Dr Yuxin Cui
Research Fellow
- cuiy7@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2068 7070
- Henry Wellcome Building for Biomedical Research, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My main research interests are cancer biomarker identification and drug discovery. I have built up bioinformatics analysis pipelines to integrate large-scale multi-omics data such as proteome, transcriptome, methylation, mutation, kinase profile, immune profile, single-cell sequencing, CRISPR dependency, inhibitors and clinicopathological parameters. To overcome the hurdles of conventional approaches, I have been utilising the power of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate the multivariate correlation, principal components, hierarchical clustering, risk score prediction and feature importance of potential biomarker candidates by computation programming using R, Python, SQL and SAS etc. To validate concepts of novel therapeutic intervention, in lab we regularly perform a variety of experimental assays including CRISPR design, viral vector construction, viral particle production, molecular cloning, primary immune cell isolation, 3D cell culture, cellular assays, HT drug response, multi-colour FACS, automated live-cell immunofluorescence, ELISA, ELISpot, multiplex cytokine assays, automated cell-tumour interaction profiling, proteomics, next-generation RNA-Seq, clinical cohort gene analysis, IHC of cancer tissue microarray, multiparametric high-content-screening cytotoxicity assay and in-vivo modelling.
My recent projects provide insightful findings into the biomarker and therapeutical potential of Dead/H-box helicases in cancer. My bioinformatic analysis unveils that a cluster of DDX/DHX helicases has the most significant clinical significance in cancer. They are associated with some key causal signalling pathways such as MYC, TP53 and MUC16. They are involved in tumour microenvironment by the crosstalk with tumour-infiltrated immune cells such as CD8+ T and B cells. We further observe DHX36 is positively associated with patient survival and had a link with the clinicopathological conditions including immune profiles of breast cancer. The lentiviral-based stable knockdown (KD) of DHX36 promotes tumour growth in vivo. After the DHX36 KD, there is an increase in the invasion, the number of cells in the S-phase and a reduction of apoptosis with the response to cisplatin. DHX36 KD also desensitises the cytotoxic cellular response to paclitaxel and cisplatin. Transcriptomic profiling analysis by RNA sequencing indicated that DHX36 altered gene expression profile through the upstream activation of TNF, IFNγ, NFκb and TGFβ1. High throughput signalling analysis indicates that one cluster of stress-associated kinase proteins including p53, ROCK1 and JNK are suppressed, while the mitotic checkpoint protein-serine kinases CDK1 and CDK2 are activated, as a consequence of the DHX36 KD. My study on DHX36 in lung cancer also reveals DHX36 gene expression is positively associated with survival in lung adenocarcinoma. The reduction of DHX36 expression sensitises the response of lung cancer cells to the chemotherapeutic drug etoposide through regulating RB1 and E2F1 pathways.
I am conducting the small molecule drug screening by structure-guided protein pocket modelling and affinity prediction. Lentivirus-based Tet-on inducible cancer cell models will be developed to determine the therapeutic value of DHX36 as a master regulator of onco-related genes which are enriched with G4 structures. The disruption of telomere length by G4 structure resolving will be visualised using cutting-edge technology. Bioinformatic and statistical approaches including ML and AI will be further developed to better understand the key pathway checkpoints and accelerate new drug discovery.
Biography
Education and qualifications
- 2006: PhD, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK
Career overview
- 2013 - present: Research Fellow, Cardiff University
Honours and awards
Travel award (Morgan E Williams Grant), to attend the National Gastric Cancer Academic Conference (NGCAC) and the China-United Kingdom Cancer Conference 2014, Beijing, China 2014
Professional memberships
- British Association of Cancer Research
- European Association of Cancer Research
- Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
Speaking engagements
CUKC Conference Beijin, 2017. Invited speaker.
CUKC Conference Cardiff, 2015. Invited speaker.
National Gastric Cancer Academic Conference, Beijing, 2014. Invited speaker.
CUKC Conference, Beijing, 2014. Invited speaker.
Committees and reviewing
2015-present: China – UK cancer academic committee
2014-present; academic mentor
Publications
2021
- Hao, C., Cui, Y., Lane, J., Jia, S., Ji, J. and Jiang, W. G. 2021. Distinctive prognostic value and cellular functions of osteopontin splice variants in human gastric cancer. Cells 10(7), article number: 1820. (10.3390/cells10071820)
- Cui, Y., Li, L., Li, Z., Yin, J., Lane, J., Ji, J. and Jiang, W. G. 2021. Dual effects of targeting S100A11 on suppressing cellular metastatic properties and sensitizing drug response in gastric cancer. Cancer Cell International 21(1), article number: 243. (10.1186/s12935-021-01949-1)
- Cui, Y., Li, Z., Cao, J., Lane, J., Birkin, E., Dong, X. and Jiang, W. G. 2021. The G4 resolvase DHX36 possesses a prognosis significance and exerts tumour suppressing function through multiple causal regulations in non-small cell lung cancer. Frontiers in Oncology 11, article number: 655757. (10.3389/fonc.2021.655757)
- Yang, Y. et al. 2021. Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM)/CD166 in pancreatic cancer, a pivotal link to clinical outcome and vascular embolism. American Journal of Cancer Research 11(12), pp. 5917-5932.
- Cui, Y., Hunt, A., Li, Z., Birkin, E., Lane, J., Ruge, F. and Jiang, W. G. 2021. Lead DEAD/H box helicase biomarkers with the therapeutic potential identified by integrated bioinformatic approaches in lung cancer. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 19, pp. 261-278. (10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.007)
2020
- Cong, Y. et al. 2020. Tim-3 promotes cell aggressiveness and paclitaxel resistance through the NF-κB /STAT3 signalling pathway in breast cancer cells. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research 32(5), pp. 564-579. (10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2020.05.02)
- Cong, Y. et al. 2020. Tim-3 promotes tube formation and decreases tight junction formation in vascular endothelial cells. Bioscience Reports 40(10), article number: BSR20202130. (10.1042/BSR20202130)
- Cong, Y. et al. 2020. Calcium-binding protein S100P promotes tumor progression but enhances chemosensitivity in breast cancer. Frontiers in Oncology 10, article number: 566302. (10.3389/fonc.2020.566302)
- Sun, Z., Cai, S., Liu, C., Cui, Y., Ji, J., Jiang, W. G. and Ye, L. 2020. Increased expression of Gremlin1 promotes proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer cells and correlates with poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Cancer Genomics and Proteomics 17(1), pp. 49-60. (10.21873/cgp.20167)
- Zeng, Y. et al. 2020. Identification of DHX36 as a tumour suppressor through modulating the activities of the stress-associated proteins and cyclin-dependent kinases in breast cancer. American Journal of Cancer Research 10(12), pp. 4211-4233.
- Yin, J. et al. 2020. EphB2 represents an independent prognostic marker in patients with gastric cancer and promotes tumour cell aggressiveness. Journal of Cancer 11(10), pp. 2778-2787. (10.7150/jca.38098)
2019
- Hao, C. et al. 2019. OPN promotes the aggressiveness of non-small-cell lung cancer cells through the activation of the RON tyrosine kinase. Scientific Reports 9(1), article number: 18101. (10.1038/s41598-019-54843-2)
2018
- Flamini, V., Dudley, E., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2018. Distinct mechanisms by which two forms of miR-140 suppress the malignant properties of lung cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018(9) (10.18632/oncotarget.26356)
- Li, L., Cui, Y., Ye, L., Zhao, Z., Jiang, W. and Ji, J. 2018. Psoriasin overexpression confers drug resistance to cisplatin by activating ERK in gastric cancer. International Journal of Oncology 53(3), pp. 1171-1182. (10.3892/ijo.2018.4455)
2017
- Li, L., Cui, Y., Ji, J. F. and Jiang, W. G. 2017. Clinical correlation between WISP2 and β--Catenin in gastric cancer. Anticancer Research 37(8), pp. 4469-4473. (10.21873/anticanres.11842)
- Zheng, F., Zhang, Z., Flamini, V., Jiang, W. and Cui, Y. 2017. The axis of CXCR4/SDF-1 plays a role in colon cancer cell adhesion through regulation of the AKT and IGF1R signalling pathways. Anticancer Research 37(8), pp. 4361-4369. (10.21873/anticanres.11830)
- Cui, Y., Wu, B., Flamini, V., Evans, B. A., Zhou, D. and Jiang, W. G. 2017. Knockdown of EPHA1 using CRISPR/CAS9 suppresses aggressive properties of ovarian cancer cells. Anticancer Research 37(8), pp. 4415-4424. (10.21873/anticanres.11836)
- Yin, J., Cui, Y., Li, L., Ji, J. and Jiang, W. G. 2017. Overexpression of EPHB4 Is associated with poor survival of patients with gastric cancer. Anticancer Research 37(8), pp. 4489-4497. (10.21873/anticanres.11845)
- Flamini, V., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2017. Therapeutic role of MiR-140-5p for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Anticancer Research 37(8), pp. 4319-4327. (10.21873/anticanres.11825)
- Cui, Y., Bradbury, R., Flamini, V., Wu, B., Jordan, N. and Jiang, W. G. 2017. MicroRNA-7 suppresses the homing and migration potential of human endothelial cells to highly metastatic human breast cancer cells. British Journal of Cancer 117, pp. 89-101. (10.1038/bjc.2017.156)
- Hao, C. et al. 2017. OPN-a splicing variant expression in non-small cell lung cancer and its effects on the bone metastatic abilities of lung cancer cells in vitro. Anticancer Research 37(5), pp. 2245-2254. (10.21873/anticanres.11561)
- Hao, C., Cui, Y., Owen, S., Li, W., Cheng, S. and Jiang, W. G. 2017. Human osteopontin: potential clinical applications in cancer (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine (10.3892/ijmm.2017.2964)
- Hao, C., Cui, Y., Hu, M., Zhi, X., Cheng, S. and Jiang, W. 2017. The clinical significance of osteopontin (OPN) in non-small cell lung cancer and its biological impact on lung cancer cells. European Journal of Cancer 72(S1), pp. S182. (10.1016/S0959-8049(17)30663-9)
- Zheng, F., Flamini, V., Bradbury, R., Zhang, Z., Jiang, W. and Cui, Y. 2017. CXCR4 promotes adhesion capacity and activates the AKT signalling pathway in colorectal cancer cells. European Journal of Cancer 72(S1), pp. S68. (10.1016/S0959-8049(17)30302-7)
2016
- Flamini, V., Jiang, W. G., Lane, J. and Cui, Y. 2016. Significance and therapeutic implications of endothelial progenitorcells in angiogenic-mediated tumour metastasis. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 100, pp. 177-189. (10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.02.010)
- Bradbury, R., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2016. MDM2 and PSMA play inhibitory roles in metastatic breast cancer cells through regulation of matrix metalloproteinases. Anticancer Research 36, pp. 1143-1152.
- Cui, Y., Evans, B. A. J. and Jiang, W. G. 2016. New roles of osteocytes in proliferation, migration and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. Anticancer Research 36(3), pp. 1193-1202.
- Wu, B., Jiang, W. G., Zhou, D. and Cui, Y. 2016. Knockdown of EPHA1 by CRISPR/CAS9 promotes adhesion and motility of HRT18 colorectal carcinoma cells. Anticancer Research 36(3), pp. 1211-1220.
- Ji, K., Cui, Y. and Jiang, W. G. 2016. The potential mechanisms of Vilip-1 in human breast cancer and the clinical implications. European Journal of Cancer 51, pp. S295-S295., article number: 1886. (10.1016/S0959-8049(16)30836-X)
2015
- Bradbury, R., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2015. The clinical and therapeutic uses of MDM2 and PSMA and their potential interaction in aggressive cancers. Biomarkers in Medicine 9(12), pp. 1353-1370. (10.2217/bmm.15.94)
- Wang, L., Cui, Y., Ruge, F. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. Interleukin 21 and its receptor play a role in proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Cancer Genomics and Proteomics 12(5), pp. 211-221.
- Bradbury, R., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2015. The interplay between mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in the progressive properties of breast cancer [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 51(S3), article number: S294-S295. (10.1016/S0959-8049(16)30835-8)
- Cui, Y. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. MicroRNA-7 suppresses migration and invasion of metastatic breast cancer cells through the signalling pathways of EGFR, IG1R and WASF3 [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 51(S3), pp. S13-S13. (10.1016/S0959-8049(16)30042-9)
- Owen, S., Dart, D. A., Cui, Y., Ablin, R., Mason, M. D. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. Potential interactions between Interleukin-20 and Transglutaminase 4 might affect prostate cancer cell function [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 51(S3), pp. S26-S27. (10.1016/S0959-8049(16)30088-0)
- Cui, Y., Flamini, V. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. Circulating progenitor cells in lung and other cancers. Anticancer Research 35(7), pp. 4317., article number: 67.
- Flamini, V., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2015. MIRNA strand selection process in lung cancer. Anticancer Research 35(7), pp. 4349., article number: 136.
- Bradbury, R., Jiang, W. G. and Cui, Y. 2015. Impeding outgrowth of cancer cells by interfering the interplay between PSMA and MDM2. Anticancer Research 35(7), pp. 4330.
- Ji, K., Cui, Y., Hargest, R. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. VILIP-1 plays a suppressive role in the motility of colorectal cancer cells and the inhibition involves the regulation of mmps via jnk signalling pathway. Anticancer Research 35(7), pp. 4332-4333.
- Wang, L., Cui, Y. and Jiang, W. G. 2015. IL-21 plays a direct role in migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Anticancer Research 35(7), pp. 4329.
Teaching
Postgraduate research supervision: PhD
Previous student - Valentina Flamini
Previous student - Robyn Bradbury
Provious student - Moon Meng
Undergraduate research supervision:
CUReS placementsPostgraduate teaching:
Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (MSc)
- Bioinformatics and statistical analysis for cancer biomarker identification and drug discovery.
- Integration and manipulation of large-scale multi-omics data.
- Disruption of the interaction between invasive tumour cells and other cells in a tumour microenvironment.
- Drug design and selection by high throughput non-invasive assays.
- Therapeutic potential of genomic editing in metastatic tumours.
- Therapeutic targeting of calcium-binding proteins in metastatic and chemo-resistant cancer cells.
- Preventing selective homing of tumour cells to an organ such as bone.
- Delivery and tracking of new microRNA therapeutics in cancer.
- Visualisation of DNA G4 structure and telomere dynamics.
Supervision
Xuefei Dong, PhD student, School of Medicine
Fangda Wu, PhD student, School of Engineer
