Suhu Liu MD PhD

Office 
(631) 216-2912 for research
(631) 216-2570 for clinic coordination

Email 
Suhu.Liu@stonybrookmedicine.edu

  Stony Brook Cancer Center – Medical Oncology
  Lauterbur Drive
  Stony Brook, NY 11794

Research Program

Lipid Signaling and Metabolism in Cancer

Department

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology

Research Interest

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a lethal disease characterized by the overproduction of leukemic blasts and the failure of normal hematopoiesis. Intensive chemotherapy has been the cornerstone of treatment, and recent years have seen the approval of several targeted therapies that significantly improve survival rates. However, allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative option for AML, and most patients eventually relapse, developing refractory disease (RR-AML) with a median overall survival of only 5.3 months. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed treatment for solid tumors, effective checkpoint pathways for AML have yet to be identified. Advances in monoclonal antibody therapies, bispecific antibodies, and CAR-T cell therapies have enhanced outcomes for patients with lymphoid and plasma cell malignancies, but similar approaches in AML are complicated by normal hematopoiesis inhibition, which is life-threatening.

My vision for improving survival in AML lies in the following two aspects: 1. Targeting Leukemic Cells: Develop therapies that either induce differentiation, promote cell death, or render AML cells more amenable to immune surveillance. 2 Modulating the Bone Marrow Microenvironment: Improve immune surveillance of leukemic cells while fostering normal hematopoiesis.

My basic research focuses on investigating the human bone marrow microenvironment and leukemia stem cells in patients with AML. By leveraging the latest MACSima Imaging Cyclic Staining (MICS) technologies, we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies to combat this devastating disease.

My clinical research focus is testing novel therapeutic drugs and combinations for patients with relapsed and refractory AML, investigating biomarkers that guide clinical decision making to reduce treatment toxicity while maintain or increase therapeutic efficacy.

Education

MD and PhD: Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Postdoctoral: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Residency, IM-General Medicine: Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital
Fellowship, IM-Hematology/Oncol: Stony Brook University Hospital

Publications

A complete list of publications can be found HERE (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/su.zhang.3/bibliography/public/