Research Areas of Interest:

• Regulation and function of C/EBPalpha in hepatocellular carcinoma
• Molecular characterization of the novel tumor suppressor DLEC1
• The role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colon cancer metastasis
• Functional studies of Proline Rich Acidic Protein1 (PRAP1)

Selected Publications

• Zhou J, Tang Y, Xie JL, Lu JN, Deng JH, Huang XW, Hooi SC, He M,Lu GD (2017). AKT activation was not essential for hepatocellular carcinoma cell survival under glucose deprivation. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 28(4), 427-435. Doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000475
• Tochhawng L, Deng S, Pugalenthi G, Kumar AP, Lim KH, Yang H, Hooi SC, Goh YC, Maciver SK, Pervaiz S, Yap CT. “Gelsolin-Cu/ZnSOD Interaction alters intracellular reactive oxygen species levels to promote cancer cell invasion” 2016 July 6. doi: 10.18632/Oncotarget.10451. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 27391159
• Samarasekera DD, Ooi S, Yeo SP, Hooi SC, “Medical education in Singapore”. Med Teach. 2015 Feb; 19:1-7. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25693792
• Lu GD, Ang YH, Zhou J, Tamilarasi J, Yan B, Lim YC, Srivastava S, Salto-Tellez M, Hui KM, Shen HM, Nguyen LN, Tan BC, Silver DL, Hooi SC, “CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α predicts poorer prognosis and prevents energy starvation-induced cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma”. Hepatology. 2015 Mar; 61(3):965-78. doi: 10.1002/hep.27593. Epub 2015 Jan 30 PMID: 25363290
• Jacobs JL, Samarasekera DD, Shen L, Rajendran K, Hooi SC, “Encouraging an environment to nurture lifelong learning: an Asian experience”. Med Teach. 2014 Feb; 36(2):164-8. doi: 10.3109/0142159X.2013.852168. Epub 2013 Nov 20. PMID: 24256070
• Huang BH, Zhuo JL, Leung CH, Lu GD, Liu JJ, Yap CT, Hooi SC, “PRAP1 is a novel executor of p53-dependent mechanisms in cell survival after DNA damage”. Cell Death Disease. 2012 Dec 13; 3:e442. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2012.180. PMID: 23235459
• Tan, J, Lee PL, Li Z, Jiang X, Lim YC, Hooi SC, Yu Q. “B55ß-Associated PP2A complex controls PDK1-directed Myc signaling and modulates rapamycin sensitivity in colorectal cancer”. Cancer Cell. 2010, 18:459-471.
• Lu GD, Leung CH, Yan B, Tan CM, Low SY, Aung MO, Salto-Tellez M, Lim SG, Hooi SC. “C/EBPalpha is up-regulated in a subset of hepatocellular carcinomas and plays a role in cell growth and proliferation”. Gastroenterology. 2010 Aug, 139(2):632-643
• Qiu G, Salto tellez M, Ross JA, Yeo W, Cui Y, Wheelhouse N, Chen GG, Harrison D, Lai P, Tao Q, Hooi SC. “The tumor suppressor gene DLEC1 is frequently silenced by DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma and induces G1 arrest in cell cycle”. Journal of Hepatology. 2008, 48(3):433-441.