Professor WONG Chak Lui, Carmen

Dr Carmen Wong

Associate Professor

  • PhD (HK)
Research Interest
  • Tumor microenvironment formation
  • Cancer metabolism
  • Roles of hypoxia in cancer development

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. It is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. High mortality rate in HCC is mainly due to late symptom presentation and lack of curative therapy. Therefore, knowledge on the molecular biology of HCC is warranted for the development of better diagnostic platforms and therapeutic regimens. Our research focuses on two emerging and fundamental aspects in HCC:

(1) Tumor microenvironment in HCC:

Solid tumors, in addition to malignant cells, are made up of other non-malignant cell types (stromal cells). Solid tumors are embedded in a remodeled extracellular matrix (ECM). Solid tumors are constantly experiencing inflammation and temporal changes of oxygen tension. These cellular and non-cellular components provide a unique tumor microenvironment conferring malignant cells oncogenic and metastatic properties. Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of tumor microenvironment of HCC. Currently, we are investigating the clinical implications, regulations, and roles of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) in ECM modification in HCC. We are also investigating the roles of hypoxia in stromal cell-cancer cell interaction.

(2) Metabolic reprogramming in HCC:

The major difference between cancer cell and normal cell is that cancer cell growth is uncontrollable. Unlike normal differentiated cells which utilize mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to produce energy, cancer cells metabolize glucose by aerobic glycolysis, a phenomeon called the “Warburg Effect”. Although aerobic glycolysis is an energy-inefficient process, it advantages cancer cells to divert glucose intermediates for anabolic reactions and anti-oxidant production. Liver has many unique metabolic functions including gluconeogenesis, glycogen synthesis and storage, and blood glucose homeostasis. However, how the metabolic machineries are reprogrammed during the formation of HCC is largely unknown. Our group is investigating the signaling pathways that rewire the metabolic programs in HCC. We are also identifying novel functions of metabolic enzymes in HCC. We are also studying the therapeutic potential of drugs that target the metabolic machinery of HCC.

Research Opportunities
Research projects and postgraduate positions are available. Please contact Dr. Carmen Wong for inquiries.

CCL
Team members group in Aug 2020

Education
  • Postdoctoral Training: The Johns Hopkins University, USA
  • Doctor of Philosophy: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • Master of Science: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
  • Bachelor of Science: The University of British Columbia, Canada

Grants (As Principal Investigator)
  • Croucher Innovation Award 2017
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China Research Fund 2019 
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China Research Fund 2017 
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2020
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2019
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2018
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2017
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2016
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2015
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2014
  • Research Grant Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) 2013
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2017
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2016
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2015
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2015
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2014
  • Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2013

Awards and Honors

Junior Investigator Award
13th Annual Conference, International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA), 2019

Faculty Outstanding Research Output Award
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 2019

Outstanding Young Researcher Award (OYRA)
HKU, 2017

Croucher Innovation Award
Croucher Foundation, 2017

UBC Alumni Builder Award
The University of British Columbia, 2017

Award of Young Research Career Development Scheme (YRCDS)
The State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, the University of Hong Kong, 2014

Presentation Award
3rd Annual Postdoc Symposium
The Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Association, the Johns Hopkins University, 2011

Li Ka Shing Prize (for the best PhD thesis in Faculty of Dentistry, Engineering, Medicine, and Science)
Graduate School, the University of Hong Kong, 2008-2009

Dr. KP Stephen Chang Gold Medal (for the best PhD thesis in Faculty of Medicine)
Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, 2008-2009

Hong Kong Young Scientist Award (Life Science)
Hong Kong Institution of Science, 2009

Croucher Foundation Fellowship (for overseas postdoctoral fellow training)
Croucher Foundation, 2009-2011

Best Presentation Award
The 13th Postgraduate Symposium
Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, 2008

Young Investigator Award
Hong Kong Shanghai International Liver Congress, 2008

Young Investigator Award
The 14th Hong Kong International Cancer Congress, 2007


Research Personnel
Current:
  • Aki Pui-Wah Tse, Lab manager (2012-current)
  • Derek Lee, PhD graduate, postdoc fellow (2015-current)
  • Misty Shuo Zhang, postdoc fellow (2017-current)
  • Chi-Ching Goh, postdoc fellow (2018-current)
  • Chunxue Yang, postdoc fellow (2019-current)
  • Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan, PhD student (2016-current)
  • Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen, research assistant, PhD student (2017-current)
  • Ka-Yu Tse, PhD student (2017-current)
  • Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu, PhD student (2018-current)
  • Bowie Po-Yee Wong, PhD student (2019-current)
  • Lynna Lan Li, research assistant, PhD student (2016-2017, 2020-current)
  • Carrie Yiling Chen, PhD student (2020-current)
  • Macus Hao-Ran Bao, research assistant, MPhil student (2017-current)

Alumni:

  • David Kung-Chun Chiu, PhD graduate, postdoc fellow (2013-2019)
  • Iris Ming-Jing Xu, PhD graduate (co-supervision) (2013-2016)
  • Noreen Nog-Qin Chui, MPhil graduate (2017-2020)
  • Robin Kit-Ho Lai, MPhil graduate (2013-2015)
  • Jessica Jiashuang Yang, research assistant (2019-2020)
  • Jane Di Cui, research assistant (2016-2017)
  • Janet Choi, research assistant (2016)
  • Hui-Yu Koh, research assistant (2014-2015)
  • Betty Yee-Man Au-Yeung, MBBS intern (2019-2020)
  • Victor Yu-Chun Lee, MMedSc graduate (2013-2015)

Achievements of Team Members
Bowie Po-Yee Wong
  • University Postgraduate Fellowship (2019/20)

Vincent Wai-Hin Yuen

  • University Postgraduate Fellowship (2019/20)

Macus Hao-Ran Bao

  • Best Scientific Content Award - Departmental Research Postgraduate Students (RPGs) Retreat of Pathology (2019)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - Hong Kong Inter-University Postgraduate Symposium (2019)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 23rd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2018)

Noreen Nog-Qin Chui

  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - Hong Kong Inter-University Postgraduate Symposium (2019)
  • Best poster award in the HK Society of Flow Cytometry Annual Meeting (2019)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 23rd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2018)

Jacinth Wing-Sum Cheu

  • Lee Shau Kee Postgraduate Fellowship (2018/19)

Cerise Yuen-Ki Chan

  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2019/2020)
  • Most Translational Value Award - Departmental Research Postgraduate Students (RPGs) Retreat of Pathology (2019)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2018/2019)
  • Leong Che Hung Medical and Research Enrichment Scholarship (2019)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 23rd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2018)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 22nd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2017)
  • Reaching Out Award under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (2016-17)
  • Blue Ocean Education Fund (2016)

Derek Lee

  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - Hong Kong Inter-University Postgraduate Symposium (2019)
  • Reaching Out Award under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (2019)
  • Wong Ching Yee Medical Postgraduate Scholarship (2018/2019)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2017/2018)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 22nd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2017)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2016/2017)
  • Tigris Educational Fund (2017)
  • Blue Ocean Education Fund (2015)

David Kung-Chun Chiu

  • Chan To Haan Prize for Research Postgraduate Students in Pathology (2018)
  • Dr. KP Stephen Chang Gold Medal (2018)
  • Li Ka Shing Prize (2016-17)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2016/2017)
  • Yu To Sang and Yu Shing Keung Memorial Fund Scholarship (2016/17)
  • Reaching Out Award under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (2016-17)
  • Outstanding Presentation Award - Departmental Research Postgraduate Students (RPGs) Retreat of Pathology (2017)
  • Outstanding Oral Presentation Award (1st runner up) - the 21st Research Postgraduate Symposium (2016)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2015/2016)
  • Selected for oral presentation in the Annual Meeting of AACR 2016- Minisymposium on Tumor Microenvironment
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 20th Research Postgraduate Symposium (2015)
  • Travel Award - The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL), The Liver Week (2015) (selected for oral presentation)
  • Wong Ching Yee Medical Postgraduate Scholarship (2014/2015)
  • Best Poster Award - East-West Alliance Global Symposia (2014)

Iris Ming-Jing Xu

  • Yu To Sang and Yu Shing Keung Memorial Fund Scholarship (2015/16)
  • Outstanding Presentation Award - Departmental Research Postgraduate Students (RPGs) Retreat of Pathology (2016)
  • Outstanding Oral Presentation Award (2nd runner up) - the 20th Research Postgraduate Symposium (2015)
  • Outstanding Oral Presentation Award - Hong Kong Inter-University Postgraduate Symposium (2015)
  • Best Presentation Award - The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL), The Liver Week (2015)
  • Travel Award - The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL), The Liver Week 2015 (selected for plenary lecture)
  • YS and Christabel Lung Postgraduate Scholarship (2014/2015)
  • Outstanding Poster Presentation Award - the 19th Research Postgraduate Symposium (2014)
  • Young Investigator Award - 21st Hong Kong International Cancer Congress (2014)

Robin Kit-Ho Lai

  • Li Ka Shing Prize (for the best MPhil thesis in Science, Medicine, Engineering and Technology) (2015/2016) Graduate School, the University of Hong Kong
  • Outstanding Presentation Award - Departmental Research Postgraduate Students (RPGs) Retreat of Pathology 

Publications

Researcher Profile on HKU Scholars Hub

Click here for detail publication list on pubmed

Research Articles (as first or corresponding authors):
*Equal contribution, #corresponding authors

  • Chiu DK*, Yuen YW*, Cheu JW, Wei L, Ting V, Fehlings M, Sumatoh H, Nardin A, Newell EW, Ng IO, Yau TC, Wong CM, Wong CC#. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells upregulate pvrl1, stabilizing pvr and inhibiting the cytotoxic t-cell response via tigit to mediate tumor resistance to pd1 inhibitors in mice. Gastroenterology. 2020 Apr 8:S0016-5085(20)30461-3. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.03.074. Online ahead of print.
  • Chiu DK*, Tse AP*, Law CT, Xu IM, Lee D, Chen M, Lai RK, Yuen VW, Cheu JW, Ho DW, Wong CM, Zhang H, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Hypoxia regulates the mitochondrial activity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through HIF/HEY1/PINK1 pathway. Cell Death & Disease. 2019 Dec 9; 10(12):934.
  • Shen J, Chen M, Lee D, Law CT, Wei L, Tsang FH, Chin DW, Cheng CL, Lee JM, Ng IO, Wong CC#, Wong CM#. Histone chaperone FACT complex mediates oxidative stress response to promote liver cancer progression. GUT. 2020 Feb; 69 (2): 329-342.
  • Wei L, Lee D, Law CT, Zhang MS, Shen J, Chin DW, Zhang A, Tsang FH, Wong CL, Ng IO, Wong CC#, Wong CM#. Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening identified PHGDH as a critical driver for Sorafenib resistance in HCC. Nature Communications. 2019 Oct 15; 10 (1) 4681.
  • Lee D, Xu IM, Chiu DK, Leibold J, Tse AP, Bao MH, Yuen VW, Chan CY, Lai RK, Chin DW, Chan DF, Cheung TT, Chok SH, Wong CM, Lowe SW, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Induction of oxidative stress through inhibition of thioredoxin reductase 1 is an effective therapeutic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2019 Apr;69(4):1768-1786.
  • Tse AP, Sze KM, Shea QT, Chiu EY, Tsang FH, Chiu DK, Zhang MS, Lee D, Xu IM, Chan CY, Koh H, Wong CM, Zheng YP, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Hepatitis transactivator protein X promotes extracellular matrix modification through HIF/LOX pathway in liver cancer. Oncogenesis. 2018 May 25; 7(5):44.
  • Chiu DK, Tse AP, Xu IM, Cui JD, Lai RK, Li LL, Koh H, Tsang FH, Wei LL, Wong CM, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) promotes myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) accumulation through ENTPD2/CD39L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nature Communications. 2017 Sep 11;8(1):517.
  • Lee D*, Xu IM*, Chiu DK*, Lai RK, Tse AP, Li LL, Law CT, Tsang FH, Wei LL, Chan CY, Wong CM, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Folate cycle enzyme MTHFD1L confers metabolic advantages in hepatocellular carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2017 May 1; 127(5): 1856-1872.
  • Chiu DK, Xu IM, Lai RK, Tse AP, Wei LL, Koh H, Li LL, Lee D, Lo RC, Wong CM, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. Hypoxia induces myeloid-derived suppressor cell recruitment to hepatocellular carcinoma through chemokine (C-C motif) Ligand 26. Hepatology. 2016 Sep;64(3):797-813.
  • Lai RK, Xu IM, Chiu DK, Tse AP, Wei LL, Law CT, Lee D, Wong CM, Wong MP, Ng IO#, Wong CC#. NDUFA4L2 fine-tunes oxidative stress in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research. 2016 Jun 15; 22(12):3105-17.
  • Xu IM, Lai RK, Lin SH, Tse AP, Chiu DK, Koh H, Law CT, Wong CM, Cai Z, Wong CC#, Ng IO#. Transketolase counteracts oxidative stress to drive cancer development. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.  2016 Feb 9;113(6):E725-34.
  • Wong CC#*, Au SL*, Tse AP, Xu IM, Lai RK, Chiu DK, Wei LL, Fan DN, Tsang FH, Lo RC, Wong CM, Ng IO#. Switching of pyruvate kinase isoform L to M2 promotes metabolic reprogramming in hepatocarcinogenesis. PLoS ONE. 2014 Dec 26;9(12):e115036.
  • Wong CC#, Tse AP, Huang YP, Zhu YT, Chiu DK, Lai RK, Au SL, Kai AK, Lee JM, Wei LL, Tsang FH, Lo RC, Shi J, Zheng YP, Wong CM, Ng IO#. Lysyl oxidase-like 2 is critical to tumor microenvironment and metastatic niche formation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2014 Nov;60(5):1645-58.
  • Wong CC, Zhang H, Gilkes DM, Chen J, Wei H, Chaturvedi P, Hubbi M, Semenza GL#. Inhibitors of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 block breast cancer metastatic niche formation and lung metastasis. Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2012 Jul;90(7):803-15.
  • Wong CM#*, Wong CC*, Lee JM, Fan DN, Au SL, Ng IO#. Sequential alterations of miRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma development and venous metastasis. Hepatology. 2012 May;55(5):1453-61. 
  • Wong CC, Gilkes DM, Zhang H, Chen J, Wei H, Chaturvedi P, Fraley SI, Wong CM, Khoo US, Ng IO, Wirtz D, Semenza GL#. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is a master regulator of breast cancer metastatic niche formation. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. 2011 Sep 27;108(39):16369-74.
  • Wong CC*, Wong CM*, Tung EK, Au SL, Lee JM, Man K, Ng IO#. The MicroRNA MiR-139 suppresses metastasis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by down-regulation of Rho-kinase 2 (ROCK2). Gastroenterology. 2011 Jan;140(1):322-31.
  • Wong CC, Wong CM, Tung EK, Man K, Ng IO#.  Rho-kinase 2 (ROCK2) is frequently over-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and involved in tumor invasion.  Hepatology.  2009 May; 49 (5) 1583-94.
  •  Wong CC, Wong CM, Ko FC, Chan LK, Ching YP, Yam JW, Ng IO#.  Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) negatively regulates Rho/ROCK/MLC pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.  PLoS ONE.  2008 July 23; 3(7): e2779.

Research Articles (as co-authors):

  • Tsang FH, Law CT, Tang TC, Cheng CL, Chin DW, Tam WV, Wei L, Wong CC, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. Aberrant super-enhancer landscape in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2019 Jun;69 (6):2502-2517. 
  • Chen F, Zhou J, Li Y, Zhao Y, Yuan J, Cao Y, Wang L, Zhang Z, Zhang B, Wang CC, Cheung TH, Wu Z, Wong CC, Sun H#, Wang H#. YY1 regulates skeletal muscle regeneration through controlling metabolic reprogramming of satellite cells. EMBO J. 2019 May 15;38(10):e99727.
  • Law CT, Wei L, Tsang FH, Chan CY, Xu IM, Lai RK, Ho DW, Lee JM, Wong CC, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. HELLS regulates chromatin remodeling and epigenetic silencing of multiple tumor suppressor genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2019 May;69(5):2013-2030. 
  • Chen M, Wei L, Law CT, Tsang FH, Shen J, Cheng CL, Tsang LH, Ho DW, Chiu DK, Lee JM, Wong CC, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. RNA N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase-like 3 promotes liver cancer progression through YTHDF2 dependent post-transcriptional silencing of SOCS2. Hepatology. 2018 Jun;67(6):2254-2270.
  • Wei L, Chiu DK, Tsang FH, Law DC, Cheng CL, Au SL, Lee JM, Wong CC, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. Histone methyltransferase G9a promotes liver cancer development by epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor gene RARRES3. Journal of Hepatology. 2017 Oct;67(4):758-769.
  • Cui CP, Wong CC, Kai AK, Ho DW, Lau EY, Tsui YM, Chan LK, Cheung TT, Chok KS, Chan AC, Lo RC, Lee JM, Lee TK, Ng IO#. SENP1 promotes hypoxia-induced cancer stemness by HIF-1α deSUMOylation and SENP1/HIF-1α positive feedback loop. Gut. 2017 Dec;66(12):2149-2159.
  • Kai AK, Chan LK, Lo RC, Lee JM, Wong CC, Wong CM, Ng IO#. Down-regulation of TIMP2 by HIF-1α/miR-210/HIF-3α regulatory feedback circuit enhances cancer metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2016 Aug;64(2):473-87.
  • Ma W, Sze KM, Chan LK, Lee JM, Wei LL, Wong CM, Lee TK, Wong CC, Ng IO#. RhoE/ROCK2 regulates chemoresistance through NFκB/IL-6/STAT3 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2016 Jul 5;7(27):41445-41459.
  • Wong CM#, Wei L, Law CT, Ho DW, Tsang FH, Au SL, Sze KM, Lee JM, Wong CC, Ng IO#. Up-regulation of histone methyltransferase SETDB1 by multiple mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes cancer metastasis. Hepatology. 2016 Feb; 63(2):474-87.
  • Wong CM#, Wei L, Au SL, Fan DN, Zhou Y, Tsang FH, Law CT, Lee JM, He X, Shi J, Wong CC, Ng IO#. MiR-200b/200c/429 subfamily negatively regulates Rho/ROCK signaling pathway to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. Oncotarget. 2015 May 30; 6 (15):13658-70.
  • Leung CO, Wong CC, Fan DN, Kai AK, Tung EK, Xu IM, Ng IO#, Lo RC#. PIM1 regulates glycolysis and promotes tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2015 May 10; 6 (13): 10880-92.
  • Tsang FH, Au SL, Wei L, Fan DN, Lee JM, Wong CC, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. Long non-coding RNA HOTTIP is frequently up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and is targeted by tumor suppressive miR-125b. Liver International. 2015 May; 35 (5):1597-606.
  • Au SL, Wong CC, Lee JM, Wong CM, Ng IO#. EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 is involved in epigenetic repression of Deleted in liver cancer 1 in human cancers. PLoS ONE. 2013 Jun 27;8(6):e68226.
  • Gilkes DM, Chaturvedi P, Bajpai S, Wong CC, Wei H, Pitcairn S, Hubbi ME, Wirtz D, Semenza GL#. Collagen prolyl hydroxylases are essential for breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Research. 2013 Jun 1;73(11):3285-96. 
  • Gilkes DM, Bajpai S, Wong CC, Chaturvedi P, Hubbi ME, Wirtz D, Semenza GL#. Procollagen lysyl hydroxylase 2 is essential for hypoxia-induced breast cancer metastasis. Molecular Cancer Research. 2013 May;11(5):456-66.
  • Hubbi ME, Kshitiz, Gilkes DM, Rey S, Wong CC, Luo W, Kim D, Dang CV, Levchenko A, Semenza GL#. A non-transcriptional role of HIF-1α as a direct inhibitor of DNA replication. Science Signaling. 2013 Feb 12;6(262):ra10.
  • Fan DN, Tsang FH, Tam AH, Au SL, Wong CC, Wei LL, Lee JM, He X, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. Histone lysine methyltransferase, suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1, promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and is negatively regulated by microRNA-125b. Hepatology. 2013 Feb;57(2):637-47.
  • Chaturvedi P, Gilkes DM, Wong CC, Kschitiz, Luo W, Zhang H, Wei H, Takano N, Schito L, Levchenko A, Semenza GL#. Hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent breast cancer-mesenchymal stem cell bidirectional signaling promotes metastasis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2013 Jan 2;123(1):189-205.
  • Ma W, Wong CC, Tung EK, Wong CM, Ng IO#. RhoE is frequently downregulated in HCC and suppresses HCC invasion through antagonizing the Rho/Rho-Kinase/Myosin phosphatase target pathway. Hepatology. 2013 Jan;57(1):152-61.
  • Schito L, Rey S, Tafani M, Zhang H, Wong CC, Russo A, Russo MA, Semenza GL#. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-dependent expression of platelet-derived growth factor B promotes lymphatic metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. 2012 Oct 2;109(40):E2707-16.
  • Au SL, Wong CC, Lee JM, Fan DN, Ng IO#, Wong CM#. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) epigenetically silences multiple tumor suppressor microRNAs to promote liver cancer metastasis. Hepatology. 2012 Aug;56(2):622-31.
  • Zhang H, Wong CC, Wei H, Gilkes DG, Korangath P, Chaturvedi P, Schito L, Chen J, Krishnamachary, Winnard Jr P, Raman V, Zhen L, Mitzner W, Sukumar S, Semenza GL#. HIF-1 dependent expression of angiopoietin-like 4 and L1CAM mediates vascular metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells to the lungs. Oncogene. 2012 Apr 5;31(14):1757-70.
  • Gao P, Wong CC, Tung EK, Lee JM, Wong CM#, Ng IO#. Deregulation of microRNA expression occurs early and accumulates in early stages of HBV-associated multistep hepatocarcinogenesis. Journal of Hepatology. 2011 Jun; 54 (6): 1177-84.
  • Wong CM, Wong CC, Ng YL, Au SL, Ko FC, Ng IO#. Transcriptional repressive H3K9 and H3K27 methylations contribute to DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation recovery. PLoS ONE.  2011 Feb 8;6(2):e16702.
  • Lung HL, Lo CC, Wong CC, Cheung AK, Cheong KF, Wong N, Kwong FM, Chan KC, Law EW, Tsao SW, Chua D, Sham JS, Cheng Y, Stanbridge EJ, Robertson GP, Lung ML#. Identification of tumor suppressive activity by irradiation microcell-mediated chromosome transfer and involvement of alpha B-crystallin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. International Journal of Cancer. 2008 Mar; 122 (6): 1288-96.
  • Wong CM, Ng YL, Lee JM, Wong CC, Cheung OF, Chan CY, Tung EK, Ching YP, Ng IO#. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 as a frequently silenced tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2007 May; 45 (5): 1129-38.

Review Articles, Book Chapters, and Commentaries:

  • Yuen VW, Wong CC#. Hypoxia-inducible factors and innate immunity in liver cancer. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2020 Aug 4:137553. doi: 10.1172/JCI137553. Online ahead of print. Review.
  • Chan CY*, Yuen VW,* Wong CC#. Hypoxia and the metastatic niche. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1136:97-112. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-12734-3_7. Review.
  • Chiu DK*, Zhang MS*, Tse AP*, Wong CC#. Assessment of stabilization and activity of the HIFs important for hypoxia-Induced signalling in cancer cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2019; 1928:77-99. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9027-6_6. Book chapter.
  • Lee D, Wong CC#. The folate cycle is a new metabolic weakness of cancer. Molecular & Cellular Oncology. 2017 May 19;4(6) e1327004.
  • Wong CC, Wong CM, Ng IO#. Hormonal control of the metabolic machinery of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2016 Jun; 5(3): 195-7.
  • Wong CC, Kai AK, Ng IO#. The impact of hypoxia in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. Frontiers of Medicine. 2014 Mar;8(1):33-41.
  • Wong CC, Wong CM, Au SL, Ng IO#. RhoGTPases and Rho-effectors in hepatocellular carcinoma Metastasis: ROCK N’Rho move it. Liver International. 2010 May;30(5):642-56.
  • Wong CC, Ng IO#. Gene expression profiles in different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2008 Jan; 23 (1): 1-3.