Hong Zheng, MD, PhD - Penn State Cancer Institute
Researcher Profile

Hong Zheng, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Division of Hematology and Oncology
Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Division of Hematology and Oncology
Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Scientific Program:Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
Disease Teams:
Cancer Institute, Bone Marrow Transplantation Team
Cancer Institute, Immunotherapy Team
Cancer Institute, Leukemia and Lymphoma Team
Cancer Institute, Immunotherapy Team
Cancer Institute, Leukemia and Lymphoma Team
Research Interests
Dr. Hong Zheng's research focus is transplant immunology and developmental therapeutics for leukemia. Her study is dedicated to improve the understanding of the complex immune response involved in leukemia pathogenesis and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and subsequently develop effective leukemia therapeutics.
Currently, she is involved in developing early-phase clinical studies testing the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy for leukemia. Her laboratory studies involve targeting T-cell inhibitory mechanisms as a strategy to improve anti-leukemia immunity.
- T-Lymphocytes
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Therapeutics
- Leukemia
- Transplants
- Neoplasms
- Allogeneic Cells
- Heat-Shock Proteins
- Dendritic Cells
- Graft vs Host Disease
- Recurrence
- Immunoglobulin Domains
Clinical Trials
Difference in care and trends in outcomes of adolescent and young adult AML patients treated in pediatric and adult centers
A Phase 2, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate Safety of Epcoritamab Monotherapy in Subjects with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Classic Follicular Lymphoma (Previously Grade 1-3a) when Administered in the Outpatient Setting
A Single-Arm, Open-Label Pharmacokinetic, Safety, and Efficacy Study of ASTX727 in Combination with Venetoclax in Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Blood and Bone Marrow Collection from Patients with Hematological Malignancies for Study of Anti-Tumor Immunity
Protocol for a Research Sample Repository for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
T-Cell Exhaustion in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
A Multicenter Access and Distribution Protocol for Unlicensed Cryopreserved Cord Blood Units (CBUs) for Transplantation in Pediatric and Adult Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Other Indications
Assessment of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Medicare Beneficiaries with Multiple Myeloma: A Study to Develop Evidence of Effectiveness for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Recent Publications
2023
Zhou, H, Jia, B, Annageldiyev, C, Minagawa, K, Zhao, C, Mineishi, S, Ehmann, WC, Naik, SG, Cioccio, J, Wirk, B, Songdej, N, Rakszawski, KL, Nickolich, MS, Shen, J & Zheng, H 2023, 'CD26lowPD-1+ CD8 T cells are terminally exhausted and associated with leukemia progression in acute myeloid leukemia', Frontiers in immunology, vol. 14, 1169144. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1169144
Potiaumpai, M, Schmitz, KH, Mineishi, S, Naik, S, Wirk, B, Rakszawski, K, Ehmann, WC, Claxton, D, Nickolich, M, Zemel, BS & Zheng, H 2023, 'IMPROVE-BMT: A protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of prehabilitation exercise for adult haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients', BMJ open, vol. 13, no. 1, e066841. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066841
2022
Cioccio, J, Rakszawski, K, Zheng, H, Nickolich, M, Naik, S, Wirk, B, Rybka, W, Ehmann, C, Silar, B, Vajdic, C, Shah, N, Tuanquin, L, Greiner, R, Brown, V, Hohl, R, Claxton, D, Mineishi, S, Minagawa, K & Shike, H 2023, 'Donor HLA mismatch promotes full donor T-cell chimerism in the allogeneic stem cell transplant with reduced-intensity conditioning and post-transplant cyclophosphamide GVHD prophylaxis', Annals of Hematology, vol. 102, no. 3, pp. 613-620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-022-05077-2
Shah, N, Cioccio, J, Rakszawski, K, Zheng, H, Nickolich, M, Naik, S, Wirk, B, Rybka, W, Ehmann, C, Silar, B, Vajdic, C, Mierski, J, Zhou, S, Shike, H, Greiner, R, Brown, V, Hohl, R, Claxton, D, Mineishi, S, Minagawa, K & Tuanquin, L 2022, 'Low-dose total body irradiation promotes T-cells donor chimerism in reduced-intensity/non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant with post-transplant cyclophosphamide', Leukemia Research, vol. 123, 106969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106969
Pizzola, CJ, Cioccio, J, Rakszawski, KL, Nickolich, M, Ehmann, WC, Rybka, WB, Wirk, B, Naik, S, Zheng, H, Silar, B, Shike, H, Zhou, S, Mineishi, S, Minagawa, K & Claxton, DF 2022, 'Non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant with fludarabine and reduced dose cyclophosphamide in acute myeloid leukemia for older adults with comorbidities', Bone Marrow Transplantation, vol. 57, no. 11, pp. 1743-1745. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01821-4
Zhao, C, Bartock, M, Jia, B, Shah, N, Claxton, DF, Wirk, B, Rakszawski, KL, Nickolich, MS, Naik, SG, Rybka, WB, Ehmann, WCC, Hohl, RJ, Valentin, J, Bernas-Peterson, M, Gerber, EM, Zimmerman, M, Mierski, JA, Mineishi, S & Zheng, H 2022, 'Post-transplant cyclophosphamide alters immune signatures and leads to impaired T cell reconstitution in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant', Journal of Hematology and Oncology, vol. 15, no. 1, 64. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-022-01287-3
Xu, J, Song, F, Lyu, H, Kobayashi, M, Zhang, B, Zhao, Z, Hou, Y, Wang, X, Luan, Y, Jia, B, Stasiak, L, Wong, JHY, Wang, Q, Jin, Q, Jin, Q, Fu, Y, Yang, H, Hardison, RC, Dovat, S, Platanias, LC, Diao, Y, Yang, Y, Yamada, T, Viny, AD, Levine, RL, Claxton, D, Broach, JR, Zheng, H & Yue, F 2022, 'Subtype-specific 3D genome alteration in acute myeloid leukaemia', Nature, vol. 611, no. 7935, pp. 387-398. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05365-x
2021
Jia, B, Zhao, C, Bayerl, M, Shike, H, Claxton, DF, Ehmann, WC, Mineishi, S, Schell, TD, Zheng, P, Zhang, Y, Shultz, LD, Prabhu, KS, Paulson, RF & Zheng, H 2022, 'A novel clinically relevant graft-versus-leukemia model in humanized mice', Journal of Leukocyte Biology, vol. 111, no. 2, pp. 427-437. https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.5AB0820-542RR
Joshi, M, Holder, SL, Zhu, J, Zheng, H, Komanduri, S, Warrick, J, Yasin, H, Gajre, R, Jia, B, Drabick, JJ, DeGraff, DJ & Zakharia, Y 2022, 'Avelumab in Combination with Eribulin Mesylate in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: BTCRC GU-051, a Phase 1b Study', European Urology Focus, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 483-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2021.03.005
Xi, Y, Jingying, D, Chenglong, L, Hong, Z, Rong, Z, Xiaodong, W, Chunsen, W & Xiaobing, H 2021, 'Epigenetic Therapy Promotes the Ratio of Th1/Th17 Lineage to Reverse Immune Evasion and Treat Leukemia Relapse Post-allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Non-APL AML Patients', Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, vol. 7, 595395. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2020.595395
Tian, Y, Meng, L, Wang, Y, Li, B, Yu, H, Zhou, Y, Bui, T, Abraham, C, Li, A, Zhang, Y, Wang, J, Zhao, C, Mineishi, S, Gallucci, S, Porter, D, Hexner, E, Zheng, H, Zhang, Y, Hu, S & Zhang, Y 2021, 'Graft-versus-host disease depletes plasmacytoid dendritic cell progenitors to impair tolerance induction', Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 131, no. 1, e136774. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI136774
Shah, N, Rakszawski, K, Nickolich, M, Ehmann, C, Wirk, B, Naik, S, Rybka, W, Zheng, H, Mierski, J, Silar, B, Mackey, G, Greiner, R, Brown, V, Claxton, D, Mineishi, S & Minagawa, K 2021, 'Improved outcome in AML relapse after allogeneic transplant with high-intensity chemotherapy followed by 2nd allogeneic stem cell transplant or donor lymphocyte infusion', Annals of Hematology, vol. 100, no. 10, pp. 2585-2592. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-021-04616-7
Hou, JZ, Ye, JC, Pu, JJ, Liu, H, Ding, W, Zheng, H & Liu, D 2021, 'Novel agents and regimens for hematological malignancies: recent updates from 2020 ASH annual meeting', Journal of Hematology and Oncology, vol. 14, no. 1, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-021-01077-3
Zhao, C, Zhang, Y & Zheng, H 2021, 'The Effects of Interferons on Allogeneic T Cell Response in GVHD: The Multifaced Biology and Epigenetic Regulations', Frontiers in immunology, vol. 12, 717540. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.717540
Gvozdjan, K, Casey, H, Mowery, C, Kumer, L, Fisher, C, Tyler, J, Bayerl, MG, Malysz, J, Naik, S, Rybka, W, Ehmann, C, Claxton, D, Mineishi, S, Baker, M, Hong, Z & Shike, H 2021, 'Unexpected Short-Tandem-Repeat Patterns in Post-Transplant Chimerism Testing: Investigation of 3 Cases with Help from Forensic Science', Laboratory Medicine, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 635-641. https://doi.org/10.1093/LABMED/LMAA022
2020
Zheng, H, Mineishi, S, Claxton, D, Zhu, J, Zhao, C, Jia, B, Ehmann, WC, Rybka, WB, Naik, S, Songdej, N, Drabick, JJ & Hohl, RJ 2021, 'A phase I clinical trial of avelumab in combination with decitabine as first line treatment of unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia', American Journal of Hematology, vol. 96, no. 2, pp. E46-E50. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.26043
Wang, D, Du, J, Song, Y, Wang, B, Song, R, Hao, Y, Zeng, Y, Xiao, J, Zheng, H, Zeng, H, Zhao, H & Kong, Y 2020, 'CD70 contributes to age-associated T cell defects and overwhelming inflammatory responses', Aging, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. 12032-12050. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103368
Annageldiyev, C, Tan, SF, Thakur, S, Dhanyamraju, PK, Ramisetti, SR, Bhadauria, P, Schick, J, Zeng, Z, Sharma, V, Dunton, W, Dovat, S, Desai, D, Zheng, H, Feith, DJ, Loughran, TP, Amin, S, Sharma, AK, Claxton, D & Sharma, A 2020, 'The PI3K/AKT Pathway Inhibitor ISC-4 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Growth of Leukemia in Preclinical Models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia', Frontiers in Oncology, vol. 10, 393. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.00393
2019
Rice, SJ, Liu, X, Zhang, J, Jia, B, Zheng, H & Belani, CP 2019, 'Advanced NSCLC patients with high IL-6 levels have altered peripheral T cell population and signaling', Lung Cancer, vol. 131, pp. 58-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.03.014
Kong, Y, Jia, B, Zhao, C, Claxton, DF, Sharma, A, Annageldiyev, C, Fotos, JS, Zeng, H, Paulson, RF, Prabhu, KS & Zheng, H 2019, 'Downregulation of CD73 associates with T cell exhaustion in AML patients', Journal of Hematology and Oncology, vol. 12, no. 1, 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-019-0728-3
Jia, B, Zhao, C, Rakszawski, KL, Claxton, DF, Christopher Ehmann, W, Rybka, WB, Mineishi, S, Wang, M, Shike, H, Bayerl, MG, Sivik, JM, Schell, TD, Drabick, JJ, Hohl, RJ & Zheng, H 2019, 'Eomes+T-betlow CD8+ T cells are functionally impaired and are associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with acute myeloid leukemia', Cancer Research, vol. 79, no. 7, pp. 1635-1645. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-3107
Zhao, C, Jia, B, Wang, M, Schell, TD, Claxton, DF, Ehmann, WC, Rybka, WB, Mineishi, S, Naik, S, Songdej, N, Sivik, JM, Hohl, RJ, Zeng, H & Zheng, H 2020, 'Multi-dimensional analysis identifies an immune signature predicting response to decitabine treatment in elderly patients with AML', British Journal of Haematology, vol. 188, no. 5, pp. 674-684. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.16228
Kong, Y, Tian, Y, Hao, Y, Chong, X, Xiao, J, Yang, D, Song, C, Han, J, Dai, G, Zhang, F, Zheng, H, Zhao, H & Zeng, H 2019, 'Two types of poor immunological responder showing distinct responses to long-term HAART', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 86, pp. 178-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2019.07.037