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Sun‐Young Lee

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Sun-Young Lee's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, angiogenesis, and tumor microenvironment regulation. Key research directions include the extracellular regulation of growth factors such as VEGF by metalloproteinases, the role of cancer-associated genes like FAM83A in therapy resistance, and the biomechanical interactions between vascular cells and their microenvironment. The lab integrates advanced imaging techniques, including atomic force microscopy and functionalized force imaging, to study receptor-ligand dynamics and cellular mechanics at the nanoscale.

angiogenesistumor microenvironmentcancer resistancemechanobiologyreceptor kinetics

Research Overview

Papers
282
Total Citations
6,824
Papers (5y)
101
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
101total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
500total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|1,042 citations·2007
Autocrine VEGF Signaling Is Required for Vascular Homeostasis
Sunyoung Lee, Tom T. Chen, Chad L. Barber, Maria C. Jordan, J. Murdock, Sharina Palencia Desai, Napoleone Ferrara, András Nagy, Kenneth P. Roos, M. Luisa Iruela‐Arispe
SJR Q1CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|699 citations·2005
Processing of VEGF-A by matrix metalloproteinases regulates bioavailability and vascular patterning in tumors
Sunyoung Lee, Shahla M. Jilani, Ganka Nikolova, Darren R. Carpizo, M. Luisa Iruela‐Arispe
SJR Q1The Journal of Cell BiologyOA

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical mediator of blood vessel formation during development and in pathological conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that VEGF bioavailability is regulated extracellularly by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) through intramolecular processing. Specifically, we show that a subset of MMPs can cleave matrix-bound isoforms of VEGF, releasing soluble fragments. We have mapped the region of MMP processing, have generated recombinant forms that mimi

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|432 citations·2017
Preoperative gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI for predicting microvascular invasion in patients with single hepatocellular carcinoma
Sunyoung Lee, Seong Hyun Kim, Ji Eun Lee, Dong Hyun Sinn, Cheol Keun Park
SJR Q1Journal of Hepatology
HepatologyMedicine
4
Article|358 citations·2019
Effect of Microvascular Invasion Risk on Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Surgery and Radiofrequency Ablation
Sunyoung Lee, Tae Wook Kang, Kyoung Doo Song, Min Woo Lee, Hyunchul Rhim, Hyo Keun Lim, So Yeon Kim, Dong Hyun Sinn, Jong Man Kim, Kyunga Kim, Sang Yun Ha
SJR Q1Annals of SurgeryOA

OBJECTIVE: We compared surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as first-line treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the risk of microvascular invasion (MVI). BACKGROUND: The best curative treatment modality between SR and RFA in patients with HCC with MVI remains unclear. METHODS: Data from 2 academic cancer center-based cohorts of patients with a single, small (≤3 cm) HCC who underwent SR were used to derive (n = 276) and validate (n = 101) predicti

HepatologyMedicine
5
Article|170 citations·2012
FAM83A confers EGFR-TKI resistance in breast cancer cells and in mice
Sunyoung Lee, Roland Meier, Saori Furuta, Marc E. Lenburg, Paraic A. Kenny, Ren Xu, Mina J. Bissell
SJR Q1Journal of Clinical Investigation

Breast cancers commonly become resistant to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs); however, the mechanisms of this resistance remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that resistance may originate, at least in part, from molecular alterations that activate signaling downstream of EGFR. Using a screen to measure reversion of malignant cells into phenotypically nonmalignant cells in 3D gels, we identified FAM83A as a candidate cancer-associated gene capable of conferring resistance to EGFR-TK

OncologyMedicine
6
Article|149 citations·2018
Radiofrequency ablation vs. surgery for perivascular hepatocellular carcinoma: Propensity score analyses of long-term outcomes
Sunyoung Lee, Tae Wook Kang, Dong Ik, Kyoung Doo Song, Min Woo Lee, Hyunchul Rhim, Hyo Keun Lim, Dong Hyun Sinn, Jong Man Kim, Kyunga Kim
SJR Q1Journal of HepatologyOA
HepatologyMedicine
7
Article|99 citations·2007
Chemomechanical mapping of ligand–receptor binding kinetics on cells
Sunyoung Lee, Jelena Mandić, Krystyn J. Van Vliet
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

The binding kinetics between cell surface receptors and extracellular biomolecules is critical to all intracellular and intercellular activity. Modeling and prediction of receptor-mediated cell functions are facilitated by measurement of the binding properties on whole cells, ideally indicating the subcellular locations or cytoskeletal associations that may affect the function of bound receptors. This dual need is particularly acute vis à vis ligand engineering and clinical applications of antib

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsPhysics and Astronomy
8
Review|75 citations·2020
CT and MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2018 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Sunyoung Lee, Yeun‐Yoon Kim, Jaeseung Shin, Shin Hwang, Yun Ho Roh, Yong Eun Chung, Jin‐Young Choi
SJR Q1Journal of the American College of RadiologyOA
HepatologyMedicine
9
Article|70 citations·2010
Pericyte actomyosin-mediated contraction at the cell–material interface can modulate the microvascular niche
Sunyoung Lee, Adam S. Zeiger, John M. Maloney, Maciej Kotecki, Krystyn J. Van Vliet, Ira M. Herman
SJR Q2Journal of Physics Condensed MatterOA

Pericytes physically surround the capillary endothelium, contacting and communicating with associated vascular endothelial cells via cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. Pericyte-endothelial cell interactions thus have the potential to modulate growth and function of the microvasculature. Here we employ the experimental finding that pericytes can buckle a freestanding, underlying membrane via actin-mediated contraction. Pericytes were cultured on deformable silicone substrata, and pericyte-genera

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|66 citations·2018
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Rim Enhancement at MR Imaging Predicts Prognosis after Curative Resection
Sunyoung Lee, Seong Hyun Kim, Hyung Kyu Park, Kee Taek Jang, Jeong Ah Hwang, Seonwoo Kim
SJR Q1RadiologyOA

Purpose To identify features at preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that could predict favorable prognosis after curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and Methods From January 2009 to December 2014, this retrospective study included 143 patients with surgically resected (ie, R0) PDAC who underwent preoperative MR imaging within 1 month before surgery. Clinical-pathologic and MR imaging findings for predicting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall sur

OncologyMedicine
11
Article|62 citations·2018
Pre-operative ADC predicts early recurrence of HCC after curative resection
Sunyoung Lee, Seong Hyun Kim, Jeong Ah Hwang, Ji Eun Lee, Sang Yun Ha
SJR Q1European RadiologyOA
HepatologyMedicine
12
Review|55 citations·2023
Percentages of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in LI-RADS Categories with CT and MRI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Sunyoung Lee, Yeun‐Yoon Kim, Jaeseung Shin, Won Jeong Son, Yun Ho Roh, Jin‐Young Choi, Claude B. Sirlin, Victoria Chernyak
SJR Q1RadiologyOA

Background The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) CT and MRI algorithm applies equally to CT, MRI with extracellular contrast agents (ECA-MRI), and MRI with gadoxetate (Gx-MRI). Purpose To estimate pooled percentages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and overall malignancy for each LI-RADS category with CT and MRI. Materials and Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for research articles (January 2014–April 2021) reporting the percentages of observations in each LI-RA

HepatologyMedicine
13
Article|52 citations·2020
Comparison of LI-RADS 2018 and KLCA-NCC 2018 for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma using magnetic resonance imaging
Sunyoung Lee, Seung‐seob Kim, Dong Ryul Chang, Hyerim Kim, Myeong‐Jin Kim
SJR Q1Clinical and Molecular HepatologyOA

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) 2018 and Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) 2018 criteria on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 273 treatment-naïve patients (71 patients with extracellular contrast agent [ECA]-MRI and 202 patients with hepatobilia

HepatologyMedicine
14
Article|52 citations·2019
Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI as a predictor of recurrence of HCC after liver transplantation
Sunyoung Lee, Kyoung Won Kim, Woo Kyoung Jeong, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Gi Hong Choi, Jin Sub Choi, Gi‐Won Song, Sung‐Gyu Lee
SJR Q1European RadiologyOA
EpidemiologyMedicine
15
Review|48 citations·2020
Diagnostic Performance of CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System v2017 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Sunyoung Lee, Seung‐seob Kim, Yun Ho Roh, Jin‐Young Choi, Mi‐Suk Park, Myeong‐Jin Kim
SJR Q1Liver InternationalOA

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is a comprehensive system for standardizing liver imaging in patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed a meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic performance of the LR-5 category for HCC and the pooled proportions of HCCs in each LI-RADS category using CT/MRI LI-RADS v2017. METHODS: We searched multiple databases for original studies reporting on the diagnostic accuracy of CT/MRI LI-RADS v2017.

HepatologyMedicine

Research Areas

SurgeryHepatologyOncologyEpidemiologyMolecular BiologyGenetics

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