| Meet the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wei Xu Professor of Oncology |
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Research area Xu’s research investigates two primary areas of epigenetic regulation in cancer biology. First, the research group explores how nuclear receptor co-factors modulate estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways at the transcriptional level. Second, the lab examines the mechanisms by which CARM1-mediated arginine methylation of both histone and non-histone substrates influences cell signaling and gene expression. Through systematic investigation of these epigenetic processes, their work reveals how cancer cells develop dependencies on aberrant epigenetic programs. Ultimately, Xu’s research aims to exploit these vulnerabilities to develop novel therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.
What excites you about your work?
“What excites me about my work is the potential to transform breast cancer treatment through precise molecular classification. I’m a breast cancer researcher working to improve targeted and personalized treatment for breast cancer. While many patients initially respond well to treatment, developing resistance remains a critical challenge. My research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms behind this resistance and investigating how tumors evolve to evade therapy. By integrating molecular biology, genetics and clinical pharmacy, we have identified novel targets for intervention. The insights from our studies are paving the way for precision medicine approaches that could revolutionize cancer care.”
What do you hope to achieve?
“I’m driven by the potential to understand the fundamental mechanism of treatment resistance and transfer that insight into therapeutic strategies. Having worked on breast cancer for over 20 years, I aim to help develop personalized treatments for breast cancer patients that can overcome treatment resistance and improve survival rates and quality of life for those affected by this disease.”
Prof. Xu is an expert in breast cancer biology. We are excited about the novel targets and mechanisms coming from her research.
– Rafael Diaz, WARF, Licensing Manager
Want to learn more?
Rafael Diaz, [email protected], 608.960.9847