Department of Medical Research

The current research in our team focuses on the etiology of ovarian cancer. This cancer is the fifth leading cause of death of female cancer worldwide. The five-year mortality rate is 60% and the vast majority of deaths are from the histology type of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) [high-grade means poorly differentiated], accounting for the number one killer of gynecological cancers. The poor prognosis of ovarian HGSC is mainly due to the elusive etiology and the lack of early symptoms or signs for diagnosis. The recent breakthrough findings indicate that fallopian tube fimbriae are the real origin of ovarian HGSC and incessant ovulation is a major risk. Fallopian tube fimbriae approach ovulatory follicle and pick the oocytes after ovulation. We speculated that there might be some carcinogens in the ovulating follicular fluid (FF) that initiate the transformation of fimbria epithelium.

We have established in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo models to recapitulate many of the ovulating effects on fallopian tube fimbriae. These include HPV E6/E7-immortalized human fimbrial epithelial cell line (FE25), ex vivo-cultured human and mouse fimbria tissue as well as Tp53-null transgenic mice, each exposed to human FF aspirates and its carcinogenic components. We have discovered two cancer initiation culprits of fimbria carcinogenesis, conferring the original etiology of ovarian HGSC: ROS in ovulatory FF was the main mutagen that can cause DNA double strand break (DSB) of fimbrial epithelial cells and hemoglobin from retrograde menstruation was the auxiliary surviving factor that alleviated the NOX1-mediated cell apoptosis under the oxidative and DNA damaged stress. However, only these two factors cannot fully transform immortalized cells, there are other unknown carcinogens required to be discovered. I continue to investigate the ovulation-induced carcinogenesis of fallopian tube epithelium. I hope, by using the clinical specimens-based in vitro and in vivo research models, we will achieve a clear picture of the transformation process of ovulation-induced fimbral carcinogenesis, and pave ways to primary and secondary prevention of ovarian HGSC.

1.

Huang, H.S., Chu, S.C., Hsu, C.F., Chen, P.C., Ding, D. C., Chang, M.Y., and Chu, T.Y.   (2016) Haemoglobin in pelvic fluid rescues Fallopian tube epithelial cells from reactive oxygen species stress and apoptosis. J Pathol. 240(4):484-494.【SCI, Rank 18/213, 5yr IF: 7.156】

2.

Huang, H.S., Chu, S.C., Hsu, C.F., Chen, P.C., Ding, D. C., Chang, M.Y., and Chu, T.Y.(2015) Mutagenic, surviving and tumorigenic effects of follicular fluid in a context of p53 loss: initiation of fimbria carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis. 36(11):1419-28.【SCI, Rank 37/213, 5 yr IF: 5.368】

3.

Wu, N. Y.,  Huang, H.S.,  Chao, T. H., Chou, H. M.,  Fang, C.,  Qin, C. Z.,  Tzeng, Y. J.,  Lin, C. Y.,  Chu, T. Y.,*  Zhou, H. H.,* (2017)

Progesterone prevents high grade serous ovarian cancer by induction necroptosis in p53-defective Fallopian tube epithelium. Cell Reports (accepted)【SCI, Rank 26/187, IF: 8.122】

Huang, H.S., Hsieh, I.J., and Chang, M.Y. (2016) Anticancer activity of Kalanchoe tubiflora extract against human lung cancer cells in vitro

and in vivo. Environ Toxicol.  31(11):1663-1673.【SCI, Rank 7/85, 5yr IF: 2.637】

Huang, H.S., Chu, S.C., and Chu, T.Y. (2015) Efficient analyses of DNA double-strand breaks and the cell cycle in the secretory epithelial cells of fallopian tube fimbriae. Tzu Chi Medical Journal. 27 (3), 102–106. 【Annual Excellent Publications in TCMJ】

Fang C., Chen Y. X., Wu N. Y., Yin J. Y., Li X. P., Huang H. S., Zhang W., Zhou H. H., Liu Z. Q. (2017) MiR-488 inhibits proliferation and cisplatin sensibility in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by activating the eIF3a-mediated NER signaling pathway. Sci Rep (doi:10.1038/srep40384)【SCI, Rank 7/63, 5yr IF: 5.525】

Zhang T., Shao Y., Chu T. Y., Huang H. S., Liou Y. L., Li Q., Zhou H. H., (2016) MiR-135a and MRP1 play pivotal roles in the selective lethality of phenethyl isothiocyanate to malignant glioma cells. Am J Cancer Res. 1;6(5):957-72.【SCI, Rank 81/213, 5yr IF: 3.893】

Sun D. S., Chang Y. C., Lien T. S., King C. C., Shih Y. L., Huang H. S., Wang T. Y., Li C. R., Lee C. C., Hsu P. N., Chang H. H. (2015) Endothelial Cell Sensitization by Death Receptor Fractions of an Anti-Dengue Nonstructural Protein 1 Antibody Induced Plasma Leakage, Coagulopathy, and Mortality in Mice. J Immunol. 15;195(6):2743-53.【Rank 32/151, 5yr IF: 5.287】

Huang, H.S., and Chang, H.H. (2012) Platelets in inflammation and immune modulations: functions beyond hemostasis. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 60(6), 443-51. 【Rank 93/151, 5yr IF: 2.828】