Chong Liu

Biography

The main research interest in the Liu laboratory is to dissect molecular and cellular mechanisms of brain cancer development, in particular high-grade glioma. By using cutting-edge mouse genetics, combined with live imaging as well as other biochemical, molecular and cell biology approaches, my group aims to address some fundamental questions in cancer biology. For instance, why does the same mutation only provoke a particular type of cell to transform, but not affect others? How do extrinsic and intrinsic cues work together to determine whether a cell stays normal, or goes awry? My lab is also interested in translating the basic cancer research into clinical applications. Taking the strategy of comparative studies between species, the lab aims to identify potential effective therapeutic targets for glioma patients and to develop novel brain-penetrable small molecule inhibitors by rational drug designs.
During the past years, we have made the following findings in this field: (1) We proved that oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPCs, a type of glial cells in the brain) can function as an important cell-of-origin for high-grade gliomas (Cell，2011); (2) We successfully constructed the in vivo clonal system for tracing OPC development, revealed the developmental heterogeneity of OPCs derived from distinct origins, and identified the critical molecules to regulate the homeostasis of OPCs (Advanced Science，2021); (3) We developed the novel genetic mouse models suitable for dissecting the microenvironment for tumorigenesis, and provided the first evidence that sensory experience from the extra environment can directly regulate the initiation and progression of high-grade gliomas (Nature, 2022); (4) We showed that OPC-like tumor cells (the tumor cells exhibiting the OPC identify) exist widespreadly in all kinds of human gliomas and can function as the cancer stem cells (J. of Neuro-oncology, 2017；Front Mol Neurosci.)；(5) We established the methods to enrich and maintain OPC-like glioma stem cells and provided the theoretical basis to treat glioma by targeting OPC-like tumor cells (Neuro-oncology, 2016) ; (6) We revealed the new paradigm of glioma treatment by harnessing the early expansion of defined mutant cells along the lineage of tumor development, and identified that IGF1-IGF1R axis is an important therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of high-grade gliomas (Advanced Science，2020).