Hung-Chi Cheng
Professor

Education and Research

Education

Ph.D., Cornell University, U.S.A

Areas of Expertise

Organ specificity mediated by cell adhesion; cancer metastasis

Research Interests

My research interests focus on:

1. Anti-Adhesion Based Drug Designing for the Metastatic Prevention
2. Alternative Anti-Metastasis Strategies
   1. Inside-out signal transduction
   2. Outside-in signal transduction
3. Development of a New Drug-Delivery Method with Endothelial Stem Cells
4. The Role of CD26 in the Immune Defense System Against Tumor Metastasis
5. Coordination of the Double-Adhesion Events for the Pulmonary Metastasis

Selected Publications

1. Huang LT, Cheng LH, Kuo CH, Cheng CY, Sheu SR, Yang CH, Shih PC, Li YS, Tseng L, Hsueh WT, Hao LJ, Cheng HC. P-glycoprotein 1 as a shared target for resensitizing drug-resistant tumor cells and preventing fibronectin-driven metastasis. Theranostics. 2026;16(13):7288-7307. [Abstract: Huang et al., 2026, Theranostics]
2. Lin WD, Chen YC, Lin FC, Pan JK, Chen MH, Chen HL, Chung WP, Cheng HC, Hsiao M, Yang CN, Lu PJ. Loss of estrogen receptor alpha promotes distant metastasis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition in luminal-type breast cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2026;1872(1):168055. [Abstract: Lin et al., 2026, Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis]
3. Huang KT, Tsai WH, Chen CW, Hwang YS, Cheng HC, Yeh CW, Lin YH, Cheng AJ, Chang HC, Lin SJ, Yen MC, Chang WT. Hyperoxia induces autophagy in pulmonary epithelial cells: insights from in vivo and in vitro experiments. Free Radic Res. 2025;59(1):9-22. [Abstract: Huang et al., 2025, Free Radic Res]
4. Lin WD, Chang CH, Pan JK, Lin FC, Chen YC, Chen YJ, Wang PS, Hong WQ, Chen SY, Lin CH, Kuo YL, Chung WP, Cheng HC, Hsiao M, Yang CN, Lu PJ. A novel long non-coding RNA MIR4500HG003 promotes tumor metastasis through miR-483-3p-MMP9 axis in triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Death Dis. 2024;15(5):310. [Abstract: Lin et al., 2024, Cell Death Dis]
5. Lin YH, Chen CW, Cheng HC, Liu CJ, Chung ST, Hsieh MC, Tseng PL, Tsai WH, Wu TS, Lai MD, Shih CL, Yen MC, Fang WK, Chang WT. Inhibition of lncRNA RPPH1 activity decreases tumor proliferation and metastasis through down-regulation of inflammation-related oncogenes. Am J Transl Res. 2023;15(12):6701-6717. [Abstract: Lin et al., 2023, Am J Transl Res]
6. Pan JK, Lin WD, Kuo YL, Chen YC, Loh ZJ, Lin FC, Cheng HC, Hsiao M, Lu PJ. ICAM2 initiates trans-blood-CSF barrier migration and stemness properties in leptomeningeal metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene. 2023;42(39):2919-2931. [Abstract: Pan et al., 2023, Oncogene]
7. Hsiao KC, Ruan SY, Chen SM, Lai TY, Chan RH, Zhang YM, Chu CA, Cheng HC, Tsai HW, Tu YF, Law BK, Chang TT, Chow NH, Chiang CW. The B56γ3-containing protein phosphatase 2A attenuates p70S6K-mediated negative feedback loop to enhance AKT-facilitated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer. Cell Commun Signal. 2023;21(1):172. [Abstract: Hsiao et al., 2023, Cell Commun Signal]
8. Yang ML, Huang YJ, Lin YC, Lin YH, Hung TT, Shiau AL, Cheng HC, Wu CL. Multivalent dipeptidyl peptidase IV fragment-nanogold complex inhibits cancer metastasis by blocking pericellular fibronectin. Biomater Adv. 2023;148:213357. [Abstract: Yang et al., 2023, Biomater Adv]
9. Cheng HC, Huang LT. Tumor Progression, Microenvironments, and Therapeutics. Life (Basel). 2022;12(10):1599. [Abstract: Cheng et al., 2022, Life (Basel)]
10. Huang LT, Kuo CH, Tseng L, Li YS, Cheng LH, Cheng CY, Sheu SR, Chang WT, Chen CC, Cheng HC. Alpha-Mangostin Reduces Pericellular Fibronectin on Suspended Tumor Cells and Therapeutically, but Not Prophylactically, Suppresses Distant Metastasis. Life (Basel). 2022;12(9):1375. [Abstract: Huang et al., 2022, Life (Basel)]
11. Kuo IY, Yang YE, Yang PS, Tsai YJ, Tzeng HT, Cheng HC, Kuo WT, Su WC, Chang CP, Wang YC. Converged Rab37/IL-6 trafficking and STAT3/PD-1 transcription axes elicit an immunosuppressive lung tumor microenvironment. Theranostics. 2021;11(14):7029-7044. [Abstract: Kuo et al., 2021, Theranostics]
12. Chen CW, Yang CH, Lin YH, Hou YC, Cheng TJ, Chang ST, Huang YH, Chung ST, Chio CC, Shan YS, Cheng HC, Chang WT. The Fibronectin Expression Determines the Distinct Progressions of Malignant Gliomas via Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Pathway. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(7):3782. [Abstract: Chen et al., 2021, Int J Mol Sci]
13. Tsai KL, Chou WC, Cheng HC, Huang YT, Chang MS, Chan SH. Anti-IL-20 Antibody Protects against Ischemia/Reperfusion-Impaired Myocardial Function through Modulation of Oxidative Injuries, Inflammation and Cardiac Remodeling. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(2):275. [Abstract: Tsai et al., 2021, Antioxidants (Basel)]
14. Pan JK, Lin CH, Kuo YL, Ger LP, Cheng HC, Yao YC, Hsiao M, Lu PJ. MiR-211 determines brain metastasis specificity through SOX11/NGN2 axis in triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene. 2021;40(9):1737-1751. [Abstract: Pan et al., 2021, Oncogene]
15. Chang HY, Lee CH, Li YS, Huang JT, Lan SH, Wang YF, Lai WW, Wang YC, Lin YJ, Liu HS, Cheng HC. MicroRNA-146a suppresses tumor malignancy via targeting vimentin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells with lower fibronectin membrane assembly. J Biomed Sci. 2020;27(1):102. [Abstract: Chang et al., 2020, J Biomed Sci]
16. Huang LT, Tsai CL, Huang SH, Chang MM, Chang WT, Cheng LH, Cheng HC. Depleting RhoA/Stress Fiber-Organized Fibronectin Matrices on Tumor Cells Non-Autonomously Aggravates Fibroblast-Driven Tumor Cell Growth. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(21):8272. [Abstract: Huang et al., 2020, Int J Mol Sci]
17. Chen YT, Huang ZY, Tang HH, Kuo WT, Wu SY, Lan SH, Chang KH, Lin PL, Lee MF, Cheng HC, Liu HS, Huang CF, Huang GC, Su CL. Pterostilbene Sensitizes Cisplatin-Resistant Human Bladder Cancer Cells with Oncogenic HRAS. Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(10):2869. [Abstract: Chen et al., 2020, Cancers (Basel)]
18. Lin TC, Yang CH, Cheng LH, Chang WT, Lin YR, Cheng HC. Fibronectin in Cancer: Friend or Foe. Cells. 2019;9(1):27. [Abstract: Lin et al., 2019, Cells]
19. Wang YS, Tzeng HT, Tsai CH, Cheng HC, Lai WW, Liu HS, Wang YC. VAMP8, a vesicle-SNARE required for RAB37-mediated exocytosis, possesses a tumor metastasis suppressor function. Cancer Lett. 2018;437:79-88. [Abstract: Wang et al., 2018, Cancer Lett]
20. Lin TC, Liao YC, Chang WT, Yang CH, Cheng LH, Cheng M, Cheng HC. The Establishment of a Lung Colonization Assay for Circulating Tumor Cell Visualization in Lung Tissues. J Vis Exp. 2018;(136):56761. [Abstract: Lin et al., 2018, J Vis Exp]
21. Wang PS, Chou CH, Lin CH, Yao YC, Cheng HC, Li HY, Chuang YC, Yang CN, Ger LP, Chen YC, Lin FC, Shen TL, Hsiao M, Lu PJ. A novel long non-coding RNA linc-ZNF469-3 promotes lung metastasis through miR-574-5p-ZEB1 axis in triple negative breast cancer. Oncogene. 2018;37(34):4662-4678. [Abstract: Wang et al., 2018, Oncogene]
22. Chang MM, Lin CN, Fang CC, Chen M, Liang PI, Li WM, Yeh BW, Cheng HC, Huang BM, Wu WJ, Chen YA. Glycine N-methyltransferase inhibits aristolochic acid nephropathy by increasing CYP3A44 and decreasing NQO1 expression in female mouse hepatocytes. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):6960. [Abstract: Chang et al., 2018, Sci Rep]
23. Tseng PL, Chen CW, Hu KH, Cheng HC, Lin YH, Tsai WH, Cheng TJ, Wu WH, Yeh CW, Lin CC, Tsai HJ, Chang HC, Chuang JH, Shan YS, Chang WT. The decrease of glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 1 accelerates tumor malignancy via deregulating energy metabolism but sensitizes cancer cells to 2-deoxyglucose inhibition. Oncotarget. 2018;9(27):18949-18969. [Abstract: Tseng et al., 2018, Oncotarget]
24. Tseng PL, Wu WH, Hu TH, Chen CW, Cheng HC, Li CF, Tsai WH, Tsai HJ, Hsieh MC, Chuang JH, Chang WT. Decreased succinate dehydrogenase B in human hepatocellular carcinoma accelerates tumor malignancy by inducing the Warburg effect. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3081. [Abstract: Tseng et al., 2018, Sci Rep]
25. Chen RJ, Kuo HC, Cheng LH, Lee YH, Chang WT, Wang BJ, Wang YJ, Cheng HC. Apoptotic and Nonapoptotic Activities of Pterostilbene against Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(1):287. [Abstract: Chen et al., 2018, Int J Mol Sci]
26. Chen CW, Cheng TJ, Ho CH, Wang JJ, Weng SF, Hou YC, Cheng HC, Chio CC, Shan YS, Chang WT. Increased risk of brain cancer incidence in stroke patients: a clinical case series, population-based and longitudinal follow-up study. Oncotarget. 2017;8(65):108989-108999. [Abstract: Chen et al., 2017, Oncotarget]
27. Wang YT, Chen J, Chang CW, Jen J, Huang TY, Chen CM, Shen R, Liang SY, Cheng IC, Yang SC, Lai WW, Cheng KH, Hsieh TS, Lai MZ, Cheng HC, Wang YC, Chen RH. Ubiquitination of tumor suppressor PML regulates prometastatic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. J Clin Invest. 2017;127(8):2982-2997. [Abstract: Wang et al., 2017, J Clin Invest]
28. Tzeng HT, Tsai CH, Yen YT, Cheng HC, Chen YC, Pu SW, Wang YS, Shan YS, Tseng YL, Su WC, Lai WW, Wu LW, Wang YC. Dysregulation of Rab37-Mediated Cross-talk between Cancer Cells and Endothelial Cells via Thrombospondin-1 Promotes Tumor Neovasculature and Metastasis. Clin Cancer Res. 2017;23(9):2335-2345. [Abstract: Tzeng et al., 2017, Clin Cancer Res]
29. Wang YJ, Lin JF, Cheng LH, Chang WT, Kao YH, Chang MM, Wang BJ, Cheng HC*. Pterostilbene prevents AKT-ERK axis-mediated polymerization of surface fibronectin on suspended lung cancer cells independently of apoptosis and suppresses metastasis. J Hematol Oncol. 2017;10(1):72. (*Corresponding author) [Abstract: Wang et al., 2017, J Hematol Oncol]
30. Tseng RC, Chang JW, Mao JS, Tsai CD, Wu PC, Lin CJ, Lu YL, Liao SY, Cheng HC, Hsu HS, Wang YC. Growth-arrest-specific 7C protein inhibits tumor metastasis via the N-WASP/FAK/F-actin and hnRNP U/β-TrCP/β-catenin pathways in lung cancer. Oncotarget. 2015;6(42):44207-21. [Abstract: Tseng et al., 2015, Oncotarget]
31. Cheng HC*, Chang MM, Tseng YL. The dual role of fibronectin in lung cancer progression. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl): Abstract nr 2274. (*Corresponding author)
32. Chang YH, Chiu YJ, Cheng HC, Liu FJ, Lai WW, Chang HJ, Liao PC. Down-regulation of TIMP-1 inhibits cell migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization in lung adenocarcinoma. Tumour Biol. 2015;36(5):3957-67.
33. Huang CL, Chiu WT, Lo YL, Chuang CH, Chen YB, Chang SJ, Ke TT, Cheng HC, Wu HL. Optical detection of metastatic cancer cells using a scanned laser pico-projection system. Laser Phys Lett. 2015; 12: 035602.
34. Hsu JY, Chang KY, Chen SH, Lee CT, Chang ST, Cheng HC, Chang WC, Chen BK. Epidermal growth factor-induced cyclooxygenase-2 enhances head and neck squamous cell carcinoma metastasis through fibronectin up-regulation. Oncotarget. 2015;6(3):1723-39. [Abstract: Hsu et al., 2015, Oncotarget]
35. Tsai CH, Cheng HC, Wang YS, Lin P, Jen J, Kuo IY, Chang YH, Liao PC, Chen RH, Yuan WC, Hsu HS, Yang MH, Hsu MT, Wu CY, Wang YC. Small GTPase Rab37 targets tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 for exocytosis and thus suppresses tumor metastasis. Nat Commun. 2014;5:4804. [Abstract: Tsai et al., 2014, Nat Commun]
36. Shieh JM, Shen CJ, Chang WC, Cheng HC, Chan YY, Huang WC, Chang WC, Chen BK. An increase in reactive oxygen species by deregulation of ARNT enhances chemotherapeutic drug-induced cancer cell death. PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e99242. [Abstract: Shieh et al., 2014, PLoS One]
37. Ke CS, Liu HS, Yen CH, Huang GC, Cheng HC, Huang CY, Su CL. Curcumin-induced Aurora-A suppression not only causes mitotic defect and cell cycle arrest but also alters chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs. J Nutr Biochem. 2014;25(5):526-39. [Abstract: Ke et al., 2014, J Nutr Biochem]
38. Kuo YZ, Tai YH, Lo HI, Chen YL, Cheng HC, Fang WY, Lin SH, Yang CL, Tsai ST, Wu LW. MiR-99a exerts anti-metastasis through inhibiting myotubularin-related protein 3 expression in oral cancer. Oral Dis. 2014;20(3):e65-75.
39. Wu CI, Chang MM, Su CL, Ling P, Chang WT, Cheng HC*. Impacts of protease inhibitors on clathrin and fibronectin in cancer metastasis. Biomarkers and Genomic Medicine, 2014;6(1):23-31. (*Corresponding author)
40. Hsing CH, Kwok FA, Cheng HC, Li CF, Chang MS. Inhibiting interleukin-19 activity ameliorates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression. PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e75254.
41. Hsiao YW, Li CF, Chi JY, Tseng JT, Chang Y, Hsu LJ, Lee CH, Chang TH, Wang SM, Wang DD, Cheng HC, Wang JM. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ in macrophages contributes to immunosuppression and inhibits phagocytosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Sci Signal. 2013;6(284):ra59.
42. Weng TY, Chiu WT, Liu HS, Cheng HC, Shen MR, Mount DB, Chou CY. Glycosylation regulates the function and membrane localization of KCC4. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013;1833(5):1133-46.
43. Hsing CH, Cheng HC, Hsu YH, Chan CH, Yeh CH, Li CF, Chang MS. Upregulated IL-19 in breast cancer promotes tumor progression and affects clinical outcome. Clin Cancer Res. 2012;18(3):713-25.
44. Chang YH, Lee SH, Liao IC, Huang SH, Cheng HC*, Liao* PC. Secretomic analysis identifies alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) as a required protein in cancer cell migration, invasion, and pericellular fibronectin assembly for facilitating lung colonization of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2012;11(11):1320-39. (*Co-corresponding author)
45. Lo FY, Chen HT, Cheng HC, Hsu HS, Wang YC. Overexpression of PAFAH1B1 is associated with tumor metastasis and poor survival in non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2012;77(3):585-92.
46. Shieh JM, Wei TT, Tang YA, Huang SM, Wen WL, Chen MY, Cheng HC, Salunke SB, Chen CS, Lin P, Chen CT, Wang YC. Mitochondrial apoptosis and FAK signaling disruption by a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, HTPB, in antitumor and antimetastatic mouse models. PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30240.
47. Hung TT, Wu JY, Liu JF, Cheng HC. Epitope analysis of the rat dipeptidyl peptidase IV monoclonal antibody 6A3 that blocks pericellular fibronectin-mediated cancer cell adhesion. FEBS J. 2009;276(22):6548-59. [Abstract: Hung et al., 2009, FEBS J]