Guang Lei

Dr. Guang Lei

Experimental Radiation Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
orcid

Biography

I have a long-standing interest in the roles of cancer metabolism and metabolic cell death (e.g., ferroptosis and cuproptosis) in tumor suppression and cancer therapy. My research demonstrated a critical function of ferroptosis in radiotherapy-induced cell death and tumor suppression. These studies highlighted ferroptosis as a mediator of p53 function in tumor radiosensitivity and identified a targetable CoQ-FSP1 axis driving resistance to both ferroptosis and radiation in KEAP1-inactive lung cancers. Moreover, my study unveiled a link between RT and cuproptosis and informed a therapeutic strategy to overcoming tumor radioresistance by targeting cuproptosis. Furthermore, I revealed a vulnerability to ferroptosis mediated by GPX4 and PARP co-inhibition in BRCA1-deficient cancers, informing a therapeutic strategy for overcoming PARP inhibitor resistance in BRCA1-deficient cancers. Overall, these works provide a comprehensive framework for further exploring and targeting ferroptosis and cuproptosis in cancer therapy (Cell Research, 2020; Oncogene, 2021; Nature Communications, 2022; Cancer Discovery, 2024; Cancer Cell, 2025). Moreover, I dissected the roles and mechanisms of ferroptosis in tumor suppression and tumor immunity, conceptualized the diverse vulnerabilities of cancer cells to ferroptosis, and explored therapeutic strategies for targeting ferroptosis in cancer (Protein Cell, 2021; Nature Reviews Cancer, 2022; Cancer Cell, 2024).

Affiliations

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, USA

Experimental Radiation Oncology

Honors and Awards

honor

2024 STAT Wunderkind

STAT, USA

STAT Wunderkind, an award that recognizes the work of early-career scientists and clinicians.

Experience

Senior Scientist or Principal Investigator

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

01 Apr 2023 - present