Khan and Zhou Earn Robert Hazelwood Graduate Fellowships for Cancer Research
Ashfia Khan and Tianyi Zhou have been focused on finding answers for cancer and how it affects the body. Now, they鈥檙e getting extra help to enhance their research.
Khan and Zhou, Ph.D. students at the 葫芦影业 College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, have earned Robert Hazelwood Graduate Fellowships for cancer research. Khan is pursuing her Ph.D. in biochemistry, and Zhou is pursuing his Ph.D. in biology with a focus on cell and molecular biology.
The fellowship, $5,000 for each student, is awarded annually to exemplary Ph.D. students in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry who are engaged in cancer research.
Ashfia Khan
Khan鈥檚 research focuses on drug-resistant luminal A breast cancer, the most prevalent breast cancer subtype, according to the National Institutes of Health. About 30%-40% of patients with this subtype show resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapy.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in learning more about the role the androgen receptor (AR) plays, in particular with the nonconventional modified AR in breast cancer,鈥 said Khan.
Khan is designing molecules to target the modified AR and, consequently, deliver targeted therapy for patients with luminal A breast cancer.
鈥淐ancer cells can evade therapy and evolve into a more aggressive form to survive and metastasize,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here is a clinical need to target drug-resistant metastatic breast cancer.鈥
Khan, whose aunt recently passed away from breast cancer, knows the challenges of the disease and wants to help others who are affected.
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to see people in this state of health,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 want to find a way to give cancer patients hope that this disease is not a death sentence.鈥
Khan鈥檚 advisor, associate professor Tasneem Bawa-Khalfe, describes Khan as a highly productive, hard-working independent thinker. She is thrilled with the progress Khan has made since joining UH four years ago.
鈥淎shfia is a co-author on three published manuscripts on cancer biology and anti-cancer therapy,鈥 said Bawa-Khalfe. 鈥淗er recent findings define how and why the modified form of the AR accumulates in luminal A breast cancer patients.鈥
Khan earned a master鈥檚 degree in pharmacy from Primeasia University in her native Bangladesh and received an additional master鈥檚 degree in cancer sciences from the University of Glasgow in Scotland before coming to UH.
Tianyi Zhou
Zhou鈥檚 research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that drive advanced prostate cancer. The ultimate goal of his work is to identify novel target molecules for potential therapeutic interventions.
鈥淧rostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States,鈥 said Zhou. 鈥淥ur research aims to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the progression of primary prostate cancer to advanced metastatic prostate cancer.鈥
Zhou explained that the current gold standard for treating prostate cancer is hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy. This treatment targets the AR found in prostate cells. The primary purpose of hormone therapy is to reduce the activity of the receptor, limiting its ability to fuel growth of prostate cancer cells.
鈥淢any who undergo androgen deprivation treatment mistakenly think they鈥檙e cured as the tumor size shrank, along with the shutdown of androgen receptor signaling,鈥 said Zhou. 鈥淗owever, after an average of two to three years, the cancer can come back in a more aggressive form.鈥
Finding out why it comes back is where Zhou鈥檚 work comes into play.
His advisor, associate professor Qin Feng, said Zhou exceeded expectations since joining her lab.
鈥淶hou has an outstanding self-learning ability and strong critical thinking skills,鈥 said Feng. 鈥淚 found he had immense research potential.鈥
As a result of his proactive and quick learning abilities, Feng said Zhou has already published two papers and is preparing two, first-authored manuscripts.
Zhou completed his undergraduate studies as part of a cooperative program with Sichuan University and the University of Washington-Seattle. He earned his master鈥檚 degree from Texas A&M University before attending UH.
Common Goal
Both Khan and Zhou share a similar goal. They want to use their research to help create a better way of life for those affected by cancer.
鈥淚 believe that a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer will enable people to develop more effective treatments and save thousands of lives,鈥 said Zhou.
Through her work, Khan also hopes to find novel approaches to target metastatic cancer.
鈥淚f we are able to detect cancer early, we have a much greater chance of curing it,鈥 said Khan. 鈥淓ducating the population and having access to affordable healthcare for everyone are keys to achieving this.鈥
- Chris Guillory, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics