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Young Ju Kwon

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Young Ju Kwon's research lab focuses on translational biomedical research with a strong emphasis on cancer biology, fibrosis, and protein-based therapeutics. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying aggressive cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer, particularly under hypoxic conditions, and explores novel therapeutic targets like transcription factors (e.g., ELF3) and signaling pathways. It also develops innovative nanotherapeutic strategies, including hyaluronic acid-bilirubin nanoparticles for targeting activated hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis, and investigates protein stability and modification in therapeutic albumin formulations. The lab integrates molecular biology, chemical design, and nanomedicine to address unmet clinical needs in oncology and fibrotic diseases.

cancer therapeuticsfibrosistranscription factorsnanoparticlesprotein stability

Research Overview

Papers
443
Total Citations
7,092
Papers (5y)
72
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
72total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
450total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Review|243 citations·2019
Recent therapeutic trends and promising targets in triple negative breast cancer
Soo‐Yeon Hwang, Seojeong Park, Youngjoo Kwon
SJR Q1Pharmacology & TherapeuticsOA

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all types of cancer in women, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises around 15~20% of breast cancers. Conventional chemotherapy and radiation are the primary systemic therapeutic strategies; no other FDA-approved targeted therapies are yet available as for TNBC. TNBC is generally characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of proliferation and metastases. Due to these aggressive features and lack of targeted therapies, numerous attempts have bee

OncologyMedicine
2
Article|106 citations·2015
A Series of Novel Terpyridine-Skeleton Molecule Derivants Inhibit Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Targeting Topoisomerases
Han-Byeol Kwon, Chanmi Park, Kyung‐Hwa Jeon, Eun‐Young Lee, Soeun Park, Kyu-Yeon Jun, Tara Man Kadayat, Tara Man Kadayat, Radha Karki, Younghwa Na, Mi Sun Park, Seung Bae Rho
SJR Q1Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

A series of novel terpyridine-skeleton molecules containing conformational rigidity, 14 containing benzo[4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridine core and 15 comprising chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine core, were synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated. 3-(4-Phenylbenzo[4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridin-2-yl)phenol (8) was determined to be a nonintercalative topo I and II dual catalytic inhibitor and 3-(4-phenylchromeno[4,3-b]pyridine-2-yl)phenol (22) was determined to be a nonintercalative topo IIα specific cat

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|90 citations·2010
Synthesis, topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and structure–activity relationship study of hydroxylated 2,4-diphenyl-6-aryl pyridines
Radha Karki, Pritam Thapa, Mi Jeong Kang, Tae Cheon Jeong, Jung Min Nam, Hye-Lin Kim, Younghwa Na, Won‐Jea Cho, Youngjoo Kwon, Eung-Seok Lee
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|86 citations·2024
Antioxidative Hyaluronic Acid–Bilirubin Nanomedicine Targeting Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells for Anti-Hepatic-Fibrosis Therapy
Jongyoon Shinn, Seojeong Park, Seonju Lee, Nayoon Park, Seojeong Kim, Seohui Hwang, James J. Moon, Youngjoo Kwon, Yonghyun Lee
SJR Q1ACS Nano

Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening and irreversible disease. The fibrosis process is largely driven by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which undergo transdifferentiation from an inactivated state to an activated one during persistent liver damage. This activated state is responsible for collagen deposition in liver tissue and is accompanied by increased CD44 expression on the surfaces of HSCs and amplified intracellular oxidative stress, which contributes to the fibrosis process. To address thi

EpidemiologyMedicine
5
Article|86 citations·2004
Small Molecule Transcription Factor Mimic
Youngjoo Kwon, Hans‐Dieter Arndt, Qian Mao, Yongmun Choi, Yoshinori Kawazoe, Peter B. Dervan, Motonari Uesugi
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Regulation of gene expression by transcription factors touches many aspects of eukaryotic biology, and its systematic, external control by organic molecules represents a challenge in chemistry. Here we report the design of a completely organic, nonpeptidic compound that mimics a transcription factor. The design takes advantage of the specific DNA-binding affinity of a hairpin polyamide molecule and the ability of wrenchnolol to bind to the Sur-2 subunit of human mediator complex. The hybrid comp

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|77 citations·2012
Dihydroxylated 2,4,6-triphenyl pyridines: Synthesis, topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and structure–activity relationship study
Radha Karki, Pritam Thapa, Han Young Yoo, Tara Man Kadayat, Pil-Hoon Park, Youngwha Na, Eun‐Young Lee, Eun‐Young Lee, Kyung‐Hwa Jeon, Won-Jea Cho, Heesung Choi, Youngjoo Kwon
SJR Q1European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|74 citations·2006
Synthesis of new xanthone analogues and their biological activity test—Cytotoxicity, topoisomerase II inhibition, and DNA cross-linking study
Sang‐Wook Woo, Ji Young Jung, Chongsoon Lee, Youngjoo Kwon, Younghwa Na
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
8
Article|66 citations·2012
Design, synthesis, and antitumor evaluation of 2,4,6-triaryl pyridines containing chlorophenyl and phenolic moiety
Pritam Thapa, Radha Karki, Minho Yun, Tara Man Kadayat, Eun‐Young Lee, Eun‐Young Lee, Han Byeol Kwon, Younghwa Na, Won-Jea Cho, Nam Doo Kim, Byeong-Seon Jeong, Youngjoo Kwon
SJR Q1European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|66 citations·2009
2-Thienyl-4-furyl-6-aryl pyridine derivatives: Synthesis, topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and structure–activity relationship study
Pritam Thapa, Radha Karki, Uttam Thapa, Yurngdong Jahng, Mi-Ja Jung, Jung Min Nam, Younghwa Na, Youngjoo Kwon, Eung-Seok Lee
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|55 citations·2015
Topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and structure–activity relationship study of dihydroxylated 2,6-diphenyl-4-aryl pyridines
Radha Karki, Chanju Song, Tara Man Kadayat, Til Bahadur Thapa Magar, Ganesh Bist, Aarajana Shrestha, Younghwa Na, Youngjoo Kwon, Eung-Seok Lee
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|54 citations·2013
Chalcones, inhibitors for topoisomerase I and cathepsin B and L, as potential anti-cancer agents
Seok-Ho Kim, Eun‐Young Lee, Kyung Hye Baek, Han Byeol Kwon, Hyunjung Woo, Eung-Seok Lee, Youngjoo Kwon, Younghwa Na
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry LettersOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|53 citations·2011
Synthesis of 2,4-diaryl chromenopyridines and evaluation of their topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and structure–activity relationship
Uttam Thapa, Pritam Thapa, Radha Karki, Minho Yun, Jae Hun Choi, Yurngdong Jahng, Eun‐Young Lee, Eun‐Young Lee, Kyung‐Hwa Jeon, Younghwa Na, Eun-Mi Ha, Won-Jea Cho
SJR Q1European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Article|50 citations·2007
New insight for fluoroquinophenoxazine derivatives as possibly new potent topoisomerase I inhibitor
Da-hye Kang, Jung-Sook Kim, Mi-Ja Jung, Eung-Seok Lee, Yurngdong Jahng, Youngjoo Kwon, Younghwa Na
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
14
Article|50 citations·2011
Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking study of 3-(3′-heteroatom substituted-2′-hydroxy-1′-propyloxy) xanthone analogues as novel topoisomerase IIα catalytic inhibitor
Kyu-Yeon Jun, Eun Young Lee, Mi-Ja Jung, Ok-Hee Lee, Eung-Seok Lee, Hea-Young Park Choo, Younghwa Na, Youngjoo Kwon
SJR Q1European Journal of Medicinal ChemistryOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|50 citations·2006
사회적 지원의 직무스트레스 조절효과에 관한 연구: 교육공무원들의 심리적 탈진을 중심으로
권영주, 장철영

This study based on the person-environment fit theory, giving a definition of job stress. Job stress is defined as unfit between person and environment and type of unfit is classified need-supplies unfit and abilities-demand unfit. Using this concept as a basis, it is analysed that social support type moderates teachers' burnout according to job stressors. The results indicate that social supports have a buffering effects or reverse buffering effect according to interaction of job stressors and

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineNephrologyOrganic ChemistryOncologyPhysiology

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