Qiangnu Zhang

Research Interests & Biography

I have been engaged in molecular pathology research of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), with research interests in "big data + multi-omics" driven research on the hypoxic microenvironment, spatiotemporal omics, metabolism, and targeted therapy of liver cancer. At the same time, I am committed to developing applications for big data mining of liver cancer and other tumors.

In recent years, I have published more than 11 SCI papers as the first author (ranked first), including articles in top digestive disease journals such as Journal of Hepatology (IF=33), and internationally renowned journals in the field of oncology such as Cancer Research (IF=16.6,n=3), Oncogene (IF=7.3), and Cancer Letters (IF=9.7). I led the development of IHGA1.0, currently the world's largest public data mining tool for liver cancer with the largest sample size.

I have been awarded the Young Top-Notch Talents Program under the Guangdong Special Support Plan(广东省特支计划青年拔尖人才), Guangdong Overseas Postdoctoral Introduction Talent（广东省海外博士后引进人才）, Guangzhou Medical University Nanshan Scholar Backbone Talent（广州医科大学南山学者-骨干人才） and Shenzhen Peacock Plan Talent (深圳市孔雀人才).

I also serve as a youth editorial board member for HBPT INT journal (IF=3.5) and the Chinese Journal of Cancer.

News

2025-04: I have been awarded the Young Top-Notch Talents Program under the Guangdong Special Support Plan(广东省特支计划青年拔尖人才).

2024-08: I received funding for a National Natural Science Foundation of China General Project, titled "Study on the role and mechanism of hypoxia-sensitive uORF-derived micropeptide HK2-48aa in regulating β-catenin acetylation to promote HCC progression".

2024-07: The development of IHGA2.0 has started, aiming to become the world's largest and most comprehensive app for liver cancer gene data mining.

2024-06: I obtained the qualification of master's supervisor.

Selected Publications

J Hepatol 2024

Deficiency in SLC25A15, a hypoxia-responsive gene, promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by reprogramming glutamine metabolism

Qiangnu Zhang

(First author)

Impact Factor: 33.1

Cancer Research 2025

Long-Chain Fatty Acid Redistribution Induced by SLC27A2 Deficiency Facilitates Hypoxic Adaptation and Immunosuppression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Qiangnu Zhang

(Corresponding author)

Impact Factor: 16.6

Cancer Research 2024

CSTF2 Supports Hypoxia Tolerance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Enabling m6A Modification Evasion of PGK1 to Enhance Glycolysis

Qiangnu Zhang

(First author)

Impact Factor: 16.6

Cancer Research 2023

Hypoxia-Responsive lncRNA AC115619 Encodes a Micropeptide That Suppresses m6A Modifications and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression

Qiangnu Zhang

(First author)

Impact Factor: 16.6

Oncogene 2023

Hypoxia-responsive PPARGC1A/BAMBI/ACSL5 axis promotes progression and resistance to lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma

Qiangnu Zhang

(First author)

Impact Factor: 7.3

Grants

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China - General Project
Study on the role and mechanism of hypoxia-sensitive uORF-derived micropeptide HK2-48aa in regulating β-catenin acetylation to promote liver cancer progression (82472716). 2025-2029, 490,000 RMB, Ongoing, Principal Investigator

2. Guangzhou Medical University, High-level Talent Funding Project
(06-445-1183). 2024-2029, 3,000,000 RMB, Ongoing, Principal Investigator

3. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, Provincial-Enterprise Joint Project
2023A1515220076, Applied basic research on temperature-sensitive hydrogel delivery of AC115619-22aa novel micropeptide to enhance the effect of TACE combined with lenvatinib targeted therapy for liver cancer. 2023-11-01 to 2026-10-31, 100,000 RMB. Ongoing, Principal Investigator

4. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, Regional Joint Fund-Youth Fund Project
2022A1515110283, Study on the role and mechanism of hypoxia-induced m6A modification promoting PGK1 protein translation in liver cancer lenvatinib resistance, 2022-10 to 2025-09, 100,000 RMB, Ongoing, Principal Investigator

5. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
lncRNA-AC115619 encoded small peptide regulates PKM gene alternative splicing mediating changes in lenvatinib sensitivity under hypoxic conditions in liver cancer, 70th batch of general funding, 2021M701426, 2021-11 to 2023-08, 80,000 RMB, Completed, Principal Investigator

Patents

An anticancer peptide AC115619-22AA encoded by lncRNA and its application
(ZL 2022 1 1506376.0), National Invention Patent, Granted, First Inventor

A Prognostic Scoring System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on PUS Family Genes and Its Application
(ZL 2022 1 0511108.1), National Invention Patent, Granted, First Inventor

Developed Applications

HepCAT: A brand-new, eye-catching gene data mining tool focused on HCC (Hepatocellular Carcinoma). This is an upgraded version of IHGA, which, in addition to bulk RNA data, also incorporates ample single-cell sequencing data and spatial transcriptomics data. The functionality is even more comprehensive!

Visit: https://www.hccdatasph.cn/app/hepcat

IHGA: An interactive web server for large-scale and comprehensive discovery of genes of interest in hepatocellular carcinoma. (Note: This tool will soon stop being maintained.)

Visit: https://www.hccdatasph.cn/app/ihga