Jae-Il Park, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
The overarching goal of our research program is to understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration by employing genetically engineered mice and organoids. Our recent investigations have aimed to address two critical questions: Is cell plasticity a therapeutic vulnerability of cancer? Can manipulating cell plasticity promote tissue regeneration, or prevent tissue damage?
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2006 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, US, Ph.D. in Genes and Development (advisor: Pierre D. McCrea, PhD) |
| 2001 | Korea University, Seoul, M.S. in Molecular Biology (advisor: Sung-Gil Chi, PhD) |
| 1999 | Korea University, Seoul, BS in Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2006-2010 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2016 - 2022
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2010 - 2016
Institutional Committee Activities
Committee Member, CCSG Program Income Advisory Committee, 2023 - Present
Faculty Senator, The Faculty Senate, 2016 - 2018
Committee member, Admission Committee - The University of Texas - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2015 - 2018
Committee member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 2015 - 2021
Committee member, Faculty Academic Review Committee, 2015 - Present
Honors & Awards
| Freshman Special Scholarship, Korea University | |
| Honors Scholarships, Korea University | |
| Magna Cum Laude, Korea University | |
| Research Achievement Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Travel Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Travel Award, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health Science Center | |
| Research Achievement Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Rosalie B. Hite Fellowship, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Grady Saunders Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center | |
| Presidents' Scholar Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and UT Health Science Center | |
| Dean's Fellowship, Stanford School of Medicine | |
| Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center Fellowship, Stanford School of Medicine | |
| Rising STARS Award, University of Texas | |
| AACR - Career Development Award, PANCAN | |
| CCSG New Faculty Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center | |
| CPRIT Scholar | |
| DOD CDMRP Career Development Award | |
| Plenary Award, IMKASID |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Kim B, Huang Y, Ko K, Zhang S, Zou G, Zhang J, Kim MJ, Little D, Ellis LV, Paschini M, Jun S, Park K, Chen J, Kim C, Park J. PCLAF-DREAM Drives Alveolar Cell Plasticity for Lung Regeneration. Nature Communications None(None):None, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39448571.
- Feng X, Yang C, Huang Y, Su D, Wang C, Wilson LL, Yin L, Tang M, Li S, Chen Z, Zhu D, Wang S, Zhang S, Zhang J, Zhang H, Nie L, Huang M, Park JI, Hart T, Jiang D, Jiang K, Chen J. In vivo CRISPR screens identify Mga as an immunotherapy target in triple-negative breast cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 121(39):e2406325121, 2024. PMID: 39298484.
- Kim, B, Zhang, S, Huang, Y, Ko, KP, Jung, Y, Jang, J, Zou, G, Zhang, J, Jun, S, Kim, KB, Park, KS, Park, J. CRACD loss induces neuroendocrine cell plasticity of lung adenocarcinoma. Cell Reports 43(6), 2024. PMID: 38796854.
- Ko K, Zhang S, Huang Y, Kim B, Zou G, Jun S, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Martin C, Dunbar KJ, Efe G, Rustgi AK, Nakagawa H, Zhang H, Liu Z, Park J. Tumor Niche Network-Defined Subtypes Predict Immunotherapy Response of Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer. iScience 27(5):None, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38741711.
- Zou, G, Huang, Y, Zhang, S, Ko, KP, Kim, B, Zhang, J, Venkatesan, V, Pizzi, M, Fan, Y, Jun, S, Niu, N, Wang, H, Song, S, Ajani, JA, Park, J. E-cadherin loss drives diffuse-type gastric tumorigenesis via EZH2-mediated reprogramming. J Exp Med 221(4), 2024. PMID: 38411616.
- Ko KP, Huang Y, Zhang S, Zou G, Kim B, Zhang J, Jun S, Martin C, Dunbar KJ, Efe G, Rustgi AK, Nakagawa H, Park JI. Key Genetic Determinants Driving Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Initiation and Immune Evasion. Gastroenterology 165(3):613-628.e20, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37257519.
- Zhang S, Lee SH, Nie L, Huang Y, Zou G, Jung YS, Jun S, Zhang J, Lien EM, Chen J, Park JI. Lysosomal TMEM9-LAMTOR4-controlled mTOR signaling integrity is required for mammary tumorigenesis. Cancer Communications 43(1):159-163, 2023. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36336962.
- Kim KB, Kim DW, Kim Y, Tang J, Kirk N, Gan Y, Kim B, Fang B, Park JL, Zheng Y, Park KS. WNT5A-RHOA Signaling Is a Driver of Tumorigenesis and Represents a Therapeutically Actionable Vulnerability in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer Research 82(22):4219-4233, 2022. PMID: 36102736.
- Ko, KP, Zhang, J, Park, J. Establishing transgenic murine esophageal organoids. STAR Protocols 3(2), 2022. PMID: 35496812.
- Kim KB, Kabra A, Kim DW, Xue Y, Huang Y, Hou PC, Zhou Y, Miranda LJ, Park JI, Shi X, Bender TP, Bush JH, Park KS. KIX domain determines a selective tumor-promoting role for EP300 and its vulnerability in small cell lung cancer. Science Advances 8(7), 2022. PMID: 35171684.
- Zheng B, Ko KP, Fang X, Wang X, Zhang J, Jun S, Kim BJ, Luo W, Kim MJ, Jung YS, Cervantes CL, Park JI. A new murine esophageal organoid culture method and organoid-based model of esophageal squamous cell neoplasia. iScience 24(12):103440, 2021. PMID: 34877497.
- Kim MJ, Cervantes C, Jung YS, Zhang X, Zhang J, Lee SH, Jun S, Litovchick L, Wang W, Chen J, Fang B, Park JI. PAF Remodels the DREAM Complex to Bypass Cell Quiescence and Promote Lung Tumorigenesis. Mol Cell 81(8):1698-1714.e6, 2021. PMID: 33626321.
- Jung YS, Stratton SA, Lee SH, Kim MJ, Jun S, Zhang J, Zheng B, Cervantes CL, Cha JH, Barton MC, Park JI. TMEM9-v-ATPase Activates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling via APC Lysosomal Degradation for Liver regeneration and Tumorigenesis. Hepatology 73(2):776-794, 2021. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32380568.
- Kim HK, Bae J, Lee SH, Hwang SH, Kim MS, Kim MJ, Jun S, Cervantes CL, Jung YS, Back S, Lee H, Lee SE, Dougherty PM, Lee SW, Park JI, Abdi S. Blockers of Wnt3a, Wnt10a, or β-Catenin Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain In Vivo. Neurotherapeutics 18(1):601-614, 2021. PMID: 33128175.
- Shen X, Wang R, Kim MJ, Hu Q, Hsu CC, Yao J, Klages-Mundt N, Tian Y, Lynn E, Brewer TF, Zhang Y, Arun B, Gan B, Andreeff M, Takeda S, Chen J, Park JI, Shi X, Chang CJ, Jung SY, Qin J, Li L. A Surge of DNA Damage Links Transcriptional Reprogramming and Hematopoietic Deficit in Fanconi Anemia. Mol Cell 80(6):1013-1024.e6, 2020. PMID: 33338401.
- Jung YS, Jun S, Kim MJ, Lee SH, Suh HN, Lien EM, Jung HY, Lee S, Zhang J, Yang JI, Ji H, Wu JY, Wang W, Miller RK, Chen J, McCrea PD, Kopetz S, Park JI. TMEM9 promotes intestinal tumorigenesis through vacuolar-ATPase-activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Nature Cell Biology 20(12):1421-1433, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30374053.
- Jung YS, Wang W, Jun S, Zhang J, Srivastava M, Kim MJ, Lien EM, Shang J, Chen J, McCrea PD, Zhang S, Park JI. Deregulation of CRAD-controlled cytoskeleton initiates mucinous colorectal cancer via β-catenin. Nature Cell Biology 20(11):1303-1314, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30361697.
- Kim MJ, Xia B, Suh HN, Lee SH, Jun S, Lien EM, Zhang J, Chen K, Park JI. PAF-Myc-Controlled Cell Stemness Is Required for Intestinal Regeneration and Tumorigenesis. Developmental Cell 44(5):582-596.e4, 2018. PMID: 29533773.
- Suh HN, Kim MJ, Jung YS, Lien EM, Jun S, Park JI. Quiescence Exit of Tert+ Stem Cells by Wnt/β-Catenin Is Indispensable for Intestinal Regeneration. Cell Reports 21(9):2571-2584, 2017. PMID: 29186692.
- Suh HN, Jun S, Oh AY, Srivastava M, Lee S, Taniguchi CM, Zhang S, Lee WS, Chen J, Park BJ, Park JI. Identification of KIAA1199 as a Biomarker for Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Scientific Reports 6:38273, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27922049.
- Jun S, Jung YS, Suh HN, Wang W, Kim MJ, Oh YS, Lien EM, Shen X, Matsumoto Y, McCrea PD, Li L, Chen J, Park JI. LIG4 mediates Wnt signaling-induced radioresistance. Nature Communications 7:10994, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27009971.
- Wang X, Jung YS, Jun S, Lee S, Wang W, Schneider A, Sun Oh Y, Lin SH, Park BJ, Chen J, Keyomarsi K, Park JI. PAF-Wnt Signaling-Induced Cell Plasticity Is Required for Maintenance of Breast Cancer Cell Stemness. Nature Communications doi:10.1038/ncomms10633:10633, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26843124.
- Jung YS, Jun S, Lee SH, Sharma A, Park JI. Wnt2 complements Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer. Oncotarget 6(35)(35):37257-68, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26484565.
- Wang W, Li X, Lee M, Jun S, Aziz KE, Feng L, Tran MK, Li N, McCrea PD, Park JI, Chen J. FOXKs Promote Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling by Translocating DVL into the Nucleus. Developmental Cell 32(6):707-18, 2015. PMID: 25805136.
- Lee M, Ji H, Furuta Y, Park JI, McCrea PD. P120-catenin regulates REST/CoREST, and modulates mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. J Cell Sci 127(Pt 18):4037-51, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25074806.
- Jun S, Lee SH, Kim HC, Ng C, Schneider AM, Ji H, Ying H, Wang H, DePinho RA, Park JI. PAF-Mediated MAPK Signaling Hyperactivation via LAMTOR3 Induces Pancreatic Tumorigenesis. Cell Reports 21(None):2571-2584, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24209743.
- Jung HY, Jun S, Lee M, Kim HC, Wang X, Ji H, McCrea PD, Park JI. PAF and EZH2 Induce Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Hyperactivation. Molecular Cell 52(2):193-205, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24055345.
- Wang X, Singh S, Jung HY, Yang G, Jun S, Sastry KJ, Park JI. HIV-1 Vpr Inhibits Telomerase Activity Via EDD-DDB1-VPRB3 E3 Ligase Complex. J Biol Chem 288(22):15474-80, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23612978.
- Jung HY, Wang X, Jun S, Park JI. Dyrk2-Associated EDD-DDB1-VprBP E3 Ligase Inhibits Telomerase by TERT Degradation. J Biol Chem 288(10):7252-62, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23362280.
- Wang W, Huang J, Wang X, Yuan J, Li X, Feng L, Park JI, Chen J. PTPN14 is required for the density-dependent control of YAP1. Genes Dev 26(17):1959-71, 2012. PMID: 22948661.
- Hong JY, Park JI, Lee M, Muñoz WA, Miller RK, Ji H, Gu D, Ezan J, Sokol SY, McCrea PD. Down's-syndrome-related kinase Dyrk1A modulates the p120-catenin-Kaiso trajectory of the Wnt signaling pathway. J Cell Sci 125(Pt 3):561-9, 2012. PMID: 22389395.
- Hong JY, Park JI, Cho K, Gu D, Ji H, Artandi SE, McCrea PD. Shared molecular mechanisms regulate multiple catenin proteins: canonical Wnt signals and components modulate p120-catenin isoform-1 and additional p120 subfamily members. J Cell Sci 123(Pt 24):4351-4365, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21098636.
- Park JI, Venteicher AS, Hong JY, Choi J, Jun S, Shkreli M, Chang W, Meng Z, Cheung P, Ji H, McLaughlin M, Veenstra TD, Nusse R, McCrea PD, Artandi SE. Telomerase modulates Wnt signaling by association with target gene chromatin. Nature 460(7251):66-72, 2009. PMID: 19571879.
- Lyons JP, Miller RK, Zhou X, Weidinger G, Deroo T, Denayer T, Park JI, Ji H, Hong JY, Li A, Moon RT, Jones EA, Vleminckx K, Vize PD, McCrea PD. Requirement of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in pronephric kidney development. Mech Dev 126(3-4):142-59, 2009. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19100832.
- Park JI, Ji H, Jun S, Gu D, Hikasa H, Li L, Sokol SY, McCrea PD. Frodo links Dishevelled to the p120-catenin/Kaiso pathway: distinct catenin subfamilies promote Wnt signals. Developmental Cell 11(5):683-95, 2006. PMID: 17084360.
- Park JI, Kim SW, Lyons JP, Ji H, Nguyen TT, Cho K, Barton MC, Deroo T, Vleminckx K, Moon RT, McCrea PD. Kaiso/p120-catenin and TCF/beta-catenin complexes coordinately regulate canonical Wnt gene targets. Developmental Cell 8(6):843-54, 2005. PMID: 15935774.
- Kim SW, Park JI, Spring CM, Sater AK, Ji H, Otchere AA, Daniel JM, McCrea PD. Non-canonical Wnt signals are modulated by the Kaiso transcriptional repressor and p120-catenin. Nature Cell Biology 6(12):1212-20, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15543138.
- Fang X, Ji H, Kim SW, Park JI, Vaught TG, Anastasiadis PZ, Ciesiolka M, McCrea PD. Vertebrate development requires ARVCF and p120 catenins and their interplay with RhoA and Rac. J Cell Biol 165(1):87-98, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15067024.
- Park JI, Lee MG, Cho K, Park BJ, Chae KS, Byun DS, Ryu BK, Park YK, Chi SG. Transforming growth factor-beta1 activates interleukin-6 expression in prostate cancer cells through the synergistic collaboration of the Smad2, p38-NF-kappaB, JNK, and Ras signaling pathways. Oncogene 22(28):4314-32, 2003. PMID: 12853969.
- Byun DS, Cho K, Ryu BK, Lee MG, Park JI, Chae KS, Kim HJ, Chi SG. Frequent monoallelic deletion of PTEN and its reciprocal association with PIK3CA amplification in gastric carcinoma. Int J Cancer 104(3):318-27, 2003. PMID: 12569555.
- Park BJ, Park JI, Byun DS, Park JH, Chi SG. Mitogenic conversion of transforming growth factor-beta1 effect by oncogenic Ha-Ras-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in human prostate cancer. Cancer Res 60(11):3031-8, 2000. PMID: 10850453.
- Kang MJ, Park BJ, Byun DS, Park JI, Kim HJ, Park JH, Chi SG. Loss of imprinting and elevated expression of wild-type p73 in human gastric adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 6(5):1767-71, 2000. PMID: 10815895.
- Jung Y, Kim M, Suh HN, Lee SH, Jun S, Zhang J, Cervantes C, Johnson RL, Park AJ. Yap/Taz-activated Tert+ acinar cells are indispensable for pancreatic regeneration. Nature Communications. PMID: None.
Invited Articles
- Zou G, Park JI. WNT Signaling in Liver Regeneration, Disease, and Cancer. Clin Mol Hepatol 29(1):33-50, 2023. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35785913.
- Kim MJ, Huang Y, Park JI. Targeting Wnt Signaling for Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy: Present and Evolving Views. Cancers (Basel) 12(12), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33291655.
- Jung YS, Park JI. Wnt signaling in cancer: therapeutic targeting of Wnt signaling beyond β-catenin and the destruction complex. Exp Mol Med 52(2):183-191, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32037398.
- McCrea PD, Park JI. Developmental functions of the P120-catenin sub-family. Biochim Biophys Acta 1773(1):17-33, 2007. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16942809.
Editorials
- Jung YS, Kim MJ, Park JI. LncGata6-controlled stemness in regeneration and cancer. Noncoding RNA Investig 3, 2019. PMID: 30775691.
Abstracts
- Park JI, Venteicher AS, Hong JY, Jun S, Meng Z, Chang W, JI Ht JI, Veenstra, TD, Nusse R, McCrea PD Artandi SE. Telomerase is a ß-catenin cofactor in the Wnt signaling pathway. American Association for Cancer Research, San Francisco, 2007. PMID: None.
- Lyons JP, Zhou X, Weidinger G, Denayer T, Park JI, Hong J, Deroo T, Jones EA, Moon RT, Vleminckx K, Vise PD McCrea PD. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is required for pronephric kidney tubule development. Society for Molecular Imaging, 5th Annual Meeting, Hawaii, 2006. PMID: None.
- Park J, Ji H, Jun S, Li L, Hikasa H, Sokol SY, McCrea PD. Frodo links dishevelled to the p120-catenin/Kaiso pathway: Members of distinct catenin sub-families promote Wnt signals in vertebrate development. Society for Developmental Biology, 65th Annual Meeting, Ann Arbor, MI, 2006. PMID: None.
- Daniel JM, Park J, Donaldson NS, Ji H, McCrea PD. The POZ-ZFa transcription factor xZNF131: Roles in xenopus neurogenesis and p120ctn/Kaiso signaling?. Society for Developmental Biology, 65th Annual Meeting, AnnArbor, MI, 2006. PMID: None.
- Park, JI, Lyons, JP, Ji H, Nguyen TT, Barton MC, Vleminckx K McCrea PD. Kaiso/p120-catenin and TCF/ß complexes coordinately regulate canonical Wnt gene targets. Society for Developmental Biology, 64th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 2005. PMID: None.
- Park JI, Lyons JP, Ji H, Nguyen TT, Cho K, Barton MC, DeRoo T, Vleminckx K, Moon, RT, McCrea PD. Convergence of p120-catenin/Kaiso and ß-catenin/TCF gene regulation. Wnt signalling in Development, Disease and Cell Biology, Aberdeen, Scotland, 2005. PMID: None.
- Park JI, Kim SW, Lyons, JP, Ji H, Nyguyen TT, Cho K, Barton MC, DeRoot T, Vleminckx K, Moon RT, McCrea PD. Kaiso/p120-catenin and TCF/ß-catenin complexes coordinately regulate canonical Wnt gene targets important in development and cancer progression. International Society for Developmental Biology congress, Sydney, Australia, 2005. PMID: None.
Book Chapters
- Huang Y, Zhang S, Park JI. Nuclear Actin Dynamics in Gene Expression, DNA Repair, and Cancer. In: Results Probl Cell Differ. Nature Springer, 625-663, 2022.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | NeuralCODR Training Program |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | CO-I |
| Title: | Mechanisms of Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer Initiation |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Mentor |
| Title: | CRACD-controlled cell plasticity and small cell lung cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Calcium metabolism and lung cancer preneoplasia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer Initiation and Immune Landscape Remodeling |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Cell Lineage Plasticity in Lung Preneoplasia |
| Funding Source: | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | PAF-Remodeled DREAM Complex in Cancer and Regeneration |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified January 21, 2025