Advancing Lung Cancer Therapy Using Genetic Tools
How did your interest in cancer research develop?
My path to cancer research began as a PhD student in Dr. Scott Lowe’s lab, studying tumor suppressor networks and how their disruption causes cancer. Subsequently, my interest in cancer research intensified when I did my postdoctoral training with Dr. Tyler Jacks, who studies genetic events contributing to the development of cancer. Both of these labs are just amazing. Over the years, I have found that one of the most interesting parts of my job as a cancer researcher is seeing how our hypotheses get proved (or disproved) by data.
What are your lung cancer–related research projects?
In a nutshell, my research aims to understand the mechanisms of cancer using mouse models. We want to figure out how a normal cell is transformed into a cancer cell and find ways to eliminate cancer cells. Our studies have discovered that the genome (DNA) editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 can efficiently induce somatic genome editing in the lungs of adult animals. (Genome editing involves removing, adding, or altering the DNA.) We designed various delivery vectors that could effectively deliver CRISPR editing components. These provide a rapid and facile platform to functionally annotate cancer genes in vivo. Essentially, the significance of our findings is that this approach could be translated for future use in editing a genetic defect in a lung cancer patient’s DNA. I am always motivated by the possibility that, one day, our research may inspire new treatments that could help cancer patients.
What do you see as the most promising technology/techniques in cancer research right now?
The toolkits for cancer research have evolved dramatically. Now we have new technologies such as deep sequencing, RNA interference (RNAi), and genome editing, which make research a lot faster than traditional tools. Right now, I think that immunotherapy and genome editing are the most promising techniques in cancer research.
Where do you see the future of cancer research going?
I think cancer research is moving toward a better understanding of the heterogeneity of cancer and the development of precision treatments tailored to patients’ cancer driver genes, which are genes that ultimately help tumors proliferate. Cancer is perhaps the most challenging disease model to work with because there are so many genes involved. At the same time, the complexity of cancer is also making cancer research very rewarding with so many new discoveries to be made. It is important for potential donors to know that today’s support of research can turn into tomorrow’s new cancer therapy.
About Wen Xue
Wen Xue, PhD, is an associate professor in the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the UMass Chan Medical School. Dr. Xue earned a PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and received postdoctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing.
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