Zhen Fan, M.D.
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Full Member, Graduate Faculty, The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) (Joint appointment), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Full Member, Graduate Faculty, The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Research Interests
My laboratory has a track record in investigating the mechanism of action by which trastuzumab (a HER2-targeting antibody) and cetuximab (an EGFR-targeting antibody), 2 FDA-approved therapeutic antibodies, inhibit cancer metabolism (i.e., Warburg effect), tumor angiogenesis, cancer cell stemness, and cancer cell interaction with tumor stroma in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or head and neck cancer. Through our published work, we also made significant contributions toward our understanding on how aberrations in cancer cell signaling molecules (e.g. Akt, MAPK, MEK, mTOR, PI3K, PTEN, AMPK, Brk, LKB1, HIF-1α, STATs) and signal pathways downstream to HER2 and EGFR render cancer cell resistance to the therapeutic antibodies.
Our current research focuses on 2 directions leveraging existing resources in the laboratory and our expertise in cancer biology, tumor immunology, and antibody engineering & therapies. One direction is to improve antitumor activity of therapeutic antibodies by developing novel bispecific antibody (BsAbs). We design novel platforms of BsAbs for gaining of new mechanism of action, through which BsAbs will exhibit new therapeutic activities that do not exist in simple mixture of 2 parental antibodies. We are currently developing several BsAbs and testing their therapeutic activities in syngeneic mouse tumor models and in PDXs hosted in humanized mice. Our goal is to develop second-generation antibody-based drugs that have multiple therapeutic activities and thus are expected to be more effective than first-generation antibody drugs currently approved to treat cancer patients, such as trastuzumab and cetuximab, especially for treatment of cancer metastasis. Another direction is to redirect preexisting immunity acquired through vaccination or infection of infectious viruses for treating cancer metastasis. Our strategy is to develop an antibody targeting-based therapeutic approach to trick host immune system to perceive cancer cells as infectious virus-infected cells and thereby launch immune responses to attack the cancer cells using powerful preexisting immunity acquired via vaccination or infection of an infectious virus. We have successfully validated this novel strategy in preclinical mouse tumor models.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1988 | Shanghai Medical University, School of Graduate Studies (now Fudan University Graduate School), Shanghai, CN, M.S. in Histology/Embryology |
| 1985 | Shanghai Medical University (SMU), School of Medicine (now Fudan University Shanghai Medical College), Shanghai, CN, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 1991-1994 | Research Fellowship, Postdoctoral fellow in Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York |
| 1988-1991 | Clinical Residency, Zhongshan Hospital (SMU Hospital), Shanghai |
| 1984-1985 | Clinical Internship, Huashan Hospital (SMU Hospital), Shanghai |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Committee Chair, Experimental Therapeutics Department Seminar Series, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2022
Committee Member, Experimental Therapeutics Department Mentorship Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2022
Committee Member, Experimental Therapeutics Department Seminar Series, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2013
Editorial Activities
Editorial Board Member, American J Cancer Res, 2010 - Present
Editorial Board Member, BioScience Trends, 2007 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2010 | "Wall of Science" for scientific achievements published in high impact Journal, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2010 | Potu N. Rao Award for Excellence in Basic Science, Division of Cancer Medicine Faculty Recognition & Award Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1999 - 2025 | Awardee, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, New York, NY |
| 1999 | Physician Referral Service Executive Council Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1999 | Ovarian Cancer Research Program Development Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1996 | Project Completion Certificate, State Commission of Science and Technology of China |
| 1996 | First Place Award for Achievements in Science and Technology, City Commission of Science and Technology of Shanghai, China |
| 1990 | Third Place Award for Achievements in Science and Technology, City Commission of Science and Technology of Shanghai, China |
| 1985 | Honor exemption from the nationwide admission examination to the Graduate School of Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China |
| 1980 | Honor Student, Shanghai First Medical College, Shanghai, China |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Lu Y, Qiu S, Fan Z. Co-phagocytosis of VEGFA with HER2-overexpressing cancer cells induced by HER2-VEGFA-bispecific antibodies improves antitumor responses. JCI Insight 10(20):1-18, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40906526.
- Chaganty BKR, Qiu S, Lu Y, Lopez-Berestein G, Ozpolat B, Fan Z. Redirecting host preexisting influenza A virus immunity for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 71(7):1611-1623, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34731283.
- Luo Y, Li W, Ling Z, Hu Q, Fan Z, Cheng B, Tao X. ASCT2 overexpression is associated with poor survival of OSCC patients and ASCT2 knockdown inhibited growth of glutamine-addicted OSCC cells. Cancer Med 9(10):3489-3499, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32162845.
- Lu H, Lu Y, Xie Y, Qiu S, Li X, Fan Z. Rational combination with PDK1 inhibition overcomes cetuximab resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. JCI Insight 4(19), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31578313.
- Chaganty BKR, Qiu S, Gest A, Lu Y, Ivan C, Calin GA, Weiner LM, Fan Z. Trastuzumab upregulates PD-L1 as a potential mechanism of trastuzumab resistance through engagement of immune effector cells and stimulation of IFNγ secretion. Cancer Lett 430:47-56, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29746929.
- Meng S, Wang G, Lu Y, Fan Z. Functional cooperation between HIF-1α and c-Jun in mediating primary and acquired resistance to gefitinib in NSCLC cells with activating mutation of EGFR. Lung Cancer 121:82-90, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29858032.
- Tao X, Lu Y, Qiu S, Wang Y, Qin J, Fan Z. AP1G1 is involved in cetuximab-mediated downregulation of ASCT2-EGFR complex and sensitization of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells to ROS-induced apoptosis. Cancer Lett 408:33-42, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28823958.
- Luo J, Hong Y, Lu Y, Qiu S, Chaganty BK, Zhang L, Wang X, Li Q, Fan Z. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase rewires cancer metabolism to allow cancer cells to survive inhibition of the Warburg effect by cetuximab. Cancer Lett 384:39-49, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27693630.
- Lu Y, Shi C, Qiu S, Fan Z. Identification and validation of COX-2 as a co-target for overcoming cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Oncotarget 7(40):64766-64777, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27074568.
- Lu H, Li X, Lu Y, Qiu S, Fan Z. ASCT2 (SLC1A5) is an EGFR-associated protein that can be co-targeted by cetuximab to sensitize cancer cells to ROS-induced apoptosis. Cancer Lett 381(1):23-30, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27450723.
- Ai Z, Lu Y, Qiu S, Fan Z. Overcoming cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer cells by targeting HIF-1-regulated cancer metabolism. Cancer Lett 373(1):36-44, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26801746.
- Chaganty BK, Lu Y, Qiu S, Somanchi SS, Lee DA, Fan Z. Trastuzumab upregulates expression of HLA-ABC and T cell costimulatory molecules through engagement of natural killer cells and stimulation of IFNγ secretion. Oncoimmunology 5(4):e1100790, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27141382.
- Khelwatty SA, Essapen S, Seddon AM, Fan Z, Modjtahedi H. Acquired resistance to anti-EGFR mAb ICR62 in cancer cells is accompanied by an increased EGFR expression, HER-2/HER-3 signalling and sensitivity to pan HER blockers. Br J Cancer 113(7):1010-9, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26372697.
- Li X, Lu Y, Lu H, Luo J, Hong Y, Fan Z. AMPK-mediated energy homeostasis and associated metabolic effects on cancer cell response and resistance to cetuximab. Oncotarget 6(13):11507-18, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25871473.
- Liang K, Qiu S, Lu Y, Fan Z. Autocrine/paracrine erythropoietin regulates migration and invasion potential and the stemness of human breast cancer cells. Cancer Biol Ther 15(1):89-98, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24100272.
- Lu H, Li X, Luo Z, Liu J, Fan Z. Cetuximab reverses the Warburg effect by inhibiting HIF-1-regulated LDH-A. Mol Cancer Ther 12(10):2187-99, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23920275.
- Ai M, Qiu S, Lu Y, Fan Z. HER2 regulates Brk/PTK6 stability via upregulating calpastatin, an inhibitor of calpain. Cell Signal 25(9):1754-61, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23707532.
- Xu J, Lu Y, Qiu S, Chen ZN, Fan Z. A novel role of EMMPRIN/CD147 in transformation of quiescent fibroblasts to cancer-associated fibroblasts by breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett 335(2):380-6, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23474495.
- Ai M, Liang K, Lu Y, Qiu S, Fan Z. Brk/PTK6 cooperates with HER2 and Src in regulating breast cancer cell survival and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Cancer Biol Ther 14(3):237-45, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23291984.
- Li X, Lu Y, Liang K, Hsu JM, Albarracin C, Mills GB, Hung MC, Fan Z. Brk/PTK6 sustains activated EGFR signaling through inhibiting EGFR degradation and transactivating EGFR. Oncogene 31(40):4372-83, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22231447.
- Lu H, Liang K, Lu Y, Fan Z. The anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab sensitizes human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells to radiation in part through inhibiting radiation-induced upregulation of HIF-1α. Cancer Lett 322(1):78-85, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22348829.
- Bristol ML, Di X, Beckman MJ, Wilson EN, Henderson SC, Maiti A, Fan Z, Gewirtz DA. Dual functions of autophagy in the response of breast tumor cells to radiation: Cytoprotective autophagy with radiation alone and cytotoxic autophagy in radiosensitization by vitamin D3. Autophagy 8(5), 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22498493.
- Luwor RB, Lu Y, Li X, Liang K, Fan Z. Constitutively active Harvey Ras confers resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy with cetuximab and gefitinib. Cancer Lett 306(1):85-91, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21411223.
- Guo W, Chen D, Fan Z, Epstein HF. Differential turnover of myosin chaperone UNC-45A isoforms increases in metastatic human breast cancer. J. Mol biol 412(3):365-78, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21802425.
- Zhang G, Brewster A, Guan B, Fan Z, Brown PH, Xu XC. Tumor-suppressor activity of RRIG1 in breast cancer. BMC Cancer 11(32), 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21266059.
- Wu Y, Li X, Zhu JX, Xie W, Le W, Fan Z, Jankovic J, Pan T. Resveratrol-activated AMPK/SIRT1/autophagy in cellular models of Parkinson's disease. Neurosignals 19(3):163-74, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21778691.
- Lu Y, Li X, Lu H, Fan Z. 1, 9-Pyrazoloanthrones downregulate HIF-1α and sensitize cancer cells to cetuximab-mediated anti-EGFR therapy. PLoS One 5(12):e15823, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21209911.
- Li X, Lu Y, Pan T, Fan Z. Roles of autophagy in cetuximab-mediated cancer therapy against EGFR. Autophagy 6(8):1066-1077, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20864811.
- Liang K, Esteva FJ, Albarracin C, Stemke-Hale K, Lu Y, Bianchini G, Yang CY, Li Y, Li X, Chen CT, Mills GB, Hortobagyi GN, Mendelsohn J, Hung MC, Fan Z. Recombinant human erythropoietin antagonizes trastuzumab treatment of breast cancer cells via Jak2-mediated Src activation and PTEN inactivation. Cancer Cell 18(8):401-2, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21075308.
- Chen M, Gu J, Delclos GL, Killary AM, Fan Z, Hildebrandt MA, Chamberlain RM, Grossman HB, Dinney CP, Wu X. Genetic variations of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and clinical outcome in muscle invasive and metastatic bladder cancer patients. Carcinogenesis 31(8):1387-1391, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20530239.
- Li X, Fan Z. The EGFR antibody cetuximab induces autophagy in cancer cells by downregulating HIF-1α and Bcl-2 and activating the beclin-1/hVps34 complex. Cancer Res 70(14):5942–52, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20634405.
- Cardó-Vila M, Giordano RJ, Sidman RL, Bronk LF, Fan Z, Mendelsohn J, Arap W, Pasqualini R. From combinatorial peptide selection to drug prototype (II): Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(11):5118–5123, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20190183.
- Chen M, Cassidy A, Gu J, Delclos GL, Fan Z, Yang H, Hildebrandt MA, Lin J, Ye Y, Chamberlain RM, Dinney CP, Wu X. Genetic variations in PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and bladder cancer risk. Carcinogenesis 30(12):2047-2052, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19875696.
- Cunningham MP, Thomas H, Marks C, Green M, Fan Z, Modjtahedi H. Co-targeting the EGFR and IGF-IR with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody ICR62 and the IGF-IR tyrosine kinase inhibitor NVP-AEW541 in colorectal cancer cells. Int J Oncol 33(5):1107-13, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18949375.
- Li X, Lu Y, Liang K, Pan T, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Requirement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha downregulation in mediating the antitumor activity of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Mol Cancer Ther 7(5):1207-1217, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18483308.
- Lu Y, Liang K, Li X, Fan Z. Responses of cancer cells with wild-type or tyrosine kinase domain-mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to EGFR-targeted therapy are linked to downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha. Mol Cancer 6(63):63 (1-13), 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17931419.
- Lu Y, Li X, Liang K, Luwor R, Siddik ZH, Mills GB, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ubiquitination as a mechanism of acquired resistance escaping treatment by the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Cancer Res 67:8240-8247, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17804738.
- Adams KE, Ke S, Kwon S, Liang F, Fan Z, Lu Y, Hirschi K, Mawad ME, Barry MA, Sevick-Muraca EM. Comparison of visible and near-infrared wavelength-excitable fluorescent dyes for molecular imaging of cancer. J Biomed Opt 12(2):1-9, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17477732.
- Cunningham MP, Thomas H, Fan Z, Modjtahedi H. Responses of human colorectal tumor cells to treatment with the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody ICR62 used alone and in combination with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Cancer Res 66:7708-7715, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16885373.
- Li X, Luwor RB, Lu Y, Liang K, Fan Z. Enhancement of antitumor activity of the anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab/C225 by perifosine in PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Oncogene 25:525-535, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16170346.
- Li X, Lu Y, Jin W, Liang K, Mills GB, Fan Z. Autophosphorylation of Akt at threonine-72 and serine-246: A potential mechanism of regulation of Akt kinase activity. J Biol Chem 281:13837-13843, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16549426.
- Liang K, Lu Y, Li X, Zeng X, Glazer IR, Mills GB, Fan Z. Differential roles of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 and Akt1 expression and phosphorylation in breast cancer cell resistance to paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and gemcitabine. Mol Pharmacol 70:1045-1052, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16782806.
- Luwor RB, Lu Y, Li X, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. The antiepidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab/C225 reduces hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, leading to transcriptional inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Oncogene 24:4433-4441, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15806152.
- Zhang L, Zhu H, Teraishi F, Davis JJ, Guo W, Fan Z, Fang B. Accelerated degradation of caspase-8 protein correlates with TRAIL resistance in a DLD1 human colon cancer cell line. Neoplasia 7:594-602, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16036110.
- Li X, Lu Y, Liang K, Liu B, Fan Z. Differential responses to doxorubicin-induced phosphorylation and activation of Akt in human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res 7:R589-597, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16168102.
- Nakata E, Hunter N, Mason K, Fan Z, Ang KK, Milas L. C225 antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody enhances the efficacy of docetaxel chemoradiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 59:1163-1173, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15234052.
- Liang K, Lu Y, Jin W, Ang KK, Milas L, Fan Z. Sensitization of breast cancer cells to radiation by trastuzumab. Mol Cancer Ther 2:1113-20, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 14617784.
- Liang K, Ang KK, Milas L, Hunter N, Fan Z. The epidermal growth factor receptor mediates radioresistance. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 57:246-254, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12909240.
- Jin W, Wu L, Liang K, Liu B, Lu Y, Fan Z. Roles of the PI-3K and MEK pathways in Ras-mediated chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. Br J Cancer 89:185-191, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12838322.
- Knuefermann C, Lu Y, Liu B, Jin W, Liang K, Wu L, Schmidt M, Mills GB, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. HER2/PI-3K/Akt activation leads to a multidrug resistance in human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Oncogene 22:3205-3212, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12761490.
- Vega J, Ke S, Fan Z, Wallace S, Charsangavej C, Li C. Targeting doxorubicin to epidermal growth factor receptors by site-specific conjugation of C225 to poly(L-glutamic acid) through a polyethylene glycol spacer. Pharm Res 20:826-832, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12751641.
- Liang K, Jin W, Knuefermann C, Schmidt M, Mills GB, Ang KK, Milas L, Fan Z. Targeting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway for enhancing breast cancer cells to radiotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2:353-360, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12700279.
- Sclabas GM, Fujioka S, Schmidt C, Fan Z, Evans DB, Chiao PJ. Restoring apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by targeting the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway with the anti-epidermal growth factor antibody IMC-C225. J Gastrointest Surg 7:37-43, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12559183.
- Liu B, Peng D, Lu Y, Jin W, Fan Z. A novel single amino acid deletion caspase-8 mutant in cancer cells that lost proapoptotic activity. J Biol Chem 277:30159-30164, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12055196.
- Sweeney P, Karashima T, Kim SJ, Kedar D, Mian B, Huang S, Baker C, Fan Z, Hicklin DJ, Pettaway CA, Dinney CP. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antibody reduces tumorigenicity and metastasis in orthotopic prostate cancer xenografts via induction of endothelial cell apoptosis and reduction of endothelial cell matrix metalloproteinase type 9 production. Clin Cancer Res 8:2714-2724, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12171905.
- Karashima T, Sweeney P, Slaton JW, Kim SJ, Kedar D, Izawa JI, Fan Z, Pettaway C, Hicklin DJ, Shuin T, Dinney CP. Inhibition of angiogenesis by the antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody ImClone C225 in androgen-independent prostate cancer growing orthotopically in nude mice. Clin Cancer Res 8:1253-1264, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12006546.
- Patrick CW, Zheng B, Schmidt M, Herman PS, Chauvin BP, Fan Z, Stark B, Evans GR. Dermal fibroblasts genetically engineered to release nerve growth factor. Ann Plast Surg 47:660-665, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11756838.
- Schmidt M, Lu Y, Parant JM, Lozano G, Bacher G, Beckers T, Fan Z. Differential roles of p21(Waf1) and p27(Kip1) in modulating chemosensitivity and their possible application in drug discovery studies. Mol Pharmacol 60(5):900-6, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11641417.
- Nasu S, Ang KK, Fan Z, Milas L. C225 antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody enhances tumor radiocurability. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 51:474-477, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11567823.
- Schmidt M, Fan Z. Protection against chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKI) in CKI-responsive cells compared with CKI-unresponsive cells. Oncogene 20:6164-6171, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11593424.
- Liu B, Fang M, Lu Y, Lu Y, Mills GB, Fan Z. Involvement of JNK-mediated pathway in EGF-mediated protection against paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in SiHa human cervical cancer cells. Br J Cancer 85:303-311, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11461094.
- Wen X, Wu QP, Lu Y, Fan Z, Charnsangavej C, Wallace S, Chow D, Li C. Poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated anti-EGF receptor antibody C225 with radiometal chelator attached to the termini of polymer chains. Bioconjug Chem 12:545-553, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11459459.
- Liu B, Fan Z. The monoclonal antibody 225 activates caspase-8 and induces apoptosis through a tumor necrosis factor receptor family-independent pathway. Oncogene 20:3726-3734, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11439335.
- Liu B, Fang M, Lu Y, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Fibroblast growth factor and insulin-like growth factor differentially modulate the apoptosis and G1 arrest induced by anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody. Oncogene 20:1913-1922, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11313939.
- Wang L, Liu B, Schmidt M, Lu Y, Wels W, Fan Z. Antitumor effect of an HER2-specific antibody-toxin fusion protein on human prostate cancer cells. Prostate 47:21-28, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11304726.
- Schmidt M, McWatters A, White RA, Groner B, Wels W, Fan Z, Bast RC, Jr. Synergistic interaction between an anti-p185HER-2 pseudomonas exotoxin fusion protein [scFv(FRP5)-ETA] and ionizing radiation for inhibiting growth of ovarian cancer cells that overexpress HER-2. Gynecol Oncol 80:145-155, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11161852.
- Liu B, Fang M, Schmidt M, Lu Y, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Induction of apoptosis and activation of the caspase cascade by anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibodies in DiFi human colon cancer cells do not involve the c-jun N-terminal kinase activity. Br J Cancer 82:1991-1999, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10864208.
- Schmidt M, Lu Y, Liu B, Fang M, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Differential modulation of paclitaxel-mediated apoptosis by p21Waf1 and p27Kip1. Oncogene 19:2423-2429, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10828884.
- Milas L, Mason K, Hunter N, Petersen S, Yamakawa M, Ang K, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. In vivo enhancement of tumor radioresponse by C225 antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody. Clin Cancer Res 6:701-708, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10690556.
- Fang M, Liu B, Schmidt M, Lu Y, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Involvement of p21Waf1 in mediating inhibition of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by epidermal growth factor in MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer cells. Anticancer Res 20:103-111, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10769641.
- Ye D, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Androgen and epidermal growth factor down-regulate cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 and costimulate proliferation of MDA PCa 2a and MDA PCa 2b prostate cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res 5:2171-2177, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10473102.
- Chou JL, Fan Z, DeBlasio T, Koff A, Rosen N, Mendelsohn J. Constitutive overexpression of cyclin D1 in human breast epithelial cells does not prevent G1 arrest induced by deprivation of epidermal growth factor. Breast Cancer Res Treat 55:267-83, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10517171.
- Ciardiello F, Bianco R, Damiano V, De Lorenzo S, Pepe S, De Placido S, Fan Z, Mendelsohn J, Bianco AR, Tortora G. Antitumor activity of sequential treatment with topotecan and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody C225. Clin Cancer Res 5:909-916, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10213228.
- Ye D, Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Augmentation of a humanized anti-HER2 mAb 4D5 induced growth inhibition by a human-mouse chimeric anti-EGF receptor mAb C225. Oncogene 18:731-738, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 9989823.
- Bromberg JF, Fan Z, Brown C, Mendelsohn J, Darnell JE, Jr. Epidermal growth factor-induced growth inhibition requires Stat1 activation. Cell Growth Differ 9:505-512, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9690618.
- Fan Z, Shang BY, Lu Y, Chou JL, Mendelsohn J. Reciprocal changes in p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1) in growth inhibition mediated by blockade or overstimulation of epidermal growth factor receptors. Clin Cancer Res 3:1943-1948, 1997. e-Pub 1997. PMID: 9815583.
- Peng D, Fan Z, Lu Y, DeBlasio T, Scher H, Mendelsohn J. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody 225 up-regulates p27KIP1 and induces G1 arrest in prostatic cancer cell line DU145. Cancer Res 56:3666-3669, 1996. e-Pub 1996. PMID: 8706005.
- Wu X, Rubin M, Fan Z, DeBlasio T, Soos T, Koff A, Mendelsohn J. Involvement of p27KIP1 in G1 arrest mediated by an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody. Oncogene 12:1397-403, 1996. e-Pub 1996. PMID: 8622855.
- Fan Z, Lu Y, Wu X, DeBlasio A, Koff A, Mendelsohn J. Prolonged induction of p21Cip1/WAF1/CDK2/PCNA complex by epidermal growth factor receptor activation mediates ligand-induced A431 cell growth inhibition. J Cell Biol 131:235-242, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7559780.
- Tang ZY, Yu YQ, Zhou XD, Ma ZC, Yang BH, Lin ZY, Lu JZ, Liu KD, Fan Z, Zeng ZC. Treatment of unresectable primary liver cancer: with reference to cytoreduction and sequential resection. World J Surg 19:47-52, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7740810.
- Wu X, Fan Z, Masui H, Rosen N, Mendelsohn J. Apoptosis induced by an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody in a human colorectal carcinoma cell line and its delay by insulin. J Clin Invest 95:1897-1905, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7706497.
- Fan Z, Lu Y, Wu X, Mendelsohn J. Antibody-induced epidermal growth factor receptor dimerization mediates inhibition of autocrine proliferation of A431 squamous carcinoma cells. J Biol Chem 269:27595-27602, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 7961676.
- Tang Z, Yu Y, Zhou X, Ma Z, Liu K, Lu J, Lin Z, Zeng Z, Fan Z, Yang B, Xie H. The role of targeting therapy in cytoreduction and sequential resection of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin J Cancer Res 6:24-30, 1994. e-Pub 1994.
- Fan Z, Baselga J, Masui H, Mendelsohn J. Antitumor effect of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies plus cis-diamminedichloroplatinum on well-established A431 cell xenografts. Cancer Res 53:4637-4642, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8402640.
- Fan Z, Mendelsohn J, Masui H, Kumar R. Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in NIH3T3/HER14 cells by antireceptor monoclonal antibodies. J Biol Chem 268:21073-21079, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8407944.
- Fan Z, Masui H, Altas I, Mendelsohn J. Blockade of epidermal growth factor receptor function by bivalent and monovalent fragments of 225 anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies. Cancer Res 53:4322-4328, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8364927.
- Tang Z, Liu K, Fan Z, Lu J, Zhang Y, Bao Y, Zeng Z, Zhou D, Tang W, Xia X, Yang R, Li J, Wei C, Wu B, Lin Z, Ma Z, Zhou X, Yu Y, Yang B, Zhao H, Xie H, Schroder CH, Arosio P. A decade's studies on the immunotargeting therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Antibody Immunoconj Radiophar 6:155-165, 1993. e-Pub 1993.
- Liu K, Tang Z, Lu J, Fan Z, Yu Y. [Evaluation of radioimmunotherapy in the multimodality treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)]. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 14:430-2, 1992. e-Pub 1992. PMID: 1338985.
- Fan Z, Tang Z, Liu K, Zhou D, Lu J, Yuan A, Zhao H. Radioiodinated anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ferritin. Targeting therapy, tumor imaging and anti-antibody response in HCC patients with hepatic arterial infusion. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 118:371-376, 1992. e-Pub 1992. PMID: 1316355.
- Tang Z, Liu K, Fan Z, Lu J, Hou Z, Zhao H, Chen S, Yuan A, Zhou Y, Yang K, Wu Y. Tumor imaging and target therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. China Cancer 1:24-26, 1992. e-Pub 1992.
- Fan Z, Tang Z, Zhou X, Arosio P. Analysis of ferritin from human hepatoma and liver by ferritin H and L subunit specific monoclonal antibodies. Tumor (Shanghai) [Chinese] 11:3-4, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Tang Z, Yu Y, Zhou X, Ma Z, Lu J, Liu K, Lin Z, Yang B, Fan Z, Hou Z, Zhang M. Cytoreduction and sequential resection for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor (Shanghai) [Chinese] 11:145-147, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Tang ZY, Yu YQ, Zhou XD, Ma ZC, Lu JZ, Liu KD, Lin ZY, Yang BH, Fan Z, Hou Z. Cytoreduction and sequential resection: a hope for unresectable primary liver cancer. J Surg Oncol 47:27-31, 1991. e-Pub 1991. PMID: 2023418.
- Fan Z, Yuan A, Tang Z, Zhao H. Radioimmunoimaging of hepatocellular carcinoma using anti-ferritin antibodies. Chin J Digestion 11:193-195, 1991. e-Pub 1991.
- Tang ZY, Liu KD, Bao YM, Lu JZ, Yu YQ, Ma ZC, Zhou XD, Yang R, Gan YH, Lin ZY, Fan Z, Hou Z. Radioimmunotherapy in the multimodality treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with reference to second-look resection. Cancer 65:211-5, 1990. e-Pub 1990. PMID: 1688507.
- Fan Z, Tang Z, Yuan A, Zhao H. Radioimmunoimaging of primary liver cancer in patients with radioiodinated anti-human hepatocellular carcinoma isoferritin antibody. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 17:405-408, 1990. e-Pub 1990.
- Fan Z, Tang Z, Liu K, Yi Q, Zhang Z. Factors influencing the effects of radioimmunotherapy of liver cancer. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 17:426-430, 1990. e-Pub 1990.
- Fan Z, Zhou X, Gu H, Zhang R, Wang Y. Anti-lactate dehydrogenase-C4 (LDH-C4) antibody-induced immuno-contraception in female rats. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 17:81-84, 1990. e-Pub 1990.
- Tang Z, Liu K, Fan Z, Lu J, Zhang Y, Hou Z, Bao Y, Zhou D, Tang W, Xia X, Yang Y, Yu Z, Lin Z, Ma Z, Zhou X, Yu Y, Yang B, Zhao H, Yuan A, Zhou Y. Radioimmunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: experimental and clinical studies. Tumor (Shanghai) [Chinese] 10:241-244, 1990. e-Pub 1990.
- Zhou D, Tang Z, Fan Z. Detection of anti-antibody in the sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following radioimmunotherapy. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 17:451-453, 1990. e-Pub 1990.
- Fan Z, Zhou X, Zhang R, Gu H, Wang Y. Purification and immunospecificity analysis of rat sperm lactate dehydrogenase-C4 (LDH-C4). Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 16:253-258, 1989. e-Pub 1989.
- Fan Z, Zhou X, Gu H, Zhang R, Wang Y. Immunohistochemical localization of lactate-dehydrogenase-C4 (LDH-C4) in the different stages of rat sperm. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai [Chinese] 16:423-426, 1989. e-Pub 1989.
Invited Articles
- Andratschke NH, Dittmann KH, Mason KA, Fan Z, Liao Z, Komaki R, Ang KK, Milas L. Epidermal growth factor receptor as a target to improve treatment of lung cancer. Clin Lung Cancer 5:340-52, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15217533.
- Milas L, Fan Z, Andratschke NH, Ang KK. Epidermal growth factor receptor and tumor response to radiation: in vivo preclinical studies. (Monograph). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 58:966-71, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 14967457.
- Fan Z, Mendelsohn J. Therapeutic application of anti-growth factor receptor antibodies. (Review). Curr Opin Oncol 10:67-73, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9466487.
- Fan Z. Sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme LDH-C4 and immuno-contraception. [Chinese] (Review). Current Overseas Medicine 6:78-82, 1989. e-Pub 1989.
Review Articles
- Fan Z. Bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy: evolution of structural formats and co-targeting strategies from wet-lab to AI-driven in silico modeling. Cancer Lett 653:218578, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42134491.
Editorials
- Fan, Z. Co-phagocytosis by bispecific antibodies, a novel strategy for targeted degradation of soluble factors in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Letters 639, 2026. PMID: 41475534.
- Mendelsohn J, Fan Z. Epidermal growth factor receptor family and chemosensitization. J Natl Cancer Inst 89(5):341-3, 1997. PMID: 9060954.
Book Chapters
- Milas L, Fan Z, Mason KA, Ang KK. Role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its inhibition in radiotherapy. In: Modification of Radiation Response. Springer-Verlag, 189-204, 2003.
- Mendelsohn J, Baird A, Fan Z, Markowitz S. Growth factors and their receptors in epithelial malignancies. In: Molecular Basis of Cancer. 2nd edition. WB Saunders, 137-161, 2001.
- Fan Z, Mendelsohn J. Breast cancer therapy with antibodies to EGF receptor and HER-2/neu. In: Contemporary Cancer Research Series: Breast Cancer. Humana Press, 419-436, 1999.
- Mendelsohn J, Baselga J, Wu X, Peng D, Brown C, Chou JL, Masui H, Fan Z. EGF receptor inhibition by antibody as anticancer therapy. In: EGF receptor in tumor growth and progression. Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop 19, Springer-Verlag, 234-251, 1997.
- Mendelsohn J, Fan Z, Baselga J. Combination therapy with cisplatinum and EGF receptor blockade. In: Platinum and other metal coordination compounds in cancer chemotherapy-2. Plenum Press, 155-163, 1996.
- Tang Z, Yu Y, Zhou X, Ma Z, Yang B, Lin Z, Lu J, Liu K, Fan Z, Zeng Z. B1.An analysis of 55 patients with cytoreduction and sequential resection for surgically verified unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. In: Progress on catheterization and stage-resection in hepatoma. Jiangxi Science & Technology Publishing House, 140-148, [Chinese], 1994.
Patents
- Fan Z, Lu Y, Qiu S. BI-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AND USE THEREOF, 2025. Patent Number: US 2025/0074992 A1.
- Fan Z, Lu Y, Qiu S. VHS FORMAT BI-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR HERZ AND VEGF AND USE THEREOF. Patent Number: US 12,168,691 B2.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 08, 2026