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Weiguo Zhang

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1998 Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Shanghai, China, PHD, Oral Medicine
1988 Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Shanghai, China, MSc, Pathology
1983 Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Shanghai, China, MD, Oral Medicine

Postgraduate Training

6/2000-12/2002 Research Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Houston, TX
7/1999-6/2000 Research Fellowship, Department of Laboratory and Pathology Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
12/1998-6/1999 Research Fellowship, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
1988-1991 Research Residency, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
1983-1985 Research Residency, Department of Stomatology, Shanghai East-China Hospital, Shanghai

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Instructor, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2003-2010
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Shanghai, China, 1995-1998
Lecturer, Department of Pathology, School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Shanghai, China, 1991-1994

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Director, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China, 1996-1998

Honors and Awards

1996 Science & Technology Achievement Award (Grade III, No. 96303902, Second Contributor), Ministry of Public Health, China
1992 Nature Science Award (Grade III, No. 92Z-3-015-04, Fourth Contributor), Chinese Academy of Sciences
1992 Science & Technology Progress Award (Grade II, No. 912086, Seventh Contributor), Shanghai Municipality China
1992 Science & Technology Progress Award (Grade III, No. 923197, Second Contributor), Shanghai Municipality, China

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Borthakur G, Kantarjian H, Ravandi F, Zhang W, Konopleva M, Wright JJ, Faderl S, Verstovsek S, Mathews S, Andreeff M, Cortes JE. Phase 1 Study of sorafenib in patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemias. Haematologica 96(1). e-Pub 10/2010. PMCID: PMC3012766.
2. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Burks JK, Dywer KC, Schober WD, Yang JY, McQueen TJ, Hung MC, Andreeff M. Blockade of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Kinase and Murine Double Minute Synergistically Induces Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia via BH3-Only Proteins Puma and Bim. Cancer Res 70(6):2424-34, 3/2010. e-Pub 3/2010. PMCID: PMC2840060.
3. Xiaoyang L, Marini F, Konopleva M, Schober WD, Shi Y-X, Burks JK, Dwyer KC, Zhang W, Yuan X, Lu H, Caldwell L, Andreeff M. Mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing IFN-beta inhibit breast cancer growth and metastases through Stat3 signaling in a syngeneic tumor model. Journal of Cancer Microenvironment:83-95, 3/2010.
4. Mori S, Cortes J, Kantarjian H, Zhang W, Andreef M, Ravandi F. Potential role of sorafenib in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 49(12):2246-55, 12/2008. PMID: 19052971.
5. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Shi Y, Ling X, Andreeff M. Combination of Sorafenib and Arsenic Trioxide Exerts Synergistic Anti-Leukemia Effects in Sorafenib-resisatnt FTL3-ITD-harboring AML Cells. Blood 112, 10/2008. e-Pub 10/2008.
6. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Ruvolo V, McQueen T, Evans R, Bornmann W, McCubrey J, Cortes J. Sorafenib induces apopotosis of AML cells via Bim-mediated activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Leukemia 22. e-Pub 1/2008. PMID: 18200035.
7. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Shi Y, McQueen T, Harris D, Ling X, Estrov Z, Quintas-Cardama A, Small D, Cortes J, Andreeff M. Mutant FLT3: A direct target of sorafenib in acute myelogenous leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst 100:184-198, 2008.
8. Zeng Z, Samudio IJ, Zhang W, Estrov Z, Pelicano H, Harris D, Frolova O, Hail N, Jr, Chen W, Kornblau SM, Huang P, Lu Y, Mills GB, Andreeff M, Konopleva M. Simultaneous inhibition of PDK1/AKT and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 signaling by a small-molecule KP372-1 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in acute myelogenous leukemia. Cancer Res 66:3737-46, 4/2006. PMID: 16585200.
9. Konopleva M, Zhang W, Shi YX, McQueen T, Tsao T, Abdelrahim M, Munsell MF, Johansen M, Yu D, Madden T, Safe SH, Hung MC, Andreeff M. Synthetic triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid induces growth arrest in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther 5:317-28, 2/2006. PMID: 16505105.
10. Zhang W, McQueen T, Schober W, Rassidakis G, Andreeff M, Konopleva M. Leukotriene B4 receptor inhibitor LY293111 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human anaplastic large-cell lymphoma cells via JNK phosphorylation. Leukemia 19:1977-84, 11/2005. PMID: 16151469.
11. Zhang W, Shi H, Zhang M. Maspin overexpression modulates tumor cell apoptosis through the regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. BMC Cancer 5:50, 5/2005.
12. Latha K, Zhang W, Cella N, Shi HY, Zhang M. Maspin mediates increased tumor cell apoptosis upon induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition. Mol Cell Biol 25:1737-48, 3/2005.
13. Abraham S, Zhang W, Greenberg N, et al. Maspin functions as tumor suppressor by increasing cell adhesion to extracellular matrix in prostate tumor cells. J Urol 169:1157-61, 3/2003.
14. Ohtake S, Cheng J, Ida H, Suzuki M, Ohshiro K, Zhang W, Saku T. Precancerous foci in pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland: recognition of focal carcinoma and atypical tumor cells by P53 immunohistochemistry. J Oral Pathol Med 31:590-7, 11/2002. PMID: 12406304.
15. Zhang W, Zhang M. Tissue microarray analysis of maspin expression and its reverse correlation with mutant p53 in various cancers. Int J Oncol. 20:1145-50, 6/2002.
16. Shi HY, Zhang W, Liang R, Abraham S, Kittrell FS, Medina D, Zhang M. Blocking tumor growth, invasion and metastasis by maspin in a syngeneic breast cancer model. Cancer Research 61:6945, 2001.
17. Zhang Z, Wu Y, Zhang W, Tian Z, Cao J. The expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands. Chin J Dent Res. 3:36-9, 2000.
18. Wang Q, Zhang W. The expression of oncoprotein p53 and C-erbB-2 on squamous cell carcinomas of oral mucosa and the epithelium adjacent to the tumors. Shanghai J Stomatol 9:191, 2000.
19. Zhu P, Zhang W. The role of matrix vesicles during development of the mineralizing tissues of tooth germ and craniofacial bone. Chung Hua Kou Chiang Hsueh Tsa Chih 35:69, 2000.
20. Yan Y, Liu Z, Zhang W. In vitro study of the effects of endothelin-1 on human dental pulp cells. Chin J Dent Res 2:5, 1999.
21. Zhang L, Zhang W, Liu Z. Research on expression of telomerase hTR gene in oral precancerous lesion and squamous cell carcinoma. Shanghai J Stomatol 8:70, 1999.
22. Zhang L, Zhang W. Telomerase hTR and hTRT gene expression in oral precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinomas. Chinese J Dent Res 2:43, 1999.
23. Zhang L, Zhang W, Liu Z. Telomerase hTRT mRNA expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas. West China J Stomatol 17(4):307, 1999.
24. Wu YQ, Zhang W. The expression of adhesion molecules in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinomas cell line. Shanghai J Stomatol 8:166, 1999.
25. Wu YQ, Wang Y, Zhang W. The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinomas. Shanghai J Stomatol 8:159, 1999.
26. Wu YQ, Zhang W. The expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinomas. Shanghai J Stomatol 8:163, 1999.
27. Li J, Zhang W. Clinicopathological analysis of 15 cases of desmoplastic ameloblastoma. West China J Stomatol 6:138, 1998.
28. Zhang W, Wang Y, Wang L, et al. Expression of non-collagenous proteins during development of craniofacial mineralized tissues of rats. Chin J Oral Maxillofacial Surg 8:190, 1998.
29. Chen J, Aufdemorte TB, Jiang H, Liu AR, Zhang W, Thomas HF. Neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells express bone sialoprotein. Histochem J 30:1, 1998.
30. Zhang W, Wang L, Liu Z. The effect of fluoride on bone extracellular matrix proteins expression in rat calvarial osteoblast in culture. Shanghai J Stomatol 7:94, 1998.
31. Zhang W, Liu Z. The effects of fluoride and dexamethasone on the phenotypic development of osteoblast growing on the demineralized dental root surface. Shanghai J Stomatol 7:99, 1998.
32. Zhang W, Wang L, Liu Z. The influence of fluoride on the development of the osteoblast phenotype in rat calvarial osteoblasts: an in vitro study. Shanghai J Stomatol 7:88, 1998.
Other Articles
1. Mori S, Cortes J, Kantarjian H, Zhang W, Andreeff M, Ravandi F. Potential role of sorafenib in the treatment of acute myeloid lekemia. Review. Leukemia and Lymphoma 49:2246-2255, 2008.
2. Zhang W. Modeling human breast cancer metastasis in mice: maspin as a paradigm. Review. Histo Histopathol 18:201-6, 2003.
3. Bao X, Zhang W. The mechanisms of multiple drug resistance and reversion in head and neck tumors. Review. Chinese J New Drugs Clin Rem 19:492, 2000.
4. Zhang L, Zhang W. Telomere in cell aging and tumorogenesis. Review. Chinese J Oral Maxillofacial Surg 9:54, 1999.
5. Zhang W. The phenotype differentiation and gene regulation of osteoblasts. Review. Shanghai J Stomatol 7:179, 1998.
6. Wu YQ, Zhang W, Zhang Z. Tumor metastases and adhesion molecules. Review. World Med 25:176, 1998.

Abstracts
1. Zhang W, Konopleva M,Tsao T,Schober W,Andreeff M. Simultaneous blockade of MEK and mTOR kinase signaling synergizes pro-apoptotic effects in AML cells, which is further potential by interfering with dimerization of BH3 domains. AACR 101st annual meeting, 2010.
2. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Burks JK, Dwyer KC, Schober WD, Yang J-Y, McQueen T, Andreeff M. Apoptosis Induction In Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Inhibition of MEK and MDM2 is Strongly Associated With the BH3 Only Proteins Puma and Bim. E J Can 6 (#266), 2008, 8/2008.
3. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Shi Y, Ling X, Andreeff M. Combination of sorafenib and arsenic trioxide exerts synergistic anti-leukemia effects in sorafenib-resistant FLT3-ITD-harboring AML cells. Blood 112:2656, 2008.
4. Ravandi F, Cortes J, Garcia-Manero G, O'Brien S, Borthakur G, Pierce S, Brandt M, Lang M, Zhang W, Luthra R, Jones D, Levis M, Konopleva M, Andreeff M, Katarjian H. Combination of sorafenib, idarubicin, and cytarabine has a high response rate in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia younger than 65 years. Blood 112:768, 2008.
5. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Schober WD, McQueen T, Andreeff M. MEK inhibitor AZD6244 induces cell growth arrest and synergizes with Nutlin-3a-mediated cell death by upregulating p53 and PUMA levels in AML. Blood 110(11):201a (#654), 2007.
6. Quintas-Cardama A, Kantarjian H, Andreeff M, Faderi S, Wright J, Zhang W, Konopleva M, Verstovsek S, Borthakur G, Cortes J. Phase I trial of intermittent administration of sorafenib (Bay 43-9006) for patients with refractory/relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia. J Clin Oncol 25(18S):7018, 2007.
7. Andreeff M, Konopleva M, Watt JC, Samudio IJ, Satterthwait AC, Kitada S, Zhang W, Reed JC. A novel peptide containing a nine acid sequences from Nur77 induces Bcl-2 dependent apoptosis in AML. Blood 108(11):2607, 2006.
8. Zhang W, Konopleva M, Shi Y-X, Harris D, Small D, Ling X, Estrov Z, Cortes J, Andreeff M. Sorafenib (BAY 43-9006) directly targets FLT3-ITD in acute myelogenous leukemia. Blood 108(11):255, 2006.
9. Zhang W, Konopleva M, McQueen T, Cortes J, McCubrey J, Andreeff M. Raf inhibitor BAY 43-9006 induces Bim desphosphorylation and activates the intracellular apoptotic pathway in AML. Blood 106:941a (#3367), 2005.
10. Konopleva M, Zhang W, Ling X, Samudio I, Shi Y-Xi, McQueen T, Tsao T, Meyer C, Munsell MF, Yu D, Safe SH, Hung M-C, Andreeff M. Synthetic triterpenoids CDDO (RTA 401) and CDDO-Me (RTA 402) inhibit HER2-driven growth of breast cancer in vivo. Clin Cancer Res 11S:251 (#C208), 2005.
11. Zhang W, Konopleva M, McQueen T, Schober W, Andreeff M. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by dephosphorylation of ERK, Akt and Bcl-2 and phosphorylation of JNK by LY293111 in human anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Blood 104:927a (#3396), 2004.
12. Zhang W, Shi Y-X, McQueen T, Hung M-C, Madden T, Sporn MB, Andreeff M, Konopleva M. Synthetic triterpenoid CDDO as effective therapy for HER2-expressing resistant breast cancer. Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 45 (#3799) 45(876-877) (#3799), 2004.

Book Chapters
1. Zhang W. Histology and pathology of oral cavity. In: The Textbook of Oral Histopathology. Ed(s) Yu SF. People's Health Press, 2000.
2. Zhang W. Biopsy procedure in clinical practice of oral medicine. In: Atlas of Practical Diagnoses and Treatment of Oral Diseases. Ed(s) Qiu W. Shandong Press of Science and Technology, 1997.
3. Zhang W. Tissue processing and antigen retrieval in immunocytochemistry. In: A Practical Approach to Immunocytochemistry. Ed(s) Chen YS. Shanghai Press of Science and Technology, 1997.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Development of Effective Combination Strategies by Targeting MEK and mTOR in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Funding Source: EMD Serono, Inc.
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Michael Andreeff
Duration: 11/30/2009 - 1/31/2013
 
Title: Plerixafor/G-CSF with Sorafenib for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with FLT3-ITD Mutations (IND 104371)
Funding Source: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Michael Andreeff, MD, PhD
Duration: 9/21/2009 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Phase II Study of Multi-kinase Inhibitor, Sorafenib in Combination with Idarubicin and Cytorabine in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and High Risk Myeloidysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Funding Source: Commonwealth for Cancer Research
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 9/1/2008 - 8/31/2010
 
Title: CDP: Sorafenib as a novel therapeutic directly targets FLT3-ITD mutation in acute myelogenous leukemia
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Program Leader
Duration: 5/1/2007 - 4/30/2008
 
Title: CDP: Targeting FLT3 mutations in AML with BAY 43-9006 as a therapeutic strategy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 5/1/2006 - 4/30/2007
 
Title: The effects of telomerase and p53 expression on oral premalignant lesions with different malignant potential
Funding Source: Shanghai Educational Foundation, China
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/1/1997 - 1/1/1998
 
Title: Effects of cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin and CD44 on the prognosis of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma
Funding Source: Health Ministry of China
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1997 - 1998
 
Title: Effects of non-collagenous proteins on the formation of biomineralized tissues
Funding Source: Natural Scientific Foundation of China
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1996 - 1998
 
Title: Anti leukemia effects of PDGFR inhibitor CP-868, 596 in AML with FLT3 point mutations
Funding Source: Arog Pharmaceuticals
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Last updated: 2/13/2013