Zeng Qi

Adjunct Professor
Zeng Qi

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS.
Principal Investigator, Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR.
Supervisors, NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), NUS.

Education

Degree and Institution Year(s)
PhD, Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR 1993

Research Interest

Qi Zeng is a Research Director at the Institute of Molecular Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR Singapore. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Biochemistry of the National University of Singapore (NUS). Qi Zeng studied her Ph.D in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI, USA) and IMCB. She obtained her Ph.D in 1993 from National University of Singapore. She identified PRL-3 gene in 1998 (Zeng et al., BBRC). In 2001, Professor Vogelstein’s team from Johns Hopkins University first demonstrated a role of PRL3 gene in cancer progression and metastasis (Saha et al., Science 2001). PRL3 is an intracellular protein (inside cell) overexpressed in many tumors and has been reported globally by research laboratories. Since PRL3 is specifically overexpressed in tumors, yet undetectable in most normal tissues, thus, PRL3 is an excellent tumor specific antigen for targeted cancer therapy. Traditionally, intracellular oncoproteins (such as PRL3 phosphatase) are targeted by small chemical inhibitors (chemotherapy), mainly because intracellular compartments are presumed to be inaccessible to large antibody drugs. However, as compared to chemotherapy, antibody therapy is more target specific, reducing off-target effects. Prof Qi Zeng is the pioneer to propose a new concept of ‘Targeting Intracellular Oncoproteins with Antibody Therapy or Vaccinations’ as an unconventional cancer immunotherapy to inhibit cancer cells expressing intracellular oncoproteins. To move from basic research findings to clinical settings, her team developed PRL3-zumab, a First in Class humanized antibody approved by clinical trial authorities: Singapore (HSA), USA (FDA), China (NMPA) to perform Phase 2 Clinical Trials in below links:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03191682

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04118114

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04452955

Selected Publications

  1. Thura, M., Ye, Z., Al-Aidaroos, A.Q., Xiong, Q., Ong, J.Y., Gupta, A., Li, J., Guo, K., Ang, K.H., Zeng, Q. (2021) Commun. Biol. 4(1):923. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02449-8.
  2. Chong, P.S.Y., Zhou, J., Lim, J.S.L., Hee, Y.T., Chooi, J.Y., Chung, T.H., Tan, T.Z., Zeng, Q., Waller, D.D., Sebag, M., and Chng, W.J. (2019) Interleukin-6 promotes a STAT3-PRL3 feedforward loop via SHP2 repression in Multiple Myeloma. Cancer Research 79, 4679-4688.
  3. Thura, M., Al-Aidaroos, A.Q., Gupta, A., Chee, C.E., Lee, S.C., Hui, K.M., Li, J., Yong, W.P., So, J., Chng, W.J., Ng, C.H., Zhou, J.B., Wong, L.Z., Yuen, S.P., Ho, S.S., Y., S.M., Chiong, E., Choo, S.P., Ngeow, J., Ng, C.H., Chua, C., Yeo, S.A., Tan, B.H., Sng, X.E., Tan, Y.Z., Thiery, J.P., Goh, B.C., and Zeng, Q. (2019) PRL3-zumab as an immunotherapy to inhibit tumors expressing PRL3 oncoprotein. Nature Communications 10:2484.
  4. Chong, P.S.Y., Zhou, J., Chooi, J.Y., Chan. Z.L., Toh, S.H.M., Tan, T.Z., Wee, S., Gunaratne, J., Zeng, Q., and Chng. W,J. (2019) Non-canonical activation of β-catenin by PRL-3 phosphatase in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene 38:1508-1519.
  5. Zhou, J., Toh, S.H., Chan, Z.L., Quah, J.Y., Chooi, J.Y., Tan, T.Z., Chong, P.S.Y., Zeng, Q., Chng, W.J. (2018) A loss-of-function genetic screening reveals synergistic targeting of AKT/mTOR and WTN/β-catenin pathways for treatment of AML with high PRL-3 phosphatase. J Hematol Oncol. 11:36.
  6. Thura, M., Al-Aidaroos, A.Q., Yong, W.P., Kono, K., Gupta, A., Lin, Y.B., Mimura, K., Thiery J.P., Goh, B.C., Tan, P., Soo, R., Hong, C.W., Wang, L., Lin, S.J., Chen, E., Rha, S.Y., Chung, H.C., Li, J., Nandi, S., Yuen, H.F., Zhang, S.D., Guan, Y.K., So, J., and Zeng Q. (2016) PRL3-zumab, a first-in-class humanized antibody for cancer therapy. (2016) JCI Insight June 16;1(9):e87607.
  7. Park, J.E., Yuen, H.F., Zhou, J.B., Al-aidaroos, A.Q.O., Guo, K., Valk, P.J., Zhang, S.D., Chng, W.J., Hong, C.W., Mills, K., and Zeng, Q. (2013) An oncogenic role of PRL-3 in FLT3-ITD Induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia. EMBO Molecular Medicine 5:1351-1366
  8. Al-aidaroos, A.Q., Yuen, H.F., Guo, K., Zhang, S.D., Chung, T.H., Chng, W.J., and Zeng, Q. (2013) PRL-3 induces EGFR activation and addiction in human cancer cells. Journal of Clinical Investigation 123:3459-3471
  9. Hong, C.W. and Zeng, Q. (2012) Awaiting a New Era of Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Research 72:3715-3719.
  10. Guo, K., Li, J., Tang, J.P., Tan, C.P., Hong, C.W., Al-Aidaroos, A.Q.O., Varghese, L., Huang, C., and Zeng, Q. (2011) Targeting Intracellular Oncoproteins with Antibody Therapy or Vaccination. Science Translational Medicine 3(99):99ra85.
  11. Guo, K., Li, J., Tang, J.P., Tan, C.P., Wang, H., and Zeng, Q. (2008) Monoclonal antibodies target intracellular PRL phosphatases to inhibit cancer metastases in mice. Cancer Biology & Therapy 7:752-759
  12. Wang, H., Vardy, L., Tan, C.P., Loo, J.M., Guo, K., Li, J., Lim, S.G., Zhou, J., Chng, W.J., Ng, S.B., Li, H.X., and Zeng, Q. (2010) PCBP1 Suppresses the Translation of Metastasis-Associated PRL-3 Phosphatase. Cancer Cell 18:52-62.
  13. Zeng, Q., Hong, W., and Tan, Y.H. (1998) Mouse PRL-2 and PRL-3, two potentially prenylated protein tyrosine phosphatases homologous to PRL-1. Biophys. Res. Commun. 244:421-427.
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