My research has centered on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer development, combining biochemistry, molecular biology, and cancer research. A central focus throughout my career has been understanding how post-translational modifications, viral proteins, and sex-specific genetic factors influence cancer progression, with the goal of developing targeted therapies. A significant aspect of my work has been the study of the progesterone receptor in breast cancer, where I explored post-translational modifications, such as SUMOylation, and their impact on receptor function and hormone resistance. More recently, I have investigated tumor immune evasion, specifically the loss of the Y chromosome in cancers, and how immune pathways like CCL2 and DDR2 can be targeted to enhance immunotherapy. Additionally, I have studied sex-based differences in cancer, with a particular focus on the Y chromosome and transcriptional regulation in bladder cancer. Moving forward, my research will continue to explore how sex hormones, post-translational modifications, and immune evasion influence the tumor microenvironment, aiming to contribute to the development of more personalized cancer treatments.
Hany Abdel-Hafiz, PhD
Research Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Research Series Track) (Career Track)
Principal Scientist, Cancer Center
Research Interests:
Molecular Medicine Grad Program:
No
Bibliography
2025
Chen, X., Y. Shen, S. Choi, H. A. Abdel-Hafiz, M. Basu, L. Hoelzen, M. Tufano, S. Kumar Kail Mani, M. Ranjpour, J. Zhu, et al., "Concurrent loss of the Y chromosome in cancer and T cells impacts outcome.", Nature, vol. 642, issue 8069, pp. 1041-1050, 2025 Jun.
PMCID: PMC12221978 PMID: 40468066
2023
Abdel-Hafiz, H. A., S. Kumar Kail Mani, W. Huang, K. H. Gouin, Y. Chang, T. Xiao, Q. Ma, Z. Li, S. R. V. Knott, and D. Theodorescu, "Single-cell profiling of murine bladder cancer identifies sex-specific transcriptional signatures with prognostic relevance.", iScience, vol. 26, issue 9, pp. 107703, 2023 Sep 15.
PMCID: PMC10494466 PMID: 37701814
Abdel-Hafiz, H. A., J. M. Schafer, X. Chen, T. Xiao, T. D. Gauntner, Z. Li, and D. Theodorescu, "Y chromosome loss in cancer drives growth by evasion of adaptive immunity.", Nature, vol. 619, issue 7970, pp. 624-631, 2023 Jul.
PMCID: PMC10975863 PMID: 37344596
2022
Schafer, J. M., T. Xiao, H. Kwon, K. Collier, Y. Chang, H. Abdel-Hafiz, C. Bolyard, D. Chung, Y. Yang, D. Sundi, et al., "Sex-biased adaptive immune regulation in cancer development and therapy.", iScience, vol. 25, issue 8, pp. 104717, 2022 Aug 19.
PMCID: PMC9307950 PMID: 35880048
2020
Tu, M. M., H. A. Abdel-Hafiz, R. T. Jones, A. Jean, K. J. Hoff, J. E. Duex, A. Chauca-Diaz, J. C. Costello, G. M. Dancik, B. A. Jirón Tamburini, et al., "Inhibition of the CCL2 receptor, CCR2, enhances tumor response to immune checkpoint therapy.", Commun Biol, vol. 3, issue 1, pp. 720, 2020 Nov 27.
PMCID: PMC7699641 PMID: 33247183
2019
Tu, M. M., F. Y. F. Lee, R. T. Jones, A. K. Kimball, E. Saravia, R. F. Graziano, B. Coleman, K. Menard, J. Yan, E. Michaud, et al., "Targeting DDR2 enhances tumor response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.", Sci Adv, vol. 5, issue 2, pp. eaav2437, 2019 Feb.
PMCID: PMC6382401 PMID: 30801016
2018
Abdel-Hafiz, H. A., M. L. Dudevoir, D. Perez, M. Abdel-Hafiz, and K. B. Horwitz, "SUMOylation Regulates Transcription by the Progesterone Receptor A Isoform in a Target Gene Selective Manner.", Diseases, vol. 6, issue 1, 2018 Jan 02.
PMCID: PMC5871951 PMID: 29301281
Suhail, M., S. Sartaj Sohrab, A. Qureshi, M. Tarique, H. Abdel-Hafiz, K. Al-Ghamdi, and I. Qadri, "Association of HCV mutated proteins and host SNPs in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.", Infect Genet Evol, vol. 60, pp. 160-172, 2018 Jun.
PMID: 29501636
Fatima, K., S. Mathew, M. Faheem, T. Mehmood, H. Mohamad Yassine, A. A. Al Thani, H. Abdel-Hafiz, K. Al Ghamdy, and I. Qadri, "The Dual Specificity Role of Transcription Factor FOXO in Type 2-diabetes and Cancer.", Curr Pharm Des, vol. 24, issue 24, pp. 2839-2848, 2018.
PMID: 30205794
2017
Abdel-Hafiz, H. A., "Epigenetic Mechanisms of Tamoxifen Resistance in Luminal Breast Cancer.", Diseases, vol. 5, issue 3, 2017 Jul 06.
PMCID: PMC5622332 PMID: 28933369
2015
Abdel-Hafiz, H. A., and K. B. Horwitz, "Role of epigenetic modifications in luminal breast cancer.", Epigenomics, vol. 7, issue 5, pp. 847-62, 2015 Aug.
PMCID: PMC4539290 PMID: 25689414
2014
Knox, A. J., A. L. Scaling, M. P. Pinto, B. S. Bliesner, J. M. Haughian, H. A. Abdel-Hafiz, and K. B. Horwitz, "Modeling luminal breast cancer heterogeneity: combination therapy to suppress a hormone receptor-negative, cytokeratin 5-positive subpopulation in luminal disease.", Breast Cancer Res, vol. 16, issue 4, pp. 418, 2014 Aug 13.
PMCID: PMC4187339 PMID: 25116921