Yong‐Chen Lu profile photo

Yong‐Chen Lu

High Impact

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

Last publication 2025 Last refreshed 2026-05-16

faculty

Pathology, College of Medicine

YLu@uams.edu

28 h-index 90 pubs 12,407 cited

Biography and Research Information

OverviewAI-generated summary

Yong‐Chen Lu's research focuses on understanding and manipulating T-cell responses in the context of cancer immunotherapy. His work investigates the molecular signatures of T cells that recognize tumor-specific antigens, known as neoantigens. Lu has published research on the direct identification of neoantigen-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) from tumor specimens using high-throughput single-cell sequencing, a technique that is crucial for studying T-cell biology and developing cancer therapies.

His group studies adoptive cellular therapy, including the use of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and TCR-engineered T cells. Recent publications explore the potential of liquid biopsies in hepatocellular carcinoma for immunotherapy and the identification of neoantigen-reactive T lymphocytes in various human cancers, such as glioblastoma. Lu also investigates the role of specific molecules, such as TREM-2, in mediating immune responses that can impact chronic diseases.

Lu leads a research group and has collaborated with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Charles M. Quick, Mayumi Nakagawa, Hannah Coleman, and Takeo Shibata, with whom he shares multiple publications. His work is recognized with a high h-index of 28 and over 12,000 citations.

Metrics

  • h-index: 28
  • Publications: 90
  • Citations: 12,407

Selected Publications

  • Detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations in T cells following 5-FU or cisplatin exposure (2026)
  • A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Phase I/II Clinical Trial of a Human Papillomavirus Therapeutic Vaccine, PepCan, for Reducing Head and Neck Cancer Recurrence (2026)
  • Isolation of mitochondrial mutation-specific T cell receptors (2025)
    4 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • A Randomized Double-Blind Phase 2 Clinical Trial Treating Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 2/3 with PepCan or <i>Candida</i> (2025)
    2 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • Unlocking novel T cell-based immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma through neoantigen-driven T cell receptor isolation (2025)
    3 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • 376 Inhibition of GSK3β-mediated 53BP1 T334 phosphorylation in T cells enhances infiltration and cytotoxicity against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (2024)
  • Immune responses in a phase 2 clinical trial of peptide-based therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccine, PepCan, versus <i>Candida</i> adjuvant alone in treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3. (2024)
    1 citation DOI OpenAlex
  • Deciphering CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell‐mediated responses against cancer (2024)
    5 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • A peptide-based human papillomavirus therapeutic vaccine, PepCan, or <i>Candida</i> adjuvant alone in treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 (CIN2/3). (2023)
    2 citations DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Grants & Funding

  • Developing T cell-based immunotherapy targeting breast cancer antigen FBXO39 ABCRP Principal Investigator
  • Developing CD4 T cell-based immunotherapy for breast cancer ABCRP Principal Investigator
  • Defining tumor infiltrating B cells and their role in the modulation of TIL immunotherapy The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research - Pass Through: H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute Co-Investigator
  • A pilot study of developing T cell-based cancer immunotherapies for African American and Hispanic populations TRI Principal Investigator

Collaboration Network

145 Collaborators 26 Institutions 8 Countries

Top Collaborators

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