Ken H. Young
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Biography
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<strong>Biography:</strong><br />
Research in my team includes several types of hematologic malignancies, with special emphasis on pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas, especially diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DLBCL is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma which brings together the worst characteristics of both high-grade features and aggressive biology. The disease is incurable in nearly 40% patients.<br />
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Global gene expression (GEP) can robustly classify DLBCL into two major molecular subtypes based on cell of origin (COO): The germinal center B-cell (GCB) subtype possesses gene expression patterns that resemble non-malignant B-cells that have entered the germinal center, whereas the activated B-cell (ABC) subtype expresses genes normally induced by nuclear factor kB during in vitro activation of peripheral blood cells. ABC patients have poor survival. Predicting DLBCL outcome and stratifying patients who respond poorly to R-CHOP for clinical trials continue to be critical challenges facing clinicians, and novel biomarkers for DLBCL prognosis and targeted therapy are urgently needed.<br />
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The goal of my team is to explore and identify genetic and non-genetic biomarkers, including p53, Myc, pTEN, Mdm2, Arf, Bcl-2, Bcl-6 genes, alone or in combination with other abnormalities in DLBCL, that predict cancer prognosis and susceptibility. The central hypothesis is based on the concept that tumor suppressor gene or oncogene are often deregulated in carcinogenesis. The presence of mutations, deletion, insertion and translocation is correlated with a poor response to treatment, rapid disease progression, and short survival in human cancer.<br />
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<strong>Research Interest:</strong></p>
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My primary study of genomic alterations is on TP53 tumor suppressor pathway. My secondary focus is on Myc oncogene. Weblink to MD Anderson SciVal research profile and PubMed list of publication is attached.</p>