Tulane Cancer Center

Tong Wu, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Marguerite Main Zimmerman Chair in Basic Cancer Research
TCC Program Member
504-988-5210
twu@tulane.edu
1430 Tulane Ave., SL-79, New Orleans, LA  70112

Dr. Wu's basic research centers on the molecular mechanisms of inflammation and carcinogenesis, with a special emphasis on the pathogenesis of liver cancer and inflammatory liver diseases.  The laboratory focuses on the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of arachidonic acid/prostaglandin and related signaling pathways in cell biology, inflammation and carcinogenesis.  Arachidonic acid metabolites, termed eicosanoids (including prostaglandins, leukotrienes and HETEs), are potent biologically active molecules in inflammation and carcinogenesis.  They mediate a variety of cellular physiological and pathophysiological functions through binding to their plasma membrane receptors and/or nuclear transcription factors (PPARs).  Whereas the pro-inflammatory and carcinogenic eicosanoids are synthesized from arachidonic acid (an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid), this process is competitively inhibited by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.  The production of arachidonic acid metabolites is hightly controlled by a series of enzymes, including cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLAs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).  We hypothesize that the cPLA2 and COX-2-controlled eicosanoid cascade interacts with other signaling pathways (including TGF-beta, EGFR, iNOS and Wnt/beta-catenin) coordinately regulating inflammation and/or carcinogenesis.