Chu Zhib Bin

Biography

In the past few years, Dr. Chuu has made the following discoveries. Some of these findings were already published, while others were under manuscript preparation. (1) Dr. Chuu discovered that androgen-treatment may revert AR-overexpressed androgen-independent human LNCaP tumors to androgen-dependent status, which suggests the possibility of using cyclic/intermittent androgen treatment to control the volume of human prostate tumors. (2) Dr. Chuu discovered that expression of liver X receptor (LXR), an receptor regulating cholesterol and fatty acid, related genes decreases during prostate cancer progression and treatment of LXR agonist T0901317 by gavage in nude mice retard the progression of human LNCaP prostate tumors towards androgen-independency. Dr. Chuu also discovered that T0901317, although commonly known as LXR agonist only, is also an AR antagonist. (3) Dr. Chuu discovered that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea may retard the growth of advanced androgen-insensitive human LNCaP prostate tumors and EGCG suppresses androgen receptor signaling and prostate specific antigen expression in LNCaP tumors. (4) Dr. Chuu demonstrated that AR actually interacts with several SH2- or PTB-domain containing proteins that have never been reported before. (5) Dr. Chuu was involved in reporting a complete interaction profile between SH2- and PTB-domain containing proteins with ErbB receptor families using automatic high-throughput FP as well as a more comprehensive EGFR signaling network in A431 skin cancer cell using Micro-Western Array.

Research Interest

Dr. Chuu’s lab is interested in applying systems biology tools to study the signaling network and protein profile changes during the development and diseases progression of prostate and colon cancer. We have established Micro-Western Array, a high-throughput Western blotting system, which is capable of detecting changes of abundance and phosphorylation status of 96-384 different protein antibodies among 6-15 samples simultaneously on home-made SDS blots. Our current research interests include to apply Micro-Western Array, cell-based functional assays, gene microarray, animal models, patients samples, and other assay to study the following questions: Unraveling the molecular mechanisms regulating the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patient receiving androgen ablation therapy Investigating the comprehensive downstream network of androgen receptor (AR) and uts functions and roles in prostate cancer development, progression, metastasis, and recurrence Studying the epigenetic regulation of acini morphogenesis of prostate cells using 3D culture and Micro-Western Array Determining the role of liver X receptor (LXR) signaling in regulation of cancer development, progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis, and recurrence in prostate and colon cancer Applying natural compounds, such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a main component of honey bee propolis, and green tea catechin EGCG for treatment of advanced prostate cancer