Jing Hong Wang, MD, PhD

Research Interests

We study the mechanisms of tumorigenesis using B-cell lymphoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) as models. We employ genetic and immunological approaches to better understand the interplay of cancer and immune system. Given the evolutionary characteristics of cancer cells manifested as a high level of complexity, flexibility, and heterogeneity, we envision that only the immune system may be able to fight cancers with equal adaptability and specificity. Our B-cell lymphoma studies focus on elucidating how B-cell intrinsic process that is required for effective humoral immunity may contribute to B-cell lymphomagenesis, why B-cells are so prone to develop lymphomas and how malignant B-cells evade immune surveillance. Our HNSCC studies focus on elucidating the mechanisms of heterogeneous anti-tumor immune responses, in particular, why certain individuals can eradicate cancers while others succumb to cancer progression, and why different individuals respond differentially to anti-cancer therapy. The goals of my research program include: (1) define the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune evasion during cancer development; (2) develop more effective cancer immunotherapy, with a focus on HNSCCs and B cell lymphomas; (3) elucidate the basic mechanisms of antibody gene diversification and B cell lymphomagenesis.

 

Selected Publications

View Dr. Wang's publications on PubMed

 

  1. Chen SMY, Popolizio V, Woolaver RA, Ge H, Krinsky AL, John J, Danis E, Ke Y, Kramer Y, Bian L, Nicklawsky AG, Gao D, Liu S, Chen Z, Wang XJ*, Wang JH*. Differential responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor dictated by pre-existing differential immune profiles in squamous cell carcinomas caused by same initial oncogenic drivers. *co-senior authorship. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. 2022 Apr 2;41(1):123. PMID: 35366939. DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02337-x
  2. Chen Z and Wang JH. How the signaling crosstalk of B cell receptor (BCR) and co-receptors regulates antibody class switch recombination: a new perspective of checkpoints of BCR signaling. Invited review. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021 Mar 25;12:663443. PMID: 33841447. PMCID: PMC8027318 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663443
  3. Woolaver RA, Wang X, Krinsky AL, Waschke BC, Chen SMY, Popolizio V, Nicklawsky AG, Gao D, Chen Z, Jimeno A, Wang XJ, Wang JH. Differences in TCR repertoire and T cell activation underlie the divergent outcomes of antitumor immune responses in tumor-eradicating versus tumor-progressing hosts. J Immunother Cancer. 2021 Jan;9(1):e001615. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001615. PMID: 33414263
  4. Wang JH. Why the Outcome of Anti-Tumor Immune Responses is Heterogeneous: A Novel Idea in the Context of Immunological Heterogeneity in Cancers. Bioessays. 2020 Oct;42(10):e2000024. doi: 10.1002/bies.202000024. Epub 2020 Aug 7. PMID: 32767371; PMCID: PMC7546576.
  5. Chen Z*, Krinsky A, Woolaver RA, Wang X, Chen SMY, Popolizio V, Xie P, Wang JH*. TRAF3 Acts as a Checkpoint of B Cell Receptor Signaling to Control Antibody Class Switch Recombination and Anergy. Journal of Immunology. 2020 Aug 1; 205(3):830-841. PMID: 32591397; PMCID: PMC7369235. *co-senior authorship.
  6. Chen SMY, Li B, Nicklawsky AG, Krinsky A, Brunetti T, Woolaver RA, Wang X, Chen Z, Young CD, Gao D, Wang XJ, Wang JH. Deletion of p53 and Hyper-Activation of PIK3CA in Keratin-15+ Stem Cells Lead to the Development of Spontaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020 Sep 9;21(18):6585. doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186585. PMID: 32916850; PMCID: PMC7554792
  7. Wang X, Waschke BC, Woolaver RA, Chen SMY, Chen Z, Wang JH. MHC Class-I independent activation of virtual-memory CD8 T cells induced by chemotherapeutic agent-treated cancer cells. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2020 May 19. PMID: 32427883.
  8. Wang X, Waschke BC, Woolaver RA, Chen Z, Zhang G, Piscopio AD, Liu X, Wang JH. Histone-deacetylase inhibition sensitizes PD1 blockade-resistant B-cell lymphomas. Cancer Immunology Research. 2019 Aug;7(8):1318-1331. PMID: 31235619.
  9. Woolaver RA, Wang X, Dollin Y, Xie P, Wang JH*, Chen Z*. TRAF2 Deficiency in B Cells Impairs CD40-Induced Isotype Switching That Can Be Rescued by Restoring NF-?B1 Activation. Journal of Immunology, 2018 Dec 1;201(11):3421-343. PMID: 30341187; PMCID: PMC6246814. *co-senior authorship. (Featured article in the issue).
  10. Mishra AK, Kadoishi T, Wang X, Driver E, Chen Z, Wang XJ, Wang JH (2016). Squamous Cell Carcinomas Escape Immune Surveillance via Inducing Chronic Activation and Exhaustion of CD8+ T Cells co-expressing PD-1 and LAG-3 Inhibitory Receptors. Oncotarget, Vol. 7, (No. 49), pp: 81341-81356. PMCID: PMC5340255.
  11. Chen Z, Elos MT, Viboolsittiseri SS, Gowan K, Leach SM, Rice M, Eder MD, Jones K, Wang JH. Combined deletion of Xrcc4 and Trp53 in mouse germinal center B cells leads to novel B cell lymphomas with clonal heterogeneity. Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2016 Jan 7;9(1):2. PMID: 26740101; PMCID: PMC4704435.
  12. Chen Z*,§, Getahun A*, Chen X, Dollin Y, Cambier JC, Wang JH§. Imbalanced PTEN and PI3K signaling impairs class switch recombination. Journal of Immunology 2015 Dec 1;195(11):5461-5471. *co-first author; §co-correspondence author. PMID: 26500350; PMCID: PMC4655169. (Featured article in the issue).