Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Disease Progression of Serrated Colorectal Cancer: using genetically engineered mouse models of colorectal cancers (CRC), Dr. Hu's lab focuses on the identification and validation of crucial molecular changes that confer high-risk for tumor progression in mutant BRAF-induced serrated intestinal tumorigenesis. Her lab works to identify novel factors essential for serrated CRC development that can serve as pharmacological targets for the prevention of serrated CRC at an early and curable stage.
Novel Approaches for the Intervention of Pancreatic Cancer: Dr. Hu's lab also works to identify and validate novel functionally relevant and druggable targets for PDAC.
Dr. Hu is committed to medical science education for GI fellows, residents, medical students, and interested trainees in research pathways. Dr. Hu teaches in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and she welcomes mentorship of research trainees.
- PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997
- CRTA Fellow, Cancer Research, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Gene Institute, 2005
- Postdoctoral Scientist, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 2001
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1998
Education & Training
Hu J, Straub J, Xiao D, Singh SV, Yang HS, Sonenberg N, Vatsyayan J. Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, A Caner Chemopreventive Constituent of Cruciferous Vegetables, Inhibits Cap-Dependent Translation by Regulating the Level and Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1. Cancer Res. 2007; 67(8): 3569-73.
Vatsyayan J, Qing GL, Xiao G, Hu J. SUMO-1 Modification of NF-kB2/p100 is Essential for Stimuli-Induced p100 Phosphorylation and Processing. EMBO Reports. 2008; 9(9): 885-90.
Xiang X, Vatsyayan J, Gao C, Bakkenist C, Hu J. Sumoylation of eIF4E Activates mRNA Translation. EMBO Reports. 2010; 11(4): 299-304.
Xu X, Vatsyayan J, Gao C, Bakkenist CJ, Hu J. HDAC2 Promotes eIF4E Sumoylation and Activates mRNA Translation Gene Specifically. J Biol Chem. 2010; 285(24): 18139-43.
Gao C, Chen G, Romero G, Moschos S, Xu X, Hu J. Induction of Gsk3B Ubiquitination is Required for the Activation of the Wnt/B-catenin Pathway. J Biol Chem. 2014; 289(10): 7099-108.
Gao C, Chen G, Kuan S-F, Zhang DH, Schlaepfer DD, Hu J. FAK/PYK2 Promotes the Wnt/B-catenin Pathway and Intestinal Tumorigenesis by Phosphorylating GSK3B. eLife. 2015; 10: 11072.
Chen G, Gao C, Gao X, Zhang DH, Kuan SF, Burns TF, Hu J. Wnt/B-catenin Pathway Activation Mediates Adaptive Resistance to BRAF Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2018; 17(4): 806-13.
Gao C, Hu J. Targeting Parallel Bypass Signaling to Combat Adaptive Resistance to BRAF Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer. Oncoscience. 2018; 5(3-4)
Gao C, Chen G, Zhang DH, Zhang J, Kuan SF, Hu W, Esni F, Gao X, Guan JL, Chu E, Hu J. PYK2 is Involved in Premalignant Acinar Cell Reprogramming and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Maintenance by Phosphorylating B-catenin Y654. Cell Mol Gastroenterol. 2019
Tandon M, Coudriet GM, Criscimanna A, Socorro M, Eliliwi M, Singhi AD, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Bailey P, Lotze MT, Zeh H, Hu J, Goffin V, Gittes GK, Biankin AV, Esni F. Prolactin Promotes Fibrosis and Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Cancer Res. 2019; 79(20): 5316-27.
- Cancer Research Training Award - National Cancer Institute, 2002-2005
- Award for Research Excellence - National Cancer Institute, 2005
- Hillman Fellow - Hillman Foundation, 2006-2009
