Faculty

Diffuse midline glioma, H3K27-altered (DMG), is a pediatric-type high-grade diffuse glioma that preferentially localizes to the brainstem or pons, thalamus, and spinal cord. Surgical resection is challenging and biopsy is often performed in most cases. To date, no conventional, targeted or immune therapy has been convincingly shown to improve patients’ overall survival. Effective treatment guideline is absent and remains to be established. Prognosis of DMG patients is poor and 2-year survival rate is <10%. We apply methods of epigenetics, molecular biochemistry, immunology and multi-omic to explore:

1. Epigenetic agent-based immunotherapy in treating DMG;

2. The mechanism underlying the malignancy of DMG;

3. Liquid biopsy and molecular imaging of DMG;

4. Markers for early screening, tumor progression and prognosis of DMG;

*Represents the corresponding author, ^# represents the co-first author

1. Jing LK, Qian ZH, Gao Q, Sun R, Zhen ZL, Wang GH, Yang XY, Li HT, Guo TN, Zhang W*. Diffuse Midline Glioma Treated with Epigenetic Agent Based Immunotherapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023; 8(1):23.

2. Chen WJ, Zhang X, Han H, Lv JN, Kang EM, Zhang YL, Liu WP, He XS, Wang J, Wang GH, Yu YB, Zhang W*. The different role of YKL-40 in glioblastoma is a function of MGMT promoter methylation status. Cell Death Dis. 2020; 11(8): 668-681.

3. Zhang X, Zhang W^#, Mao XG, Cao WD, Zhen HN, Hu SJ. Malignant Intracranial High Grade Glioma and Current Treatment Strategy. Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2019; 19(2): 101-108.

4. Zhang W, Fulci G, Wakimoto H, Cheema AT, Buhrman JS, Jeyaretna DS, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Rabkin SD, Martuza RL. Combination of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Viruses Armed with Angiostatin and IL-12 Enhances Antitumor Efficacy in Human Glioblastoma Models. Neoplasia. 2013; 15(6):591-9.

5. Zhang W, Fulci G, Buhrman JS, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Chen JW, Wojtkiewicz GR, Weissleder R, Rabkin SD, Martuza RL. Bevacizumab With Angiostatin-armed oHSV Increases Antiangiogenesis and Decreases Bevacizumab-induced Invasion in U87 Glioma. Mol Ther. 2012; 20(1):37-45.

6. Zhang W, Kawanishi M, Miyake K, Kagawa M, Kawai N, Murao K, Nishiyama A, Fei Z, Zhang X, Tamiya T. Association between YKL-40 and adult primary astrocytoma. Cancer. 2010; 116(11):2688-97.

7. Zhang W, Murao K, Zhang X, Matsumoto K, Diah S, Okada M, Miyake K, Kawai N, Fei Z, Tamiya T. Resveratrol represses YKL-40 expression in human glioma U87 cells. BMC Cancer. 2010; 10:593.

8. Liu BL, Cheng JX, Zhang W^#, Zhang X, Wang R, Lin H, Huo JL, Cheng H. Quantitative detection of multiple gene promoter hypermethylation in tumor tissue, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid predicts prognosis of malignant gliomas. Neuro Oncol. 2010; 12(6):540-8.

9. Zhang Wei, Zhang Xiang. Surgical strategies for acute adult spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation. Chinese Journal of Neurosurgical Disease Research, 2018, 17(1): 1-3

10. Zhang Wei, Li Bing, Mao Xinggang, Li Jian, Hu Shijie, Zhang Xiang. Teaching philosophy and practice of integrating scientific research and clinical practice. Chinese Journal of Neurosurgical Research, 2015, 14(2): 164-166

1. First Prize of "Outstanding Growth Mentor", School of Medicine, Tsinghua University (2023)

2. First Prize, 12^th Young Teachers Teaching Basic Skills Competition of Beijing Colleges and Universities (2021)

3. First Prize, 9^th Young Teacher Teaching Competition of Tsinghua University (2020)

4. Outstanding Individual Award in Fighting the Coronavirus Epidemic of Tsinghua University (2020)

5. First Prize, 1^st Young Teacher Teaching Competition of the School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University (2019)

6. Champion of the First Neuro-endoscopy Video Competition (2018)

7. Most Popular Faculty of the Air Force Military Medical University (2018, 2017, 2016)

8. Outstanding Individual in Teaching of the Air Force Military Medical University (2017)

9. "Top 10" Teacher of the Air Force Military Medical University (2015)

10. Member of Talent Pool of the Air Force Military Medical University (2013-2019)

11. First Prize of Tu Tong-jin Outstanding Thesis (2013)

12. Second Prize, Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (2010)

13. Second Prize, Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (2008)

1. Vice Chairman of the Youth Committee of the Neurorestoratology Professional Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association

2. Member of the Neuro-Oncology Society, Chinese Neuro-oncology Association

3. Member of Neurosurgery Committee of Chinese Society of Research Hospitals

4. Member of the World Chinese Society of Neurosurgery Spinal Cord

5. Member of the Neuroendoscopy Group, Beijing Medical Association