Qiuyang Zhang, Structural & Cellular Biology
Aging and Prostate Cancer: Dr. Zhang has a long-standing interest in prostate cancer, particularly in aging’s contribution to prostate carcinogenesis and the efficacies of candidate aging-associated prostate cancer interventions.
We are currently working on (1) identifying associations between Th17/Treg ratio alteration and human PCa progression associated with advanced aging; (2) defining how aging-associated imbalances in the Th17/Treg axis drive PCa; and (3) determining the efficacy of therapeutic targeting of Th17/Treg axis in preventing age-associated PCa. An R01 grant (R01CA255802) supported this project.
Ubiquitin-specific protease 26 (USP26) and Prostate Cancer: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the first-line therapy for advanced PCa. Still, treatment resistance inevitably develops and leads to an abysmal prognosis of stage-castration resistant PCa (CRPC). We are currently generating prostate-specific Usp26 knockout mouse models using CRISP/Cas9 techniques to elucidate the role of USP26 in PCa.
USP26 and Male Infertility: USP26 is mainly expressed in testis. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Sertoli cell-only syndrome and male infertility. We are currently working on generating testis-specific Usp26 knockout mice to elucidate the mechanisms of USP26 in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.
Time, eligibility, and other details
| Expected workload | |
| Skills required | |
| Who is eligible | Any |
| Core partners | |
| Sponsoring party | Faculty |
| Volunteer, Paid, or Credit-eligible? | Volunteer |
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