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Name:	Jin-Tang Dong
Position:	Professor and Vice Chair for Research of Hematology and Medical Oncology Professor of Urology
Degree:	Ph.D., Peking Union Medical College/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1989 B.Sc., Nankai University, 1984
Programs:	GMB, Full Member CB, Full Member
Phone:	404 712-2568
Address:	C4080 Winship Cancer Institute, 1365-C Clifton Rd, 1751/001/1CE
Email:	j.dong@emory.edu
Research Descriptions:
Short:	Molecular pathogenesis of human cancer; tumor suppressor genes and molecular pathways in epithelial homeostasis and tumorigenesis.
Long:	Development and progression of human cancers are driven by a series of genetic and epigenetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Understanding of such genes and their molecular pathways in epithelial cells is a key to the understanding of cancer development and progression. Our laboratory focuses on the identification of novel tumor suppressor genes and their molecular pathways in prostate cancer, the study of how these tumor suppressors regulate the balance between proliferation and differentiation in epithelial cells, and how loss of tumor suppressor function contributes to the development and progression of cancer. Applying genetic, biochemical and functional approaches to human cancer cells, we have discovered several potential tumor suppressor genes from different chromosomal regions that are frequently deleted in human cancer, including KLF5 from 13q21, ATBF1 from 16q22, FOXO1A from 13q14 and U50 from 6q15. Currently we are examining the function of KLF5 and ATBF1, both of which are developmental transcription factors, in epithelial homeostasis, and whether and how their inactivation in epithelial cells causes carcinogenesis in genetically modified mouse models and human epithelial cells. We are also characterizing the molecular pathways regulated by KLF5 and ATBF1 in epithelial cells. Our findings are helpful for understanding how normal cells become cancerous, which could lead to the development of biomarkers in cancer detection and therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment.