Honami Naora, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Division of Discovery Science
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor (with tenure), Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Division of Discovery Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Faculty member, Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center/UT Health
Research Interests
Research Interests
- Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation
- Metastatic Organotropism
- Immune and Non-Immune Cell Dynamics
- Tumor-Host Interactions
- Peritoneal Metastasis
Research in the Naora Laboratory is directed to investigating the mechanisms of metastatic organotropism, with a focus on cellular dynamics in peritoneal metastasis. Whereas metastasis to various distal sites occurs through the blood circulation or lymphatic system, ovarian cancers and several other types of abdominal cancers often disseminate through the interstitial fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
A common destination site of cancer cells that disseminate intraperitoneally is the omentum, an immune cell-rich fatty tissue that drapes from stomach. For decades, metastasis to the omentum has been regarded as a passive process that is governed by peritoneal fluid flow. However, we have discovered that metastatic tropism for the omentum is actively orchestrated by early-stage primary tumors. Our ongoing research seeks to address the following fundamental biological questions and unmet clinical needs.
1. The omentum contains a high abundance of immune cell structures called fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALCs) that play a critical role in eliminating pathogens from the peritoneal cavity. Paradoxically, cancer cells that shed into the peritoneal fluid are highly prone to form implants in omental FALCs. A major objective of our research is to understand why these FALCs do not effectively defend against cancer cells.
2. Metastasis to the omentum leads to bowel obstruction. Omentectomy is the standard of care but it is difficult to resect the omentum in its entirety. By investigating the cellular dynamics in the omentum and peritoneal cavity, our ultimate goal is to develop strategies that can minimize the risk of colonization of preserved omental tissues by occult cancer cells.
3. Omental metastasis is often detected after a bulky mass has formed. By delineating the mechanisms that orchestrate formation of the pre-metastatic niche in the omentum, our ultimate goal is to identify approaches that can detect tumors at an early, pre-metastatic stage.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1994 | The Australian National University, Canberra, AU, Medical Sciences, Ph.D |
| 1990 | The Australian National University, Canberra, AU, Biochemistry, B.S. with First-Class Honors |
Postgraduate Training
| 1999-2000 | Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland |
| 1997-1998 | Research Fellowship, Institut Pasteur, Paris |
| 1994-1997 | Research Fellowship, The Australian National University, Canberra |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2022
Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Systems Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2013
Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Department of Systems Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004 - 2007
Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2002 - 2004
Research Associate (Research faculty appointment), Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2000 - 2002
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Board of Directors, Board member, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering, Princeton, NJ, 2022 - Present
Scientific Advisory Board, Member, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Melbourne, 2022 - Present
Advisory Board, Member, HERA Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Boulder, CO, 2002 - 2009
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Promotion and Tenure Committee (Research), 2024 - Present
Chair, Education Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2024 - Present
Member, GSBS Program Directors Committee, 2024 - Present
Member, Molecular & Cellular Oncology Chair Search Advisory Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, Graduate Education Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, GSBS Program Directors Committee, 2022 - 2024
Member, Faculty Workload Survey Working Group, 2022 - 2022
Member, Faculty Appraisal Working Group, 2022 - 2022
Member, Institutional Strategic Plan Breakthroughs Cohorts 2 Committee, 2022 - 2022
Member, Education & Training Internal Advisory Board, 2022 - 2023
Senator (Molecular & Cellular Oncology), Faculty Senate, 2022 - Present
Co-Chair, Education Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2021 - 2024
Member, Research Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2021 - 2022
Member, Faculty Advisory Committee for Postdoctoral Fellows, 2021 - 2022
Member, Research Enablement, Activities and Conduct Team (REACT), 2021 - Present
Senator (Molecular & Cellular Oncology), Faculty Senate, 2020 - 2022
Member, Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2020 - 2022
Member, Faculty Achievements Awards Committee, 2020 - 2020
Member, Faculty Achievement Awards Committee, 2019 - 2019
Member, GSBS Academic Standards Committee, 2018 - 2021
Member, Institutional Research Grants Scientific Review Committee, 2017 - 2020
Reviewer, INTEREST- Internal Review Study Section, 2017 - 2017
Member, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Faculty Membership Subcommittee, 2017 - 2017
Senator (Molecular & Cellular Oncology), Faculty Senate, 2017 - 2020
Chair, Alfred G. Knudson Award Review Committee, 2015 - 2015
Senator (Molecular & Cellular Oncology), Faculty Senate, 2013 - 2016
Member, Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, 2013 - 2014
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, 2013 - 2014
Member, John P. McGovern Award Committee, 2012 - 2012
Member, T.C. Hsu Scholarship Committee, 2012 - 2012
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Research Awards Committee, 2011 - 2013
Senator (Systems Biology), Faculty Senate, 2010 - 2013
Chair, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, International Students Admissions Subcommittee, 2009 - 2011
Member, Institutional Research Grants Scientific Review Committee, 2007 - 2010
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, 2006 - 2011
Honors & Awards
| Janet Elspeth Crawford Prize, The Australian National University | |
| Australian Postgraduate Research Award, Commonwealth Government of Australia | |
| Today's Life Science Award, Australian Society for Medical Research | |
| Sidaction Fellowship, Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale, France | |
| Research Fellowship Award, Prevent Cancer Foundation (formerly Cancer Research Foundation of America) | |
| Eagle Award for Scientific Achievement, Cancer Fighters of Houston | |
| Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Award, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund | |
| Honoree, Education & Mentorship Advancement, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Lee W, Ko SY, Akasaka H, Weigert M, Lengyel E, Naora H. Neutrophil extracellular traps promote pre-metastatic niche formation in the omentum by expanding innate-like CD43+ B cells that express IL-10. Cancer Cell 43(1):69-85, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39753138.
- Welsh JA, Goberdhan D, O'Driscoll L, Buzas E, Blenkiron C, Bussolati B, Cai H, Di Vizio D, Driedonks T, Erdbrügger U, Falcon-Perez J, Fu Q, Hill AF, Lenassi M, Kiang S, Lim SK, Mahoney MG, Mohanty S, Möller A, Nieuwland R, Ochiya T, Sahoo S, Torrecilhas A, Zheng L, Zijlstra A, Bergese P, Bridges EM, Brucale M, Burger D, Carney RP, Cocozza F, Cocucci E, Colombo F, Crescitelli R, Hanser E, Harris AH, Haughey NJ, Hendrix A, Ivanov AR, Kruh-Garcia NA, Kyburz D, Lässer C, Lötvall J, Martens E, Mizenko RR, Newman LA, Ridolfi A, Rohde E, Rojalin T, Rowland A, Sandau U, Saugstad J, Shekari F, Swift S, Ter-Ovanesyan D, Tosar J, Useckaite Z, Valle F, van Herwijnen M, Wauben M, Wehman A, Williams S, Zendrini A, Zimmerman A, Consortium M, Théry C, Witwer KW. Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): from basic to advanced approaches. J Extracell Vesicles 13(None):e12451, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38326288.
- Ko SY, Lee W, Weigert M, Jonasch E, Lengyel E, Naora H. The glycoprotein CD147 defines miRNA-enriched extracellular vesicles that derive from cancer cells. J Extracell Vesicles 12(4):e12318, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36973758.
- Akasaka H, Lee W, Ko SY, Lengyel E, Naora H. Normal saline remodels the omentum and stimulates its receptivity for transcoelomic metastasis. JCI Insight 8(None):e167336, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37345662.
- Lee W, Ko SY, Mohamed MSE, Kenny HA, Lengyel E, Naora H. Neutrophils facilitate ovarian cancer pre-metastatic niche formation in the omentum. J Exp Med 216(1):176-194, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30567719.
- Ko SY, Lee W, Kenny HA, Dang LH, Ellis LM, Jonasch E, Lengyel E, Naora H. Cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles promote angiogenesis by heparin-bound, bevacizumab-insensitive VEGF, independent of vesicle uptake. Commun Biol 2(None):386, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31646189.
- Trinh B, Ko SY, Haria D, Barengo N, Naora H. The homeoprotein DLX4 controls inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated angiogenesis in ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer 14:e97, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25924901.
- Haria D, Trinh BQ, Ko SY, Barengo N, Liu J, Naora H. The homeoprotein DLX4 stimulates NF-κB activation and CD44-mediated tumor-mesothelial cell interactions in ovarian cancer. Am J Pathol 185(None):2298-2308, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26067154.
- Trinh BQ, Barengo N, Kim SB, Lee JS, Zweidler-McKay PA, Naora H. The homeobox gene DLX4 regulates erythro-megakaryocytic differentiation by stimulating IL-1β and NF-κB signaling. J Cell Sci 128:3055-3067, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26208636.
- Ko SY, Naora H. HOXA9 promotes homotypic and heterotypic cell interactions that facilitate ovarian cancer dissemination via its induction of P-cadherin. Mol Cancer 13:170-178, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25023983.
- Ko SY, Ladanyi A, Lengyel E, Naora H. Expression of the homeobox gene HOXA9 in ovarian cancer induces peritoneal macrophages to acquire an M2 tumor-promoting phenotype. Am J Pathol 184:271-281, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24332016.
- Usui A, Ko SY, Barengo N, Naora H. P-cadherin promotes ovarian cancer dissemination through tumor cell aggregation and tumor-peritoneum interactions. Mol Cancer Res 12:504-513, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24448686.
- Trinh BQ, Ko SY, Barengo N, Lin SY, Naora H. Dual functions of the homeoprotein DLX4 in modulating responsiveness of tumor cells to topoisomerase II-targeting drugs. Cancer Res 73:1000-1010, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23222298.
- Ko SY, Barengo N, Ladanyi A, Lee JS, Marini F, Lengyel E, Naora H. HOXA9 promotes ovarian cancer growth by stimulating cancer-associated fibroblasts. J Clin Invest 122:3603-3617, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22945634.
- Trinh BQ, Barengo N, Naora H. Homeodomain protein DLX4 counteracts key transcriptional control mechanisms of the TGF-β cytostatic program and blocks the antiproliferative effect of TGF-β. Oncogene 30:2718-2729, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21297662.
- Ko SY, Lengyel E, Naora H. The Müllerian HOXA10 gene promotes growth of ovarian surface epithelial cells by stimulating epithelial-stromal interactions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 317:112-119, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20036708.
- Zheng J, Chang B, Yang G, Rosen DG, Mills GB, Naora H, Auersperg N, Malpica A, Liu J. Induction of high grade serous carcinoma in human ovarian surface epithelial cells using combined genetic elements and peritoneal microenvironment. Cell Cycle 9:140-145, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20016289.
- Ko SY, Guo H, Barengo N, Naora H. Inhibition of ovarian cancer growth by a tumor-targeting peptide that binds eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E. Clin Cancer Res 15:4336-4347, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19458052.
- Hara F, Samuel S, Liu J, Rosen D, Langley RR, Naora H. A homeobox gene related to Drosophila Distal-less promotes ovarian tumorigenicity by inducing expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-2. Am J Pathol 170:1595-1606, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17456765.
- Yoshida H, Broaddus R, Cheng W, Xie S, Naora H. Deregulation of the HOXA10 homeobox gene in endometrial carcinoma: Role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cancer Res 66:889-897, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16424022.
- Cheng W, Liu J, Yoshida H, Rosen D, Naora H. Lineage infidelity of epithelial ovarian cancers is controlled by HOX genes that specify regional identity in the reproductive tract. Nat Med 11:531-537, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15821746.
- Yoshida H, Liu J, Samuel S, Cheng W, Rosen D, Naora H. Steroid receptor coactivator-3, a homolog of Taiman that controls cell migration in the Drosophila ovary, regulates migration of human ovarian cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 245:77-85, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16298470.
- Silver DL, Naora H, Liu J, Cheng W, Montell DJ. Activated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3: localization in focal adhesions and function in ovarian cancer cell motility. Cancer Res 64:3550-3558, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15150111.
- Yoshida H, Cheng W, Hung J, Montell D, Geisbrecht E, Rosen D, Liu J, Naora H. Lessons from border cell migration in the Drosophila ovary: A role for myosin VI in dissemination of human ovarian cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:8144-8149, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15146066.
- Naora H, Yang Y, Montz FJ, Seidman JD, Kurman RJ, Roden RBS. A serologically identified tumor antigen encoded by a homeobox gene promotes growth of ovarian epithelial cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:4060-4065, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11274429.
- Naora H, Montz FJ, C-Y C, Roden RBS. Aberrant expression of homeobox gene HOXA7 is associated with müllerian-like differentiation of epithelial ovarian tumors and the generation of a specific autologous antibody response. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:15209-15214, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11742062.
- Russell L, Naora H, Naora H. Down-regulated RPS3a/nbl expression during retinoid-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells: a close association with diminished susceptibility to actinomycin D-stimulated apoptosis. Cell Struct Func 25(None):103-113, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10885580.
- Naora H, Gougeon ML. Interleukin-15 is a potent survival factor in the prevention of spontaneous but not CD95-induced apoptosis in CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes of HIV-infected individuals. Correlation with its ability to increase bcl-2 expression. Cell Death Differentiation 6(None):1002-1011, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10556978.
- Naora H, Gougeon ML. Enhanced survival and potent expansion of the natural killer cell population of HIV-infected individuals by exogenous interleukin-15. Immunol Letts 68(None):359-367, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10424444.
- Naora H, Gougeon ML. Activation, survival and apoptosis of CD45RO+ and CD45RO- T cells of HIV-infected individuals: Effects of interleukin-15 and comparison with interleukin-2. Immunology 97(None):181-187, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10447730.
- Naora H, Nishida T, Shindo Y, Adachi M, Naora H. Antisense sequences of the nbl gene induce apoptosis in the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. Leukemia 12(None):532-541, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9557612.
- Naora H, Seno S, Naora H. Regulation of tumor growth as a 'total mass' in mice: Apoptosis as a major mechanism in altering growth rates of single and multiple, co-existing tumor nodules. Pathol Int 48(None):730-738, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9778112.
- Sorimachi K, Naora H, Akimoto K, Niwa A, Naora H. Multinucleation and preservation of nucleolar integrity of macrophages. Cell Biol Int 22(None):351-357, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 10198155.
- Naora H, Takai I, Adachi M, Naora H. Altered cellular responses by varying expression of a ribosomal protein gene: Sequential coordination of enhancement and suppression of ribosomal protein S3a gene expression induces apoptosis. J Cell Biol 141(None):741-753, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9566973.
- Naora H, Nishida T, Shindo Y, Adachi M, Naora H. Constitutively enhanced nbl expression is associated with the induction of internucleosomal DNA cleavage by actinomycin D. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 224(None):258-264, 1996. e-Pub 1996. PMID: 8694823.
- Naora H, Naora H. Differential expression patterns of β-actin mRNA in cells undergoing apoptosis. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 211(None):491-496, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7794260.
- Naora H, Young IG. Comparison of the mechanisms regulating IL-5, IL-4 and three other lymphokine genes in the Th2 clone D10.G4.1. Exp Hematol 23(None):597-602, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7601249.
- Minamide S, Naora H, Adachi M, Okano A, Naora H. Apoptosis as a mechanism of skin renewal: Ley-antigen expression is involved in an early event of a cell's commitment to apoptosis. Histochemistry 103(None):339-343, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7543813.
- Naora H, Nishida T, Shindo Y, Adachi M, Naora H. Association of nbl gene expression and glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in mouse thymus in vivo. Immunology 85(None):63-68, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7635523.
- Naora H, Altin JG, Young IG. TCR-dependent and -independent signaling mechanisms differentially regulate lymphokine gene expression in the murine T helper clone D10.G4.1. J Immunol 152(None):5691-5702, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 7911489.
- Naora H, Young IG. Mechanisms regulating the mRNA levels of interleukin-5 and two other coordinately expressed lymphokines in the murine T lymphoma EL4.23. Blood 83(None):3620-3628, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 8204886.
- Naora H, Van Leeuwen BH, Bourke PF, Young IG. Functional role and signal-induced modulation of proteins recognizing the conserved TCATTT-containing promoter elements in the murine IL-5 and GM-CSF genes in T lymphocytes. J Immunol 153(None):3466-3475, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 7930569.
Invited Articles
- Ko SY, Lee W, Naora H. Harnessing microRNA-enriched extracellular vesicles for liquid biopsy. Front Mol Biosci 11(None):1356780, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38449696.
- Akasaka H, Naora H. Revisiting the use of normal saline for peritoneal washing in ovarian cancer. Int J Mol Sci 24(None):16449, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38003636.
- Ko SY, Naora H. Extracellular vesicle membrane-associated proteins: emerging roles in tumor angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis therapy resistance. Int J Mol Sci 21:5418, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32751440.
- Lee W, Naora H. Neutrophils fertilize the pre-metastatic niche. Aging 11:6624-6625, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31509520.
- Ko SY, Naora H. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the ovarian tumor stroma. World J Clin Cases 2:194-200, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24945005.
- Ko SY, Naora H. Adaptation of ovarian cancer cells to the peritoneal environment: Multiple mechanisms of the developmental patterning gene HOXA9. Cancer Cell Microenv 1:e379, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 26000332.
- Naora H. Heterotypic cellular interactions in the ovarian tumor microenvironment: Biological significance and therapeutic implications. Front Oncol 4:18-24, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24567915.
- Haria D, Naora H. Homeobox gene deregulation: Impact on the hallmarks of cancer. Cancer Hallm 1:67-76, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24761365.
- Naora H. A peptide-based approach to inhibit the translational machinery in tumors. Chemistry Today 28:26-28, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: None.
- Naora H. The heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancers: reconciling old and new paradigms. Expert Rev Mol Med 9:1-12, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17477890.
- Naora H, Montell DJ. Ovarian cancer metastasis: Integrating insights from disparate model organisms. Nat Rev Cancer 5:355-366, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15864277.
- Naora H. Developmental patterning in the wrong context: The paradox of epithelial ovarian cancers. Cell Cycle 4:86-88, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16082202.
- Samuel S, Naora H. Homeobox gene expression in cancer: Insights from developmental regulation and deregulation. Eur J Cancer 41:2428-2437, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16199152.
- Gougeon ML, Ledru E, Naora H, Bocchino M, Lecoeur H. HIV, cytokines and programmed cell death. A subtle interplay. Ann NY Acad Sci 926(None):30-45, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 11193039.
- Naora H, Naora H. Involvement of ribosomal proteins in regulating cell growth and apoptosis: Translational modulation or recruitment for extraribosomal activity?. Immunol Cell Biol 77(None):197-205, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10361251.
Book Chapters
- Naora H. Heterotypic cellular interactions in the ovarian tumor microenvironment. In: Advances in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Model Systems, Microenvironmental Influences, Therapy & Origins. None. Frontiers, 2016.
- Trinh BQ, Naora H. Homeobox genes and their functional significance in ovarian tumorigenesis. In: Ovarian Cancer: Basic Science Perspective. None. In-Tech Publishing, 2012.
- Hennessy BT, Carey M, Naora H, Mills GB. Ovarian Cancer: Molecular, Cellular and Clinical Biology. In: Ovarian Cancer: State of the Art. None. Remedica Medical Education & Publishing, 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified February 20, 2025