Ya'an Kang, MD, PHD
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Ya'an Kang
I joined Dr. Jason Fleming’s lab in 2006, we started pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patient tumor direct xenograft (PDX) projects as one of the earlier establishment of PDX in nations. With the PDX projects, I have made significant contributions in understanding PDAC progression versus microenvironment, and treatment strategy. Along with our PDX project I was broad utility of PDX models to establish new and unique pancreatic cell lines and ex-vivo chemo-sensitivity assay. I was the major contributors in generating PDX and PDAC cell lines projects that including a unique ex vivo live tissue sensitivity assay (LTSA), in which precision-cut and uniform small tissue slices derived from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma PDX tumors were arrayed in a 96-well plate and screened against clinically relevant regimens within 3-5 days. I started to establish PDAC organoid projects from PDX tumors, and surgical specimens, and FNA samples. I created Organoid-Based Platform (OBP) a novel ex vivo platform including an Organoid Drug Sensitivity Assay (ODSA) and IF 3D imaging analysis. The OBP would quickly screen chemo drugs sensitivity from patient samples, and hope it could indicate patient outcome and aid personalized treatment in pancreatic cancer. I joined Dr. Priebe’s lab in 2019, and I can quickly use these validated models and platform to screen his novel anti-cancer agents.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of GI Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of GI Oncology-Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1994 | Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, CN, Medicine, Ph.D |
| 1991 | Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, CN, Medicine, Master of Medicine in Medicine |
| 1984 | Xi'an Medical School, Xi'an, CN, Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine in Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2006-2010 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2002-2004 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2021 - 2024
Instructor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2021
Instructor, Department of Surgical Oncology - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2019
Other Professional Positions
Research investigator, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004 - 2006
Visiting Scientist, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1999 - 2002
Assistant Professor, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi'an, 1997 - 1999
Research Assistant, Biomedical Institute of Xiangya Medical University, Hunan, 1997
Surgery Physician, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi'an, 1991 - 1997
Research Assistant, Institute of organ transplantation Tong Ji Medical University, Wuhan, 1991
Residency Surgeon, The Second affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi'an, 1988 - 1991
Residency Surgeon, People’s Hospital of Shaanxi Prov, Xi'an, 1984 - 1988
Honors & Awards
| 1999 | Advanced Progressive Award in Science and Technology, Government of Shaanxi Prov |
| 1999 | Advanced Progressive Award in Science and Technology, The third award, Government of Xi’an City |
| 1998 | Advanced Progressive Award in Science and Technology, The second award, Educational Committee of Shaanxi Prov. Memberships |
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Title of Proposal / Grant ApplicationDevelopment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft and Micro-Organoid Models to Advance Precision Therapy for Patients with Peritoneal Mesothelioma |
| Funding Source: | DOD |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | HT942525RCRPIDA |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | OPTIMA: Oncology Precision Trials using Individualized Model Avatars |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1R01OD041802-01 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | OPTIMA: Oncology Precision Trials using Individualized Model Avatars |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1UM1TR006048-01 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2022 |
| Title: | A Clinical Validation Center for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1U01CA200468-01 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2017 |
| Title: | Concerted targeting the STAT3/HIF-1α Oncogenic Axis in Pancreatic Cancer, |
| Funding Source: | Skip Viragh Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 12114664 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2013 |
| Title: | Gemcitabine Delivery into Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Tissue |
| Funding Source: | Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2011 - 2012 |
| Title: | Transforming growth factor-beta/Smad4 pathway control of N-cadherin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | N/A |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Fu, J, Ling, J, Li, CF, Tsai, C, Yin, W, Hou, J, Chen, P, Cao, Y, Kang, Y, Sun, YC, Xia, X, Jiang, Z, Furukawa, K, Lu, Y, Wu, M, Huang, Q, Yao, J, Hawke, DH, Pan, BF, Zhao, J, Huang, J, Wang, H, Bahassi, EI, Stambrook, PJ, Huang, P, Fleming, JB, Maitra, A, Tainer, J, Hung, MC, Lin, C, Chiao, PJ. Nardilysin-regulated scission mechanism activates polo-like kinase 3 to suppress the development of pancreatic cancer. Nature communications 15(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38605037.
- Kang Y, Deng J, Ling J, Li X, Chiang YJ, Koay EJ, Wang H, Burks JK, Chiao PJ, Hurd MW, Bhutani MS, Lee JH, Weston BR, Maitra A, Ikoma N, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, DePinho RA, Wolff RA, Pant S, McAllister F, Katz MH, Fleming JB, Kim MP. 3D imaging analysis on an organoid-based platform guides personalized treatment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Clin Invest 132(24), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36282600.
- Chen Y, Capello M, Rios Perez MV, Vykoukal JV, Roife D, Kang Y, Prakash LR, Katayama H, Irajizad E, Fleury A, Ferri-Borgogno S, Baluya DL, Dennison JB, Do KA, Fiehn O, Maitra A, Wang H, Chiao PJ, Katz MHG, Fleming JB, Hanash SM, Fahrmann JF. CES2 sustains HNF4α expression to promote pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression through an epoxide hydrolase-dependent regulatory loop. Mol Metab 56:101426, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34971802.
- Wörmann SM, Zhang A, Thege FI, Cowan RW, Rupani DN, Wang R, Manning SL, Gates C, Wu W, Levin-Klein R, Rajapakshe KI, Yu M, Multani AS, Kang Y, Taniguchi CM, Schlacher K, Bellin MD, Katz MHG, Kim MP, Fleming JB, Gallinger S, Maddipati R, Harris RS, Notta F, Ross SR, Maitra A, Rhim AD. APOBEC3A drives deaminase domain-independent chromosomal instability to promote pancreatic cancer metastasis. Nat Cancer 2(12):1338-1356, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 35121902.
- Deng J, Kang Y, Cheng CC, Li X, Dai B, Katz MH, Men T, Kim MP, Koay EA, Huang H, Brekken RA, Fleming JB. DDR1-induced neutrophil extracellular traps drive pancreatic cancer metastasis. JCI Insight 6(17), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34237033.
- Yan L, Tu B, Yao J, Gong J, Carugo A, Bristow CA, Wang Q, Zhu C, Dai B, Kang Y, Han L, Feng N, Jin Y, Fleming J, Heffernan TP, Yao W, Ying H. Targeting Glucose Metabolism Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer to MEK Inhibition. Cancer Res 81(15):4054-4065, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34117030.
- Kim MP, Li X, Deng J, Zhang Y, Dai B, Allton KL, Hughes TG, Siangco C, Augustine JJ, Kang Y, McDaniel JM, Xiong S, Koay EJ, McAllister F, Bristow CA, Heffernan TP, Maitra A, Liu B, Barton MC, Wasylishen AR, Fleming JB, Lozano G. Oncogenic KRAS Recruits an Expansive Transcriptional Network through Mutant p53 to Drive Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Discov 11(8):2094-2111, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33839689.
- Dai B, Augustine JJ, Kang Y, Roife D, Li X, Deng J, Tan L, Rusling LA, Weinstein JN, Lorenzi PL, Kim MP, Fleming JB. Compound NSC84167 selectively targets NRF2-activated pancreatic cancer by inhibiting asparagine synthesis pathway. Cell Death Dis 12(7):693, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34247201.
- Sun L, Zhang X, Song Q, Liu L, Forbes E, Tian W, Zhang Z, Kang Y, Wang H, Fleming JB, Pasche BC, Zhang W. IGFBP2 promotes tumor progression by inducing alternative polarization of macrophages in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through the STAT3 pathway. Cancer Lett 500:132-146, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33309859.
- Capello M, Fahrmann JF, Rios Perez MV, Vykoukal JV, Irajizad E, Tripathi SC, Roife D, Bantis LE, Kang Y, Kundnani DL, Xu H, Prakash LR, Long JP, Katayama H, Fleury A, Ferri-Borgogno S, Baluya DL, Dennison JB, Aguilar-Bonavides C, Casabar JP, Celiktas M, Do KA, Fiehn O, Maitra A, Wang H, Feng Z, Chiao PJ, Katz MH, Fleming JB, Hanash SM. CES2 Expression in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Is Predictive of Response to Irinotecan and Is Associated With Type 2 Diabetes. JCO Precis Oncol 4:426-436, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 35050739.
- Shan T, Chen S, Chen X, Wu T, Yang Y, Li S, Ma J, Zhao J, Lin W, Li W, Cui X, Kang Y. M2-TAM subsets altered by lactic acid promote T-cell apoptosis through the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway. Oncol Rep 44(5):1885-1894, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33000216.
- Bradley SD, Talukder AH, Lai I, Davis R, Alvarez H, Tiriac H, Zhang M, Chiu Y, Melendez B, Jackson KR, Katailiha A, Sonnemann HM, Li F, Kang Y, Qiao N, Pan BF, Lorenzi PL, Hurd M, Mittendorf EA, Peterson CB, Javle M, Bristow C, Kim M, Tuveson DA, Hawke D, Kopetz S, Wolff RA, Hwu P, Maitra A, Roszik J, Yee C, Lizée G. Vestigial-like 1 is a shared targetable cancer-placenta antigen expressed by pancreatic and basal-like breast cancers. Nat Commun 11(1):5332, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33087697.
- Mesmar F, Dai B, Ibrahim A, Hases L, Jafferali MH, Jose Augustine J, DiLorenzo S, Kang Y, Zhao Y, Wang J, Kim M, Lin CY, Berkenstam A, Fleming J, Williams C. Clinical candidate and genistein analogue AXP107-11 has chemoenhancing functions in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through G protein-coupled estrogen receptor signaling. Cancer Med 8(18):7705-7719, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31568691.
- Mottini C, Tomihara H, Carrella D, Lamolinara A, Iezzi M, Huang JK, Amoreo CA, Buglioni S, Manni I, Robinson FS, Minelli R, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Kim MP, Bristow CA, Trisciuoglio D, Iuliano A, Del Bufalo D, Di Bernardo D, Melisi D, Draetta GF, Ciliberto G, Carugo A, Cardone L. Predictive Signatures Inform the Effective Repurposing of Decitabine to Treat KRAS-Dependent Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 79(21):5612-5625, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31492820.
- Tu B, Yao J, Ferri-Borgogno S, Zhao J, Chen S, Wang Q, Yan L, Zhou X, Zhu C, Bang S, Chang Q, Bristow CA, Kang Y, Zheng H, Wang H, Fleming JB, Kim M, Heffernan TP, Draetta GF, Pan D, Maitra A, Yao W, Gupta S, Ying H. YAP1 oncogene is a context-specific driver for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. JCI Insight 4(21), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31557131.
- Kazi A, Xiang S, Yang H, Chen L, Kennedy P, Ayaz M, Fletcher S, Cummings C, Lawrence HR, Beato F, Kang Y, Kim MP, Delitto A, Underwood PW, Fleming JB, Trevino JG, Hamilton AD, Sebti SM. Dual Farnesyl and Geranylgeranyl Transferase Inhibitor Thwarts Mutant KRAS-Driven Patient-Derived Pancreatic Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 25(19):5984-5996, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31227505.
- Rios Perez MV, Roife D, Dai B, Pratt M, Dobrowolski R, Kang Y, Li X, Augustine JJ, Zielinski R, Priebe W, Fleming JB. Antineoplastic effects of auranofin in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma preclinical models. Surg Open Sci 1(2):56-63, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 33981979.
- Kailass K, Sadovski O, Capello M, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Hanash SM, Beharry AA. Measuring human carboxylesterase 2 activity in pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenografts using a ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor. Chem Sci 10(36):8428-8437, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31803422.
- Yu M, Nguyen ND, Huang Y, Lin D, Fujimoto TN, Molkentine JM, Deorukhkar A, Kang Y, San Lucas FA, Fernandes CJ, Koay EJ, Gupta S, Ying H, Koong AC, Herman JM, Fleming JB, Maitra A, Taniguchi CM. Mitochondrial fusion exploits a therapeutic vulnerability of pancreatic cancer. JCI Insight 5(16), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31335325.
- Dutta P, Perez MR, Lee J, Kang Y, Pratt M, Salzillo TC, Weygand J, Zacharias NM, Gammon ST, Koay EJ, Kim M, McAllister F, Sen S, Maitra A, Piwnica-Worms D, Fleming JB, Bhattacharya PK. Combining Hyperpolarized Real-Time Metabolic Imaging and NMR Spectroscopy To Identify Metabolic Biomarkers in Pancreatic Cancer. J Proteome Res 18(7):2826-2834, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31120258.
- Shan T, Chen S, Chen X, Lin W, Li W, Ma J, Wu T, Cui X, Li W, Kang Y, Yang W. Association of family history of tumors with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 28(4):258-267, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31145132.
- Araujo-Gutierrez, R, Van Eps, JL, Kirui, DK, Bryan, NS, Kang, Y, Fleming, JB, Fernandez-Moure, JS. Enhancement of gemcitabine cytotoxicity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through controlled release of nitric oxide. Biomedical Microdevices 21(1), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30790060.
- Seth S, Li CY, Ho IL, Corti D, Loponte S, Sapio L, Del Poggetto E, Yen EY, Robinson FS, Peoples M, Karpinets T, Deem AK, Kumar T, Song X, Jiang S, Kang Y, Fleming J, Kim M, Zhang J, Maitra A, Heffernan TP, Giuliani V, Genovese G, Futreal A, Draetta GF, Carugo A, Viale A. Pre-existing Functional Heterogeneity of Tumorigenic Compartment as the Origin of Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Tumors. Cell Rep 26(6):1518-1532.e9, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30726735.
- Li X, Lee Y, Kang Y, Dai B, Perez MR, Pratt M, Koay EJ, Kim M, Brekken RA, Fleming JB. Hypoxia-induced autophagy of stellate cells inhibits expression and secretion of lumican into microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cell Death Differ 26(2):382-393, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30283082.
- Koay EJ, Lee Y, Cristini V, Lowengrub JS, Kang Y, Lucas FAS, Hobbs BP, Ye R, Elganainy D, Almahariq M, Amer AM, Chatterjee D, Yan H, Park PC, Rios Perez MV, Li D, Garg N, Reiss KA, Yu S, Chauhan A, Zaid M, Nikzad N, Wolff RA, Javle M, Varadhachary GR, Shroff RT, Das P, Lee JE, Ferrari M, Maitra A, Taniguchi CM, Kim MP, Crane CH, Katz MH, Wang H, Bhosale P, Tamm EP, Fleming JB. A Visually Apparent and Quantifiable CT Imaging Feature Identifies Biophysical Subtypes of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 24(23):5883-5894, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30082477.
- Wang F, Xia X, Yang C, Shen J, Mai J, Kim HC, Kirui D, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Koay EJ, Mitra S, Ferrari M, Shen H. SMAD4 Gene Mutation Renders Pancreatic Cancer Resistance to Radiotherapy through Promotion of Autophagy. Clin Cancer Res 24(13):3176-3185, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29602802.
- Ivanics T, Bergquist JR, Liu G, Kim MP, Kang Y, Katz MH, Perez MVR, Thomas RM, Fleming JB, Truty MJ. Patient-derived xenograft cryopreservation and reanimation outcomes are dependent on cryoprotectant type. Lab Invest 98(7):947-956, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29520054.
- Chen S, Chen X, Li W, Shan T, Lin WR, Ma J, Cui X, Yang W, Cao G, Li Y, Wang L, Kang Y. Conversion of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition to mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition is mediated by oxygen concentration in pancreatic cancer cells. Oncol Lett 15(5):7144-7152, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29731878.
- Wang YN, Lee HH, Chou CK, Yang WH, Wei Y, Chen CT, Yao J, Hsu JL, Zhu C, Ying H, Ye Y, Wang WJ, Lim SO, Xia W, Ko HW, Liu X, Liu CG, Wu X, Wang H, Li D, Prakash LR, Katz MH, Kang Y, Kim M, Fleming JB, Fogelman D, Javle M, Maitra A, Hung MC. Angiogenin/Ribonuclease 5 Is an EGFR Ligand and a Serum Biomarker for Erlotinib Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Cell 33(4):752-769.e8, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29606349.
- Zhao J, Wang H, Hsiao CH, Chow DS, Koay EJ, Kang Y, Wen X, Huang Q, Ma Y, Bankson JA, Ullrich SE, Overwijk W, Maitra A, Piwnica-Worms D, Fleming JB, Li C. Simultaneous inhibition of hedgehog signaling and tumor proliferation remodels stroma and enhances pancreatic cancer therapy. Biomaterials 159:215-228, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29331808.
- Chen S, Chen X, Shan T, Ma J, Lin W, Li W, Kang Y. MiR-21-mediated Metabolic Alteration of Cancer-associated Fibroblasts and Its Effect on Pancreatic Cancer Cell Behavior. Int J Biol Sci 14(1):100-110, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29483829.
- Sakellariou-Thompson D, Forget MA, Creasy C, Bernard V, Zhao L, Kim YU, Hurd MW, Uraoka N, Parra ER, Kang Y, Bristow CA, Rodriguez-Canales J, Fleming JB, Varadhachary G, Javle M, Overman MJ, Alvarez HA, Heffernan TP, Zhang J, Hwu P, Maitra A, Haymaker C, Bernatchez C. 4-1BB Agonist Focuses CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating T-Cell Growth into a Distinct Repertoire Capable of Tumor Recognition in Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 23(23):7263-7275, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28947567.
- Borsoi C, Leonard F, Lee Y, Zaid M, Elganainy D, Alexander JF, Kai M, Liu YT, Kang Y, Liu X, Koay EJ, Ferrari M, Godin B, Yokoi K. Gemcitabine enhances the transport of nanovector-albumin-bound paclitaxel in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 403:296-304, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28687352.
- Li X, Kang Y, Roife D, Lee Y, Pratt M, Perez MR, Dai B, Koay EJ, Fleming JB. Prolonged exposure to extracellular lumican restrains pancreatic adenocarcinoma growth. Oncogene 36(38):5432-5438, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28534517.
- Jayakumar A, Chattopadhyay C, H-K W, Briggs K, Henderson Y, Kang Y, Ramdas L, Sharma S, Radjendirane V, Shellenberger T D, Clayman G L. LEKTI, A Physiological Inhibitor of Multiple Serine Proteinases, Blocks Migration and Invasion of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Cells 1(3), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Roife D, Kang Y, Wang L, Fang B, Swisher SG, Gershenwald JE, Pretzsch S, Dinney CP, Katz MHG, Fleming JB. Generation of patient-derived xenografts from fine needle aspirates or core needle biopsy. Surgery 161(5):1246-1254, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28081955.
- Sun L, Hu L, Cogdell D, Lu L, Gao C, Tian W, Zhang Z, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Zhang W. MIR506 induces autophagy-related cell death in pancreatic cancer cells by targeting the STAT3 pathway. Autophagy 13(4):703-714, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28121485.
- Shan T, Chen S, Chen X, Lin WR, Li W, Ma J, Wu T, Cui X, Ji H, Li Y, Kang Y. Cancer-associated fibroblasts enhance pancreatic cancer cell invasion by remodeling the metabolic conversion mechanism. Oncol Rep 37(4):1971-1979, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28260082.
- Dai B, Roife D, Kang Y, Gumin J, Rios Perez MV, Li X, Pratt M, Brekken RA, Fueyo-Margareto J, Lang FF, Fleming JB. Preclinical Evaluation of Sequential Combination of Oncolytic Adenovirus Delta-24-RGD and Phosphatidylserine-Targeting Antibody in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 16(4):662-670, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28138026.
- Roland, CL, Starker, LF, Kang, Y, Chatterjee, D, Estrella, JS, Rashid, A, Katz, MH, Aloia, TA, Lee, JE, Dasari, NV, Yao, JC, Fleming, JB. Loss of DPC4/SMAD4 expression in primary gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors is associated with cancer-related death after resection. Surgery (United States) 161(3):753-759, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27816207.
- Dey P, Baddour J, Muller F, Wu CC, Wang H, Liao WT, Lan Z, Chen A, Gutschner T, Kang Y, Fleming J, Satani N, Zhao D, Achreja A, Yang L, Lee J, Chang E, Genovese G, Viale A, Ying H, Draetta G, Maitra A, Wang YA, Nagrath D, DePinho RA. Genomic deletion of malic enzyme 2 confers collateral lethality in pancreatic cancer. Nature 542(7639):119-123, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28099419.
- Shan T, Chen S, Chen X, Lin WR, Li W, Ma J, Wu T, Ji H, Li Y, Cui X, Kang Y. Prometastatic mechanisms of CAF-mediated EMT regulation in pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Oncol 50(1):121-128, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27878234.
- Roife D, Dai B, Kang Y, Perez MVR, Pratt M, Li X, Fleming JB. Ex Vivo Testing of Patient-Derived Xenografts Mirrors the Clinical Outcome of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 22(24):6021-6030, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27259561.
- Wang Y, Hsu JM, Kang Y, Wei Y, Lee PC, Chang SJ, Hsu YH, Hsu JL, Wang HL, Chang WC, Li CW, Liao HW, Chang SS, Xia W, Ko HW, Chou CK, Fleming JB, Wang H, Hwang RF, Chen Y, Qin J, Hung MC. Oncogenic Functions of Gli1 in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Are Supported by Its PRMT1-Mediated Methylation. Cancer Res 76(23):7049-7058, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27758883.
- Waragai Y, Suzuki R, Takagi T, Sugimoto M, Asama H, Watanabe K, Kikuchi H, Hikichi T, Masamune A, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Ohira H. Clinical significance of serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatology 16(6):1044-1050, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27665173.
- Kang Y, Roife D, Lee Y, Lv H, Suzuki R, Ling J, Rios Perez MV, Li X, Dai B, Pratt M, Truty MJ, Chatterjee D, Wang H, Thomas RM, Wang Y, Koay EJ, Chiao PJ, Katz MH, Fleming JB. Transforming Growth Factor-β Limits Secretion of Lumican by Activated Stellate Cells within Primary Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 22(19):4934-4946, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27126993.
- Li X, Roife D, Kang Y, Dai B, Pratt M, Fleming JB. Extracellular lumican augments cytotoxicity of chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via autophagy inhibition. Oncogene 35(37):4881-90, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26876211.
- Carugo A, Genovese G, Seth S, Nezi L, Rose JL, Bossi D, Cicalese A, Shah PK, Viale A, Pettazzoni PF, Akdemir KC, Bristow CA, Robinson FS, Tepper J, Sanchez N, Gupta S, Estecio MR, Giuliani V, Dellino GI, Riva L, Yao W, Di Francesco ME, Green T, D'Alesio C, Corti D, Kang Y, Jones P, Wang H, Fleming JB, Maitra A, Pelicci PG, Chin L, DePinho RA, Lanfrancone L, Heffernan TP, Draetta GF. In Vivo Functional Platform Targeting Patient-Derived Xenografts Identifies WDR5-Myc Association as a Critical Determinant of Pancreatic Cancer. Cell Rep 16(1):133-147, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27320920.
- Thomas, RM, Truty, MA, Kim, M, Kang, Y, Zhang, R, Chatterjee, D, Katz, MH, Fleming, JB. The Canary in the Coal Mine. Annals of surgical oncology 22(6):1884-1892, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25404477.
- Kang Y, Zhang R, Suzuki R, Li SQ, Roife D, Truty MJ, Chatterjee D, Thomas RM, Cardwell J, Wang Y, Wang H, Katz MH, Fleming JB. Two-dimensional culture of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells results in an irreversible transition from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype. Lab Invest 95(2):207-22, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25485535.
- Luo Z, Li Y, Wang H, Fleming J, Li M, Kang Y, Zhang R, Li D. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A (HNF1A) as a possible tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer. PLoS One 10(3):e0121082, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25793983.
- Li X, Truty MA, Kang Y, Chopin-Laly X, Zhang R, Roife D, Chatterjee D, Lin E, Thomas RM, Wang H, Katz MH, Fleming JB. Extracellular lumican inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and is associated with prolonged survival after surgery. Clin Cancer Res 20(24):6529-40, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25336691.
- Koay EJ, Baio FE, Ondari A, Truty MJ, Cristini V, Thomas RM, Chen R, Chatterjee D, Kang Y, Zhang J, Court L, Bhosale PR, Tamm EP, Qayyum A, Crane CH, Javle M, Katz MH, Gottumukkala VN, Rozner MA, Shen H, Lee JE, Wang H, Chen Y, Plunkett W, Abbruzzese JL, Wolff RA, Maitra A, Ferrari M, Varadhachary GR, Fleming JB. Intra-tumoral heterogeneity of gemcitabine delivery and mass transport in human pancreatic cancer. Phys Biol 11(6):065002, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25427073.
- Viale A, Pettazzoni P, Lyssiotis CA, Ying H, Sánchez N, Marchesini M, Carugo A, Green T, Seth S, Giuliani V, Kost-Alimova M, Muller F, Colla S, Nezi L, Genovese G, Deem AK, Kapoor A, Yao W, Brunetto E, Kang Y, Yuan M, Asara JM, Wang YA, Heffernan TP, Kimmelman AC, Wang H, Fleming JB, Cantley LC, DePinho RA, Draetta GF. Oncogene ablation-resistant pancreatic cancer cells depend on mitochondrial function. Nature 514(7524):628-32, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25119024.
- Suzuki R, Kang Y, Li X, Roife D, Zhang R, Fleming JB. Genistein potentiates the antitumor effect of 5-Fluorouracil by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in human pancreatic cancer cells. Anticancer Res 34(9):4685-92, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25202045.
- Koay EJ, Truty MJ, Cristini V, Thomas RM, Chen R, Chatterjee D, Kang Y, Bhosale PR, Tamm EP, Crane CH, Javle M, Katz MH, Gottumukkala VN, Rozner MA, Shen H, Lee JE, Wang H, Chen Y, Plunkett W, Abbruzzese JL, Wolff RA, Varadhachary GR, Ferrari M, Fleming JB. Transport properties of pancreatic cancer describe gemcitabine delivery and response. J Clin Invest 124(4):1525-36, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24614108.
- Jeong BH, Kim HJ, Lee KH, Carp RI, Kim YS. RARB and STMN2 polymorphisms are not associated with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the Korean population. Mol Biol Rep 41(4):2389-95, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24414001.
- Kang Y, Ling J, Suzuki R, Roife D, Chopin-Laly X, Truty MJ, Chatterjee D, Wang H, Thomas RM, Katz MH, Chiao PJ, Fleming JB. SMAD4 regulates cell motility through transcription of N-cadherin in human pancreatic ductal epithelium. PLoS One 9(9):e107948, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25264609.
- Son J, Lyssiotis CA, Ying H, Wang X, Hua S, Ligorio M, Perera RM, Ferrone CR, Mullarky E, Shyh-Chang N, Kang Y, Fleming JB, Bardeesy N, Asara JM, Haigis MC, DePinho RA, Cantley LC, Kimmelman AC. Glutamine supports pancreatic cancer growth through a KRAS-regulated metabolic pathway. Nature 496(7443):101-5, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23535601.
- Chang Z, Li Z, Wang X, Kang Y, Yuan Y, Niu J, Wang H, Chatterjee D, Fleming JB, Li M, Abbruzzese JL, Chiao PJ. Deciphering the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. Clin Cancer Res 19(3):549-59, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23340292.
- Kim MP, Truty MJ, Choi W, Kang Y, Chopin-Lally X, Gallick GE, Wang H, McConkey DJ, Hwang R, Logsdon C, Abbruzzesse J, Fleming JB. Molecular profiling of direct xenograft tumors established from human pancreatic adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant therapy. Ann Surg Oncol 19 Suppl 3(SUPPL. 3):S395-403, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 21701930.
- Kim M P, Truty M J, Choi W, Kang Y, Chopin-Lally X, Gallick G E, Wang H, McConkey D J, Hwang R, Logsdon C. Molecular Profiling of Direct Xenograft Tumors Established from Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Neoadjuvant Therapy. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Zhang T, Liu H, Zhu C, Briggs K, Kang Y, Fleming JA, Curley SA. Silencing thioredoxin induces liver cancer cell senescence under hypoxia. Hepatol Res 42(7):706-13, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22414001.
- Ling J, Kang Y, Zhao R, Xia Q, Lee DF, Chang Z, Li J, Peng B, Fleming JB, Wang H, Liu J, Lemischka IR, Hung MC, Chiao PJ. KrasG12D-induced IKK2/β/NF-κB activation by IL-1α and p62 feedforward loops is required for development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell 21(1):105-20, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22264792.
- Peng B, Ling J, Lee AJ, Wang Z, Chang Z, Jin W, Kang Y, Zhang R, Shim D, Wang H, Fleming JB, Zheng H, Sun SC, Chiao PJ. Defective feedback regulation of NF-kappaB underlies Sjogren's syndrome in mice with mutated kappaB enhancers of the IkappaBalpha promoter. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(34):15193-8, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20696914.
- Li Z, Chang Z, Chiao LJ, Kang Y, Xia Q, Zhu C, Fleming JB, Evans DB, Chiao PJ. TrkBT1 induces liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells by sequestering Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor and promoting RhoA activation. Cancer Res 69(19):7851-9, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19773448.
- Fleming J B, Dineen S, Kang Y, Brekken R A. A VEGFR1/CXCR4 Positive Phenotype Characterizes Pancreatic Cancer Cells That Metastasize to Lymph Nodes. Journal of Surgical Research, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Henderson YC, Ahn SH, Kang Y, Clayman GL. Sorafenib potently inhibits papillary thyroid carcinomas harboring RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Clin Cancer Res 14(15):4908-4914, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18676765.
- Fleming J B, Kang Y, Dineen S, Brekken R A. An In Vivo Selection Model Identifies Molecular Changes Necessary for Liver Metastasis From Pancreatic Cancer. J Surg Res 144(2):307-308, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Ahn SH, Henderson Y, Kang Y, Chattopadhyay C, Holton P, Wang M, Briggs K, Clayman GL. An orthotopic model of papillary thyroid carcinoma in athymic nude mice. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 134(2):190-7, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18283163.
- Henderson YC, Frederick MJ, Jayakumar A, Choi Y, Wang MT, Kang Y, Evans R, Spring PM, Uesugi M, Clayman GL. Human LBP-32/MGR is a repressor of the P450scc in human choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. Placenta 28(2-3):152-60, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 16730372.
- Schechter NM, Choi EJ, Wang ZM, Hanakawa Y, Stanley JR, Kang Y, Clayman GL, Jayakumar A. Inhibition of human kallikreins 5 and 7 by the serine protease inhibitor lympho-epithelial Kazal-type inhibitor (LEKTI). Biol Chem 386(11):1173-84, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16307483.
- Jayakumar A, Kang Y, Henderson Y, Mitsudo K, Liu X, Briggs K, Wang M, Frederick MJ, El-Naggar AK, Bebök Z, Clayman GL. Consequences of C-terminal domains and N-terminal signal peptide deletions on LEKTI secretion, stability, and subcellular distribution. Arch Biochem Biophys 435(1):89-102, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15680911.
- Jayakumar A, Kang Y, Mitsudo K, Henderson Y, Frederick MJ, Wang M, El-Naggar AK, Marx UC, Briggs K, Clayman GL. Expression of LEKTI domains 6-9' in the baculovirus expression system: recombinant LEKTI domains 6-9' inhibit trypsin and subtilisin A. Protein Expr Purif 35(1):93-101, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15039071.
- Jayakumar A, Cataltepe S, Kang Y, Frederick MJ, Mitsudo K, Henderson Y, Crawford SE, Silverman GA, Clayman GL. Production of serpins using baculovirus expression systems. Methods 32(2):177-84, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 14698630.
- Mitsudo K, Jayakumar A, Henderson Y, Frederick MJ, Kang Y, Wang M, El-Naggar AK, Clayman GL. Inhibition of serine proteinases plasmin, trypsin, subtilisin A, cathepsin G, and elastase by LEKTI: a kinetic analysis. Biochemistry 42(13):3874-81, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12667078.
- Jayakumar A, Kang Y, Frederick MJ, Pak SC, Henderson Y, Holton PR, Mitsudo K, Silverman GA, EL-Naggar AK, Brömme D, Clayman GL. Inhibition of the cysteine proteinases cathepsins K and L by the serpin headpin (SERPINB13): a kinetic analysis. Arch Biochem Biophys 406(2):367-374, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12504904.
Other Articles
- Li, X, Lee, Y, Kang, Y, Dai, B, Perez, MV, Pratt, M, Koay, EJ, Kim, M, Brekken, RA, Fleming, JB RETRACTED ARTICLE. Cell death and differentiation 31(11):1576, 2024. PMID: 39322749.
- Chen, S, Chen, X, Shan, T, Ma, J, Lin, W, Li, W, Kang, Y Retraction. International journal of biological sciences 20(4):1528, 2024. PMID: 38385076.
- Chen, S, Chen, X, Li, W, Shan, T, Lin, W, Ma, J, Cui, X, Yang, W, Cao, G, Li, Y, Wang, L, Kang, Y Erratum. Oncology Letters 23(4), 2022. PMID: 35242235.
- Son, JK, Lyssiotis, CA, Ying, H, Wang, X, Hua, S, Ligorio, M, Perera, RM, Ferrone, CR, Mullarky, E, Ng, SC, Kang, Y, Fleming, JB, Bardeesy, N, Asara, JM, Haigis, MC, DePinho, RA, Cantley, LC, Kimmelman, AC Erratum. Nature 499(7459):504, 2013.
Editorials
- Roife, D, Dai, B, Kang, Y, Perez, MV, Pratt, M, Li, X, Fleming, JB. Editor's Note. Clinical Cancer Research 30(13):2846, 2024. PMID: 38946291.
- Chang, Z, Li, Z, Wang, X, Kang, Y, Yuan, Y, Niu, J, Wang, H, Chatterjee, D, Fleming, JB, Li, M, Abbruzzese, JL, Chiao, PJ. Editor's Note- Expression of Concern. Clinical Cancer Research 30(23):5495, 2013. PMID: 39618198.
Abstracts
- Kang Y. Topoisomerase IIα, a Therapeutically Unexplored Target in PDAC: High in Vivo Efficacy of Annamycin, an Organotropic TOP2A Poison. The 7th JCA-AACR Special Joint Conference, 2022.
- Kang Y. Mutant p53 and oncogenic KRAS converge on CREB1 to drive pancreatic cancer metastasis 81(13_Supplement):2417-2417, 2021.
- Kang Y. High uptake, retention, and in vivo activity of L-Annamycin in pancreatic cancer models, 2021.
- Kang Y. Targeting sanctuary sites of cancer: Novel approaches to treatment of lung localized tumors 80(16_Supplement):3074, 2020.
- Kang Y. CDK4/6 inhibition with lerociclib (G1T38) enhances response to PI3K or ERK inhibitors in high-throughput, ex vivo pancreatic PDX screens 79(13_Supplement):4732-4732, 2019.
- Kang Y. Antineoplastic effects of auranofin in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma preclinical models, 2019. PMID: 33981979.
- Kang Y. Targeting IL-13RA2 in melanoma and pancreatic cancer 78(13_Supplement):1927-1927, 2018.
- Kang Y. IGFBP2 promotes tumor progression by inducing alternative polarization of macrophages in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 78(13_Supplement):116-116, 2018.
- Kang Y. Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance metabolic imaging and NMR metabolomics to assess the progression and aggressiveness of patient-derived pancreatic cancer xenografts. Chicago, Ill 76(14_Supplement):4215, 2016.
- Kang Y. Auranofin to prevent progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 34(4_suppl):236, 2016.
- Kang Y. Status of STAT3, STAT5, and NF-κB in pancreatic cancer cell lines, small molecule inhibitors, and potential clinical implications 74:2946–2946, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Kang Y. NF-κB activation by IL-1α and p62 feedforward loops is required for Kras-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Research (Chicago, Ill.), 73(8_Supplement), 2741–2741 73(8_Supplement):2741–2741, 2013.
Books (edited and written)
- Pratt M, Kang Y, Li X, Lumican FJ. A Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan and its Biological Function in Tumor Progression. Springer, Cham, 2017.
- Zinner MJ. Maingot’s Abdominal Operations, 2001.
- Kang Y, Way LW. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment, 1998.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified February 23, 2026