From translational research to basic biology: Modeling cancer responses to therapy

Hugues de Thé Professor

Collège de France, Paris, France

Professor Hugues de Thé is a Professor of Molecular Oncology at the Collège de France and a physician at Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris. A member of the French Academy of Sciences and an EMBO member, he is renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and developing transformative therapies.

His pioneering work on the PML/RARA oncoprotein—the driver of APL—revealed how retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) induce its degradation, leading to a cure rate exceeding 90% in APL patients. His research further uncovered the role of PML nuclear bodies in leukemia suppression and therapeutic response. He has maintained long-standing collaboration with Professor Zhu Chen’s group at the Shanghai Institute of Hematology, jointly advancing translational research in leukemia therapy. Currently, his lab investigates PML’s role in other leukemias and the broader mechanisms of anticancer drug responses, supported by the European Research Council (ERC), Institut National du Cancer, and Fondation ARC.

A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Ernest Beutler Prize (ASH, 2016), Sjöberg Prize (2018), and China’s International Science & Technology Cooperation Award (2011), Prof. de Thé has also been honored with France’s Legion of Honour and the José Carreras Award (EHA, 2015). His work exemplifies the power of translational research in revolutionizing cancer treatment.

This forum is co-organized by the Basic Medical College and the Sino-French Joint Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Scholars and experts are warmly invited to participate and engage in cutting-edge academic exchanges.

Host: Prof. Yingli Wu, Department of Pathophysiology

Dr. Yin Zhang, Sino-French Joint Medical College

Time: 2025-9-9 (Tuesday) 10:00-11:30

Venu: Conference room, Building #33, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital