Dengfeng Lu

Mx. Dengfeng Lu

Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Anhui, China
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 March 2022 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
DLDengfeng Lu
Dengfeng Lu
LWLingling Wang
Lingling Wang
GLGuangjie Liu
Guangjie Liu
SWShixin Wang
Shixin Wang
YWYi Wang
Yi Wang
XSXiao-Ou Sun
Xiao-Ou Sun
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a common acute and severe disease worldwide, which imposes a heavy burden on families and society. However, the current therapeutic strategies for SAH are unsatisfactory. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as the third gas signaling molecule after carbon monoxide and nitric oxide, has been widely studied recently. There is growing evidence that H2S has a promising future in the treatment of central nervous system diseases. In this review, we focus on the effects of H2S in experimental SAH and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. We demonstrate that H2S has neuroprotective effects and significantly reduces secondary damage caused by SAH via antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptosis mechanisms, and by alleviating cerebral edema and vasospasm. Based on these findings, we believe that H2S has great potential in the treatment of SAH and warrants further study to promote its early clinical application.

10 December 2022 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang
DLDengfeng Lu
Dengfeng Lu
ZZZheng Zhan
Zheng Zhan
GYGuiqiang Yuan
Guiqiang Yuan
GLGuangjie Liu
Guangjie Liu
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang
Objective: Glioma is the most common primary malignancy of the adult central nervous system (CNS), with a poor prognosis and no effective prognostic signature. Since late 2019, the world has been affected by the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Research on SARS-CoV-2 is flourishing; however, its potential mechanistic association with glioma has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential correlation of SARS-CoV-2-related genes with the occurrence, progression, prognosis, and immunotherapy of gliomas. Methods: SARS-CoV-2-related genes were obtained from the human protein atlas (HPA), while transcriptional data and clinicopathological data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Glioma samples were collected from surgeries with the knowledge of patients. Differentially expressed genes were then identified and screened, and seven SARS-CoV-2 related genes were generated by LASSO regression analysis and uni/multi-variate COX analysis. A prognostic SARS-CoV-2-related gene signature (SCRGS) was then constructed based on these seven genes and validated in the TCGA validation cohort and CGGA cohort. Next, a nomogram was established by combining critical clinicopathological data. The correlation between SCRGS and glioma related biological processes was clarified by Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, immune infiltration and immune score, as well as immune checkpoint expression and immune escape, were further analyzed to assess the role of SCRGS in glioma-associated immune landscape and the responsiveness of immunotherapy. Finally, the reliability of SCRGS was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on glioma samples. Results: The prognostic SCRGS contained seven genes, REEP6, CEP112, LARP4B, CWC27, GOLGA2, ATP6AP1, and ERO1B. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the median SARS-CoV-2 Index. Overall survival was significantly worse in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. COX analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated excellent predictive power for SCRGS for glioma prognosis. In addition, GSEA, immune infiltration, and immune scores indicated that SCRGS could potentially predict the tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, and immune response in glioma patients. Conclusions: The SCRGS established here can effectively predict the prognosis of glioma patients and provide a potential direction for immunotherapy.

5 January 2025 in Heliyon
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
DLDengfeng Lu
Dengfeng Lu
FWFei Wang
Fei Wang
YYYayi Yang
Yayi Yang
ADAojie Duan
Aojie Duan
YRYubo Ren
Yubo Ren
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang
Gliomas are the most common intracranial tumors with the highest degree of malignancy. Disturbed cholesterol metabolism is one of the key features of many malignant tumors, including gliomas. This study aimed to investigate the significance of cholesterol metabolism-related genes in prognostic prediction and in guiding individualized treatment of patients with gliomas. Transcriptional data and clinicopathological data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Intraoperative glioma samples retained in our unit and the corresponding clinicopathological information were also collected with the patients' knowledge. Firstly, cholesterol metabolism-related gene signatures (CMRGS) were identified and constructed based on difference analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, and univariate/multivariate COX analysis. Then, the role of CMRGS in predicting the prognosis of gliomas and distinguishing immune landscapes was evaluated by using nomograms, survival analysis, enrichment analysis, and immune-infiltration analysis. Finally, the drug sensitivity of gliomas in different risk groups was evaluated using the oncoPredict algorithm, and potentially sensitive chemotherapeutic and molecular-targeted drugs were identified. The prognostic CMRGS contained seven genes: APOE, SCD, CXCL16, FABP5, S100A11, TNFRSF12A, and ELOVL2. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the median cholesterol metabolic index (CMI). There were significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival between groups. COX analysis suggested that CMRGS was an independent risk factor for glioma prognosis and had a better predictive performance than several classical indicators. In addition, GSEA, immune infiltration analysis showed that CMRGS could differentiate the immune landscapes of patients in groups. The reliability of CMRGS was validated in the CGGA cohort and our Gusu cohort. Finally, 14 drugs sensitive to high-risk patients and 16 drugs sensitive to low-risk patients were identified. The CMRGS reliably predicts glioma prognosis in multiple cohorts and may be useful in guiding individualized treatment.

18 April 2025 in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FWFei Wang
Fei Wang
YCYuxuan Chen
Yuxuan Chen
RHRun Huang
Run Huang
DLDengfeng Lu
Dengfeng Lu
JZJuyi Zhang
Juyi Zhang
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and malignant type of primary brain tumor, with a median survival time of less than two years and a uniformly poor prognosis, despite multimodal therapeutic approaches, which highlights an urgent need for novel therapeutic targets. In this study, by integrative multi-omics analysis from CPTAC database, DepMap database and seven independent GBM cohorts, four hub genes (CD44, SURF4, IGSF3 and RALGAPA1) were identified as essential genes regulated by cancer driver genes with robust prognostic value. GBM multi-omics data from public and in-house cohorts validated that CD44 and SURF4 might be synthetic lethal partners of loss-of-function tumor suppressor genes. Analysis for immune-related pathway activity revealed complex regulation relationships of the four hub genes in tumor microenvironment (TME). Further investigation on SURF4 in pathway activity, immune therapy response and drug sensitivity proposed that SURF4 emerged as a promising therapeutic target for GBM, even for pan-cancer. Pan-cancer multi-omics exploration suggested that RALGAPA1 may be a tumor suppressor gene. By screening the first-generation and second-generation DepMap database, four genes (CCDC106, GAL3ST1, GDI2 and HSF1) might be considered as synthetic targets after mutation of RALGAPA1 as a tumor suppressor gene.

2 February 2026 in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FWFei Wang
Fei Wang
DLDengfeng Lu
Dengfeng Lu
RHRun Huang
Run Huang
YLYue Lu
Yue Lu
YPYizhong Pan
Yizhong Pan
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang

1 July 2026 in Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SNShaofei Ni
Shaofei Ni
ADAojie Duan
Aojie Duan
JLJiachen Liu
Jiachen Liu
YZYanni Zheng
Yanni Zheng
YRYubo Ren
Yubo Ren
ZWZhong Wang
Zhong Wang
BACKGROUND: Basal ganglia hemorrhage (BGH) is a severe subtype of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Surgical intervention remains a critical strategy for reducing hematoma volume, alleviating mass effect, and improving clinical outcomes. This study compared fully visualized contact endoscopy with microscopy and standard neuroendoscopy for BGH treatment. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study was conducted on patients undergoing surgical evacuation for BGH (n=335) at 8 tertiary medical centers in Suzhou from January 2021 to May 2024, stratified into microscopy (n=217), neuroendoscopy (n=76), and contact endoscopy (n=42) groups. Surgical outcomes and prognostic indicators were systematically evaluated across groups, with multivariable analysis conducted to independently assess the impact of surgical methods on long-term prognosis. RESULTS: Both endoscopic groups showed significantly shorter operation times, reduced blood loss, and shorter intensive care unit stays than the microscopy group ( P <0.05), with no difference between endoscopic techniques. Endoscopy was associated with lower intracranial infection rates ( P <0.0167). There were no significant differences in hematoma evacuation rates, neurological scores at 7 days, or functional outcomes (both Glasgow Outcome Scale scores and Karnofsky Performance Status scores) at 3 months. Multivariable analysis identified older age, hypertension, and larger hematoma volume, but not surgical technique, as independent predictors of poor long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Microscopy, neuroendoscopy, and contact endoscopy all demonstrated effectiveness for hematoma evacuation and life preservation for BGH. Endoscopic approaches may offer superior perioperative safety profiles without significant long-term outcome differences. Contact endoscopy is a safe and feasible alternative for BGH surgery.