Hany Abdel-Hafiz, PhD

Research Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Research Series Track) (Career Track)

Principal Scientist, Cancer Center

Research Interests

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.

Publications

Subramaniyan, Boopathi, et al. “Loss of the Y Chromosome Drives Cancer Metabolic Reprogramming.”. BioRxiv, Aug. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.26.672471.

Chen, Xingyu, et al. “Concurrent Loss of the Y Chromosome in Cancer and T Cells Impacts Outcome.”. Nature, vol. 642, no. 8069, June 2025, pp. 1041-50, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09071-2.

Chaudhary, Prakash, et al. “Sex Differences in Bladder Cancer: Understanding Biological and Clinical Implications.”. Biol Sex Differ, vol. 16, no. 1, May 2025, p. 31, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-025-00715-6.

Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A, et al. “Single-Cell Profiling of Murine Bladder Cancer Identifies Sex-Specific Transcriptional Signatures With Prognostic Relevance.”. IScience, vol. 26, no. 9, Sept. 2023, p. 107703, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107703.

Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A, et al. “Y Chromosome Loss in Cancer Drives Growth by Evasion of Adaptive Immunity.”. Nature, vol. 619, no. 7970, July 2023, pp. 624-31, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06234-x.

Schafer, Johanna M, et al. “Sex-Biased Adaptive Immune Regulation in Cancer Development and Therapy.”. IScience, vol. 25, no. 8, Aug. 2022, p. 104717, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104717.

Tu, Megan M, et al. “Inhibition of the CCL2 Receptor, CCR2, Enhances Tumor Response to Immune Checkpoint Therapy.”. Commun Biol, vol. 3, no. 1, Nov. 2020, p. 720, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01441-y.

Tu, Megan M, et al. “Targeting DDR2 Enhances Tumor Response to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy.”. Sci Adv, vol. 5, no. 2, Feb. 2019, p. eaav2437, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav2437.

Suhail, Mohd, et al. “Association of HCV Mutated Proteins and Host SNPs in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.”. Infect Genet Evol, vol. 60, June 2018, pp. 160-72, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2018.02.034.

Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A, et al. “SUMOylation Regulates Transcription by the Progesterone Receptor A Isoform in a Target Gene Selective Manner.”. Diseases, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2018, https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases6010005.

Fatima, Kaneez, et al. “The Dual Specificity Role of Transcription Factor FOXO in Type 2-Diabetes and Cancer.”. Curr Pharm Des, vol. 24, no. 24, Jan. 2018, pp. 2839-48, https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180911114210.

Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A. “Epigenetic Mechanisms of Tamoxifen Resistance in Luminal Breast Cancer.”. Diseases, vol. 5, no. 3, July 2017, https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases5030016.

Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A, and Horwitz, Kathryn B. “Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Luminal Breast Cancer.”. Epigenomics, vol. 7, no. 5, Aug. 2015, pp. 847-62, https://doi.org/10.2217/epi.15.10.

Knox, Aaron J, et al. “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, no. 4, Aug. 2014, p. 418, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-014-0418-6.

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Hany Abdel-Hafiz, PhD

Research Interests

Publications