Ren Xu
Sourced from institutional research profiles (UAMS TRI or ARA).
Professor
Also affiliated: Changchun University of Science and Technology (2024); University of Kentucky (2010–2025); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2006–2012); Guangxi Medical University (2025); Capital Medical University (2007); Markey Cancer Center (2010–2025); Shanghai CASB Biotechnology (China) (2024); Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (2014); Hebei General Hospital (2025); Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (2005); Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Czechia) (2015); Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry (2016); Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (2014); The Ohio State University (2015); UConn Health (2009); University of California, Berkeley (2008)
COM | Radiation Oncology
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Ren Xu's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer progression and metastasis. His work investigates the roles of specific genes and proteins, such as prolyl-4-hydroxylase α subunit 2 (PHD2), prolyl 4-hydroxylase 1 (P4H1), and MYC, in regulating tumor growth, extracellular matrix deposition, and cellular signaling pathways. Xu has received significant federal funding from the NIH/National Cancer Institute to support his investigations into these areas. Current projects include studying the roles of Hsp47 in breast cancer progression, the PLOD2/succinate axis in cancer cell plasticity and stemness, and the impact of mRNA transfer in cancer cell-platelet communication. He also explores the roles of RORα in breast cancer development.
His publications highlight a consistent interest in the interplay between cellular components and the tumor microenvironment. This includes research on tissue architecture, the extracellular matrix, and how these factors influence mammary epithelial differentiation and cancer progression. Xu's work also extends to exploring therapeutic strategies, such as the systemic delivery of anti-miRNA for triple-negative breast cancer using RNA nanotechnology, and the impact of compounds like cardamonin on metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. His scholarship metrics include an h-index of 34 and over 5,300 citations across 74 publications, indicating a substantial contribution to the field of cancer research.
Metrics
- h-index: 34
- Publications: 74
- Citations: 5,357
Positions
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2025–presentORCID
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ProfessorUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences COM | Radiation Oncology Institutional directory
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Faculty 2010–2025University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center ORCID
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Postdoctoral scholar 2002–2008Laboratoire national lawrence-berkeley Life Science Division ORCID
Selected Publications
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Adipocyte Hsp47: A Novel Regulator of Obesity and Obesity-Associated Breast Cancer (2025)
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Functional analysis of PHLDA2 in ovarian cancer: Effects on tumor cell behavior and autophagy (2025)
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Farrerol alleviates microbiota dysbiosis-associated osteoporosis in IBD by inhibiting PI3K-AKT/MAPK signaling pathways (2025)
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Single-cell analysis of gene regulatory networks in the mammary glands of P4HA1-knockout mice (2025)
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Hsp47 drives obesity-associated breast cancer progression by enhancing asporin deposition in adipose tissue (2025)
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Real-Time Fluorescent Quantitative PCR for Detection of Peripheral Blood T-Cell Lymphoma (2024)
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Single-Cell Analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks in the Mammary Glands of P4HA1-knockout mice (2024)
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The potential role of next-generation sequencing in identifying MET amplification and disclosing resistance mechanisms in NSCLC patients with osimertinib resistance (2024)
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Regulation of RORα Stability through PRMT5-Dependent Symmetric Dimethylation (2024)
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The PLOD2/succinate axis regulates the epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and cancer cell stemness (2023)
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Obesity-Associated ECM Remodeling in Cancer Progression (2022)
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Retinoid orphan nuclear receptor alpha (RORα) suppresses the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by directly repressing Snail transcription (2022)
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RORα Suppresses Cancer-Associated Inflammation by Repressing Respiratory Complex I-Dependent ROS Generation (2021)
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Helichrysetin inhibits gastric cancer growth by targeting c-Myc/PDHK1 axis-mediated energy metabolism reprogramming (2021)
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Develop a High-Throughput Screening Method to Identify C-P4H1 (Collagen Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase 1) Inhibitors from FDA-Approved Chemicals (2020)
ARA Academy 2025 Innovation Scholar
Dr. Xu is a newly appointed division director at the UAMS Cancer Institute. Previously a tenured professor of pharmacology at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center, his research focuses on microenvironmental cues and their modulation of breast cancer progression, with emphasis on identifying strategies to inhibit breast cancer metastasis and drug resistance. Several junior faculty he mentored have secured NIH R01 and foundation grants. His research has been continuously supported by multiple NCI R01 grants.
Policy Impact
Brings continuous NCI R01 grant funding and cancer research leadership to Arkansas, strengthening UAMS's capacity to compete for federal biomedical research dollars.
Growth Areas
['Population Health Innovations & Clinical Research']
Resources
Federal Grants 4 $961,192 total
Roles of mRNA transfer in cancer cell-platelet communication
The PLOD2/succinate axis in regulating cancer cell plasticity and stemness
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Prolyl-4-hydroxylase α subunit 2 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis by regulating collagen deposition
- Collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase 1 is essential for HIF-1α stabilization and TNBC chemoresistance
- Systemic Delivery of Anti-miRNA for Suppression of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Utilizing RNA Nanotechnology
- Delivery of Anti-miRNA for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy Using RNA Nanoparticles Targeting Stem Cell Marker CD133
- Chaperone Hsp47 Drives Malignant Growth and Invasion by Modulating an ECM Gene Network
Showing 5 of 21 shared publications
- Tissue architecture and function: dynamic reciprocity via extra- and intra-cellular matrices
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia
- MYC suppresses cancer metastasis by direct transcriptional silencing of αv and β3 integrin subunits
- FAM83A confers EGFR-TKI resistance in breast cancer cells and in mice
- Cell shape regulates global histone acetylation in human mammary epithelial cells
Showing 5 of 19 shared publications
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia
- Depletion of nuclear actin is a key mediator of quiescence in epithelial cells
- Extracellular Matrix-Regulated Gene Expression Requires Cooperation of SWI/SNF and \nTranscription Factors
- Extracellular Matrix, Nuclear and Chromatin Structure and Gene Expression in Normal Tissues \nand Malignant Tumors: A Work in Progress
- Gene Expression in the Third Dimension: The ECM-nucleus Connection
Showing 5 of 11 shared publications
- Prolyl-4-hydroxylase α subunit 2 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis by regulating collagen deposition
- Chaperone Hsp47 Drives Malignant Growth and Invasion by Modulating an ECM Gene Network
- Hsp47 promotes cancer metastasis by enhancing collagen-dependent cancer cell-platelet interaction
- Integrated extracellular matrix signaling in mammary gland development and breast cancer progression.
- Abstract 2374: Mir-29/Hsp47 regulate breast cancer progression by modulating the ECM transcription network
- Tumor organoid models in precision medicine and investigating cancer-stromal interactions
- Integrated extracellular matrix signaling in mammary gland development and breast cancer progression.
- Development of an ex vivo breast cancer lung colonization model utilizing a decellularized lung matrix
- Cassie–Baxter Surfaces for Reversible, Barrier-Free Integration of Microfluidics and 3D Cell Culture
- Grayscale surface patterning using electrophoretic motion through a heterogeneous hydrogel material
- Tumor organoid models in precision medicine and investigating cancer-stromal interactions
- Hsp47 promotes cancer metastasis by enhancing collagen-dependent cancer cell-platelet interaction
- Human Cancer and Platelet Interaction, a Potential Therapeutic Target
- Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) binds to discoidin domain–containing receptor 2 (DDR2) and regulates its protein stability
- Develop a High-Throughput Screening Method to Identify C-P4H1 (Collagen Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase 1) Inhibitors from FDA-Approved Chemicals
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia
- MYC suppresses cancer metastasis by direct transcriptional silencing of αv and β3 integrin subunits
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,providedtheoriginalauthorandsourcearecredited.Thislicensedoesnot permit commercial exploitation or the creation of derivative works without specific permission.
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia
- Cell shape regulates global histone acetylation in human mammary epithelial cells
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,providedtheoriginalauthorandsourcearecredited.Thislicensedoesnot permit commercial exploitation or the creation of derivative works without specific permission.
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia
- Cell shape regulates global histone acetylation in human mammary epithelial cells
- Laminin and biomimetic extracellular elasticity enhance functional differentiation in mammary epithelia This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,providedtheoriginalauthorandsourcearecredited.Thislicensedoesnot permit commercial exploitation or the creation of derivative works without specific permission.
- Chaperone Hsp47 Drives Malignant Growth and Invasion by Modulating an ECM Gene Network
- Hsp47 promotes cancer metastasis by enhancing collagen-dependent cancer cell-platelet interaction
- RORα Suppresses Breast Tumor Invasion by Inducing SEMA3F Expression
- RORα Suppresses Breast Tumor Invasion by Inducing SEMA3F Expression
- The PLOD2/succinate axis regulates the epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and cancer cell stemness
- Hsp47 drives obesity-associated breast cancer progression by enhancing asporin deposition in adipose tissue
- The PLOD2/succinate axis regulates the epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and cancer cell stemness
- Increased ROS production in non-polarized mammary epithelial cells induces monocyte infiltration in 3D culture
- Cassie–Baxter Surfaces for Reversible, Barrier-Free Integration of Microfluidics and 3D Cell Culture
- Roles of PLODs in Collagen Synthesis and Cancer Progression
- Membrane associated collagen XIII promotes cancer metastasis and enhances anoikis resistance
- The PLOD2/succinate axis regulates the epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and cancer cell stemness
- FAM83A confers EGFR-TKI resistance in breast cancer cells and in mice
- NFkB disrupts tissue polarity in 3D by preventing integration of microenvironmental signals
- Prolyl-4-hydroxylase α subunit 2 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis by regulating collagen deposition
- Membrane associated collagen XIII promotes cancer metastasis and enhances anoikis resistance
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