Fall 2024 Grantee Highlight:
Chun-Kan Chen

Chun-Kan Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, WashU Medicine

Cancer remains a leading global health issue, causing nearly 10 million deaths annually. Recently, cancer vaccines have emerged as highly promising treatments due to their ability to specifically target cancer cells, significantly reducing the side effects commonly associated with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, identifying unique markers that differentiate cancer cells from normal cells, a key factor in the effectiveness of these vaccines, has been challenging because many cancers have fewer genetic mutations and thus fewer distinguishing markers for the immune system to recognize.

The Chen Lab investigates circular RNAs (circRNAs), a unique class of RNA encoded in our genome, which can produce proteins found exclusively in cancer cells. They will explore whether these circRNA-derived proteins can successfully stimulate the immune system and evaluate their potential as vaccine targets. Their work aims to advance personalized cancer therapy by discovering more precise targets, enhancing vaccine effectiveness, and minimizing treatment-related side effects.