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Xinning Wang, PhD

Research Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Case School of Engineering
Member
Cancer Imaging Program
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Develops cancer therapies and molecular image probes for cancer diagnosis.

Research Information

Research Interests

My research is focused on the development of novel contrast agents for molecular imaging of cancer. Of particular interest is targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. I’ve been working on prostate-specific membrane antigen for over 14 years, and have successfully developed new chemotherapeutic agents and image agents targeting PSMA. We have rationally designed a highly negatively charged PSMA ligand with binding affinity in nM range. Based on this ligand we synthesized PSMA targeting NIR contrast agents, which can bind specifically to PSMA and can help create highly defined boundaries of the tumor. More recently we also developed PSMA targeting theranostic agents. These agents have shown the ability to effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo.

Awards and Honors

First Place Poster
2014
World Molecular Imaging Conference

Professional Memberships

Jan. 1, 2015 - PRESENT, Member World Molecular Imaging Society
Jan. 1, 2003 - PRESENT, Member American Association of Cancer Research

Publications

  • Luo, D., Wang, X., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2021). Recent Development of Gold Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Cancer Diagnosis. Cancers, 13 (8), 1825.
  • Walker, E., Turaga, S., Wang, X., Ramamurthy, G., Shukla, S., Basilion, J., & Lathia, J. (2021). Development of Near-Infrared Imaging Agents for Detection of Junction Adhesion-Molecule A Protein.. Translational Oncology, 14 (3), 101007.
  • Wang, Y., De Leon, A., Perera, R., Abenojar, E., Ramamurthy, G., Basilion, J., Wang, X., & Exner, A. (2021). Molecular Imaging of Orthotopic Prostate Cancer with Nanobubble Ultrasound Contrast Agents Targeted to PSMA. Scientific Reports, 11 , 4726.
  • Johasen, M., Perera, R., Abenojar, E., Wang, X., Vincent, J., Exner, A., & Brady-Kalnay, S. (2021). Ultrasound-Based Molecular Imaging of Tumors with PTPmu Biomarker-Targeted Nanobubble Contrast Agents. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22 (4), 1983.
  • Wang, X., Shirke, A., Walker, E., Sun, R., Ramamurthy, G., Wang, J., Shan, L., Mangadlao, J., Dong, Z., Wang, Z., Liu, H., Schluchter, M., Luo, D., Wang, Y., Stauffer, S., Brady-Kalnay, S., Hoimes, C., Lee, Z., & Basilion, J. (2021). Small-Molecule-Based Prodrug Targeting Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer.. Cancers, 13 (3), 417.
  • Luo, D., Wang, X., Walker, E., Wang, J., Springer, S., Lou, J., Ramamurthy, G., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2020). Nanoparticle Yield Increased Drug Uptake and Therapeutic Efficacy Upon Sequential Near-Infrared Irradiation. ACS Nano, 14 , 15193-15203.
  • Wang, X., Senapati, S., Akinbote, A., Gnanasambandam, B., Park, P., & Senyo, S. (2020). Microenvironment stiffness requires decellularized cardiac extracellular matrix to promote heart regeneration in the neonatal mouse heart.. Acta biomaterialia, 113 , 380-392.
  • Luo, D., Johnson, A., Wang, X., Zhao, J., Erokwu, B., Springer, S., Lou, J., Ramamurthy, G., Flask, C., Burda, C., Meade, T., & Basilion, J. (2020). Targeted Radiosensitizers for MR-Guided Radiation Therapy of Prostate Cancer.. Nano Letters, 20 (10), 7159-7167.
  • Perera, R., De Leon, A., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Ramamurthy, G., Peiris, P., Abenojar, E., Basilion, J., & Exner, A. (2020). Real Time Ultrasound Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with PSMA-targeted Nanobubbles.. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 28 , 102213.
  • Mulvihill, M., Luo, R., Estill, J., Liu, Y., Prentiss, M., Wang, J., Wang, Q., Zhao, S., Wang, X., Yang, S., Feng, J., Li , W., Liu, X., Zhang, G., Wang, Y., Zhou, Q., Meng, W., Qi, X., Xun, Y., Yu, X., Chen, Q., & On Behalf Of The Covid-Evidence And Recommendations Working Group, Q. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a scoping review.. Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin, 25 (15).
  • Wang, X. (2019). Photodynamic Therapy as An Effective Adjuvant After Surgical Removal of Prostate Cancer. Cancer Research.
  • Luo, D., Wang, X., Zeng, S., Gopalakrishnan, R., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2019). Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Targeted Gold Nanoparticles for Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy: Does Size Matter for Targeted Particles?". Chem. Sci.
  • Luo, D., Wang, X., Zeng, S., Gopalakrishnan, R., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2019). Targeted Gold Nanocluster-enhanced Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer.. SMALL.
  • Wang, X., Mangadlao, J., Escamillia, M., McCleese, C., Ramamurthy, G., Wang, Z., Govande, M., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2018). Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen Targeted Gold Nanoparticles for Theranostics of Prostate Cancer. ACS Nano, 12 (4), 3714-3725.
  • Wang, X., Tsui, B., Ramamurthy, G., Zhang, P., Meyers, J., Kenney, M., Kiechle, J., Ponsky, L., & Basilion, J. (2016). Theranostic Agents for Photodynamic Therapy of Prostate Cancer by Targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen.. Molecular cancer therapeutics, 15 (8), 1834-44.
  • Meyers, J., Cheng, Y., Broome, A., Agnes, R., Schluchter, M., Margevicius, S., Wang, X., Kenney, M., Burda, C., & Basilion, J. (2015). Peptide-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy of Brain Cancer.. Particle & particle systems characterization : measurement and description of particle properties and behavior in powders and other disperse systems, 32 (4), 448-457.
  • Gillespie, D., Aguirre, M., Ravichandran, S., Leishman, L., Berrondo, C., Gamboa, J., Wang, Y., King, R., Wang, X., Yatani, H., Malamas, A., Lu, Z., & Jensen, R. (2015). RNA interference targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1α via a novel multifunctional surfactant attenuates glioma growth in an intracranial mouse model.. Journal of neurosurgery, 122 (2), 331-41.
  • Wang, X., Huang, S., Heston, W., Guo, Z., Wang, H., & Basilion, J. (2014). Development of targeted near-infrared imaging agents for prostate cancer.. Molecular cancer therapeutics, 13 (11), 2595-606.
  • Huang, S., Wang, X., Zhang, Y., Doke, A., DiFilippo, F., & Heston, W. (2014). Improving the biodistribution of PSMA-targeting tracers with a highly negatively charged linker.. The Prostate, 74 (7), 702-13.
  • Laydner, H., Huang, S., Heston, W., Autorino, R., Wang, X., Harsch, K., Magi-Galluzzi, C., Isac, W., Khanna, R., Hughes, B., Escobar, P., Chalikonda, S., Rao, P., Haber, G., Kaouk, J., & Feinstein, E. (2013). Robotic real-time near infrared targeted fluorescence imaging in a murine model of prostate cancer: a feasibility study.. Urology, 81 (2), 451-6.
  • Wang, X., Tian, H., Lee, Z., & Heston, W. (2012). Structure-activity relationships of 2',5'-oligoadenylate analogue modifications of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antagonists.. Nucleosides, nucleotides & nucleic acids, 31 (5), 432-44.
  • Wang, X., Mahanta, N., Olson, W., & Heston, W. (2011). In vitro and in vivo responses of advanced prostate tumors to PSMA ADC, an auristatin-conjugated antibody to prostate-specific membrane antigen.. Molecular cancer therapeutics, 10 (9), 1728-39.
  • Wang, X., Sayin, I., Rao, P., Feinstein, E., Harsch, K., Lee, Z., & Heston, W. (2007). Targeted treatment of prostate cancer.. Journal of cellular biochemistry, 102 (3), 571-9.
  • Durso, R., Andjelic, S., Gardner, J., Margitich, D., Donovan, G., Arrigale, R., Wang, X., Maughan, M., Talarico, T., Olmsted, R., Heston, W., Maddon, P., & Olson, W. (2007). A novel alphavirus vaccine encoding prostate-specific membrane antigen elicits potent cellular and humoral immune responses.. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 13 (13), 3999-4008.
  • Wang, X., Au-Yeung, S., & Ho, Y. (2007). Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of novel traditional Chinese medicine-platinum anticancer agents in rats.. Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 101 (6), 909-17.
  • Cramer, H., Okicki, J., Rhoads, K. R., Wang, X. R., Silverman, E. R., & Heston, W. R. (2007). 2-5A ligands--a new concept for the treatment of prostate cancer.. Nucleosides, nucleotides & nucleic acids, 26 (10-12), 1471-7.
  • Jayaprakash, S., Wang, X., Heston, W., & Kozikowski, A. (2006). Design and synthesis of a PSMA inhibitor-doxorubicin conjugate for targeted prostate cancer therapy.. ChemMedChem, 1 (3), 299-302.
  • Ghosh, A., Wang, X., Klein, M., & Heston, W. (2005). Novel role of prostate-specific membrane antigen in suppressing prostate cancer invasiveness.. Cancer research, 65 (3), 727-31.
  • Daltorio, K., Wang, X., Yu, R., Ho, Y., & Au-Yeung, S. (2004). Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition and circumvention of cisplatin cross-resistance by novel TCM-platinum anticancer agents containing demethylcantharidin.. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 12 (17), 4565-73.
  • Ho, Y., Daltorio, K., Au-Yeung, S., Wang, X., Lin, G., & Han, X. (2001). Potential new antitumor agents from an innovative combination of demethylcantharidin, a modified traditional Chinese medicine, with a platinum moiety.. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 44 (13), 2065-8.

Additional Information

Patents Received

  • 2000, "Synthesis of Platinum Complexes and Uses Thereof" 6,110,907, Xinning Wang, Steven Au-Yeung, Yee-ping Ho, Ge Lin, Xiuwen Han, Shiwei Lu, & Tao Jiang.

Patents Pending

  • 2015, "PSMA-targeting imaging agents. " 14/605124, Xinning Wang, Steve Huang, & Warren Heston.
  • 2014, "PSMA Targeted Ligands for Imaging and Therapy" US2014/016932, Xinning Wang, James Basilion, & Clemens Burda.
  • 2004, "Demethylcantharidin Platinum Complexes and Uses Thereof. " 11/578, 002, Xinning Wang, Yee-ping Ho, Steven Au-Yeung, & Kenneth To.