Profiles

Wei Qiu, PhD

About

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms involving hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). More specifically, using molecular and cell biology techniques, state-of-the-art cell imaging, transgenic and knockout mouse models, and clinical samples, we investigate molecular signaling pathways that drive or mediate HCC and ALD development. Our ultimate goal is to identify novel therapeutic strategies and reagents to prevent and treat HCC and ALD. In addition, we are also interested in studying the resistance mechanisms of FDA-approved targeted therapies for HCC, which shall improve the efficacy of these drugs in treating HCC.

Degrees

• BS, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
• PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Beijing, Beijing, China
• Postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Jian Yu’s lab, University of Pittsburgh

Research Interests

• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Tumor cell signaling pathways
• Mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in HCC
• Alcoholic liver disease

Selected Publications

• Inhibition of Abelson Tryrosine Protein Kinase 2 suppresses the development of alcohol-associated liver disease by decreasing PPARgamaa expression. Malnassy, G., Keating C,  Gad, S., Bridgeman B, Perera, A., Hou W., Cotler S., Ding X.Z., Choudhry M., Sun Z.L., Koleske A., Qiu W Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol.  2023 Jul.15.   PMID: 37460041.
• Focal adhesion kinase confers lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via the regulation of lysine deficient kinase Hou W, Gad S, Ding XZ, Dhanarajan A, Qiu W. (2023) Molecular Carcinogenesis. 2023 Oct 3.  PMID: 37787401.   
• Integrin subunit beta 8 contributes to lenvatinib resistance in HCC Hou, W; Bridgeman, B; Malnassy, G; Ding, X; Cotler, SJ; Dhana rajan, A; Qiu, W  Hepatology Communications  2022 Jul;6(7):1786-1802. doi: 10.1002/hep4.1928. Epub 2022 Mar 3. PMID: 35238496; PMCID: PMC9234648
• Targeting EphA2 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma initiation and progression by dual inhibition of JAK1/STAT3 and AKT signaling Wang, H; Hou, W; Perera, A; Bettler, C; Beach, JR; Ding, X; Li, J; Denning, MF; Dhanarajan, A; Cotler, SJ; Joyce, C; Yin, J; Ahmed, F; Roberts, LR; Qiu, W Cell Reports  2021 Feb 23;34(8):108765. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108765. PMID: 33626345; PMCID: PMC7954228
• ABL1; overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinomas; regulates expression of NOTCH1 and promotes development of liver tumors in mice  Wang, F; Hou, W; Chitsike, L; Xu, Y; Bettler, C; Perera, A; Bank, T; Cotler, SJ; Dhanarajan, A; Denning, MF; Ding, X; Breslin, P; Qiang, W; Li, J; Koleske, AJ; Qiu, W  Gastroenterology  2020 Jul;159(1):289-305.e16. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.03.013. Epub 2020 Jun 24. PMID: 32171747; PMCID: PMC7387191
• Focal adhesion kinase and β-catenin cooperate to induce hepatocellular carcinoma  Shang, N; Wang, H; Bank, T; Perera, A; Joyce, C; Kuffel, G; Zilliox, MJ; Cotler, SJ; Ding, X; Dhanarajan, A; Breslin, P; Qiu, W Hepatology  2019 Nov;70(5):1631-1645. doi: 10.1002/hep.30707. Epub 2019 Jun 22. PMID: 31069844; PMCID: PMC6819211
• Inhibition of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor enhances the efficacy of sorafenib in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and survival  Wang, F; Bank, T; Malnassy, G; Arteaga, M; Shang, N; Dalheim, A; Ding, X; Cotler, SJ; Denning, MF; Nishimura, MI; Breslin, P; Qiu, W  Hepatology Communications  2018 Apr 17;2(6):732-746. doi: 10.1002/hep4.1181. PMID: 29881824; PMCID: PMC5983153 Cell Stem Cell. 2(6):576-83.  PMID:18522850. PMCID: PMC2892934
• FAK deletion accelerates liver regeneration after two-thirds partial hepatectomy  Shang, N; Arteaga, M; Chitsike, L; Wang, F; Viswakarma, N; Breslin, P; Qiu, W  Scientific Reports  2016 Sep 28;6:34316. doi: 10.1038/srep34316. PMID: 27677358; PMCID: PMC5039626
• Inhibition of SIRT2 suppresses hepatic fibrosis  Arteaga, M; Shang, N; Ding, X; Yong, S; Cotler, SJ; Denning, MF; Shimamura, T; Breslin, P; Lüscher, B; Qiu, W  American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology  2016 Jun 1;310(11):G1155-68. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00271.2015. Epub 2016 Apr 28. PMID: 27125275; PMCID: PMC4935480
• FAK is required for c-Met/β-catenin-driven hepatocarcinogenesis  Shang, N; Arteaga, M; Zaidi, A; Stauffer, J; Cotler, SJ; Zeleznik-Le, NJ; Zhang, J; Qiu, W  Hepatology.  2015 Jan;61(1):214-26. doi: 10.1002/hep.27402. Epub 2014 Nov 25. PMID: 25163657; PMCID: PMC4280291
• PUMA-mediated intestinal epithelial apoptosis contributes to ulcerative colitis in humans and mice  Qiu, W; Wu, B; Wang, X; Buchanan, ME; Regueiro, MD; Hartman, DJ; Schoen, RE; Yu, J; Zhang, L  Journal of Clinical Investigation  2011 May;121(5):1722-32. doi: 10.1172/JCI42917. Epub 2011 Apr 1. PMID: 21490394; PMCID: PMC3083802
• Chemoprevention by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminates oncogenic intestinal stem cells via SMAC-dependent apoptosis  Qiu, W; Wang, X; Leibowitz, B; Liu, H; Barker, N; Okada, H; Oue, N; Yasui, W; Clevers, H; Schoen, R; Yu, J; Zhang, L  Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA  2010 107(46): 20027-32. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1010430107. Epub 2010 Nov 1. PMID: 21041628; PMCID: PMC2993406
• PUMA regulates intestinal progenitor cell radiosensitivity and gastrointestinal syndrome  Qiu, W; Carson-Walter, EB; Liu, H; Epperly, M; Greenberger, JS; Zambetti, GP;Zhang, L; Yu,JCell Stem Cell. 2008 Jun 5;2(6):576-83. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2008.03.009. PMID: 18522850; PMCID: PMC2892934

Additional Publications List