Qiwei Wang
- Website: https://med.virginia.edu/wang-lab/
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology
Education
- PhD, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Disciplines
Cancer Biology, Immunology
Research Interests
Cancer biology and immunology, Immuno-oncology, Immunometabolism, Genetically-engineered mouse models
Research Description
Research Projects
Targeting the intersection of cancer cell-intrinsic signaling and innate immunity
The innate immune cells are often suppressed within the tumor microenvironment or co-opted to promote tumor progression and metastasis. Our research aims to advance the next generation of breast cancer therapies by empowering the innate immune system. We use various strategies to harness the anti-tumor potential of innate immune cells, such as small-molecule compounds, nanomedicine-based combination therapies, and antibody-conjugated drugs. Furthermore, we employ gene editing and high-throughput screening to identify tumor cell-intrinsic regulators that enable them to resist the innate immune effectors. Finally, as we gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between tumor genetic context and the innate immune system, we aim to develop combinatorial multipronged cancer therapies for advanced and metastatic breast cancers. This line of research may also extend to other cancer types, such as lung cancer.
Modulating immunometabolism to overcome therapeutic resistance in cancer treatment
Our research, among others, highlights the importance of the interaction between immunogenic, metabolic, and oncogenic pathways in cancer treatment. We hypothesize that targeting immunometabolic pathways will synergize with oncogenic pathway-targeted therapies and/or immunotherapy to treat metastatic breast cancer more effectively. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we aim to decipher signaling cascades that control the intersection of oncogenic and immunometabolic pathways in the context of drug resistance. We are currently investigating this for tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our findings are likely to have significant implications for various types of cancers and different anti-cancer drugs.
Developing genetically engineered innate immune cells for cancer therapy
We aim to engineer innate immune cells to achieve significant breakthroughs in the treatment of solid tumors. Our recent findings suggest that the gene variants associated with autoimmunity can be utilized to augment anti-tumor immunity. We apply this to engineer macrophages and NK cells. To minimize off-tumor toxicity, controllable innate immune cells are designed to express anti-tumor genes triggered by specific tumor antigen(s) or cues from the tumor microenvironment. We will investigate the effectiveness of the engineered innate immune cells as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments, such as targeted therapy, chemotherapy, or CAR T cell therapy, in therapy-resistant solid tumor models.
Selected Publications
2025
O'Keefe S, Wang Q. ACAT1 regulates tertiary lymphoid structures: A target for enhancing immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Invest. 2025 Apr 1;135(7):e191094. doi: 10.1172/JCI191094 PMID: 40166937; PMCID: PMC11957684
He, Xiadi, Wang, Qiwei, Cheng, Xin,. . . Zhao, Jean J. (2025). Lysine vitcylation is a vitamin C-derived protein modification that enhances STAT1-mediated immune response. CELL, issn: 0092-8674 doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.01.043
2023
Bergholz, J. S., Wang, Q., Wang, Q., Ramseier, M., Prakadan, S., Wang, W., . . . Zhao, J. J. (2023). PI3Kβ controls immune evasion in PTEN-deficient breast tumours. NATURE, 617(7959), 139-+. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-05940-w
Ding, L., Wang, Q., Martincuks, A., Kearns, M. J., Jiang, T., Lin, Z., . . . Zhao, J. J. (2023). STING agonism overcomes STAT3-mediated immunosuppression and adaptive resistance to PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer. JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER, 11(1). doi:10.1136/jitc-2022-005627
Lin, Z., Wang, Q., Jiang, T., Wang, W., & Zhao, J. J. (2023). Targeting tumor-associated macrophages with STING agonism improves the antitumor efficacy of osimertinib in a mouse model of EGFR-mutant lung cancer. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 14. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1077203
2022
Wang, D., Wang, Q., Wang, Y., Chen, P., Lu, X., Jia, F., . . . Zhang, K. (2022). Targeting oncogenic KRAS with molecular brush-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 119(29). doi:10.1073/pnas.2113180119
Wang, Q., Bergholz, J. S., Ding, L., Lin, Z., Kabraji, S. K., Hughes, M. E., . . . Zhao, J. J. (2022). STING agonism reprograms tumor-associated macrophages and overcomes resistance to PARP inhibition in BRCA1-deficient models of breast cancer. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 13(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-022-30568-1
2021
Zhou, T., DeRoo, E., Yang, H., Stranz, A., Wang, Q., Ginnan, R., . . . Liu, B. (2021). MLKL and CaMKII Are Involved in RIPK3-Mediated Smooth Muscle Cell Necroptosis. CELLS, 10(9). doi:10.3390/cells10092397
2020
Bergholz, J. S., Wang, Q., Kabraji, S., & Zhao, J. J. (2020). Integrating Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Cancer Treatment: Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Implications. CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH, 26(21), 5557-5566. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-2300
Khoury, M. K., Zhou, T., Yang, H., Prince, S. R., Gupta, K., Stranz, A. R., . . . Liu, B. (2020). GSK2593074A blocks progression of existing abdominal aortic dilation.. JVS-vascular science, 1, 123-135. doi:10.1016/j.jvssci.2020.07.001
2019
Ren, J., Zhou, T., Pilli, V. S. S., Phan, N., Wang, Q., Gupta, K., . . . Liu, B. (2019). Novel Paracrine Functions of Smooth Muscle Cells in Supporting Endothelial Regeneration Following Arterial Injury. CIRCULATION RESEARCH, 124(8), 1253-1265. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.314567
Zhou, T., Wang, Q., Phan, N., Ren, J., Yang, H., Feldman, C. C., . . . Liu, B. (2019). Identification of a novel class of RIP1/RIP3 dual inhibitors that impede cell death and inflammation in mouse abdominal aortic aneurysm models. CELL DEATH & DISEASE, 10. doi:10.1038/s41419-019-1468-6
2018
Ding, L., Kim, H. -J., Wang, Q., Kearns, M., Jiang, T., Ohlson, C. E., . . . Zhao, J. J. (2018). PARP Inhibition Elicits STING-Dependent Antitumor Immunity in Brca1-Deficient Ovarian Cancer. CELL REPORTS, 25(11), 2972-+. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.054
Gupta, K., Phan, N., Wang, Q., & Liu, B. (2018). Necroptosis in cardiovascular disease - a new therapeutic target. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY, 118, 26-35. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.03.003
2017
Wang, Q., Zhou, T., Liu, Z., Ren, J., Phan, N., Gupta, K., . . . Liu, B. (2017). Inhibition of Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 1 with Necrostatin-1s ameliorates disease progression in elastase-induced mouse abdominal aortic aneurysm model. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 7. doi:10.1038/srep42159
2015
Ren, J., Liu, Z., Wang, Q., Giles, J., Greenberg, J., Sheibani, N., . . . Liu, B. (2016). Andrographolide Ameliorates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression by Inhibiting Inflammatory Cell Infiltration through Downregulation of Cytokine and Integrin Expression. JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS, 356(1), 137-147. doi:10.1124/jpet.115.227934
Liu, Z., Morgan, S., Ren, J., Wang, Q., Annis, D. S., Mosher, D. F., . . . Liu, B. (2015). Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) Contributes to the Development of Vascular Inflammation by Regulating Monocytic Cell Motility in Mouse Models of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. CIRCULATION RESEARCH, 117(2), 129-141. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.117.305262
Wang, Q., Liu, Z., Ren, J., Morgan, S., Assa, C., & Liu, B. (2015). Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 3 Contributes to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms via Smooth Muscle Cell Necrosis and Inflammation. CIRCULATION RESEARCH, 116(4), 600-611. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.304899
2014
Liu, Z., Wang, Q., Ren, J., Assa, C. R., Morgan, S., Giles, J., . . . Liu, B. (2015). Murine abdominal aortic aneurysm model by orthotopic allograft transplantation of elastase-treated abdominal aorta. JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY, 62(6), 1607-+. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2014.05.019
Ren, J., Wang, Q., Morgan, S., Si, Y., Ravichander, A., Dou, C., . . . Liu, B. (2014). Protein Kinase C- δ ( PKCδ) Regulates Proinflammatory Chemokine Expression through Cytosolic Interaction with the NF- κB Subunit p65 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 289(13), 9013-9026. doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.515957
Wang, Q., Ren, J., Morgan, S., Liu, Z., Dou, C., & Liu, B. (2014). Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Regulates Macrophage Cytotoxicity in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. PLOS ONE, 9(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092053
2012
Morgan, S., Yamanouchi, D., Harberg, C., Wang, Q., Keller, M., Si, Y., . . . Liu, B. (2012). Elevated Protein Kinase C-δ Contributes to Aneurysm Pathogenesis Through Stimulation of Apoptosis and Inflammatory Signaling. ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY, 32(10), 2493-+. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.112.255661
Lengfeld, J., Wang, Q., Zohlman, A., Salvarezza, S., Morgan, S., Ren, J., . . . Liu, B. (2012). Protein kinase C δ regulates the release of collagen type I from vascular smooth muscle cells via regulation of Cdc42. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, 23(10), 1955-1963. doi:10.1091/mbc.E11-06-0531
Algharabli, J., Kintner, D. B., Wang, Q., Begum, G., Clark, P. A., Yang, S. -S., . . . Sun, D. (2012). Inhibition of Na+-K+-2Cl- Cotransporter isoform 1 Accelerates Temozolomide-mediated Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Cancer Cells. CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 30(1), 33-48. doi:10.1159/000339047
2010
Xiao, S., Mo, D., Wang, Q., Jia, J., Qin, L., Yu, X., . . . Chen, Y. (2010). Aberrant host immune response induced by highly virulent PRRSV identified by digital gene expression tag profiling. BMC GENOMICS, 11. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-11-544
Xiao, S., Jia, J., Mo, D., Wang, Q., Qin, L., He, Z., . . . Chen, Y. (2010). Understanding PRRSV Infection in Porcine Lung Based on Genome-Wide Transcriptome Response Identified by Deep Sequencing. PLOS ONE, 5(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011377
Qin, L., Chen, Y., Niu, Y., Chen, W., Wang, Q., Xiao, S., . . . Mo, D. (2010). A deep investigation into the adipogenesis mechanism: Profile of microRNAs regulating adipogenesis by modulating the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. BMC GENOMICS, 11. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-11-320