Prof. Tan Zhiwu

Academic Staff

Assistant Professor

Y818
+852 3400 8795
zhiwu.tan@polyu.edu.hk

Research Overview

Our research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which T cells provide protective and therapeutic immunity against cancers, with the goal of developing novel immunotherapies based on these mechanistic basis.

Education and Academic Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry, Peking University
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University

Academic and Professional Experience

Member, The European Association for Cancer Research
Member, The American Association of Immunologists

Research Interests

Achievements

Immuno-Oncolytic Modified Vaccinia Tian Tan Virus and Methods of Treating Cancer. US20210085736A1.

PD1-Based Vaccination Composition and Methods Thereof. WO/2021/164563.

Tan Z, Chiu MS, Yue M, Kwok HY, Tse MH, WEN Y, et al. Enhancing the efficacy of vaccinia-based oncolytic virotherapy by inhibiting CXCR2-mediated MDSC trafficking. J Leukoc Biol 2024, 115(4):633-646.
Chen S, Tan Z (co-first author), Liao P, Li Y, Qu Y, Zhang Q, Yang M, et al. Biodegradable microrobots for DNA vaccine delivery. Adv Healthcare Mater 2023, 8: e2202921.
Tan Z*, Chiu MS, Yang X, Yue M, Cheung TT, Zhou D, et al. Isoformic PD-1-mediated immunosuppression underlies resistance to PD-1 blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Gut 2023, 72(8):1568-1580. (co-corresponding author)
Tan Z, Chiu MS, Yan CW, Man K, and Chen Z. Eliminating mesothelioma by AAV-vectored, PD1-based vaccination in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021, 20:373-386.
Tan Z, Chiu MS, Yan CW, Wong YC, Huang H, et al. Antimesothelioma Immunotherapy by CTLA-4 Blockade Depends on Active PD1-Based TWIST1 Vaccination. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2020, 8(16):302-317.
Tan Z, Liu L, Chiu MS, Cheung KW, Yan CW, Yu Z, et al. Virotherapy-recruited PMN-MDSC infiltration of mesothelioma blocks antitumor CTL by IL-10-mediated dendritic cell suppression. OncoImmunology 2019;8(1):e1518672
Tan Z, Zhou J, Liu L, Cheung A, Cheung KW, Liang J, et al. Vaccine-elicited CD8⁺ T cells cure mesothelioma by overcoming tumor-induced immunosuppressive environment. Cancer Research 2014,74(21):6010-6021.
Zhou J, Cheung A, Liu H, Tan Z, Tang X, Kang Y, et al. Potentiating Functional Antigen-specific CD8(+) T Cell Immunity by a Novel PD1 Isoform-based Fusion DNA Vaccine. Molecular Therapy 2013,21:1445-1455.
Zhou J, Cheung A, Tan Z, Wang H, Yu W, Du Y, et al. PD1-based DNA vaccine amplifies HIV-1 GAG-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2013,123:2629-2642.
Tan Z, Li J, Pang R, He S, He M, Tang S, et al. Screening and evaluation of thiourea derivatives for their HIV capsid and human cyclophilin A inhibitory activity. Medicinal Chemistry Research 2011,20(3):314-320.