Prof. Wong’s research focuses on elucidating the molecular carcinogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and etiology-associated HCC pathogenesis, namely chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) infection and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Her group has previously studied the cytogenetic aberrations of HCC and defined a number of vital genomic loci.




Current research focuses on:

• Whole genome and transcriptome analysis of HCC for somatic variants (SNV, Indels, SV, CNV) and HBV insertional mutagenesis, which is of high local relevance.
• Functional elucidation of somatic variants for cancer-causing effects
• Elucidation of signaling pathways in the malignant transformation of HCC from liver cirrhosis and metastasis-related events.
• Molecular characterization of HCC-associated microRNA and other ncRNA changes for modulated pathways and downstream targets.

Memberships and Honors

• Associate Editor of Journal of Pathology
• Principal Investigator, State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, CUHK
• Principal Investigator, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, CUHK
• Outstanding Fellow of the Faculty of Medicine 2013-2017
• Research Excellence Award, CUHK (2008/09; 2014/15)

Chen H, Gao F, He M, Ding XF, Wong AM, Sze S, Yu A, Sun T, Chan AW, Wang X, Wong N*. Long-read RNA sequencing identifies novel splice variants in hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor-specific isoforms. Hepatology (accepted)

Lau CC, Sun TT, Ching AK, He M, Li JW, Wong AM, Co NN, Chan AW, Li PS, Lung RW, Tong JH, Lai PB, Chan HL, To KF, Chan TF*, Wong N*. Viral-human chimeric transcript predisposes risk to liver cancer development and progression. Cancer Cell. 2014; 25:335–349.

Yu J*, Shen JY, Sun TT, Zhang X, Wong N*. Obesity, Insulin Resistance, NASH and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Seminars in Cancer Biology 2013;23:483-91

Law PT, Qin H, Ching AK, Lai KP, He M, Co NN, Lung RW, Chan AW, Chan TF*, Wong N*. Deep sequencing of small RNA transcriptome reveals novel non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol. 2013; 58:1165–1173

Cheng IK, Tsang BC, Lai KP, Ching AK, Chan AW, To KF, Lai PB, Wong N*. GEF-H1 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes cell motility via activation of RhoA signaling. J Pathol. 2012; 228:575-585

Chung KY, Cheng IK, Ching AK, Chu JH, Lai PB, Wong N*. Block of Proliferation 1 (BOP1) plays an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Hepatology 2011;54:307-18

Leung WK, Ching AK, Chan AW, Poon TC, He M, Wong AS, To KF, Wong N*. A novel interplay between oncogenic PFTK1 protein kinase and tumor suppressor TAGLN2 in the control of liver cancer cell motility. Oncogene 2011; 30:4464-75

Wong QW, Ching AK, Chan AW, Choy KW, To KF, Lai PB, Wong N*. MiR-222 overexpression confers cell migratory advantages in hepatocellular carcinoma through enhancing AKT signaling. Clin Cancer Res. 2010; 16:867-75

Wong QW, Lung RW, Law PT, Lai PB, Chan KY, To KF, Wong N*. MicroRNA-223 is Commonly Repressed in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Potentiates Expression of Stathmin1. Gastroenterology 2008, 135:257-69

Gho J, Ip WK, Chan KY, Lai PB, To KF, Wong N*. Re-expression of Transcription Factor ATF5 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma induces G2/M Arrest. Cancer Research 2008, 68:6743-6751

Pang EY, Bai AH, To KF, Sy SM, Wong NL, Lai PB, Squire JA, Wong N*. Identification of PFTAIRE protein kinase 1, a novel cell division cycle-2 related gene, in the motile phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Hepatology 2007;46:436-45

Poon TC*, Wong N, Lai PB, Rattray M, Johnson PJ, Sung JJ. A Tumor Progression Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma – Bioinformatic Analysis of Genomic Data. Gastroenterology 2006, 131:1262-1270

Wong N*, Chan KY, Macgregor PF, Lai PB, Squire JA, Beheshti B, Albert M, Leung TW. Transcriptional Profiling Identifies Gene Expression Changes Associated with a -Interferon Resistance in Hepatitis C-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:1319-26

Wong N*, Chan A, Lee SW, Lam E, To KF, Lai P, Li XN, Liew CT, Johnson PJ. Positional Mapping for Amplified DNA Sequences on 1q21-q22 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Indicates Candidate Genes Over-expression. J Hepatol. 2003; 38:298-306

Wong N*, Li L, Tsang K, Lai P, To KF, Johnson P.J. Frequent loss of chromosome 3p and hypermethylation of RASSF1A in Cholangiocarcinoma. J Hepatol. 2002; 37:633-639

Wong N*, Lai P, Pang E, Leung TW, Lau JW, Johnson PJ. A Comprehensive Karyotypic Study on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Spectral Karyotyping. Hepatology 2000, 32:1060-1068