Research Interests:
Anti-tumor activity of vitamin D Vitamin D signaling pathway and metabolism in cancer Mechanisms of vitamin D anti-tumor activity Small molecular inhibitors of vitamin D catabolic enzyme CYP24A1 Anti-cancer drug discoveryAbout Wei Luo
Positions
- Translational Research Scientist
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Background
Education and Training:
- PhD - Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
- MD - Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
Professional Memberships:
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Professional Experience:
- 2007-Present - Translational Research Scientist - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
Research
Research Overview:
Our work focuses on vitamin D in prevention and treatment of malignant diseases. Currently, we are interested in understanding molecular mechanisms affecting vitamin D anti-tumor activity. Specifically, we seek to understand the effect of onco-protein kinases on vitamin D signaling. We found that protein kinases CK2 and PIM1 regulate the expression of CYP24A1, a major enzyme responsible for inactivating vitamin D. We are developing strategies to inhibit the expression and/or activity of CYP24A1 thereby then enhancing the vitamin D anti-tumor action. We seek to understand the interaction between p53 and vitamin D in cancer since vitamin D demonstrates differential effect in p53 mutant vs p53 wild cancer cells. Using cell-based luciferase report assay, we are screening to discover small molecules for improving vitamin D anti-tumor action.
Publications
- Luo W, Johnson CS and Trump DL. Vitamin D Signaling Modulators in Cancer Therapy. Vitam Horm. 2016;100:433-72. PMID: 26827962
- Luo W, Yu WD, Ma Y, Chernov M, Trump DL, Johnson CS. Inhibition of protein kinase CK2 reduces CYP24A1 expression and enhances 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 anti-tumor activity in human prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res 2013; 73(7):2289-2297. PMCID: PMC3618587.
- Luo W, Hu Q, Wang D, Deeb KK, Ma Y, Morrison CD, Liu S, Johnson CS, Trump DL. Isolation and genome-wide expression and methylation characterization of CD31+ cells from normal and malignant human prostate tissue. Oncotarget 2013; 4(9):1472-1483. PMCID: PMC3824530.
- Luo W, Karpf AR, Deeb KK, Muindi JR, Morrison CD, Johnson CS, Trump DL. Epigenetic regulation of vitamin D 24-hydroxylase/CYP24A1 gene expression in human prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2010; 70(14):5953-5962. PMCID: PMC2928678.
- Luo W, Ko E, Hsu JC, Wang X, Ferrone S. Targeting melanoma cells with human high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen-specific antibodies elicited by a Peptide mimotope: functional effects. J Immunol 2006; 176:6046-6054. PMID: 16670313.