
Molecular signature for clinical outcome prediction.
Liver cancer is the fastest and only increasing cancer mortality in the U.S. with still dismal prognosis (5-yr survival <12%). Liver cirrhosis is the major cause of liver cancer. Therefore, regular cancer surveillance is offered once cirrhosis is diagnosed. However, cirrhosis is extremely prevalent (1~2% of population), and as a consequence, >80% of liver cancer patients are diagnosed at late stage without receiving proper cancer surveillance. Thus, molecular prognostic biomarkers would greatly help clinical management of the patients by identifying those who really need the cancer surveillance and therapies that prevent cancer development and poor prognosis. To achieve these goals, we perform genomic profiling of patient specimens, explore molecular classification and prognostic biomarkers by utilizing biostatistics and bioinformatics methodologies, develop data analysis algorithms and software, develop clinically applicable assay platforms, and develop informatics resources for in silico prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target analysis.
Liver cancer is the fastest and only increasing cancer mortality in the U.S. with still dismal prognosis (5-yr survival <12%). Liver cirrhosis is the major cause of liver cancer. Therefore, regular cancer surveillance is offered once cirrhosis is diagnosed. However, cirrhosis is extremely prevalent (1~2% of population), and as a consequence, >80% of liver cancer patients are diagnosed at late stage without receiving proper cancer surveillance. Thus, molecular prognostic biomarkers would greatly help clinical management of the patients by identifying those who really need the cancer surveillance and therapies that prevent cancer development and poor prognosis. To achieve these goals, we perform genomic profiling of patient specimens, explore molecular classification and prognostic biomarkers by utilizing biostatistics and bioinformatics methodologies, develop data analysis algorithms and software, develop clinically applicable assay platforms, and develop informatics resources for in silico prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target analysis.

Molecular classification of liver cancer to guide personalized treatment.
Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Even after early detection and surgical resection, tumor recurrence is extremely high (70% in 5 years) due underlying liver cirrhosis. Once the tumor reaches advanced stage, only available systemic therapy is sorafenib, which extends patient survival by just 3 months. Genomic profiling studies have elucidated molecular subclasses of liver cancer characterized by activation of several oncogenic molecular pathways. These pathways represent potential therapeutic targets in each individual tumor, which may be treated by recently emerging molecular targeted drugs. We assess the effect of molecular targeted agents on liver cancer in association with molecular subclasses with a goal to identify molecular predictive biomarker of treatment response to enable personalized care of the patients.
Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Even after early detection and surgical resection, tumor recurrence is extremely high (70% in 5 years) due underlying liver cirrhosis. Once the tumor reaches advanced stage, only available systemic therapy is sorafenib, which extends patient survival by just 3 months. Genomic profiling studies have elucidated molecular subclasses of liver cancer characterized by activation of several oncogenic molecular pathways. These pathways represent potential therapeutic targets in each individual tumor, which may be treated by recently emerging molecular targeted drugs. We assess the effect of molecular targeted agents on liver cancer in association with molecular subclasses with a goal to identify molecular predictive biomarker of treatment response to enable personalized care of the patients.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery for treatment of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Liver cirrhosis is an extremely high-risk condition to develop cancer (3% to 5% every year), and therefore the best target of cancer preventive therapies. However, no such therapy has been established yet. For cancer preventive target discovery, we employ bioinformatics, systems biology approaches to genomic profiles of liver cirrhosis patients, cell lines, and variety of animal models. Candidate targets are verified in animal models and patient tissues, and prioritized for subsequent clinical trials. To enable more effective and less toxic cancer preventive therapies, we are developing nanotechnology-based drug delivery system to concentrate molecular targeted agents in target cell type in the liver.
Liver cirrhosis is an extremely high-risk condition to develop cancer (3% to 5% every year), and therefore the best target of cancer preventive therapies. However, no such therapy has been established yet. For cancer preventive target discovery, we employ bioinformatics, systems biology approaches to genomic profiles of liver cirrhosis patients, cell lines, and variety of animal models. Candidate targets are verified in animal models and patient tissues, and prioritized for subsequent clinical trials. To enable more effective and less toxic cancer preventive therapies, we are developing nanotechnology-based drug delivery system to concentrate molecular targeted agents in target cell type in the liver.