Ge Zhou, PhD, MS, BS
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Zhou
I am a research faculty at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery. One of my major research interests is to understand the molecular mechanisms of genetic alterations (e.g. TP53 mutations) that contribute to the pathogenesis and tumor progression of head and neck cancer. My research interests also include identification of new signaling pathways and molecular targets for targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Research, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Our long-term goals are to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involving head & neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression, and identifying possible signaling pathways and molecules in mediating tumor progression that could serve as biomarkers for early detection or potential targets for clinical intervention. Research interests are:
1. Focusing on the study of functional roles of S100A7 (a small calcium-binding protein) and mutant p53 in the tumorigenesis and tumor development of HNSCC. O ur studies have revealed that S100A7 is a potential negative modulator for the Wnt/β-catenin signaling which plays an important role in epithelial-mysenchymal transition (EMT) during tumor progression. In addition, our research also indicated that p53 mutants gain function to induce genomic instability and promote tumorigenesis by actively disrupting DNA damage check point and modulating the response to metabolic stress in HNSCC.
2. Developing different in vitro and in vivo strategies to further delineate and investigate the mechanisms involved in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, DNA repair and cancer cell metabolisms as well as other signaling pathways by S100A7 and mutant p53 in HNSCC.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1998 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, PHD, Molecular and Cellular Biology |
| 1987 | Xiamen University, Xiamen, CHN, MS, Cell Biology |
| 1984 | Xiamen University, Xiamen, CHN, BS, Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2000-2003 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 1998-2000 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 1992-1998 | Ph.D. Student, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1987-1992 | Research Assistant, Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming |
| 1984-1987 | M. S. Student, Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian |
Honors & Awards
| 1999 | Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship for Prostate Cancer Research, U. S. Army |
| 1998 | The Alfred G. Knudson Jr. Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Cancer Research, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ju WT, Ma HL, Zhao TC, Liang SY, Zhu DW, Wang LZ, Li J, Zhang ZY, Zhou G, Zhong LP. Stathmin guides personalized therapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Sci 111(4):1303-1313, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31994271.
- Ma H, Yang W, Zhang L, Liu S, Zhao M, Zhou G, Wang L, Jin S, Zhang Z, Hu J. Interferon-alpha promotes immunosuppression through IFNAR1/STAT1 signalling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 120(3):317-330, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30555157.
- Tanaka N, Zhao M, Tang L, Patel AA, Xi Q, Van HT, Takahashi H, Osman AA, Zhang J, Wang J, Myers JN, Zhou G. Gain-of-function mutant p53 promotes the oncogenic potential of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting the transcription factors FOXO3a and FOXM1. Oncogene 37(10):1279-1292, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29269868.
- Ma H, Jin S, Yang W, Zhou G, Zhao M, Fang S, Zhang Z, Hu J. Interferon-alpha enhances the antitumour activity of EGFR-targeted therapies by upregulating RIG-I in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 118(4):509-521, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29348488.
- Ren G, Jv H, Tian Z, Gvetadze SR, Hu J, Zhao M, Zhou G, Zhang C, Zhang Z. Ultrasound hyperthermia induces apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An in vitro study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 22(3):e289-e296, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28390119.
- Ma H, Jin S, Yang W, Tian Z, Liu S, Wang Y, Zhou G, Zhao M, Gvetadze S, Zhang Z, Hu J. Interferon-α Promotes the Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Cancer 8(12):2384-2393, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28819442.
- Tanaka N, Patel AA, Wang J, Frederick MJ, Kalu NN, Zhao M, Fitzgerald AL, Xie TX, Silver NL, Caulin C, Zhou G, Skinner HD, Johnson FM, Myers JN, Osman AA. Wee-1 Kinase Inhibition Sensitizes High-Risk HPV+ HNSCC to Apoptosis Accompanied by Downregulation of MCl-1 and XIAP Antiapoptotic Proteins. Clin Cancer Res 21(21):4831-44, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26124202.
- Liang J, Xu ZX, Ding Z, Lu Y, Yu Q, Werle KD, Zhou G, Park YY, Peng G, Gambello MJ, Mills GB. Myristoylation confers noncanonical AMPK functions in autophagy selectivity and mitochondrial surveillance. Nat Commun 6:7926, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26272043.
- Zhou G, Myers JN. Mutant p53 exerts oncogenic functions by modulating cancer cell metabolism. Mol Cell Oncol 1(3):e963441, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 27308343.
- Zhou G, Wang J, Zhao M, Xie TX, Tanaka N, Sano D, Patel AA, Ward AM, Sandulache VC, Jasser SA, Skinner HD, Fitzgerald AL, Osman AA, Wei Y, Xia X, Songyang Z, Mills GB, Hung MC, Caulin C, Liang J, Myers JN. Gain-of-function mutant p53 promotes cell growth and cancer cell metabolism via inhibition of AMPK activation. Mol Cell 54(6):960-74, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24857548.
- Ren G, Hu J, Wang R, Han W, Zhao M, Zhou G, Zhang C, Zhang Z. Rapamycin inhibits Toll-like receptor 4-induced pro-oncogenic function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Rep 31(6):2804-10, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24737049.
- Henderson YC, Toro-Serra R, Chen Y, Ryu J, Frederick MJ, Zhou G, Gallick GE, Lai SY, Clayman GL. Src inhibitors in suppression of papillary thyroid carcinoma growth. Head Neck 36(3):375-84, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23729178.
- Xie TX, Zhou G, Zhao M, Sano D, Jasser SA, Brennan RG, Myers JN. Serine substitution of proline at codon 151 of TP53 confers gain of function activity leading to anoikis resistance and tumor progression of head and neck cancer cells. Laryngoscope 123(6):1416-23, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23625637.
- Sano D, Berlin JM, Pham TT, Marcano DC, Valdecanas DR, Zhou G, Milas L, Myers JN, Tour JM. Noncovalent assembly of targeted carbon nanovectors enables synergistic drug and radiation cancer therapy in vivo. ACS Nano 3(6):2497-505, 2012. PMID: 22316245.
- Sandulache VC, Skinner HD, OW TJ, Zhang A, Xia X Luchak JM, Wong LJ, Pickering CR, Zhou G, Myers JN. Individualizing antimetabolic treatment strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on TP53 mutations status. Cancer 3(118):711-21, 2012. PMID: 21720999.
- Sano D, Xie TX, Ow TJ, Zhao M, Pickering CR, Zhou G, Sandulache VC, Wheeler DA, Gibbs RA, Caulin C, Myers JN. Disruptive TP53 mutation is associated with aggressive disease characteristics in an orthotopic murine model of oral tongue cancer. Clin Cancer Res 17(21):6658-70, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21903770.
- Sandulache VC, OW TJ, Pickering CR, Frederick MJ, Zhou G, Fokt I, Davis-Malesevich M, Priebe W, Myers JN. Glucose, not Glutamine is the dominant energy source required for proliferation and survival of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells. Cancer 13(117):2926-38, 2011. PMID: 21692052.
- Gule MK, Chen Y, Sano D, Frederick MJ, Zhou G, Zhao M, Milas ZL, Galer CE, Henderson YC, Jasser SA, Schwartz DL, Bankson JA, Myers JN, Lai SY. Targeted therapy of VEGFR2 and EGFR significantly inhibits growth of anaplastic thyroid cancer in an orthotopic murine model. Clin Cancer Res 17(8):2281-91, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21220477.
- Kupferman ME, Jiffar T,El-NaggarA, Yilmaz T, Zhou G, Xie T, Feng L, Wang J, Holsinger FC, Yu D, Myers JN. TrkB induces EMT and has a key role in invasion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncogene 29(14):2047-59, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20101235.
- Sano D, Choi S, Milas ZL, Zhou G, Galer CE, Su YW, Gule M, Zhao M, Zhu Z, Myers JN. The effect of combination anti-endothelial growth factor receptor and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 targeted therapy on lymph node metastasis: a study in an orthotopic nude mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 135(4):411-20, 2009. PMID: 19380367.
- Kupferman ME, Jayakumar A, Zhou G, Xie T, Dakak-Yazici Y, Zhao M, Ju J, Mandal M, Jasser S, Madden T, Myers JN, Priebe W. Therapeutic suppression of constitutive and inducible JAK\STAT activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Exp Ther Oncol 8(2):117-27, 2009. PMID: 20192118.
- Zhou G, Xie TX, Zhao M, Jasser SA, Younes MN, Sano D, Lin J, Kupferman ME, Santillan AA, Patel V, Gutkind JS, Ei-Naggar AK, Emberley ED, Watson PH, Matsuzawa SI, Reed JC, Myers JN. Reciprocal negative regulation between S100A7/psoriasin and beta-catenin signaling plays an important role in tumor progression of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. Oncogene 27(25):3527-38, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18223693.
- Kupferman ME, Patel V, Sriuranpong V, Amornphimoltham P, Jasser SA, Mandal M, Zhou G, Wang J, Coombes K, Multani A, Pathak S, Silvio Gutkind J, Myers JN. Molecular analysis of anoikis resistance in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 43(5):440-454, 2006. PMID: 16978912.
- Park YW, Younes MN, Jasser SA, Yigitbasi OG, Zhou G, Bucana CD, Bekele BN, Myers JN. AEE788, a dual tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor, induces endothelial cell apoptosis in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Clin Cancer Res 11(5):1963-73, 2005. PMID: 15756022.
- Schiff BA, McMurphy AB, Jassar SA, Younes SA, Doan D, Yigitbasi OG, Kim S, Zhou G, Madal M, BekeleBN, Holsingger FC, Sherman SI, Yeung SC, EI-Naggar AK, Myers JN. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in anaplastic thyroid cancer, and the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib inhibits the growth of anaplastic thyroid cancer. Clin Cancer Res 10(24):8594-602, 2004. PMID: 15623643.
- Zhou G, Hashimoto Y, Kwak I Tsai s, Tsai M-J. Role of steroid receptor coactivator SRC-3 in cell growth. Mol. Cell Biol 23(21):7742-55, 2003. PMID: 14560019.
- Pereira, FA, Qiu, Y, Zhou G, Tsai, M- Jand Tsai, SY. The orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII is required for angiogenesis and heart development. Genes & Dev 13:1037-1049, 1999. PMID: 10215630.
- Zhou G, Kuo MT. Wild-type p53-mediated induction of rat mdr1b expression by the anticancer drug daunorubicin. J Biol Chem 273(25):15387-94, 1998. PMID: 9624121.
- Zhou G, Kuo MT. NF-kappaB-mediated induction of mdr1b expression by insulin in rat hepatoma cells. J Biol Chem 272(24):15174-83, 1997. PMID: 9182539.
- Zhou G, Song R, Kuo MT. A novel cis-acting element is involved in the promoter activity of the rat mdr1b gene. Cell Growth Differ 7(10):1369-81, 1996. PMID: 8891341.
- Song R, Ikeguchi M, Zhou G, Kuo MT. Identification and characterization of a hepatoma cell-specific enhancer in the mouse multidrug resistance mdr1b promoter. J Biol Chem 270(43):25468-74, 1995. PMID: 7592715.
Invited Articles
- Zhou G, Liu Z, Myers JN. TP53 Mutations in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Their Impact on Disease Progression and Treatment Response. J Cell Biochem 117(12):2682-2692, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27166782.
Abstracts
- Mei Zhao, Tianxiao Wang, Frederico O. Gleber-Netto, Zhen Chen, Daniel J. McGrail, Javier A. Gomez, Wutong Ju, Mayur A. Gadhikar, Wencai Ma, Li Shen, Ximing Tang, Sen Pathak, Maria Gabriela Raso, Jared K. Burks, Shiaw-Yih Lin, Jing Wang, Asha S. Multani7, Curtis R. Pickering, Junjie Chen, Jeffrey N. Myers & Ge Zhou . Mutant p53 gains oncogenic functions through a chromosomal instability-induced cytosolic DNA response. AACR 2023 Annual Meeting, April 14-19, 2023, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2023.
- Mei Zhao, Tianxiao Wang, Chen Zen, Mayur Arvind Gadhikar, Jing Wang, Curtis R Pickering, Junjie Chen, Jeffrey N. Myers, Ge Zhou . Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 Predisposes Head and Neck Keratinocytes and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells to Replicative Stress and Genomic Instability Through Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 5. AACR Annual meeting 2019, March 29-April 3, 2019, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 2019.
- Tanaka N, Zhao M, Tang L, Patel AA, Xi Q, Van HT, Takahashi H, Osman AA, Zhang J Wang J, Zhou G, Myers JN. Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 Promotes the Oncogenic Potential of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Targeting the Transcription Factors FOXO3a and FOXM1. AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference, San Diego, CA, 2017.
- Zhou G, Wang J, Zhao M, Xie T-X, Liang J, Mills GB, Hung M-C, Caulin C, Myers JN. Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 Promotes Cancer Cell Metabolism via Inhibition of AMPK Activation. 15th International p53 Workshop, Stockholm, 2014.
- Zhou G, Wang J, Zhao M, Xie T-X, Liang J, Tanaka N, Sano D, Ward AM, Sandulache V, Jasser SA, Patel AA, Skinner HD, Fitzgerald AL, Osman AA, Wei Y, Zhang A, Xia X, Songyang Z, Mills GB, Hung M-C, Caulin C, Myers JN. Gain-of-Function Mutant p53 Promotes Cell Growth and Cancer Cell Metabolism via Inhibition of AMPK Activation. 6th International Mutant p53 Workshop, Toronto, Canada, 2013.
- Sano D, Ow TJ, Zhao M, Pickering C, Xie TX, Zhou G, Wheeler DA, Gibbs RA, Caulin C, Myers JN. Disruptive and non-functional p53 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are assocaited with agressive tumor behavior in an orthotopic animal model of oral tongue cancer. 15th International p53 Workshop, 2010.
- OW TJ, Sano D, Sandulache V, Pickering CR, Skinner H, Zhao M, Xie TX, Zhou G, Myers JN. p53 gain-of-function mutation can increase aggressive features in metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 15th Internatinal p53 Workshop, 2010.
- Zhou G, Wang J, Sano D, Xie TX, Zhao M, OW RJ, Xiong S, Lozano G, Myers JN. Gain-of function p53 mutants inhibit AMPK signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 15th Internatinal p53 Workshop, 2010.
- Zhou G, Xie T, Zhao M, Jasser S, Younce M, Kupferman M, Santillan A, Patel V, Gutkind S, El-Naggar A, Emberley E, Watson P, Matsuzawa S, Reed J, Myers J.. Reciprocal negative regulation between psoriasin/S100A7 and β-Catenin signaling plays an important role in tumor progression of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. AACR Annual Meeting 2008, 2008.
- Kupferman M, Zhou G, Ju J, El-Naggar A, Yu D, Myers J. Critical role of TrkB for invasion and EMT in HNSCC. AACR Annual Meeting 2008, 2008.
- Gule M, Sano D, Milas Z, Zhou G, Galer C, Zhao, Jasser S, Myers J. ZD6474 Causes Significant Inhibition of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in an Orthotopic Murine Model. 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancers 2008, 2008.
- Xie T, Zhou G, Zhao M, Jasser S, Myers J. A mutant p53 promotes anoikis resistance by down-regulating Bmf in oral squamous carcinoma cells. 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancers 2008, 2008.
- Zhou G, Xie T, Zhao M, Jasser S, Sano D, Kupferman M, El-Naggar A, Gutkind J, Reed J, Myers J. Reciprocal negative regulation between S100A7/psoriasin and β-Cantenin signaling in SCCOC tumor progression. 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancers 2008, 2008.
- Sano D, Choi S, Milas ZL, Zhou G, Zhao M, Su Y, Galer CE, Gule M, Jasser SA, Myers JN. The effect of combined EGFR and VEGFR-2 targeted therapy on orthotopic xenografts of SCCOT. 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancers, 2008.
- Zhou G, Zhao M, Xie T, Jasser SA, Myers JN. Gain of function of p53 mutations disrupt the ATM-mediated DNA damage response in HNSCC cell lines. 7th Internatinal Conference on Head and Neck Cancers, 2008.
- Xie TX, Zhou G, Zhao M, Lozano G, Xiong S, Brennan R, Myers JN. Serine substitution of proline at codon 151 of TP53 leads to anoikis resistance soft agar growth and enhanced in vivo tumorigenicity of head and neck cancer cells and a putative conformational change within a hydrophobic subdomain of the p53 protein. 4th International Workshop on Mutant p53, 2008.
- Zhou G, Mandal M, Jasser SA, Zhao M, Dakak-Yazici Y, Xie T-X, Younes MN, Kupferman ME, Patel V, Gutkind JS, EI-Naggar, AK, Emberley ED, Watson PH, Bucana CD, and Myers JN. S100A7 Modulates E-cadherin/B-catenin Signaling and Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Tumor Invasion and Progression of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma. AACR Annual Meeting 2007, 2007.
- Younes M, Zhou G, Jasser S, Zhao M, Myers JN. In vivo imaging of primary recurrence and cervical lymph node metastases in an orthotopic nude mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Combined Otolaryngological Spring Meeting, 2007.
- Sano D, Choi S, Cheung M, Zhou G, Xie T, Zhao M, Myers J. The effect of vandetanib, a VEGFR-2 and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in an orthotopic nude mouse model of human adenoid cystic carcinoma. Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics 2007, 2007.
- Zhou G, Mandal M, Jasser S, Yigitbasi O, Patel V, Gutkind S, Wang J, Coombes K, Emberley ED, Watson PH, El-Naggar A, Younes MHittelman WN, Myers JN. S100A7 mediates anoikis resistance and tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. . 10th SCBA International Symposium. Beijing, China, 2004.
- Zhou G, Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Sophia YTsai, Ming-Jer Tsai. Roles of steroid rceptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) in prostate cancer cell growth. 94th Annual Meeting of American Association for Cancer Research. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2003.
Book Chapters
- Zhou G, Myers J. Wnt/β-Catenin signaling and oral cancer metastasis. In: Oral Cancer Metastasis. Chapter 11. Springer Science and Business Media, 231-264, 2009.
- Zhou J, Zhou G and Cai H. Eukaryotic gene regulation. In: Molecular Cell Biology. Chapter 10. Beijing Medical College and Peking Union Medical College Publishing House, 180-210, 1990.
- Zhou G. Cytoskeleton: Microfilament and intermediate filament. In: Molecular Cell Biology. Chapter 14. Beijing Medical College and Peking Union Medical College Publishing House, 277-310, 1990.
- Zhou G and Cai H. Cytoskeleton: Microtuble. In: Molecular Cell Biology. Chapter 13. Beijing Medical College and Peking Union Medical College Publishing House, 252-276, 1990.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Targeting GOF mutp53-induced non-canonical NF-κB signaling with mRNA nanotherapy |
| Funding Source: | IRG |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Gain-of-Function Roles of TP53 Mutations in Promotion of Chromosomal Instability, Metastasis, and Immunoevasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDCR |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Gain-of-Function Roles of TP53 Mutations in Promotion of Chromosomal Instability, Metastasis, and Immunoevasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | IRG |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Progression and Metastasis of Oral Tongue Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDCR |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Mutant p53 gains oncogenic functions through a cytosolic DNA response |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |