InnoHK Centre for Oncology and Immunology 7th Flagship Symposium

Targeting the mevalonate pathway with MVD inhibitors (6-FMEV) or statins (atorvastatin) to induce ferroptosis and enhance T cell infiltration; combination regimens with TKIs or anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

~Published in: Journal of hepatology, 83(6), P1338-1352. Dec 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2025.06.034

Poster #2:

Mitochondrial Translation Drives Ivosidenib Resistance in IDH1-Mutant Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Indication:

Liver/Biliary Cancer (Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Overcoming targeted drug resistance (Ivosidenib) by breaking down protective metabolic adaptations or translation mechanics in IDH1-mutant tumors.

Poster #3:

BCAT1 promotes metabolic reprogramming and survival through HIF-1α stabilization in hepatocellular carcinoma

Indication:

Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma / HCC)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Metabolic targeting via a novel BCAT1 inhibitor (ERG245) used as a monotherapy or combined with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) to suppress hypoxic cell survival; patient stratification using BCAT1 and HIF-1α downstream biomarkers.

Poster #4:

AGPAT4 targeted covalent inhibitor potentiates targeted therapy to overcome cancer cell plasticity in hepatocellular carcinoma mouse models

Indication:

Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma / HCC)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Discovery of a selective, first-in-class covalent inhibitor (benzothiazole compound CL26 and its optimized analogues) targeting AGPAT4 to block lipid synthesis, reverse tumor plasticity, and eliminate drug resistance.

~Published in: Science translational medicine, 17(809). Jul 2025; https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adn9472

Poster #5:

B cell-derived acetylcholine promotes liver regeneration by regulating Kupffer cell and hepatic CD8+ T cell function

Indication:

Liver Damage & Failure (Acute Trauma, Post-Cancer Surgery, or Post-Transplantation)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Therapeutic modulation targeting the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor pathway or utilizing B cell-derived acetylcholine (ACh) circuits to activate regenerative Kupffer cells, reduce harmful CD8+ T cell interferon-gamma (IFN\gamma) production, and accelerate hepatocyte proliferation.

~Published in: Immunity, 58(5), P1201-1216. May 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2025.04.002

Poster #6:

Single cell RNA-Seq Uncovers ChAT+ B cells’ Dual Role in Facilitating Liver Regeneration

Indication:

Liver Damage & Severe Liver Diseases

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A new class of therapeutics for liver damage leveraging acetylcholine-secreting (ChAT+) B cells to prime liver regeneration; includes combination strategies combining CD8+ T cell depletion or Chrna7 stimulation on monocytes to boost protective IL-6 and reduce tissue-damaging IFNgamma.

Theme B: Gastric & Colorectal Cancers (High Prevalence in Asia)

Poster #7:

A combined enteric neuron-gastric tumor organoid reveals metabolic vulnerabilities in gastric cancer

Indication:

Gastric Cancer Organoid Platform

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A co-cultured neuro-tumor organoid assay tool for drug discovery and targets validation. It successfully maps in vivo-relevant metabolic vulnerabilities (such as LSS and ACACA) missed by traditional 2D cell cultures, enabling screening of therapeutics against treatment-resistant gastric tumors.

~Published in: Cell stem cell, 32(10), P1595-1613. Oct 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2025.08.006

Poster #8:

The Somatic Mutation Landscape of Normal Gastric Epithelium

Indication:

Gastric Cancer Precursors (Early Oncogenesis & Chronic Gastric Inflammation)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

High-resolution diagnostic screening using whole-genome and targeted sequencing to map somatic driver mutations (e.g., ARID1A, ARID1B, ARID2, CTNNB1, KDM6A) and recurrent chromosomal trisomies in monoclonal gastric glands, enabling risk stratification for age- and inflammation-driven early oncogenesis.

~Published in: Nature 640, P418-426. Mar 2025; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08708-6

Poster #9:

Dynamic expression and epigenetic regulation of the domesticated retrotransposon L1TD1 across colorectal cancer progression

Indication:

Gastric-Colorectal Cancer (Colorectal Cancer / CRC Initiation)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Early-stage diagnostic testing mapping the expression and epigenetic changes of the RNA-binding protein L1TD1 during malignant transformation. This serves as a prognostic biomarker for disease-free survival and as a tracking tool for early colorectal tumorigenesis.

Poster #10:

A covalent inhibitor targeting Cys16 on RhoA in colorectal cancer

Indication:

Gastric-Colorectal Cancer (Colorectal Cancer / CRC)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

High-specificity targeted therapy using a covalent inhibitor (CL16) to selectively bind a unique residue (Cys16) on RhoA, disrupting GTP binding to induce cell-cycle arrest, promote T cell tumor infiltration, and block metastasis.

~Published in: Cell chemical biology, 32(9):P1150-1165. Sep 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2025.08.004

Theme C: Hematological Malignancies & Blood Cancer Precursors

Poster #11:

In vivo CRISPR screen to identify modulators of CD8 T cell immunity in B cell lymphoma

Indication:

Blood Cancer (Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma / ABC-DLBCL)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Target discovery platform using an in vivo genome-wide CRISPR screen to identify genetic drivers of immune evasion and uncover novel therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Poster #12:

Mechanism of Initial Favorable Response to Decitabine in TP53-Mutated MDS/AML and Potential Mechanisms of Subsequent Relapse

Indication:

Blood Cancer (Myelodysplastic Syndrome / MDS & Acute Myeloid Leukemia / AML)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Epigenetic therapy using a 10-day decitabine course to trigger the upregulation of transposable elements from endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and drive interferon-linked immune activation in TP53-mutated leukemic populations.

~Published in: Clinical cancer research, 31(14), P3048–3061. Jul 2025; https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-3192

Poster #13:

Quizartinib and omacetaxine mepesuccinate combination therapy in FLT3-ITD AML: a phase II trial

Indication:

Blood Cancer (Acute Myeloid Leukemia / AML with FLT3-ITD mutation)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A novel combination therapy regimen (QUIZOM: quizartinib + omacetaxine mepesuccinate) that disrupts mitochondrial metabolism and protein folding; combination strategies can be paired with JNK or PLD1 inhibitors to bypass emergent resistance mechanisms.

~Published in: Nature Communications. Apr 2026; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71186-5

Poster #14:

Zebrafish model of myeloid malignancies based on mutation combinations

Indication:

Blood Cancer (Myeloid Malignancies)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Preclinical target evaluation and drug screening platform utilizing a specialized in vivo mutant zebrafish model to profile complex hematological mutation combinations and discover novel antileukemic assets.

Poster #15:

Mitochondria DNA Mutations in the Malignant Transformation of Clonal Hematopoiesis

Indication:

Blood Cancer Precursors (Clonal Hematopoiesis / CH progressing to Acute Myeloid Leukemia / AML)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Diagnostic stratification identifying high-risk CH patients carrying recurrent Complex I ND5 mitochondrial DNA mutations (associated with a 12x higher risk of myeloid transformation); therapeutic targeting of mitochondrial fitness pathways to block clonal expansion and prevent secondary leukemia-driving mutations.

Theme D: Pan-Cancer & Other Solid Tumors

Poster #16:

Molecular and Spatial Remodeling of T Cells Throughout Pancreatic Cancer Malignant Progression

Indication:

Pancreatic Cancer (Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma / PDAC)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Therapeutic targeting of dysfunctional, clonally expanded T cell populations located inside immunosuppressive niches mapped via spatial transcriptomics.

Poster #17:

Cancer cell SMAD4 loss promotes tumour progression by modulating the tumour immune microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Indication:

Pancreatic Cancer (Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma / PDAC)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Therapeutic modulation of the TME to reverse SMAD4 loss-mediated immunosuppressive myeloid phenotypes and CD8 T cell dysfunction.

Poster #18:

Autophagy Induced Degradation of AhR

Indication:

Targeted Protein Degradation (Pan-Cancer / Liver / Colorectal)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Novel targeted protein degrader harnessing autophagy-mediated degradation to selectively eliminate the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR), killing tumor cells and restoring local immune surveillance.

Poster #19:

TIME to ChAT: Cholinergic T cells revitalize the tumor immune microenvironment

Indication:

Immuno-Oncology (Pan-Cancer, specifically Liver Cancer / Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Therapeutic modulation of cholinergic T cells acting as a neuroimmune checkpoint to restrain T cell exhaustion and preserve antitumor function.

~Published in: Nature immunology, 26(5), P665-677. Apr 2025; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02144-4

Poster #20:

Multi-omics discovery of novel molecular subgroups in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Indication:

Ovarian Cancer / Diagnostics

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A multi-omics patient stratification algorithm utilizing unsupervised clustering on DNA methylation and genomic data. It identifies a novel, histology-independent molecular subgroup of epithelial ovarian carcinoma, serving as an independent prognostic assay to guide personalized clinical care.

Theme E: Autoimmunity, Inflammation & Tissue Regeneration

Poster #21:

Acetylcholine/a9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor axis regulates thymocyte negative selection

Indication:

Autoimmune Disorders (Immune System Regulation & Thymocyte Selection)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Therapeutic intervention via the cholinergic signaling pathway (specifically the ACh/alpha9 nAChR axis) to modulate T-cell development, prevent excessive negative selection of CD4 and CD8 single-positive thymocytes, and target the underlying cellular mechanisms driving autoimmunity.

~Published in: Nature immunology, 26, P881-893. May 2025; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02152-4

Poster #22:

IL-18 drives the Bhlhe40-mediated pathogenic Th17 cell response and exacerbates Sjögren's syndrome

Indication:

Autoimmune Disease (Primary Sjögren's Syndrome / pSS)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Targeted IL-18 blockade/neutralization therapy to suppress pathogenic Th17 cell responses and ameliorate tissue pathology; potential diagnostic monitoring of IL-18 as a marker of disease activity.

~Published in: Cellular & molecular immunology, 22, P1581–1597. Oct 2025; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-025-01356-w

Poster #23:

Lymphocyte-derived cholinergic circuits modulate germinal center output and B cell activation

Indication:

Immunology, B-Cell Mediated Immunity & Vaccine/Antibody Optimization

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Targeting the early regulatory axis of germinal center selection by modulating B-cell intrinsic Chat expression and muscarinic AChR binding. This mechanism dampens BCR signaling thresholds to fine-tune high-affinity antibody selection and plasma cell differentiation.

~Published in: Nature immunology, 27, P854-866. Feb 2026; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-026-02444-3

Poster #24:

B cell–derived acetylcholine mitigates skin inflammation through α9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Indication:

Blood Cancer (Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma / CTCL)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Adoptive immunotherapies leveraging tumor-reactive, clonally expanded protective CD8⁺CD57⁺CD45RA⁺ T-cell clones to induce apoptosis of tumor cells.

Theme F: Broad-Spectrum Biotech Platforms & Bioinformatics Multi-Omics Discovery

Poster #25:

CD28 Signaling Programs Stem-Like Memory CD8⁺ T Cells Ex Vivo without CD3/TCR Engagement

Indication:

T-Cell Therapy Platform (CAR-T and TCR-T cell immunotherapies)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A scalable manufacturing platform bypassing CD3/TCR signaling during ex vivo expansion to engineer stem-like memory T cells with enhanced persistence and in vivo antitumor activity.

~Published in: PNAS, 123(17):e2524626123. Apr 2026; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2524626123

Poster #26:

Droplet-based single-cell pairing for high-throughput interaction mapping of antigen-receptor combinations

Indication:

High-Throughput Screening Platform (Immune-Cell Interactome & Virology)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

Commercial asset utilizing the SPLIS platform to map cell-to-cell interaction landscapes with a 95% single-cell pairing ratio. It accelerates antibody/TCR drug discovery, predicts viral infection susceptibility, and profiles immune cell-tumor interactions for personalized immuno-oncology.

~Published in: Science advances, 11(50). Dec 2025; https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeb1515

Poster #27:

Rapid customization of base editors via machine learning-powered combinatorial mutagenesis

Indication:

Gene Editing Platform

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

A machine learning and deep learning-driven software-and-wet-lab engine to rapidly optimize base editors. This tool eliminates toxic bystander mutations at purine motifs, achieving undetectable off-target editing in 50% of tested cases to correct over 800 disease-associated mutations with high precision.

~Published in: Molecular cell, Apr 2026; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2026.03.030

Poster #28:

Integrative analysis of long- and short-read RNA sequencing enables quantification of a cancer specific transposable element driven transcript

Indication:

Bioinformatics Multi-Omics Platform (Pan-Cancer Biomarkers)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

LocusMasterTE software pipeline combining long-read and short-read RNA-seq using an expectation-maximization algorithm. This platform accurately measures repetitive transposable elements (TEs) to uncover novel transcript-level disease drivers and diagnostic biomarkers.

~Published in: bioRxiv. Apr 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.21.533716

Poster #29:

ReadsRatio: A facile method for cell type deconvolution with cross-platform applications

Indication:

Liquid Biopsy Diagnostics Platform (Pan-Disease / Tissue Injury Tracking)

Potential Therapeutic / Diagnostic Strategies:

ReadsRatio algorithm platform for non-invasive disease tracking. It leverages read-level DNA methylation signals across WGBS, targeted sequencing, and Nanopore platforms to deconvolute plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) back to its precise tissue or cell-type of origin.