NUS Centre for Cancer Research, NUS Medicine

13/04/2026

A gene switch that fuels myeloma growth

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells, a kind of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. These cells normally help fight infections by producing antibodies.

In this study, co-led by N2CR member Prof Chng Wee Joo and team, which also includes N2CR member Dr Zhou Jianbiao, the researchers investigate how super enhancer (SE)-driven expression of SMC4 contributes to the progression of multiple myeloma (MM). SMC4 promotes cancer progression by activating the IFI16-STING signaling pathway, leading to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This creates a tumour-supportive microenvironment that enhances myeloma cell survival and proliferation. Inhibiting this pathway suppresses SMC4-driven oncogenic effects, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.

https://bit.ly/4dJXXgc

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex hematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Emerging evidence suggests that the aberrant activation of specific gene regulatory elements known as SE plays a crucial role in driving oncogenic gene expr...

06/03/2026

Uncovering an Aggressive Form of Liver Cancer

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a fast-growing cancer that starts in the bile ducts inside the liver, and it is difficult to treat because patients’ tumours can behave very differently. In this study, A/Prof Gautam Sethi and his collaborators used advanced laboratory methods to classify ICC tumours into distinct groups based on their molecular features. They identified a particularly aggressive group marked by high levels of a protein called SPINK1.

The team found that these SPINK1-high tumour cells can influence nearby immune cells in a way that promotes cancer growth. The tumour releases a chemical signal that attracts certain macrophages (a type of immune cell). These macrophages then help create a glutamine-rich environment—glutamine is a nutrient that cancer cells can use as fuel—allowing the tumour to grow and spread more easily. The findings suggest SPINK1 could be useful for identifying higher-risk patients and may point to new treatment strategies, such as blocking glutamine support or interrupting key tumour-to-immune signalling.

https://bit.ly/4r5IhXn

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The lack …

30/01/2026

N2CR was honored to host Prof Warren Chan, Dean of the College of Engineering at NTU, for an inspiring seminar titled “The challenge of delivering nanoparticles to solid tumours”.

Prof Chan shared valuable insights into the complexities of nanomedicine and its potential to transform cancer treatment.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the engaging discussion!

20/01/2026

Targeting CD47 - Unlocking an Alternative Cell Death Pathway in Blood Cancer Treatment

A recent study has uncovered that blocking the immune checkpoint protein CD47, long recognised for enabling immune clearance of cancer cells via phagocytosis, also activates a distinct cell death pathway known as necroptosis. Using advanced techniques across lymphoma and leukemia models, researchers demonstrated that anti‑CD47 antibodies eliminate tumour cells by switching on a molecular ‘death program’ via the RIPK1/MLKL axis.

Importantly, combining CD47 blockade with drugs that block cancer cell survival proteins (such as the BCL‑2 inhibitor venetoclax) proved beneficial in cancers highly reliant on those proteins, but counterproductive in others. Co‑first authored by N2CR member Dr Stephen Chong, this work refines our understanding of CD47 biology and informs rational, patient‑tailored combination strategies in blood cancers.

https://bit.ly/4t6oMjZ

Immune checkpoint blockade of CD47 has shown promising results in lymphoid malignancies, with its effects attributed to enabling tumor-cell phagocytosis. H

23/12/2025

N2CR Continues to Inspire

N2CR recently hosted its second outreach programme — Inspiring Young Minds: A Day in the World of Cancer Research and Healthcare — at NUS and NCIS.

50 Sec 3 students from five secondary schools joined us for talks by scientists and clinicians, hands‑on sessions in the RNA Laboratory and Pathology Museum, and a tour of NCIS to learn about a cancer patient’s journey. The day ended with a fun quiz and prizes for the winners! 🏆

We thank all students, teachers, and partners — including the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), NUS ncRNA Core Facility, Pathology Museum (NUS Medicine), and Science Centre Singapore — for making this possible.

To read more: https://bit.ly/4qroa6g

17/10/2025

We are delighted to welcome Prof Goh Boon Cher and Dr Anand Jeyasekharan as they take on new leadership roles at N2CR. Their expertise and vision will be instrumental in advancing the Centre’s next phase of growth and innovation.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Prof Ashok Venkitaraman for his exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to N2CR’s growth and impact.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3WJtvc6

🎉We are pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Goh Boon Cher as Programme Chair of the NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR) with effect from 1 November 2025, and that Dr Anand Jeyasekharan has since 1 May 2025 taken over as Deputy Programme Chair of N2CR.

Prof Goh, a leading clinician scientist in precision oncology and pharmacogenetics, has made important advances in understanding resistance mechanisms and Asian-centric cancers such as lung and head and neck malignancies.

Dr Jeyasekharan, an NMRC Clinician Scientist (Senior Investigator) Awardee, is recognised for his pioneering work in "cancer cartography", where mapping tumour-immune architecture through novel spatial biology techniques helps to predict treatment response and resistance.

💞We also extend our sincere appreciation to Prof Ashok Venkitaraman, founding Programme Chair of N2CR since 2020, for his visionary leadership and groundbreaking work on genome instability and cancer susceptibility. His landmark discoveries on the BRCA gene has transformed the global understanding of cancer risk.

Please join us in welcoming this new leadership team as they guide N2CR into its next chapter of innovation, collaboration and impact in cancer research.

🔗 Read more: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/news/leadership-changes-in-the-national-university-of-singapore-nus-centre-for-cancer-research-n2cr-yong-loo-lin-school-of-medicine-nus/

27/09/2025

The Straits Times has featured one of our members, Prof Chng Wee Joo, a blood cancer specialist and the inspirational story of one of his patients.

27/09/2025

Congratulations to our primary members who have been recognised among the world’s top-cited scientists in the latest database developed by Stanford University and published by Elsevier. This recognition, based on Scopus citation metrics, places them in the top 2% of their respective fields — an outstanding achievement that reflects their exceptional research impact.

04/09/2025

Prospective Evaluation of QPOP in Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Treatment of relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (R/R-NHL) remains one of the most difficult challenges in haematologic malignancies, with many patients exhausting standard therapies and facing limited treatment options. In a final report extending on interim results from a prospective study led by Dr Anand Jeyasekharan and A/Prof Edward Chow at NCIS and NUS, a novel AI-guided ex vivo drug screening tool, Quadratic Phenotypic Optimisation Platform (QPOP), accurately predicted response to drug combinations in 74.5% of 117 lymphoma cases.

Those who received QPOP-guided patient-specific treatment had a 59% overall response rate and nearly 60% experienced longer response duration compared to their preceding treatment. Two-year survival analysis revealed significant extension of progression free survival in QPOP-guided group compared to those on standard salvage regimens (P=0.019), with 44% lower risk of progression. These findings demonstrated clinical utility and potential of QPOP as a functional precision medicine platform, supporting its development as a clinical decision support tool in the management of R/R-NHL patients.

PURPOSEDespite initially responding to first-line treatment, many patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) eventually relapse or are refractory. These patients are empirically subjected to salvage therapies that may not be efficacious. We had previously ...

01/09/2025

Overcoming Drug Resistance in Liver Cancer

Sorafenib is a first-line therapy used to treat advanced liver cancer, but its effectiveness is often reduced due to resistance in cancer cells. This study co-led by N2CR member, A/Prof Gautam Sethi, explored the biological mechanisms behind that resistance and identified a group of genes involved in retinoic acid metabolism that help cancer cells survive treatment.

These genes are activated by a protein called POU3F3, which boosts the production of retinoic acid—a compound that protects cells from damage. By silencing POU3F3, researchers were able to make cancer cells more responsive to sorafenib. They also identified a compound called rosarin that inhibits POU3F3 and enhances the drug’s effectiveness. Laboratory and animal tests showed that combining rosarin with sorafenib significantly improved treatment outcomes. These findings suggest that targeting POU3F3 could be a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance and improve the success of liver cancer therapies.

https://rdcu.be/eCYaH

13/08/2025

Overcoming Drug Resistance in Leukemia

Venetoclax (VEN) is a targeted therapy used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. It works by blocking Bcl-2, a protein that prevents cells from undergoing programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, thus allowing cancer cells to survive. However, some cancer cells become resistant by switching to rely on another survival protein called Mcl-1.

This study led by N2CR members, Prof Shazib Pervaiz and Dr Stephen Chong, found that in VEN-resistant cells, increased levels of superoxide—a reactive oxygen molecule inside cells—activate a signaling protein called AKT which phosphorylates and stabilizes Mcl-1 to help cancer cells resist VEN and survive. Reducing superoxide or blocking AKT reverses this resistance. Combining VEN with an AKT inhibitor (capivasertib) significantly reduced resistant cancer cells and improved survival in mice, offering a promising new treatment strategy.

https://bit.ly/3JtTFMy

07/08/2025

Congratulations to Dr Alan Prem Kumar on receiving the Graduate Mentor of the Year (GRAMAY) Award 2025.

This is an annual award that honours and celebrates faculty staff for their excellence in mentorship and the professional development of graduate students in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The award is given to recognise the important key roles played by the Faculty staff in inspiring and nurturing future biomedical- and clinician-scientists. The award recipients should have shown excellence in graduate supervision, intellectual and professional development as well as career development of their graduate students.