Yubin Ge (ag5038)

Associate Professor 

421 E. Canfield Street, Suite 3128
Detroit, MI 48201 

Katie Hege Graduated 12/9/2022 and Jenna Carter Graduated 1/13/2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) biology and leukemogenesis
Translational studies of AML, pancreatic cancer, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), and neuroblastoma 

Research in the Ge laboratory spans the basic biology and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children and adults, to combinational therapies and translational studies with primary patient specimens, cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models. Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer and cancer is the leading cause of death from disease of American children. Hence, improving leukemia therapy is of utmost importance in pediatric health. This is particularly relevant to AML in which progress has lagged significantly in comparison to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. AML is even more challenging to treat in the elderly due to decreased tolerability to intensive therapy and increased therapy-related mortality. Resistance to cytarabine- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy is a major cause of treatment failure in this disease. Therefore, new therapies for patients with AML are urgently needed to overcome drug resistance, decrease relapse rates, and reduce short- and long-term adverse effects of treatment. The Ge laboratory studies are currently focusing on the antileukemic activity and molecular basis for novel targeted agents, including histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACIs), Bcl-2 inhibitors, FLT3 inhibitors, and cell cycle checkpoint inhibitors, either alone or in combination, in preclinical models of AML. Dr. Ge's laboratory identified molecular mechanisms of resistance to the Bcl-2-selective inhibitor, Venetoclax (ABT-199), in AML, and is identifying therapeutic targets for combination therapies with ABT-199 to overcome intrinsic resistance. In addition to AML, the Ge laboratory is also developing novel combinational therapies in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), and neuroblastoma.

Wu S, Edwards H, Wang D, Liu S, Qiao X, Carter J, Wang Y, Taub JW, Wang G, and Ge Y. Inhibition of Mcl-1 Synergistically Enhances the Antileukemic Activity of Gilteritinib and MRX-2843 in Preclinical Models of FLT3-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cells. 2022;11:2752.

Liu S, Qiao X, Wu S, Gai Y, Su Y, Edwards H, Wang Y, Lin H, Taub JW, Wang G, and Ge Y. c-Myc plays a critical role in the antileukemic activity of the Mcl-1 selective inhibitor AZD5991 in acute myeloid leukemia. Apoptosis. 2022. doi: 10.1007/s10495-022-01756-7. Online ahead of print.

Knight T, Pitman H, Taub JW, and Ge Y. MAP4K1 expression is a novel resistance mechanism and independent prognostic marker in AML – But can be overcome via targeted inhibition. EBioMedicine. 2021;70:103488.

Qiao X, Ma J, Knight T, Su Y, Edwards H, Polin L, Li J, Kushner J, Dzinic SH, White K, Wang J, Lin H, Wang Y, Wang L, Wang G, Taub JW, and Ge Y. The Combination of CUDC-907 and Gilteritinib Shows Promising in vitro and in vivo Anti-Leukemic Activity Against FLT3-ITD AML. Blood Cancer J. 2021;11:111.

Niu X, Rothe K, Chen M, Grasedieck S, Li R, Nam SE, Zhang X, Novakovskiy G, Ahn YH, Maksakova IA, Lai S, Zhang H, Yan J, Liu H, Zhao Y, Wu D, Ge Y, Wasserman W, Rouhi A, Kuchenbauer FC, Yip CK, Zhang Z, Jiang X. Inhibition of AXL Kinase Uniquely Sensitizes Therapy-Insensitive Cancer Stem and Progenitor Cells to Venetoclax Treatment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blood. 2021;137:3641-55.

Li X, Su Y, Hege K, Madlambayan G, Edwards H, Knight T, Polin L, Kushner J, Dzinic SH, White K, Miller R, Wang G, Zhao L, Wang Y, Lin H, Taub JW, and Ge Y. The HDAC and PI3K dual inhibitor CUDC-907 synergistically enhances the antileukemic activity of venetoclax in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. 2021;106:1262-77.

Carter JL, Hege K, Kalpage HA, Edwards H, Hüttemann M, Taub JW, Ge Y. Targeting Mitochondrial Respiration for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Biochem Pharmacol. 2020;182:114253.

Carter JL, Hege K, Yang J, Kalpage HA, Su Y, Edwards H, Hüttemann M, Taub JW, and Ge Y. Targeting multiple signaling pathways: the new approach to acute myeloid leukemia therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2020;5:288.

Liu F, Kalpage H, Wang D, Edwards H, Huttemann M, Ma J, Su Y, Carter J, Li X, Polin L, Kushner J, Dzinic SH, White K, Wang G, Taub JW, and Ge Y. Cotargeting of Mitochondrial Complex I and Bcl-2 Shows Antileukemic Activity against Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Reliant on Oxidative Phosphorylation. Cancers (Basel). 2020;12:2400.

Hu C, Xia H, Bai S, Zhao J, Edwards H, Li X, Lyu J, Yang Y, Dong Y, and Ge Y. CUDC-907, a novel dual PI3K and HDAC inhibitor, in prostate cancer: antitumor activity and molecular mechanism of action. J Cell Mol Med. 2020; 24:7239-53.

Luedtke DA, Su Y, Ma J, Li X, Buck SA, Edwards H, Polin L, Kushner J, Dzinic SH, White K, Lin H, Taub JW, and Ge Y. Inhibition of CDK9 by Voruciclib synergistically enhances cell death induced by the Bcl-2 selective inhibitor venetoclax in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2020;5:17.

Wang T, Shatara M, Liu F, Edwards H, Wang G, Lin H, Wang Y, Taub JW, and Ge Y. Simultaneous co-targeting of ATR and RNA Pol I transcription shows synergistic antileukemic effects on acute myeloid leukemia. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2019; 4:44.

Shatara M, Xavier AC, Dombkowski A, Cukovic D, Poulik JM, Altinok D, Ge Y, and Taub JW. Monozygotic Twins with Neuroblastoma MS have similar molecular profile: a case of twin-to-twin metastasis. Br J Cancer. 2019; 121:890-3.

Ma J, Zhao S, Qiao X, Knight T, Edwards H, Polin L, Kushner J, Dzinic SH, White K, Wang G, Zhao L, Lin H, Wang Y, Taub JW, and Ge Y*. Inhibition of Bcl-2 synergistically enhances antileukemic activity of midostaurin and gilteritinib in preclinical models of FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Clin Cancer Res. 2019; 25:6815-26. [CCR Translations commentary: Perl AE. Improving Response to FLT3 Inhibitors–BCL2 the Rescue? Clin Cancer Res. 2019;25:6567-9.]

Li X, Su Y, Madlambayan G, Edwards H, Polin L, Kushner J, Dzinic S, White K, Ma J, Knight T, Wang G, Wang Y, Yang J, Taub JW, Lin H, and Ge Y. Antileukemic activity and mechanism of action of the novel PI3K and HDAC dual inhibitor CUDC-907 in acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. 2019;104:2225-40.

Liu F, Knight T, Su Y, Edwards H, Wang G, Wang Y, Taub JW, Lin H, Sun L, and Ge Y. Venetoclax synergistically enhances the antileukemic activity of vosaroxin against acute myeloid leukemia ex vivo. Targeted Oncology. 2019; 2019;14:351-64.

Knight T, Luedtke D, Edwards H, Taub JW, and Ge Y. A delicate balance - the Bcl-2 family and its role in apoptosis, oncogenesis, and cancer therapeutics. Biochem Pharmacol. 2019;162:250-61.

Volk A, Liang K, Suraneni P, Li X, Zhao J, Bulic M, Marshall S, Pulakanti K, Malinge S, Taub JW, Ge Y, Rao S, Bartom E, Shilatifard A, and Crispino JD. A CHAF1B-dependent molecular switch in hematopoiesis and leukemia pathogenesis. Cancer Cell. 2018;34:707-723.e7.
 

 PhD (1998): Jilin University, Changchun, China

Karmanos Cancer Institute
Elliman Building, RM - 3128
421 E Canfield
Detroit, MI 48201

Education
(1998)  Ph.D., Jilin University, Changchun, China
(1995)  M.S., Jilin University, Changchun, China
(1992)  B.S., Jilin University, Changchun, China

Postgraduate Training
(2002-2004)  Research Associate, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
(1999-2002)  Postdoctoral Fellow, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
(1998-1999)  Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Faculty Appointments
(2014-Present)  Associate Professor (Tenure), Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
(2008-Present)  Adjunct Professor, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
(2010-2014) Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
(2007-2010)  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
(2004-2007)  Assistant Professor, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI

Hopsital and Other Professional Appointments
(2004-Present) Member, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI

Member: American Association for Cancer Research
Active member: American Society of Hematology

(2008)  Center Director's Quarterly Research Award, Karmanos Cancer Institute
(2007)  Faculty Research Excellence Award, Wayne State University School of Medicine
(2004)  Chareles J. Epstein Research Award, the National Down Syndrome Society
(2003)  Chareles J. Epstein Research Award, the National Down Syndrome Society
(1994)  The second prize for The Second China Grand Prix of the Invention of Applied Sciences & Technology for University Students, Beijing, P.R.China

CB 7210: Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
CB 7240: Cancer Chemotherapy
CB 7300 F31: Special Topics in Cancer Biology - Grant Writing
CB 7700: Recent Developments in Cancer Biology

Research in the Ge laboratory spans the basic biology and development of acute leukemia in children, to combinational therapies and translational studies with primary patient specimens. Studies of the Ge laboratory have concerned the biology of critical transcription factors such GATA1, ETS2, and RUNX1 in AML, including identification of high frequency RUNX1-ETO fusion protein isoforms as determinants of chemosensitivity and leukemogenesis and determination of the roles of GATA1 and EST2 in the biology and chemotherapy responses in a specific subtype of AML, acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMkL) by using clinically relevant cell lines and diagnostic AML blasts. Most recent studies have been focusing on the molecular basis for the remarkable synergism between histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhbitors (HDACIs) and standard chemotherapy drugs used for treating AML, neuroblastoma, and pancreatic cancer.

1. Qi W, Zhang W, Edwards H, Chu R, Taub JW, Wang Z, Wang Y, Li C, Lin H, and Ge Y. Synergistic anti-leukemic interactions between panobinostat and MK-1775 in acute myeloid leukemia ex vivo. Cancer Biol Ther. 2015; 16: 1784-1793.

2. Shaham L, Vendarmini E, Ge Y, Goren Y, Tijssen M, Birger Y, McNulty M, Geron I, Schwartzman O, Goldberg L, Chou ST, Pitman H, Weiss MJ, Michaeli S, Sredni B, Göttgens B, Crispino J, Taub JW, and Izraeli S. MiR-486-5p is an oncomiR in the myeloid leukemias of Down Syndrome. Blood. 2015; 125: 1292-1301.

3. Xie C, Edwards, Caldwell JT, Wang G, Taub JW, and Ge Y. Obatoclax potentiates the cytotoxic effect of cytarabine on acute myeloid leukemia cells by enhancing DNA damage. Mol Oncol. 2015; 9: 409-421.

4. Wang G, Niu X, Zhang W, Caldwell JT, Edwards H, Chen W, Taub JW, Zhao L, and Ge Y. Synergistic antitumor interactions between MK-1775 and panobinostat in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett. 2015; 356: 656-668.

5. Hanmod S, Wang G, Edwards H, Buck SA, Ge Y, Taub JW, and Wang Z. Targeting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and wee1 for treating high-risk neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015; 62: 52-59.

6. Wang G, Chen S, Edwards H, Cui X, Cui L, and Ge Y. Combination of chloroquine and obatoclax results in synergistic cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells. Oncol Rep. 2014; 32: 2789-94.

7. Qi W, Xie C, Li C, Caldwell JT, Edwards H, Taub JW, Wang Y, Lin H, and Ge Y. CHK1 plays a critical role in the anti-leukemic activity of the wee1 inhibitor MK-1775 in acute myeloid leukemia cells. J Hematol Oncol. 2014; 7(1):53.

8. Caldwell JT, Edwards H, Buck SA, Ge Y, and Taub JW. Targeting the wee1 Kinase for Treatment of Pediatric Down Syndrome Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014; 61: 1767-1773. [Featured on the cover for the issue].

9. Chen S, Wang G, Niu X, Zhao J, Tan W, Wang H, Zhao L, and Ge Y. Combination treatment with AZD2281 (Olaparib) and GX15-070 (Obatoclax) results in synergistic antitumor activities in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett. 2014; 348: 20-28.

10. Niu X, Wang G, Wang Y, Caldwell JT, Edwards H, Xie C, Taub JW, Li C, Lin H, and Ge Y. Acute myeloid leukemia cells harboring MLL fusion genes or with the acute promyelocytic leukemia phenotype are sensitive to the Bcl-2 selective inhibitor ABT-199. Leukemia. 2014; 28:1557-1560.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/