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April-June 2025: Published research at Massey
Jul 28, 2025
As one of just two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is at the forefront of the nation’s cancer research efforts. Scientists at Massey conduct cutting-edge, laboratory-based basic, population, and clinical and translational-focused research to advance improved approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Continue reading to learn more about publications from Massey researchers in April, May and June 2025.
PUBLISHED RESEARCH
Groundbreaking TACIT algorithm offers new promise in diagnosing, treating cancer
Massey research members: Jinze Liu, Ph.D.
Journal: Nature Communications
Publication date: April 21, 2025
Researchers at Massey have developed a novel algorithm that could provide a revolutionary tool for determining the best options for patients — both in the treatment of cancer and in the prescription of medicines. They created Threshold-based Assignment of Cell Types from Multiplexed Imaging Data (TACIT), which assigns cell identities based on cell-marker expression profiles. TACIT cuts down cell identification time from over a month to just minutes—saving researchers valuable time and resources.
VCU collaborators: Kevin Byrd, DDS, Ph.D., Khoa L. A. Huynh, Quinn Easter, Bruno Matuck, Xufeng Qu, M.S., Katarzyna Tyc, Ph.D., and Theresa Weaver
Tissue regeneration could be effective strategy for liver cancer prevention and treatment
Massey research members: Masoud Manjili, Ph.D., and Arun Sanyal, M.D.
Journal: Liver International
Publication date: April 24, 2025
Fatty liver disease can lead to the development of liver cancer, however, the immune mechanisms driving this transition remain unclear. A recent study suggests that effective immunotherapy should harness the body's natural ability to repair the liver, creating an environment where cancer cannot thrive. The findings pave the way for innovative treatments that promote immune-driven tissue regeneration as a strategy for cancer prevention and therapy.
VCU collaborators: Nicholas Koelsch, Michael Idowu, M.D., M.P.H., Faridoddin Mirshahi, M.S., Amy Olex, Ph.D., and Mulugeta Seneshaw
Breast cancer patients favor survival and reduced risk of long-term neuropathy when weighing treatment options
Massey research members: Teresa Salgado, Ph.D., and Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D.
Journal: Supportive Care in Cancer
Publication date: May 10, 2025
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and painful side effect of cancer treatment. Researchers measured the importance of factors that influence the decision to discontinue treatment due to CIPN among patients with advanced breast cancer. Their findings demonstrate that women with metastatic breast cancer attributed more importance to survival and reducing the risk of long-term CIPN when faced with the decision to discontinue treatment. The study authors suggest that knowing what matters most to patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy may assist with shared decision-making to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
VCU collaborators: Rotana Radwan, Pharm.D., Hetal Vachhani, M.D., and Erin Hickey Zacholski, Pharm.D.
Breast cancer patients willing to accept short-term neuropathy risks
Massey research members: Teresa Salgado, Ph.D., and Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D.
Journal: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Publication date: May 13, 2025
A recent study found that women with metastatic breast cancer were willing to tolerate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in exchange for treatment benefits, accepting short-term risks to their hands and feet in progression-free survival. However, they were less willing to tolerate CIPN risks if symptoms became long-term or permanent. Further research is needed to develop a decision aid tool for guiding CIPN-related treatment decisions in clinical practice.
VCU collaborators: Hetal Vachhani, M.D., and Erin Hickey Zacholski, Pharm.D.
Massey researchers discover new genetic target that could shape the future of liver cancer treatment
Massey research member: Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Journal: Hepatology
Publication date: May 19, 2025
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, is extremely challenging to treat. However, the future of HCC patient care looks brighter thanks to research that discovered that the gene TAF2 plays a pivotal role in the growth of this cancer. A team of scientists at Massey found that TAF2 is overexpressed in HCC patients compared to individuals with healthy livers. Through preclinical research, they discovered that TAF2 regulates the survival of hepatocytes—the functional cells of the liver—and tumor formation. Their study also demonstrates that TAF2 cooperates with the MYC gene, another known major driver of cancer, to accelerate tumor growth.
VCU collaborators: Saranya Chidambaranathan Reghupaty, Suchismita Raha, Rachel Mendoza, Debashri Manna, Ali Gawi Ermi, Eva Davis, Younus Aqeel, Mark A. Subler, Jennifer Koblinski, Michael Idowu, Nitai Mukhopadyay, Paul B. Fisher, Jolene J. Windle and Mikhail G. Dozmorov
Researchers develop new method for identifying chromatin interactions
Massey research members: Mikhail Dozmorov, Ph.D., and Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Journal: Journal of Molecular Biology
Publication date: June 4, 2025
Changes in the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the human genome are associated with various conditions, such as cancer and developmental disorders, as they can lead to gene dysfunction that contributes to disease progression. Massey researchers recently developed a new method for differential single-cell chromatin conformation capture analysis. Their workflow outperforms existing methods for identifying differential chromatin interactions, enabling the effective detection of cell type-specific differences in chromatin structure and showing expected associations with biological and epigenetic features.
VCU collaborators: My Nguyen and Brydon Wall
miR-193b-3p identified as critical esophageal cancer regulator
Massey research member: Hengbin Wang, Ph.D.
Journal: Cells
Publication date: June 19, 2025
The sixth-leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, esophageal cancer's (ESCA) molecular mechanisms underlying its initiation and progression remain poorly understood. In a study, researchers identified microRNA miR-193b-3p as a critical regulator of ESCA progression and the Remodeling and Spacing Factor 1 (RSF1) as an essential target of miR-193b-3p.These findings underscore the critical role of the miR-193b-3p/RSF1 axis in esophageal cancer progression.
Massey and VIMM researchers achieve potential breakthrough in brain cancer treatment
Massey research members: Paul B. Fisher, MPh, Ph.D., FNAI, and Swadesh K. Das, Ph.D.
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Publication date: June 23, 2025
Researchers at Massey and the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) discovered a new and potentially revolutionary way to treat glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive type of brain cancer with no curative treatment options. Through an innovative study, scientists created a new molecule that demonstrated the capability to introduce a combination of treatment outcomes to kill the tumor while exploiting immunotherapy to potentially prevent the recurrence of GBM via a “Fusion Superkine,” containing dual acting therapeutic cytokines in a single molecule.
VCU collaborators: Praveen Bhoopathi, Luni Emdad, Rajan Gogna, Amit Kumar, David D. Limbrick, Esha Madan, Santanu Maji, Padmanabhan Mannangatti and Anjan Pradhan
BET degraders may be effective in head and neck cancers that are resistant to chemotherapy
Massey research members: David Gewirtz, Ph.D., and Hisashi Harada, Ph.D.
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication date: June 26, 2025
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains challenging to treat despite multimodal therapeutic approaches. Cisplatin treatment is effective and cost-efficient, although chemoresistance and disease recurrence limit its efficacy. These study results suggest that the BET degraders ARV-825 and ARV-771 may be effective in improving the response of chemoresistant head and neck cancer to cisplatin treatment.
VCU collaborators: Fereshteh Ahmadinejad, Ph.D., Natalie Luffman, Ryan Finnegan, Ph.D., and Marissa Raymond
PUBLISHED EDITORIALS
Perspective highlights GINA gap in Native American care
Massey research members: Katherine Y. Tossas, Ph.D., Susan Hong, M.D., John Quillin, Ph.D., Maria Thomson, Ph.D., and Robert A. Winn, M.D.
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine
Publication date: May 24, 2025
Massey team members illustrated how the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that prohibits health insurers and employers from discriminating against people on the basis of their genetic makeup does not apply to Native American communities. This gap affects Native Americans’ participation in research, with implications for scientific progress and the development of health care interventions, and perpetuates health disparities.
VCU collaborators: Stephen Adkins, B.A., and Bianca D. Owens, Ph.D.
PUBLISHED REVIEWS
The multifunctional proline-rich domain of p53 tumor suppressor
Massey research member: Yuesheng Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
Journal: BBA - Reviews on Cancer
Publication date: April 22, 2025
The p53 tumor suppressor is a multi-domain protein. The proline-rich domain (PRD) resides next to the transactivation domains at the N-terminus and before the DNA binding domain. This comprehensive review examines the roles of the PRD in the biological functions, stability and protein-protein interactions of p53.
VCU collaborator: Madhuri Dutta, Ph.D.
A critical appraisal of the utility of targeting therapy-induced senescence for cancer treatment
Massey research members: David Gewirtz, Ph.D., Anthony Faber, Ph.D., and Hisashi Harada, Ph.D.
Journal: Cancer Research
Publication date: May 15, 2025
Cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy are rarely successful in eliminating the entire tumor population, often leaving behind a subpopulation of senescent cells that can contribute to disease recurrence. This review provides a summary of the recent preclinical literature supporting the use of senolytics as a complement for cancer treatment, discusses the limitations associated with their use in the current preclinical models and provides perspectives on the clinical development of senolytics in cancer treatment regimens.
Advancing antibody-drug conjugates: Precision oncology approaches for breast and pancreatic cancers
Massey research members: J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D., Youngman Oh, Ph.D., and Jose Trevino, M.D.
Journal: Cancers
Publication date: May 27, 2025
An antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) is a cancer-inhibiting therapy that combines compounds, such as chemotherapy, with a targeted antibody. In recent years, the development and launch of new ADCs have been conducted for breast and pancreatic cancers. This article discusses ADC properties while comparing different targets, linkers and payloads effectively used to treat these aggressive cancer types.
VCU collaborator: Dhanvin Yajaman
Written by: Blake Belden
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