Kian-Huat Lim, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Phone: 314-747-7510
- Fax: 314-362-7086
- Email: kian-huat.lim@nospam.wustl.edu
Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8069-0012-05
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
Room 502 McDonnell Medical Sciences Building (lab)
Ph: 314-362-7009 (lab)
Admin:
Annalise Seger
segera@wustl.edu
- Pancreatic cancer
- Colon cancer
- Biliary cancer
- Neuroendocrine tumor
- Inflammation
- Innate immunity
- Immunotherapy
- Tumor-stroma interaction
- KRas
- IRAK4
Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors underlie the aggressive behavior and hence poor prognosis of PDAC. Intrinsically, PDAC cells are driven by strong oncogenic events including KRas mutations and hyperactivation of the NF-κB transcription factors which render PDAC cells highly metastatic and resistant to chemotherapy. Extrinsically, the PDAC tumor microenvironment is highly fibrotic and rife with immune-suppressive myeloid cells. We recently found that PDAC cells “armored” themselves by activating the innate immune pathway, a self-defense mechanism that is normally summoned when cells are injured or invaded by microorganisms. PDAC cells frequently activate Interleukin-Receptor Associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4), the master switch that controls the innate immune signaling, to drive NF-κB activity and resist killing by chemotherapeutic agents. We found that patients whose tumors show upregulate IRAK4 activity have a much poorer survival, and recently identified tumor-stromal IL-1β to be the source of IRAK4 activation in PDAC and stromal cells.
Current projects in the Lim Lab include:
- determining whether IRAK4 inhibition will render immunotherapy effective in pancreatic and colon cancers. We use a combination of genetically-engineered mouse models (KPC and APC+/min mice) and transplantable cell lines in this study. We have also generated global and conditional IRAK4-null mice for this study;
- understanding how IRAK4 signaling impact KRAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade;
- determining the role of p38/MK2 pathway in survival of PDAC cells undergoing environmental and genotoxic stress, with the goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies;
- developing effective ERK-inhibitor based therapeutic strategies based on novel observations.
Questions/Interests? Please email us at kian-huat.lim@wustl.edu
Biosketch
Education
- 2006-2002: PhD, Molecular Cancer Biology Program, Duke University, Durham, NC
- 1999-1992: MD, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
Post-Graduate Training
- 2013-2010: Fellow, Medical Oncology Branch, NCI/NIH, Bethesda, MD
- 2010-2009: Fellow, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- 2009-2007: Resident, Internal Medicine, Physician-Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
- 2002-1999: Resident, Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Academic Positions
- present-2020: Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- 2020-2013: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
University & Hospital Appointments & Committees
- present-2021: Member, Siteman Cancer Center Strategic Planning Pancreas Workgroup
- present-2021: Reviewer, ICTS Just-in-time Award Review Panel, Washington University
- present-2020: Leader, Upper GI Focus Group, Siteman Cancer Center
- present-2020: Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, Siteman Cancer Center
- present-2019: Member, Cancer Biology Program Admission Committee
- present-2013: Member, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
- present-2013: Member, Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences
- present-2013: Member, Siteman Cancer Center
Board Certification
- 2013: Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
- 2011: Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
Honors & Awards
- 2018: American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award
- 2016: AACR Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award
- 2016: Siteman Cancer Center Pre-RO1 Award
- 2016: BJHF-ICTS Foundation Award
- 2016: Concern Foundation Conquer Cancer Now Award
- 2016: WUSTL SPORE Career Enhancement Award
- 2015: Elsa Pardee Foundation Award
- 2014: Siteman Cancer Center Research Development Award
- 2013: AACR-Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology Scholar-in-Training Award
- 2012: American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award
- 2007: Young Investigator Award, Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- 2007-2004: Breast Cancer Research Program Predoctoral Award, US Department of Defense
- 2006: Outstanding Poster and Oral Presentation Award, Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- 2004-2002: Molecular Cancer Award, Duke University
Editorial Responsibilities
- 2015: Guest Editor, Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
National Scientific Panels
- present-2021: Ad hoc Reviewer, NCI R03/R21 Omnibus Clinical and Translational Cancer Research Panel
- present-2019: NCI’s Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment Network, Associate Member
- present-2018: Ad hoc Reviewer, Pancreatic Cancer UK
- present-2018: Ad hoc Reviewer, NIH/NCI Developmental Therapeutics Study Section
- present-2017: Review Panel, Siteman Investment Program
- present-2016: Review Panel, BJHF-ICTS Grant
- 2020: Principal Investigator (Wash U), PanCan Precision Promise Clinical Trial Consortium
- 2020: Scientific Review Committee, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Translational Research Grant
- 2018-2015: Scientific Review Panel, Department of Defense PRCRP/CDMRP
- 2018: Scientific Review Committee, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Catalyst Grant
- 2017: Scientific Review Committee, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, NCI Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research KRAS Fellowship
Professional Societies
- present-2009: American Society of Clinical Oncology
- present-2003: American Association for Cancer Research