Professor Yong-Jie Lu
We aim to identify genetic alterations that influence the development, progression and therapeutic responses of male urogenital tumours, in particular prostate cancer, and further develop them into biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic stratification as well as therapeutic targets for novel forms of therapeutic approaches.
Research Details
I have set up a research team devoted to genetic studies and biomarker development in male urological cancers, in particular prostate cancer. The mission of the research team is to reduce motility and morbidity of patients with male urological cancers by facilitating precision medicine through the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets and the development/application of novel approaches in biomarker analysis and cancer therapy.
Our past work have been mainly focused on identification of genetic alterations and genetic mechanisms in cancer development, progression and therapeutic response. Recently, our research work moved into circulation biomarker development, in particular CTCs, for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction/monitoring of cancer progression and therapeutic response.
There are currently two main research areas of interest:
1. Biomarker discovery and clinical applications, focusing on circulating biomarkers (CTCs, exosomes and other cancer associated circulating cells) for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction/monitoring of cancer progression and therapeutic response.
2. Genetic investigation of the mechanisms of prostate cancer metastasis and the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
Members of the lab:
Postdoctoral researchers: Xueying Mao and Elzbieta Stankiewicz
Research technician: Edwina Burke
PhD students: Tanyu Guo and Yeuzhou Zhang
Profile
Education
- 1992 - 1995: Ph.D. student in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing. (Pathophysiology)
- 1989 - 1992: Post-graduate student in Dept. of Biology, Harbin Medical University. (M.D. Medical Genetics.)
- 1984 - 1989: Undergraduate medical student in Faculty of Medicine, Henan Medical University.
Appointments
- Oct 2017- present: Professor of Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
- July 2010 - Sept 2017: Reader (Team Leader), Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)
- Jun 2003 - July 2010: Senior Lecturer (Team Leader), Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL.
- Oct 2001 - Jun 2003: Research Associate (deputy Team Leader), Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Sutton, UK.
- Apr 2000 - Oct. 2001: Senior postdoctoral scientist, Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, Section of Paediatrics (joint with Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis), ICR, Sutton, UK.
- Apr 1997 - Apr 2000: Postdoctoral scientist, Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, Section of Cell Biology & Experimental Pathology, ICR, Sutton, UK.
- Oct 1995 - Jan 1997: Visiting Scholar, Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, ICR, Sutton, UK.
Funding
| 2017-208 | Angle Europe PLC |
The prognostic value of circulating megakaryocytes for cancer patients. £201,685 |
| 2017-2018 | Angle Europe PLC | "Evaluation of a size-based circulating tumour cell isolation system, Parsortix, for its application in prostate cancer" £78,000 |
| 2015-2018 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal |
Circulating tumour cell study and biomarker identification in prostate cancer. £485,000 |
| 2015-2017 | Angle Europe PLC | "Evaluation of a size-based circulating tumour cell isolation system Parsortix, for its application in prostate cancer. £143,000 |
| 2010-2015 | The Orchid Cancer Appeal | Systematic studies of genetic alterations and identification of genes involved in male urological tumour development and progression. £792,000 |
| 2009-2012 | Association for International Cancer Research | Genetic and functional investigation into the role of ZDHHC14 in human tumour development. £192,685 |
| 2008-2011 | Medical Research Council | Identification of recurrent chromosome breakpoints and associated genes in prostate cancer using a novel approach. £303,225 |
| 2008-2010 | The Orchid Cancer Appeal | Systematic studies of genetic alterations and identification of genes involved in male urological tumour development and progression. £301,210 |
| 2015 | The Orchid Cancer Appeal | "Prostate cancer prognostic biomarker and circulating biomarker studies" £172,000 |
|
2014 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal | * "Systematic studies of genetic alterations and identification of genes involved in male urological tumour development and progression" £174,000 |
| 2013 | The Orchid Cancer Appeal | (As above*) £172,000 |
|
2012 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal | (As above*) £172,000 |
|
2011 |
Prostate Action |
Confirmation of TCBA1 (NKAIN2) as a candidate tumour suppressor gene at 6q region in prostate cancer £59,140 |
| 2011-2014 | Queen Mary College Funds | PhD Studentship: "Novel approach for prostate cancer therapy using TMPRSS2 promoter activity" £62,000 |
|
2010 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal |
(As above*) £171,680 |
|
2010 |
(As above*) £164,080 |
|
| 2010-2013 | Medical Research Council | Industrial Case PhD Studentship (Joint application with Tom Powles): "The role of Src and its inhibition in urological cancers" £75,000 |
|
2009 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal |
Yearly Award 2009/10 £157,210 |
|
2009 |
Association for International Cancer Research |
The role of ZDHHC14 £192,685 |
|
2008 |
Medical Research Council |
Associated genes in prostate cancer £303,225 |
|
2008 |
The Orchid Cancer Appeal |
CA Genetics Project 08/09 £182,420 |
Key Publications
Xu L, Mao X, Guo T, Chan PY, Shaw G, Hines J, Stankiewicz E, Wang Y, Oliver RTD, Ahmad AS, Berney D, Shamash J, Lu YJ. The novel association of circulating tumor cells and circulating megakaryocytes with prostate cancer prognosis. Clin Cancer Res. 23(17):5112-5122; 2017. PMID: 28615267
Xu L, Mao X, Imrali A, Syed F, Mutsvangwa K, Berney D, Cathcart P, Hines J, Shamash J, Lu YJ. Optimization and evaluation of a novel size based circulating tumor cell isolation system. PLoS ONE 10(9): e0138032; 2015. PMID: 26397728
Coll Bastus N, Mao X, Young BD, Sheer D, Lu YJ. DNA replication-dependent induction of gene proximity by androgen. Hum Mol Genet. (2015) 15;24(4):963-71. PMID: 25281662
Yeste-Velasco M, Mao X, Grose R, Kudahetti SC, Lin D, Marzec J, Vasiljević N, Chaplin T, Xue L, Xu M, Foster JM, Karnam SS, James SY, Chioni AM, Gould D, Lorincz AT, Oliver RT, Chelala C, Thomas GM, Shipley JM, Mather SJ, Berney DM, Young BD, Lu YJ. Identification of ZDHHC14 as a novel human tumour suppressor gene. J Pathol. (2014) 232(5):566-77. PMID: 24407904
Further Publications
For additional publications, please click here.
We aim to identify genetic alterations that influence the development, progression and therapeutic responses of male urogenital tumours, in particular prostate cancer, and further develop them into biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic stratification as well as therapeutic targets for novel forms of therapeutic approaches.
External Activities
- Senior Editor: American Journal of Cancer Research
- Editorial Board Member: The Open Breast Cancer Journal.
- Editorial Board Member: Journal of Cancer Research Updates.
- Scientific assessment committee member: France national cancer research programme Canceropole (2007-2014).
- Research grant reviewer for funding bodies, such as British Medical Research Council (MRC), British National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK Prostate Action, Prostate Cancer Research Charity, National Cancer Institute of France, International Association of Cancer Research, Hong Kong Research Grants Council.
- Referee of scientific journals such as Oncogene, J Path, Gene Chromosome Cancer, Br J Cancer, International J Cancer, Carcinogenesis, PloS One, BMC Cancer and Histopathology. Active Member of American Association for Cancer Research.
- Honorable Professor, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Honorable Professor, Naning Medical University, China
- Visiting Professor, Zhengzhou University Medical College, China.
News
Our circulating tumour cell (CTC) study results were covered in dozens of national and international media in November 2016, when it was presented at the NCRI conference; and the updated results were covered in multiple national and international media, including TV, radio, newspaper and online news media in July 2017, when the study was published in Clinical Cancer Research.