Huang Lab Publishes Review on Mitophagy, Cancer, and Neurodegeneration in Journal of Hematology & Oncology
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Huang Lab at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio announces a new review in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology: “Mitophagy’s impacts on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases: implications for future therapies.” Authors are Jason Huang, Vincent Truong Pham, Shaozi Fu, Gang Huang, Ya-Guang Liu, and Lei Zheng. The article was published on August 1, 2025 and is cited as J Hematol Oncol 2025;18:78. DOI: 10.1186/s13045-025-01727-w. The article is available open access at https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13045-025-01727-w.
The review synthesizes evidence that defects or hyperactivation of mitophagy help explain the long-observed inverse relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. It details how shifts between fatty acid and glucose metabolism, mitochondrial quality control, and reactive oxygen species intersect with disease risk and progression. The paper outlines therapeutic opportunities that modulate mitophagy with emerging tool compounds and clinical candidates.
“These insights frame mitophagy as a shared control point for two seemingly opposite disease trajectories,” said Gang Huang, PhD. “Targeting mitochondrial quality control could enable precision strategies for cancer and neurodegeneration.” The article includes comparative frameworks and curated tables on mitophagy modulators with potential translational relevance.
About the Huang Lab
The Huang Lab at UT Health San Antonio is a basic and translational cancer research group within the MD Anderson Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Our team integrates hematology and solid tumor biology with immunology and metabolism to uncover mechanisms and design interventions. We advance cell and biologic therapies, including CAR T‑cell approaches for solid tumors. We also conduct research in trauma and military health. We move discoveries toward clinical impact through product development and collaborations with clinicians and industry. Education and mentorship are core to our mission. We train students, postdoctoral fellows, and early‑career scientists in rigorous, multidisciplinary research. Together, we aim to deliver therapies and technologies that improve patient outcomes.