Dr. Yunfei (Wendy) Wen

Education

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2004
• M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology
  University of Science and Technology of China, 1998
• B.S. in Microbiology
  Anhui University, 1995
• Postdoctoral Training
  Susan G. Komen Postdoctoral Fellow, Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA, 2007–2010
  Postdoctoral Associate, Program of Developmental Neurobiology, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA, 2004–2006

Academic Appointments

• Associate Professor with Tenure, Department of Biological Sciences, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX, September 1, 2026–present
• Associate Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2024–2026
• Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018–2024
• Instructor, Departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011–2018

Lecture and Laboratory Courses

• BIOL 4090 — Special Topics: Cancer Biology
• BIOL 5309/6309 — Cellular Biology.
• Graduate topics in Cancer Biology and Targeted Therapeutics

Additional teaching interests include Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Methods, and Single-Cell/Spatial Omics.

Research

Research Interests and Summary

My laboratory seeks to understand why cancers become resistant to therapy and how those mechanisms can be exploited therapeutically. We study cancer as an integrated biological system in which malignant cells communicate dynamically with vascular endothelial cells, stromal cells, and immune components of the tumor microenvironment.

Mechanistic Discovery: Tumor Microenvironment and Therapy Resistance

A major focus of the laboratory is defining molecular mechanisms that allow tumors to adapt to therapeutic pressure. We investigate signaling and gene-regulatory pathways in tumor and stromal compartments that contribute to resistance to anti-angiogenic and other targeted therapies.

Our work has identified endothelial signaling programs that confer resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy, as well as stromal factors that drive adaptive resistance to vascular-targeted treatment. These studies provide mechanistic foundations for therapeutic combinations designed to disrupt the supportive tumor microenvironment.

We also investigate mechanisms linking hormone signaling, cancer metabolism, and autophagy-associated cell death in tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment.

Translational Therapeutics: Antibodies, ADCs, and Targeted Delivery

We translate mechanistic discoveries into therapeutic strategies using antibody-based therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted protein therapeutics, and image-guided drug-delivery platforms.

Our work on tumor-associated antigen–directed antibody-drug conjugates helped define how these agents exert their biological effects in gynecologic cancers, including their contribution to clinically approved therapies. Current therapeutic interests include strategies directed at the tumor-associated vasculature and at receptor-mediated signaling axes that sustain tumor growth and treatment resistance.

The long-term goal is to develop therapeutics that simultaneously target cancer cells and the microenvironmental mechanisms that sustain tumor growth and treatment resistance.

Quantitative Biomarkers and Spatial Biology

Cancer treatment response is highly heterogeneous across individual cells and spatial regions of a tumor. We therefore integrate single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, multiplex tissue imaging, molecular profiling, and quantitative analysis to identify biomarkers that predict therapeutic response and resistance.

These approaches allow us to connect molecular mechanism with tissue context and treatment outcome. Our goal is to develop quantitative biomarker strategies that can guide therapeutic selection and accelerate translation from experimental models toward precision cancer medicine.

Research Opportunities for Students

Undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. students interested in cancer biology, molecular therapeutics, immunometabolism, or computational genomics are encouraged to inquire. Trainees gain hands-on experience with molecular and cell biology techniques, tumor models, antibody-based therapeutics, spatial and single-cell omics workflows, and quantitative analysis — with a mentoring structure built on Individualized Development Plans and regular structured feedback. Prior trainees have advanced to first-author publications, fellowships, and independent research careers. Contact ywen1@tarleton.edu.

Selected Publications

Asterisk (*) denotes corresponding or co-corresponding author

1. Chelariu-Raicu A, Vu TC, Umamaheswaran S, et al., Wen Y*. IMGN853 induces autophagic cell death in combination therapy for ovarian cancer. Cancer Research Communications. 2025. PMID: 40029935.
2. LaFargue CJ, Amero P, Noh K, et al., Wen Y*, Sood AK*. Overcoming adaptive resistance to anti-VEGF therapy by targeting CD5L. Nature Communications. 2023;14:2407. PMID: 37100807.
3. Wen Y*, Chelariu-Raicu A, Umamaheswaran S, et al. Endothelial p130Cas confers resistance to anti-angiogenesis therapy. Cell Reports. 2022;38(4):110301. PMID: 35081345.
4. Wood CA, Han S, Kim CS, Wen Y, et al. Clinically translatable quantitative molecular photoacoustic imaging with liposome-encapsulated ICG J-aggregates. Nature Communications. 2021;12:5410. PMID: 34518530.
5. Wen Y*, Wang Y, Chelariu-Raicu A, et al. Blockade of the short-form of prolactin receptor induces FOXO3a/EIF-4EBP1-mediated cell death in uterine cancer. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 2020. PMID: 32737156.
6. Xiong CY, Wen Y, Zhao J, et al. Targeting forward and reverse EphB4/EFNB2 signaling by a peptide with dual functions. Scientific Reports. 2020;10:520. PMID: 31949258.
7. Wen Y*, Graybill WS, Previs RA, et al. Immunotherapy targeting folate receptor induces cell death associated with autophagy in ovarian cancer. Clinical Cancer Research. 2015;21(2):448–459. PMID: 25416196.
8. Wen Y, Zand B, Ozpolat B, et al. Antagonism of tumoral prolactin receptor promotes autophagy-related cell death. Cell Reports. 2014;7(2):488–500. PMID: 24703838.
9. Wen Y, Golubkov VS, Strongin AY, Jiang W, Reed JC. Interaction of hepatitis B viral oncoprotein with cellular target HBXIP dysregulates centrosome dynamics and mitotic spindle formation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2008;283(5):2793–2803. PMID: 18032378.
10. Fujii R, Zhu C, Wen Y (co-first author), et al. HBXIP, cellular target of hepatitis B virus oncoprotein, is a regulator of centrosome dynamics and cytokinesis. Cancer Research. 2006;66(18):9099–9107. PMID: 16982752.

Selected Honors and Professional Service

• Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award in Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research 2007
• Susan G. Komen Postdoctoral Fellowship 2007-2010
• Career Development Awards, NCI Breast Cancer (2011 & 2012) and Uterine Cancer SPOREs (2013)
• Amgen Ovarian Cancer Research Scholar, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation 2013
• Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research 2013, 2015, & 2017
• Direct Project Award, NCI Ovarian Cancer SPORE 2014
• Sprint for Life Research Award, Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program 2016
• Top Five Scoring Abstracts, National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2018
• Investigator-Initiated Research Award, DoD/CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Research Program 2019
• Initiating PI, Investigator-Initiated Research Award — Partnering PI Option DoD/CDMRP 2022
• Research Excellence Fund (REF) Award, The Texas A&M University System 2026
• Service:
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, NIH/NCI Tumor Cell Biology Study Section (2019 & 2021)
  • Scientific reviewer, DoD/CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Research Program (2019)
  • Proposal reviewer, NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Award (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Journal reviewer, Nature Communications, Stem Cells, Journal of Cell Biology, Journal of Cancer Therapy, Molecular Carcinogenesis, Theranostics, Cancer Letters.
  • Editorial Board, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2021)
• Research support: Current research is supported by the Texas A&M University System Research Excellence Fund and by research program launch support from Tarleton State University; Prior support research support has included NIH/NCI SPORE programs, U.S. Department of Defense/CDMRP, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, Foundation for Women’s Cancer, and industry partners.

Patents and Technology Licenses

• Wen Y, Sood AK. Compositions and methods for treating advanced ovarian cancer. MD Anderson Cancer Center, MDA-12-094 (2012).
• Li C, Xiong C, Wen Y, Sood AK. Therapeutic peptides. U.S. Patent No. 12,448,425, issued October 21, 2025.

Complete Publication List

A complete list is available on PubMed.

my PubMed bibliography

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/yunfei.wen.1/bibliography/public/