Junzui Li, PhD
CD74 Mediates the Interaction between Ovarian Cancer Cells and the High Fat Metastatic Niche
2025 Mentored Investigator Grant
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Project Summary
Ovarian cancer (OC) often spreads to the omentum, where fat supports tumor growth. Chemoresistant OC displays increased uptake and use of fatty acids. Our research shows that a high-saturated-fat diet contributed to increased peritoneal dissemination of OC tumors. We identified the CD74 receptor to be highly upregulated in these tumors. CD74 knock-down rendered OC cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and inhibited lipid uptake. We propose that CD74 facilitates the crosstalk between OC cells and the metastatic niche in a high-fat environment. This study aims to explore the role of CD74 in OC progression, leading to new treatments targeting this receptor.
This grant was made possible in part by a generous donation from The Donald R. and Esther Simon Foundation.
Bio
Dr. Junzui Li is a postdoctoral researcher at Houston Methodist Research Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Daniela Matei. His research focuses on ovarian cancer biology, with particular interests in tumor metabolism, lipid utilization, therapy resistance, and interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
His current work investigates how metabolic adaptations promote ovarian cancer progression and treatment resistance, with a focus on mechanisms that regulate lipid uptake and utilization in tumor cells. Through this research, Dr. Li aims to identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities that can be translated into more effective treatment strategies for patients with ovarian cancer.
