Scientist Profiles

Wei Wang, Ph.D. Research Scientist Northern California Cancer Center

2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, California 94538-2334
E-mail: wei.wang@nccc.org
Phone: 510-608-5055
Fax: 510-608-5085

Research Interests:

Dr. Wang is a new member at NCCC. Her primary research interest has focused on genes and gene-environmental interactions in the etiology of breast and prostate cancer, particularly the roles of hormones (e.g., vitamin D and androgen) and genetically determined functional variation in their receptors in cancer development. Vitamin D is a pro-hormone that after converting to its active form (in the skin with exposure to sunlight) and binding with its nuclear receptor (VDR) can influence many genes that control cellular proliferation, promote differentiation, induce apoptosis, and prevent angiogenesis. In collaboration with Dr. Esther John at NCCC and Dr. Sue Ingles at the University of Southern California, Dr. Wang has been involved in several studies that examined serum vitamin D, sun exposure and genetic variations in the vitamin D receptor gene with respect to the risks of breast cancer and prostate cancer. Another hormone of Dr. Wang’s interest is androgen, which has been shown to have growth inhibitory effects on breast cells. Dr. Wang has conducted two case-control studied that investigated genetic variations in the androgen receptor and its downstream genes and their associations with breast cancer risk. 

Another area of interest involves genetic variations in drug metabolizing enzymes, transports and DNA repair pathways on the risk of developing secondary malignancies among cancer survivors. She is a consultant on an on-going study examining these factors in relations to therapy-related myelodysplasia/actue myeloid leukemia and solid tumors such as breast cancer, sarcomas, bone tumors, brain tumors, basal cell carcinomas and thyroid cancer (PI:  Dr. Smita Bhatia, City of Hope).

Since joining NCCC, Dr. Wang has worked closely with Dr. Esther John to examine racial/ethnic differences in participation rates in the Northern California Breast Family Registry fro Breast Cancer and to identify factors that influence subjects’ willingness to participate. She has also worked with Dr. John to examine the accuracy of self-reported family history of cancers among breast cancer patients enrolled in the family registry. She is currently planning a study that focuses on the role of vitamin D in breast cancer survival.

Selected Research Projects:

Selected Research Publications:

John EM, Schwartz GG, Koo J, Wang W, Ingles SA. Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Breast Cancer Risk in a Multiethnic Population. Am J Epidemiol 166(12):1409-1419, 2007.

Wang W, John EM, Ingles SA. Androgen Receptor and Prostate-Specific Antigen Gene Polymorphisms and Breast Cancer in African-American Women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14(12):2990-2994, 2005.

Lord SJ, Mack WJ, Van Den Berg D, Pike MC, Ingles SA, Haiman CA, Wang W, Parisky YR, Hodis HN, Ursin G. Polymorphisms in genes involved in estrogen and progesterone metabolism and mammographic density changes in women randomized to postmenopausal hormone therapy: results from a pilot study. Breast Cancer Research 7:R336-R344, 2005.

Wang W, Xue S, Ingles SA, Chen Q, Deip AT, Frankl HD, Stolz A, Haile RW. An association between genetic polymorphisms in the ileal sodium-dependent bile acid transporter gene and the risk of colorectal adenomas. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 10:931-936, 2001.

Ingles SA, Garcia DG, Wang W, Nieters A, Henderson B, Kolonel L, Haile RW, Coetzee GA. Vitamin D receptor genotype and breast cancer in Latinas. Cancer Causes Control 11:25-30, 2000.

Ingles SA, Coetzee GA, Ross RK, Henderson BE, Kolonel LN, Crocitto L, Wang W, Haile RW. Association of prostate cancer with vitamin D receptor haplotypes in African-Americans. Cancer Res 58:1620-1623, 1998.

All publications (9)

Education: