2025 11th International Conference on Biology and Life Sciences

Dr. Xuesen Zhang, Professor

College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China

Biography:  Dr. Xuesen Zhang, a Professor in the Department of Histology and Embryology at China Medical University, China. He received Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Dalian Medical University, China, in 1999 and 2002, respectively. Upon completion of his doctorate in Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2005, Dr. Zhang accepted his postdoctoral training at the University of Iowa, USA. In 2007, he joined Prof. Scott Coonrod Lab at Cornell University, USA and received more comprehensive postdoctoral training in the study of citrullination and breast cancer. In 2013, he was appointed as a Principal Investigator in Nanjing Medical University. In 2022, he moved to China Medical University and was appointed as Dean of Department of Histology and Embryology. Dr. Zhang’s research has mainly focused on the role of non-histone protein citrullination in regulating tumor cell signaling pathways. He was awarded Susan G. Komen for the Cure postdoctoral fellowship in 2010, and the Distinguished Professor of Jiangsu Province, China in 2016.

Topic: The Novel Mechanism of PADI2 in Modulating the Estrogen Receptor Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract: We previously demonstrated that, in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cells, nuclear PADI2 specifically targets histone H3R26 for citrullination and facilitates ER binding by modifying nucleosome structure. However, the role of cytoplasmic PADI2 (the predominant form of PADI2 in cells) in estrogen signaling remains unclear. There are two subtypes of ER, ERα and ERβ, which belong to the nuclear receptor family. Once activated by estrogen, these subtypes exhibit distinct biological functions as they regulate different target genes. ERα is commonly detected during the early stages of breast cancer development and is associated with poor prognosis and increased cell proliferation rates. In contrast, ERβ is linked to better survival outcomes and is generally considered an anti-tumor factor. The balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is determined by changes in the ratio of ERα/ERβ protein levels. Here, we discuss the novel role of cytoplasmic PADI2 in regulating the ratio of ERα/ERβ protein levels in breast cancer cells. Ultimately, combining PADI2 inhibitors with endocrine therapy drugs for breast cancer may help delay or prevent the onset of endocrine therapy resistance in ER+ breast cancers.