Chunyan Zhao

Chunyan Zhao

Researcher | Docent
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, 14151 Flemingsberg
Postal address: H7 Medicin, Huddinge, H7 Bionut Avdelningsgemensamt, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am an Associate Professor (“Docent” in the Swedish academic system) and
    acting group leader for the ESR (Estrogen Signaling Research) group. I
    received my PhD from Karolinska Institutet in 2000, under the supervision of
    Professor Kari Hemminki. My PhD project studied the molecular mechanisms of
    carcinogenesis mediated by chemical carcinogens or UV-radiation. In 2002, I
    joined the ESR group, focusing at understanding estrogen signaling and AP-1
    signaling in breast cancer using functional genomics approaches.

Research

  • *Functional genomics of breast Cancer*
    Patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer are usually
    treated with anti-hormone therapies such as tamoxifen or aromatase
    inhibitors. However, many of these patients are resistant to these drugs or
    develop resistance during treatment, allowing their breast cancer to return.
    In addition, patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have limited
    treatment options. Our group is using functional genomics approaches towards
    unravelling mechanisms of drug resistance in ER-positive breast cancer and
    understanding molecular determinants of malignant cell behaviors in TNBC. The
    ultimate goal is to develop novel and improved prognostic tools and therapies
    for patients with invasive breast tumors.
    Recent published results from the group showed the first evidence that the
    AP-1 transcription factor Fra-1 is overexpressed in TNBC and has prognostic
    value. This work provided novel insights into the mechanisms through which
    TNBC cells acquire invasive and proliferative properties. Currently there are
    three main projects in focus 1) Characterization of the role of AP-1 in
    regulating TNBC invasiveness, in breast cancer progression and metastasis and
    in breast cancer stem cells. 2) Identification of the ER cistrome associated
    proteome in response to different ligands in breast cancer cells. With the
    term “the ER cistrome associated proteome” we refer to the global
    identification of proteins associated with primarily the DNA bound ER. 3)
    Identification of the ER cistrome associated proteome in tamoxifen resistant
    compared to tamoxifen sensitive breast cancer.

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2011
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 2000

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