Yu Zhang, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Current Advances in Anticancer Properties of Heptamethine Carbocyanine DZ‐1 Conjugated to Artesunate: Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species
Narayanasamy B, Helmueller S, Zhang Y, Lee Y. Current Advances in Anticancer Properties of Heptamethine Carbocyanine DZ‐1 Conjugated to Artesunate: Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species. Journal Of Cellular Biochemistry 2025, 126: e70062. PMID: 40891511, DOI: 10.1002/jcb.70062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer cellsMechanism of actionGeneration of reactive oxygen speciesReactive oxygen speciesN-acetyl cysteine treatmentKilling of cancer cellsCell linesDUTP nick end labeling assayDose-dependent cytotoxic activityNick end labeling assayTransferase dUTP nick end labeling assayBax-deficient HCT116 cellsTerminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assayDeoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assayCell survival assayOVCAR-3 cell lineMitochondrial outer membrane potentialTreated cancer cellsInvolvement of apoptosisSuppression of ROS generationWild-type cellsOuter membrane potentialCancer cell linesAnticancer propertiesJC-1 assaySignificantly higher incidence of circulating fatty objects in portal blood samples compared to peripheral blood samples in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Wang R, Park K, Gaddam S, Liu Q, Watson R, Lim A, Ou Y, Zhang Y, Edderkaoui M, Lewis M, Lo S, Pandol S. Significantly higher incidence of circulating fatty objects in portal blood samples compared to peripheral blood samples in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Frontiers In Oncology 2025, 15: 1611872. PMID: 40963865, PMCID: PMC12436445, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1611872.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaPeripheral blood samplesPortal blood samplesBlood samplesDuctal adenocarcinomaEndoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirationUltrasound-guided fine-needle aspirationPortal samplingFine-needle aspirationPortal vein samplingBlood cell fractionsSystem abnormalitiesClinical cancerPortal veinCancer patientsPeripheral samplesVascular occlusionVein samplingCFosVessel embolizationBile lipidsPatientsAdenocarcinomaParallel studiesBileDesign and Evaluation of Novel Ginger 6‑Shogaol-Inspired Phospholipase C Inhibitors to Enhance β‑Agonist-Induced Relaxation in Human Airway Smooth Muscle
Luković E, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Genualdi J, Sang S, Emala C. Design and Evaluation of Novel Ginger 6‑Shogaol-Inspired Phospholipase C Inhibitors to Enhance β‑Agonist-Induced Relaxation in Human Airway Smooth Muscle. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry 2025, 68: 12626-12640. PMID: 40489244, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c00378.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStructure-activity analysisHuman airway smooth muscleHuman airway smooth muscle cellsPhenol moietyAirway smooth muscle cellsHuman tracheal tissueHydroxyl groupsAirway smooth musclePhospholipase C inhibitorSmooth muscle cellsMouse lung tissuePoor symptom controlDerivativesIntracellular calciumSmooth muscleMuscle cellsAsthma treatmentLung tissueC inhibitorTherapeutic potentialNovel therapeuticsTracheal tissueEnhanced inhibitionSymptom controlInositol phosphatesTumor targeting chlorin e6 heptamethine cyanine conjugates: Theranostic agent for cancer imaging and photodynamic therapy.
Ou Y, Wang R, Xiao L, Chordia M, Edderkaoui M, Lim A, Pandol S, Zhang Y. Tumor targeting chlorin e6 heptamethine cyanine conjugates: Theranostic agent for cancer imaging and photodynamic therapy. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e15132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOrganic anion transporting polypeptideCancer cell uptakeCancer cellsCancer treatmentPET imagingIn vitroBreast cancer cellsAnion transporting polypeptideMouse xenograft modelTheranostic agentsIn vivo imaging studiesNon-specific tissue damageTumor-SpecificTumor visualizationHypoxia-inducible factorImage-guidedTherapeutic efficacyXenograft modelMouse xenograftsMultifunctional theranostic agentMHI-148NIRF imagingImaging studiesCancerPhotodynamic therapyTMEM16A Antagonism: Therapeutic Potential with Desensitization of β-Agonist Responsiveness in Asthma.
Wu A, Kuforiji A, Zhang Y, Xu D, Perez-Zoghbi J, Emala C, Danielsson J. TMEM16A Antagonism: Therapeutic Potential with Desensitization of β-Agonist Responsiveness in Asthma. American Journal Of Respiratory Cell And Molecular Biology 2025, 72: 510-519. PMID: 39560606, PMCID: PMC12051930, DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2024-0231oc.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAirway smooth muscleHuman ASM cellsTMEM16A antagonistsFunctional desensitizationASM cellsB-adrenoceptorB agonistAirway smooth muscle relaxationHuman airway smooth muscleRelaxes airway smooth muscleCalcium-activated chloride channelBronchial airway smooth muscleTransmembrane member 16AMurine airway smooth muscleContractility studiesWire myographyChronic pretreatmentAcute antagonismContractile mediatorsPrevented desensitizationSmooth muscleUpper airwayCAMP productionChloride channelsTMEM16Aβ-Ionone facilitates ex vivo airway smooth muscle relaxation via extraocular opsin-3 light receptor activation
Uribe S, Shany E, Zhang Y, Wu A, Dan W, Perez-Zoghbi J, Emala C, Yim P. β-Ionone facilitates ex vivo airway smooth muscle relaxation via extraocular opsin-3 light receptor activation. American Journal Of Physiology - Lung Cellular And Molecular Physiology 2025, 328: l526-l537. PMID: 39937635, DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00227.2024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAirway smooth muscle relaxationOpsin 3Severity of asthma exacerbationsAirway smooth muscle cellsDose-dependent relaxationTherapeutic agentsAirways in vitroPrecision-cut lung slicesSmooth muscle relaxationSmooth muscle cellsAttenuated relaxationWire myographyDietary intakeDecreased relaxationAirway pathologyIncreased riskReceptor activationAsthma exacerbationsMuscle cellsLower airwaysLung slicesMRNA expressionMuscle relaxationTracheal ringsAirway
2024
GAD65 tunes the functions of Best1 as a GABA receptor and a neurotransmitter conducting channel
Wang J, Owji A, Kittredge A, Clark Z, Zhang Y, Yang T. GAD65 tunes the functions of Best1 as a GABA receptor and a neurotransmitter conducting channel. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 8051. PMID: 39277606, PMCID: PMC11401937, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52039-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCl- currentsRetinal pigment epithelial cellsIsoform of glutamic acid decarboxylasePigment epithelial cellsGlutamic acid decarboxylaseG-aminobutyric acidBestrophin-1BEST1GABA receptorsTransport metabolonEpithelial cellsGAD65Glutamate metabolizing enzymesAcid decarboxylaseGAD67Bestrophin channelsGABAExtracellular sitesNO effectAnion channelMetabolic enzymesPhysiological roleGlutamateCellsBestrophinSpontaneous Fusion with Transformed Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Results in Complete Heterogeneity in Prostate Cancer Cells
Wang R, Hu P, Wang F, Lyu J, Ou Y, Edderkaoui M, Zhang Y, Lewis M, Pandol S, Zhau H, Chung L. Spontaneous Fusion with Transformed Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Results in Complete Heterogeneity in Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancers 2024, 16: 951. PMID: 38473313, PMCID: PMC10931070, DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050951.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProstate cancer cellsStromal cell lineBystander cellsCancer cellsCell linesTumor cell heterogeneityFusion hybridsMesenchymal stromal cellsCell fusionTumor microenvironmentGenomic hybridizationTumor cellsMesenchymal stromal cell lineStromal cellsTumorDerivative clonesPhenotypic heterogeneityCell compartmentPhenotypic diversificationGenomic makeupBehavioral phenotypesCell heterogeneitySpontaneous fusionDerivative subclonesSublinesOvercoming Resistance in Prostate Cancer Therapy Using a DZ-Simvastatin Conjugate
Ou Y, Chu G, Lyu J, Yin L, Lim A, Zhai N, Cui X, Lewis M, Edderkaoui M, Pandol S, Wang R, Zhang Y. Overcoming Resistance in Prostate Cancer Therapy Using a DZ-Simvastatin Conjugate. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2024, 21: 873-882. PMID: 38229228, PMCID: PMC11025579, DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00993.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProstate cancerTherapeutic resistanceTarget PC cellsAndrogen receptor statusTraditional systemic treatmentsSuppressed xenograft tumor formationProstate cancer therapyCastration-resistant formTumor cell targetsPC cellsSignificant side effectsCancer-related deathsCell deathHeptamethine carbocyanine dyeXenograft tumor formationPC cell linesXenograft tumor modelReceptor statusHormone therapySystemic treatmentSafety profileTumor cellsChemotherapeutic drugsTumor modelCancer therapy