Zheng Wu Lab

Cancer cells frequently rewire their metabolism to support rapid growth, proliferation, and metastasis. Our previous work revealed that cancer cells dynamically remodel purine nucleotide metabolism to adapt to harsh tumor microenvironments and develop resistance to chemotherapeutic thiopurines, which are widely used to treat pediatric leukemia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic rewiring of nucleotide metabolism during cancer progression and treatment remain poorly understood. Our lab employs liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)–based metabolomics, coupled with stable isotope tracing and infusion approaches, to characterize metabolic pathways in tumor cells and tissues. By integrating functional genomics, cell biology and biochemistry, we aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate nucleotide metabolism and leverage these mechanistic insights to develop therapeutic strategies that overcome cancer therapy resistance.

Zheng Wu, PhD, earned his doctorate from Yale University, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Gerald Shadel. His PhD work focused on mitochondrial DNA-mediated sterile inflammation and how it influences cancer chemotherapy response. During his graduate studies, he spent two years at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies as an exchanging graduate student. Upon completion of his PhD, Wu began working as a postdoctoral fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center with Dr. Ralph DeBerardinis. During his postdoctoral training, Wu investigated dynamic regulation of purine nucleotide metabolism in cancer cells and identified a key factor that mediates cellular purine nucleotide homeostasis and determines cancer thiopurine therapy response. Wu joined St. Jude in 2026 as an Assistant Member in the Department of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.