Qiang Shen, MD, PhD
qshen@lsuhsc.edu
Professor
Research Interests: Cancer biology, carcinogenesis, metabolism, metastasis, cancer
prevention/interception/treatment, anti-cancer drug development
The Shen lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis across multiple cancer types, with a primary emphasis on breast cancer. We study how normal mammary epithelial cells undergo malignant transformation and how cancer cells acquire invasive and metastatic capabilities. Key research areas include the regulation and function of transcription factors, kinases, apoptotic regulators, and metabolic pathways involved in cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. Our objective is to identify and validate molecular targets that can be exploited to block, intercept and prevent cancer initiation and development, suppress cancer progression and metastasis, overcome therapeutic resistance, and improve the efficacy of chemoprevention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
We employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates molecular and cell biology, cancer pharmacology, and translational oncology. In collaboration with medicinal chemists, we have developed small molecule inhibitors, activators, and PROTAC-based protein degraders targeting oncogenic and tumor-suppressive signaling pathways. These compounds are evaluated in both in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo models, including syngeneic mouse models, transgenic onco-mouse models, and patient-derived xenografts. Our overarching goal is to translate mechanistic discoveries into novel preventive, interceptive and therapeutic strategies for effective cancer prevention and treatment to reduce cancer burdens and prolong survival.