lung Cancer. Cancer research	J Koo, CS Seong, RE Parker, A Herrera, B Dwivedi, RA Arthur, AR Dinasarapu, HR Johnston, H Claussen, C Tucker-Burden, SS Ramalingam, H Fu, W Zhou, AI Marcus, M Gilbert-Ross	11/15/2024
Interruption of KLF5 acetylation promotes PTEN-deficient prostate cancer progression by reprogramming cancer-associated fibroblasts. The Journal of clinical investigation	B Zhang, M Liu, F Mai, X Li, W Wang, Q Huang, X Du, W Ding, Y Li, BG Barwick, JJ Ni, AO Osunkoya, Y Chen, W Zhou, S Xia, JT Dong	05/23/2024
Live-cell invasive phenotyping uncovers the ALK2/BMP6 iron homeostasis pathway as a therapeutic vulnerability in LKB1-mutant lung cancer. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology	J Koo, CS Seong, RE Parker, B Dwivedi, RA Arthur, AR Dinasarapu, HR Johnston, H Claussen, C Tucker-Burden, SS Ramalingam, H Fu, W Zhou, AI Marcus, M Gilbert-Ross	06/14/2023
Loss of the endocytic tumor suppressor HD-PTP phenocopies LKB1 and promotes RAS-driven oncogenesis. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology	CS Seong, C Huang, AC Boese, Y Hou, J Koo, JK Mouw, M Rupji, G Joseph, HR Johnston, H Claussen, JM Switchenko, M Behera, M Churchman, JM Kolesar, SM Arnold, K Kerrigan, W Akerley, H Colman, MA Johns, C Arciero, W Zhou, AI Marcus, SS Ramalingam, H Fu, M Gilbert-Ross	01/27/2023
Interruption of Klf5 acetylation in basal progenitor cells promotes luminal commitment by activating Notch signaling. Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao	B Zhang, S Xia, M Liu, X Li, S Shuai, W Tao, Y Li, JJ Ni, W Zhou, L Liao, J Xu, JT Dong	06/01/2022
Systematic discovery of mutation-directed neo-protein-protein interactions in cancer. Cell	X Mo, Q Niu, AA Ivanov, YH Tsang, C Tang, C Shu, Q Li, K Qian, A Wahafu, SP Doyle, D Cicka, X Yang, D Fan, MA Reyna, LAD Cooper, CS Moreno, W Zhou, TK Owonikoko, S Lonial, FR Khuri, Y Du, SS Ramalingam, GB Mills, H Fu	05/26/2022
In-utero exposure to zidovudine-containing antiretroviral therapy and clonal hematopoiesis in HIV-exposed uninfected newborns. AIDS (London, England)	SH Lin, Y Wang, SW Hartley, DM Karyadi, OW Lee, B Zhu, W Zhou, DW Brown, E Beilstein-Wedel, R Hazra, D Kacanek, EG Chadwick, CJ Marsit, MC Poirier, SS Brummel, SJ Chanock, EA Engels, MJ Machiela	08/01/2021
Corrigendum to "Inhibition of IGF1R enhances 2-deoxyglucose in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer" [Lung Cancer 123 (2018) 36-43]. Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)	F Liu, Y Liu, X Liu, K Mao, D Zhong, AI Marcus, FR Khuri, SY Sun, Y He, W Zhou	04/01/2021
Corrigendum to "Re-expression of LKB1 in LKB1-mutant EKVX cells leads to resistance to paclitaxel through the up-regulation of MDR1 expression" [Lung Cancer 88/2 (2015) 131-138]. Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)	K Mao, F Liu, X Liu, FR Khuri, AI Marcus, M Li, W Zhou	04/01/2021
Acetylation of KLF5 maintains EMT and tumorigenicity to cause chemoresistant bone metastasis in prostate cancer. Nature communications	B Zhang, Y Li, Q Wu, L Xie, B Barwick, C Fu, X Li, D Wu, S Xia, J Chen, WP Qian, L Yang, AO Osunkoya, L Boise, PM Vertino, Y Zhao, M Li, HR Chen, J Kowalski, O Kucuk, W Zhou, JT Dong	03/17/2021
Leflunomide Suppresses the Growth of LKB1-Inactivated Tumors in the Immune-Competent Host and Attenuates Distant Cancer Metastasis. Molecular cancer therapeutics	R Jin, B Liu, X Liu, Y Fan, W Peng, C Huang, A Marcus, G Sica, M Gilbert-Ross, Y Liu, W Zhou	02/01/2021
Correction: Oncogenic Ras and B-Raf proteins positively regulate death receptor 5 expression through co-activation of ERK and JNK signaling. The Journal of biological chemistry	YT Oh, P Yue, W Zhou, JM Balko, EP Black, TK Owonikoko, FR Khuri, SY Sun	06/26/2020
Correction to: Small Molecule KRAS Agonist for Mutant KRAS Cancer Therapy. Molecular cancer	K Xu, D Park, AT Magis, J Zhang, W Zhou, GL Sica, SS Ramalingam, WJ Curran, X Deng	05/20/2020
Subpopulation targeting of pyruvate dehydrogenase and GLUT1 decouples metabolic heterogeneity during collective cancer cell invasion. Nature communications	R Commander, C Wei, A Sharma, JK Mouw, LJ Burton, E Summerbell, D Mahboubi, RJ Peterson, J Konen, W Zhou, Y Du, H Fu, M Shanmugam, AI Marcus	03/24/2020
Small Molecule KRAS Agonist for Mutant KRAS Cancer Therapy. Molecular cancer	K Xu, D Park, AT Magis, J Zhang, W Zhou, GL Sica, SS Ramalingam, WJ Curran, X Deng	04/10/2019
Sox7 negatively regulates prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression through PSMA-enhancer. The Prostate	W Peng, L Guo, R Tang, X Liu, R Jin, JT Dong, CG Xing, W Zhou	03/01/2019
Compositional complexity of rods and rings. Molecular biology of the cell	CR Schiavon, ME Griffin, M Pirozzi, R Parashuraman, W Zhou, HA Jinnah, D Reines, RA Kahn	09/15/2018
Inhibition of IGF1R enhances 2-deoxyglucose in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)	F Liu, Y Liu, X Liu, K Mao, D Zhong, AI Marcus, FR Khuri, SY Sun, Y He, W Zhou	09/01/2018
Phenformin enhances the therapeutic effect of selumetinib in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer irrespective of LKB1 status. Oncotarget	J Zhang, S Nannapaneni, D Wang, F Liu, X Wang, R Jin, X Liu, MA Rahman, X Peng, G Qian, ZG Chen, KK Wong, FR Khuri, W Zhou, DM Shin	08/29/2017
Modulation of Bax and mTOR for Cancer Therapeutics. Cancer research	R Li, C Ding, J Zhang, M Xie, D Park, Y Ding, G Chen, G Zhang, M Gilbert-Ross, W Zhou, AI Marcus, SY Sun, ZG Chen, GL Sica, SS Ramalingam, AT Magis, H Fu, FR Khuri, WJ Curran, TK Owonikoko, DM Shin, J Zhou, X Deng	06/01/2017
Image-guided genomics of phenotypically heterogeneous populations reveals vascular signalling during symbiotic collective cancer invasion. Nature communications	J Konen, E Summerbell, B Dwivedi, K Galior, Y Hou, L Rusnak, A Chen, J Saltz, W Zhou, LH Boise, P Vertino, L Cooper, K Salaita, J Kowalski, AI Marcus	05/12/2017
Corrigendum: The OncoPPi network of cancer-focused protein-protein interactions to inform biological insights and therapeutic strategies. Nature communications	Z Li, AA Ivanov, R Su, V Gonzalez-Pecchi, Q Qi, S Liu, P Webber, E McMillan, L Rusnak, C Pham, X Chen, X Mo, B Revennaugh, W Zhou, A Marcus, S Harati, X Chen, MA Johns, MA White, CS Moreno, LAD Cooper, Y Du, FR Khuri, H Fu	04/18/2017
Targeting adhesion signaling in KRAS, LKB1 mutant lung adenocarcinoma. JCI insight	M Gilbert-Ross, J Konen, J Koo, J Shupe, BS Robinson, WG Wiles, C Huang, WD Martin, M Behera, GH Smith, CE Hill, MR Rossi, GL Sica, M Rupji, Z Chen, J Kowalski, AL Kasinski, SS Ramalingam, H Fu, FR Khuri, W Zhou, AI Marcus	03/09/2017
The OncoPPi network of cancer-focused protein-protein interactions to inform biological insights and therapeutic strategies. Nature communications	Z Li, AA Ivanov, R Su, V Gonzalez-Pecchi, Q Qi, S Liu, P Webber, E McMillan, L Rusnak, C Pham, X Chen, X Mo, B Revennaugh, W Zhou, A Marcus, S Harati, X Chen, MA Johns, MA White, C Moreno, LA Cooper, Y Du, FR Khuri, H Fu	02/16/2017
TIF-IA: An oncogenic target of pre-ribosomal RNA synthesis. Biochimica et biophysica acta	R Jin, W Zhou	12/01/2016
Expression of Death Receptor 4 Is Positively Regulated by MEK/ERK/AP-1 Signaling and Suppressed upon MEK Inhibition. The Journal of biological chemistry	W Yao, YT Oh, J Deng, P Yue, L Deng, H Huang, W Zhou, SY Sun	10/07/2016
LKB1 kinase-dependent and -independent defects disrupt polarity and adhesion signaling to drive collagen remodeling during invasion. Molecular biology of the cell	J Konen, S Wilkinson, B Lee, H Fu, W Zhou, Y Jiang, AI Marcus	04/01/2016
LKB1 promotes cell survival by modulating TIF-IA-mediated pre-ribosomal RNA synthesis under uridine downregulated conditions. Oncotarget	F Liu, R Jin, X Liu, H Huang, SC Wilkinson, D Zhong, FR Khuri, H Fu, A Marcus, Y He, W Zhou	01/19/2016
Fyn-phosphorylated PIKE-A binds and inhibits AMPK signaling, blocking its tumor suppressive activity. Cell death and differentiation	S Zhang, Q Qi, CB Chan, W Zhou, J Chen, HR Luo, C Appin, DJ Brat, K Ye	01/01/2016
2-Deoxyglucose Suppresses ERK Phosphorylation in LKB1 and Ras Wild-Type Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. PloS one	L Sun, X Liu, H Fu, W Zhou, D Zhong	01/01/2016
Re-expression of LKB1 in LKB1-mutant EKVX cells leads to resistance to paclitaxel through the up-regulation of MDR1 expression. Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)	K Mao, F Liu, X Liu, FR Khuri, AI Marcus, M Li, W Zhou	05/01/2015
KLF5 inhibits angiogenesis in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer by attenuating AKT activation and subsequent HIF1α accumulation. Molecular cancer	X Ci, C Xing, B Zhang, Z Zhang, JJ Ni, W Zhou, JT Dong	04/21/2015
RhoA, a novel tumor suppressor or oncogene as a therapeutic target? Genes & diseases	M Gilbert-Ross, AI Marcus, W Zhou	03/01/2015
LKB1 Tumor Suppressor: Therapeutic Opportunities Knock when LKB1 Is Inactivated. Genes & diseases	W Zhou, J Zhang, AI Marcus	09/01/2014
Global transcriptome analysis of formalin-fixed prostate cancer specimens identifies biomarkers of disease recurrence. Cancer research	Q Long, J Xu, AO Osunkoya, S Sannigrahi, BA Johnson, W Zhou, T Gillespie, JY Park, RK Nam, L Sugar, A Stanimirovic, AK Seth, JA Petros, CS Moreno	06/15/2014
Dysregulation of mTOR activity through LKB1 inactivation. Chinese journal of cancer	W Zhou, AI Marcus, PM Vertino	08/01/2013
LKB1 represses focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling via a FAK-LKB1 complex to regulate FAK site maturation and directional persistence. The Journal of biological chemistry	ER Kline, J Shupe, M Gilbert-Ross, W Zhou, AI Marcus	06/14/2013
STE20-related kinase adaptor protein α (STRADα) regulates cell polarity and invasion through PAK1 signaling in LKB1-null cells. The Journal of biological chemistry	CM Eggers, ER Kline, D Zhong, W Zhou, AI Marcus	05/25/2012
Oncogenic Ras and B-Raf proteins positively regulate death receptor 5 expression through co-activation of ERK and JNK signaling. The Journal of biological chemistry	YT Oh, P Yue, W Zhou, JM Balko, EP Black, TK Owonikoko, FR Khuri, SY Sun	01/02/2012
Protein-coding and microRNA biomarkers of recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy. The American journal of pathology	Q Long, BA Johnson, AO Osunkoya, YH Lai, W Zhou, M Abramovitz, M Xia, MB Bouzyk, RK Nam, L Sugar, A Stanimirovic, DJ Williams, BR Leyland-Jones, AK Seth, JA Petros, CS Moreno	07/01/2011
Leptin pro-angiogenic signature in breast cancer is linked to IL-1 signalling. British journal of cancer	W Zhou, S Guo, RR Gonzalez-Perez	01/04/2011
LKB1 regulated pathways in lung cancer invasion and metastasis. Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer	AI Marcus, W Zhou	12/01/2010
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
Homozygous deletion of the STK11/LKB1 locus and the generation of novel fusion transcripts in cervical cancer cells. Cancer genetics and cytogenetics	MT McCabe, DR Powell, W Zhou, PM Vertino	03/01/2010
The glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose activates multiple prosurvival pathways through IGF1R. The Journal of biological chemistry	D Zhong, L Xiong, T Liu, X Liu, X Liu, J Chen, SY Sun, FR Khuri, Y Zong, Q Zhou, W Zhou	08/28/2009
Implication of snoRNA U50 in human breast cancer. Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao	XY Dong, P Guo, J Boyd, X Sun, Q Li, W Zhou, JT Dong	08/01/2009
LKB1 is required for adiponectin-mediated modulation of AMPK-S6K axis and inhibition of migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Oncogene	L Taliaferro-Smith, A Nagalingam, D Zhong, W Zhou, NK Saxena, D Sharma	07/23/2009
Germline mutation of microRNA-125a is associated with breast cancer. Journal of medical genetics	W Li, R Duan, F Kooy, SL Sherman, W Zhou, P Jin	05/01/2009
Human BRE1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Ebp1 tumor suppressor. Molecular biology of the cell	Z Liu, SM Oh, M Okada, X Liu, D Cheng, J Peng, DJ Brat, SY Sun, W Zhou, W Gu, K Ye	02/01/2009
LKB1 is necessary for Akt-mediated phosphorylation of proapoptotic proteins. Cancer research	D Zhong, X Liu, FR Khuri, SY Sun, PM Vertino, W Zhou	09/15/2008
Sox7 Is an independent checkpoint for beta-catenin function in prostate and colon epithelial cells. Molecular cancer research : MCR	L Guo, D Zhong, S Lau, X Liu, XY Dong, X Sun, VW Yang, PM Vertino, CS Moreno, V Varma, JT Dong, W Zhou	09/01/2008
EF24, a novel curcumin analog, disrupts the microtubule cytoskeleton and inhibits HIF-1. Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)	SL Thomas, D Zhong, W Zhou, S Malik, D Liotta, JP Snyder, E Hamel, P Giannakakou	08/01/2008
SnoRNA U50 is a candidate tumor-suppressor gene at 6q14.3 with a mutation associated with clinically significant prostate cancer. Human molecular genetics	XY Dong, C Rodriguez, P Guo, X Sun, JT Talbot, W Zhou, J Petros, Q Li, RL Vessella, AS Kibel, VL Stevens, EE Calle, JT Dong	04/01/2008
2-Deoxyglucose induces Akt phosphorylation via a mechanism independent of LKB1/AMP-activated protein kinase signaling activation or glycolysis inhibition. Molecular cancer therapeutics	D Zhong, X Liu, K Schafer-Hales, AI Marcus, FR Khuri, SY Sun, W Zhou	04/01/2008
Counting alleles in single lesions of prostate tumors from ethnically diverse patients. The Prostate	A Morikawa, V Varma, TW Gillespie, RH Lyles, M Goodman, RM Bostick, JS Mandel, W Zhou	02/15/2008
The tumor suppressor LKB1 regulates lung cancer cell polarity by mediating cdc42 recruitment and activity. Cancer research	S Zhang, K Schafer-Hales, FR Khuri, W Zhou, PM Vertino, AI Marcus	02/01/2008

Awards

Dr. Zhou is the recipient of several awards and honors including:

Emory 1% Award, Emory University School of Medicine, 2017
Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Research Scholar, 2003-present
Howards Hughes Research Fellowship, 1995-1998