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Ka Wing Fong, PhD

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8595623455
willfongkw@uky.edu
760 Press Ave, Research Building 2 Room341, Lexington KY40536

Positions

  • Assistant Professor

College Unit(s)

Biography and Education

Education

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Ph.D

Research

My research interest is to understand aberrant epigenetic regulation and cell signaling in prostate cancer. The approaches we are taking include high-throughput genomic techniques (i.e., ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq) in combination with bioinformatics analysis, proteomics, molecular biology and pre-clinical mouse models. Based on our findings from basic research, we pursue translational research to characterize biomarkers and pursue novel therapeutics strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer. A major focus of my work is on the regulation of androgen receptor activity by CCN3 (Fong et al, 2017 Can Res) or TRIM28 (Fong et al., 2018 Nat Commun) and the mechanism of anti-androgen resistance through CXCR7-mediated MAPK-ERK signaling in castration-resistance prostate cancer (Li* & Fong* et al., 2019 Can Res). Recently, we report a novel PRC2 subunit PALI1 promotes tumor growth through competitive recruitment of PRC2 to G9A-target chromatin for dual epigenetic silencing (Fong et al, 2022 Mol Cell). The current research focus of my lab is to elucidate the mechanism underlying castration-resistant and drug-resistant prostate cancer and to translate such knowledge into clinical applications with the use of Epigenetics, Proteomics and Metabolomics approaches.

Selected Publications

  1. Kim M, Cong H, Goettl R, Liu J, Fong KW. (corresponding author). The involvement of TRIM28-LDHA axis in prostate cancer progression in bone. Mol Cancer Res. 2026 Feb 6;24(2):93-105. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-25-0676.PMID: 41105391.
  2. Kim M, Liu J, Zhang Y, Wang R, Goettl R, Grasso J, Allison DB, Wang C, Gao T, Liu X, Fong KW (corresponding author). RSK1-driven TRIM28/E2F1 feedback loop promotes castration-resistant prostate cancer progression. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jun 16;135(12). doi: 10.1172/JCI185119.  PubMed PMID: 40519166; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12165809.
  3. Resurreccion EP, Fong KW (corresponding author). The Integration of Metabolomics with Other Omics: Insights into Understanding Prostate Cancer. Metabolites. 2022 May 27;12(6). doi: 10.3390/metabo12060488. Review. PubMed PMID: 35736421; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9230859.
  4. Jennifer Grasso, Cheng Zhang and Fong KW. (corresponding author). Aurora kinase A in urological cancers. Serican Journal of Medicine 2025, VOL. 2, NO. 3, 23694 https://doi.org/10.17161/sjm.v2i3.23694
  5. Fong KW (corresponding author). FOXA2, NKX2-1, and p300/CBP Orchestrate Neuroendocrine Lineage Plasticity in Prostate Cancer. Serican Journal of Medicine 2025, VOL. 2, NO. 4, 24269 https://doi.org/10.17161/sjm.v2i4.24269
  6. Rao X, Liu J, Allison DB, Harrison DA, Fong KW, Wu Y, He D, Peng J, Li Z, Wang C, Sturgill JL, Sen P, Liu X. mTORC1-Dependent Regulation of the CCL24-CCR3 Axis Controls Granuloma Formation and Maintenance in Sarcoidosis. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jul 16:2025.07.11.664317. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.11.664317.PMID: 40791394
  7. Rao X, Allison DB, Flight RM, Lin P, He D, Li Z, Zhang Y, Wang R, Li C, Wang J, Wang X, Peng J, Fong KW, Shao Q, Wang C, Ali ES, Moseley HN, Liu X. PLK1-mediated phosphorylation of PHGDH reprograms serine metabolism in advanced prostate cancer. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 May 24:2025.05.21.655274. doi: 10.1101/2025.05.21.655274.PMID: 40475404
  8. Zhang Y, Fong KW, Mao F, Wang R, Allison DB, Napier D, He D, Liu J, Zhang Y, Chen J, Kong Y, Li C, Li G, Liu J, Li Z, Zhu H, Wang C, Liu X. Elevating PLK1 overcomes BETi resistance in prostate cancer via triggering BRD4 phosphorylation-dependent degradation in mitosis. Cell Rep. 2024 Jul 23;43(7):114431. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114431. Epub 2024 Jul 4. PubMed PMID: 38968071; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11334074.
  9. Zhang Z, Wang X, Kim M, He D, Wang C, Fong KW, Liu X. Downregulation of EZH2 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate. 2023 Nov;83(15):1458-1469. doi: 10.1002/pros.24602. Epub 2023 Jul 20. PubMed PMID: 37475584; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11618820.
  10. Gritsina G, Fong KW, Lu X, Lin Z, Xie W, Agarwal S, Lin D, Schiltz GE, Beltran H, Corey E, Morrissey C, Wang Y, Zhao JC, Hussain M, Yu J. Chemokine receptor CXCR7 activates Aurora Kinase A and promotes neuroendocrine prostate cancer growth. J Clin Invest. 2023 Aug 1;133(15). doi: 10.1172/JCI166248. PubMed PMID: 37347559; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10378179.
  11. Fong KW, Zhao JC, Lu X, Kim J, Piunti A, Shilatifard A, Yu J. PALI1 promotes tumor growth through competitive recruitment of PRC2 to G9A-target chromatin for dual epigenetic silencing. Mol Cell. 2022 Dec 15;82(24):4611-626.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.11.010. Epub 2022 Dec 6. PubMed PMID: 36476474; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9812274.
  12. Lu X, Fong KW, Gritsina G, Wang F, Baca SC, Brea LT, Berchuck JE, Spisak S, Ross J, Morrissey C, Corey E, Chandel NS, Catalona WJ, Yang X, Freedman ML, Zhao JC, Yu J. HOXB13 suppresses de novo lipogenesis through HDAC3-mediated epigenetic reprogramming in prostate cancer. Nat Genet. 2022 May;54(5):670-683. doi: 10.1038/s41588-022-01045-8. Epub 2022 Apr 25. PubMed PMID: 35468964; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9117466.
  13. Park SH, Fong KW, Mong E, Martin MC, Schiltz GE, Yu J. Going beyond Polycomb: EZH2 functions in prostate cancer. Oncogene. 2021 Sep;40(39):5788-5798. doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-01982-4. Epub 2021 Aug 4. Review. PubMed PMID: 34349243; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8487936.
  14. Park SH, Fong KW, Kim J, Wang F, Lu X, Lee Y, Brea LT, Wadosky K, Guo C, Abdulkadir SA, Crispino JD, Fang D, Ntziachristos P, Liu X, Li X, Wan Y, Goodrich DW, Zhao JC, Yu J. Posttranslational regulation of FOXA1 by Polycomb and BUB3/USP7 deubiquitin complex in prostate cancer. Sci Adv. 2021 Apr;7(15). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe2261. Print 2021 Apr. PubMed PMID: 33827814; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8026124.
  15. Li S, Fong KW (co-first author), Gritsina G, Zhang A, Zhao JC, Kim J, Sharp A, Yuan W, Aversa C, Yang XJ, Nelson PS, Feng FY, Chinnaiyan AM, de Bono JS, Morrissey C, Rettig MB, Yu J. Activation of MAPK Signaling by CXCR7 Leads to Enzalutamide Resistance in Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2019 May 15;79(10):2580-2592. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2812. Epub 2019 Apr 5. PubMed PMID: 30952632; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6522281.
  16. Song B, Park SH, Zhao JC, Fong KW, Li S, Lee Y, Yang YA, Sridhar S, Lu X, Abdulkadir SA, Vessella RL, Morrissey C, Kuzel TM, Catalona W, Yang X, Yu J. Targeting FOXA1-mediated repression of TGF-β signaling suppresses castration-resistant prostate cancer progression. J Clin Invest. 2019 Feb 1;129(2):569-582. doi: 10.1172/JCI122367. Epub 2018 Dec 18. PubMed PMID: 30511964; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6355239.
  17. Kim J, Lee Y, Lu X, Song B, Fong KW, Cao Q, Licht JD, Zhao JC, Yu J. Polycomb- and Methylation-Independent Roles of EZH2 as a Transcription Activator. Cell Rep. 2018 Dec 4;25(10):2808-2820.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.035. PubMed PMID: 30517868; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6342284.
  18. Fong KW, Zhao JC, Song B, Zheng B, Yu J. TRIM28 protects TRIM24 from SPOP-mediated degradation and promotes prostate cancer progression. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 27;9(1):5007. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07475-5. PubMed PMID: 30479348; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6258673.
  19. Fong KW, Zhao JC, Kim J, Li S, Yang YA, Song B, Rittie L, Hu M, Yang X, Perbal B, Yu J. Polycomb-Mediated Disruption of an Androgen Receptor Feedback Loop Drives Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2017 Jan 15;77(2):412-422. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-1949. Epub 2016 Nov 4. PubMed PMID: 27815387; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5243151
  20. Yang YA, Zhao JC, Fong KW, Kim J, Li S, Song C, Song B, Zheng B, He C, Yu J. FOXA1 potentiates lineage-specific enhancer activation through modulating TET1 expression and function. Nucleic Acids Res. 2016 Sep 30;44(17):8153-64. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkw498. Epub 2016 Jun 1. PubMed PMID: 27257062; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5041455.
  21. Zhao JC, Fong KW, Jin HJ, Yang YA, Kim J, Yu J. FOXA1 acts upstream of GATA2 and AR in hormonal regulation of gene expression. Oncogene. 2016 Aug 18;35(33):4335-44. doi: 10.1038/onc.2015.496. Epub 2016 Jan 11. PubMed PMID: 26751772; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4940300.
  22. Xue X, Yang YA, Zhang A, Fong KW, Kim J, Song B, Li S, Zhao JC, Yu J. LncRNA HOTAIR enhances ER signaling and confers tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. Oncogene. 2016 May;35(21):2746-55. doi: 10.1038/onc.2015.340. Epub 2015 Sep 14. PubMed PMID: 26364613; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4791209.
  23. Zhang A, Zhao JC, Kim J, Fong KW, Yang YA, Chakravarti D, Mo YY, Yu J. LncRNA HOTAIR Enhances the Androgen-Receptor-Mediated Transcriptional Program and Drives Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cell Rep. 2015 Oct 6;13(1):209-221. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.08.069. Epub 2015 Sep 24. PubMed PMID: 26411689; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4757469.
  24. Fong KW, Au FKC, Jia Y, Yang S, Zhou L, Qi RZ. Microtubule plus-end tracking of end-binding protein 1 (EB1) is regulated by CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 2. J Biol Chem. 2017 May 5;292(18):7675-7687. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.759746. PubMed PMID: 28320860; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5418063.
  25. Cleaver JE, Brennan-Minnella AM, Swanson RA, Fong KW, Chen J, Chou KM, Chen YW, Revet I, Bezrookove V. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species are scavenged by Cockayne syndrome B protein in human fibroblasts without nuclear DNA damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Sep 16;111(37):13487-92. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1414135111. Epub 2014 Aug 18. PubMed PMID: 25136123; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4169934.
  26. Li Y, Fong KW (co-first author), Tang M, Han X, Gong Z, Ma W, Hebert M, Songyang Z, Chen J. Fam118B, a newly identified component of Cajal bodies, is required for Cajal body formation, snRNP biogenesis and cell viability. J Cell Sci. 2014 May 1;127(Pt 9):2029-39. doi: 10.1242/jcs.143453. Epub 2014 Feb 25. PubMed PMID: 24569877; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4004977.
  27. Fong KW, Li Y, Wang W, Ma W, Li K, Qi RZ, Liu D, Songyang Z, Chen J. Whole-genome screening identifies proteins localized to distinct nuclear bodies. J Cell Biol. 2013 Oct 14;203(1):149-64. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201303145. PubMed PMID: 24127217; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3798253.
  28. Fong KW, Leung JW, Li Y, Wang W, Feng L, Ma W, Liu D, Songyang Z, Chen J. MTR120/KIAA1383, a novel microtubule-associated protein, promotes microtubule stability and ensures cytokinesis. J Cell Sci. 2013 Feb 1;126(Pt 3):825-37. doi: 10.1242/jcs.116137. PubMed PMID: 23264731; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3619811.
  29. Jia Y, Fong KW, Choi YK, See SS, Qi RZ. Dynamic recruitment of CDK5RAP2 to centrosomes requires its association with dynein. PLoS One. 2013;8(7):e68523. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068523. Print 2013. PubMed PMID: 23874654; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3714271.
  30. Feng L, Fong KW, Wang J, Wang W, Chen J. RIF1 counteracts BRCA1-mediated end resection during DNA repair. J Biol Chem. 2013 Apr 19;288(16):11135-43. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.457440. Epub 2013 Mar 13. PubMed PMID: 23486525; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3630874.
  31. Ghosal G, Leung JW, Nair BC, Fong KW, Chen J. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-binding protein C1orf124 is a regulator of translesion synthesis. J Biol Chem. 2012 Oct 5;287(41):34225-33. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.400135. Epub 2012 Aug 17. PubMed PMID: 22902628; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3464530.
  32. Leung JW, Wang Y, Fong KW, Huen MS, Li L, Chen J. Fanconi anemia (FA) binding protein FAAP20 stabilizes FA complementation group A (FANCA) and participates in interstrand cross-link repair. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Mar 20;109(12):4491-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1118720109. Epub 2012 Mar 6. PubMed PMID: 22396592; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3311328.
  33. Fong KW, Hau SY, Kho YS, Jia Y, He L, Qi RZ. Interaction of CDK5RAP2 with EB1 to track growing microtubule tips and to regulate microtubule dynamics. Mol Biol Cell. 2009 Aug;20(16):3660-70. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e09-01-0009. PubMed PMID: 19553473; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2777926.
  34. Fong KW, Choi YK, Rattner JB, Qi RZ. CDK5RAP2 is a pericentriolar protein that functions in centrosomal attachment of the gamma-tubulin ring complex. Mol Biol Cell. 2008 Jan;19(1):115-25. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e07-04-0371. PubMed PMID: 17959831; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2174194.