Research Impact:
Professor Ts Dr Cheah Shiau Chuen
Professor of Biochemistry
Dean | Medicine (Pre Clinical)
Academic Qualifications
PhD Biochemistry
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
Areas of Interest
Cancer Biology
Tumor Microenvironment
Angiogenesis
Natural product and drug discovery
Drug screening and Bioassays
Professional Bodies
- Member of European Association of Cancer Research (EACR)
- Member of American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
- Member of Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB)
- Member of Malaysian Society of Natural Products (MSNP)
Research
Resaerch Area
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most aggressive head and neck cancer and frequently metastasize to distant lymph nodes and organs. It is a type of malignancy that have a remarkable ethnic and geographical distribution. it is one of the major public health problems in some countries, especially Southern China and Southeast Asia countries. NPC is the fifth most common cancer in Malaysia (MNCR 2012-2016). The incidence rate of this cancer in Malaysia is amongst the highest in the world, especially in certain ethnic groups in Malaysia (Bidayuh, Chinese, other indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak). However, owing to its very low prevalence in western countries, it has often been considered as an ‘orphan disease’.
A significant percentage of NPC patients will develop distant metastases. NPC and its complex tumour microenvironment are essential for various aspects of macroscopic tumour growth, maintenance, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Since early NPC is relatively asymptomatic, over 80% of the patients with NPC present with locally advanced disease or distant metastasis at diagnosis. When metastases are diagnosed, the prognosis is poor with a median survival less than 4 months. Metastasis accounts for approximately 90% of overall mortality among solid tumour patients. Hence, understanding the fundamental mechanism of NPC metastasis and tumour microenvironment is imperative for developing a reliable model to predict metastasis in NPC. - Tumour microenvironment is a complex niche consisting of tumour, tumour-associated cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, leukocytes, cancer stem cells that influences tumour initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Microenvironment serves as a target-rich niche for the discovery of potential promising predictive or diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies.
With a better understanding in the cancer biology including the cancer stem cell and tumour microenvironment and incorporation of data science with big data analytics and digital technologies (IR 4), it will able to lead into precision medicine in cancer finding new target therapy and able to help in predictive, preventive and personalised.
Research Grants
- Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
Project title: Identifying The Signature Biomarker(s) of Early Metastasis Event In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroid
Code: FRGS/1/2020/SKK0/五一吃瓜官网/02/2
Duration: 3 years
Role: Principal Inventigator
Amount: RM 244,800
Status: On-going - Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
Project title: Investigating the synergistic potential between a G12V/A mutated KRAS vaccine in combination with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor against colorectal cancer
Code: FRGS/1/2021/STG01/五一吃瓜官网/02/1
Duration: 3 years
Role: Member
Amount: RM 194,100
Status: On-going - Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
Project title: Investigating the Potential of Surface Modified Cyclodextrin Based Gold Nanoparticles for Cytotoxic Drugs to Enhance the Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines
Code: FRGS/1/2021/SKK0/五一吃瓜官网/02/5
Duration: 2 years
Role: Member
Amount: RM 88,005
Status: On-going - Name of grant: REIG
Funder: 五一吃瓜官网 University
Project title: Invasion of Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroids from Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Code: REIG-FMS-2020/009
Duration: 3 years
Role: Principal Inventigator
Amount: RM 49,500
Status: On-going
Current Research Project
- Notch and Wnt Specific Inhibitors of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC)
- NPC Tumour Microenvironment
- Identifying The Signature Biomarker(s) of Early Metastasis Event In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroid
- Investigating the synergistic potential between a G12V/A mutated KRAS vaccine in combination with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor against colorectal cancer
- Investigating the Potential of Surface Modified Cyclodextrin Based Gold Nanoparticles for Cytotoxic Drugs to Enhance the Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines
- Invasion of Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroids from Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Publications
Year 2022
- Wang, J.K., Cheah, S.C., Sabaratnam, V., Phan, C.W. (2022). Standardized aqueous extract of giant oyster mushroom, Pleurotus giganteus inhibits amyloid beta-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Section B: Biological Sciences (Scopus)
Year 2021
- Win Sen Heng, Shiau-Chuen Cheah. (2021) : Differential Targeting Population from Member of Isothiocyanates.
- Win Sen Heng, Milind Pore, Coby Meijer, T. Jeroen N. Hiltermann, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Reinoud Gosens, Frank A.E. Kruyt. (2021) .
- Yi Na Tee, Palanirajan Vijayaraj Kumar*, Marwan Abdelmahmoud Abdelkarim Maki, Manogaran Elumalai, Shiek Abdul Kadhar Mohamed Ebrahim Habibur Rahman, Shiau-Chuen Cheah. (2021) : In-vitro Characterization and FHs 74 Int Cell Proliferation Studies
- Siak, P.Y., Khoo, S.B., Leong, C.H., Hoh, B.P. and Cheah, S.C. (2021) Cancers, 13(14): 3490. (Q1; IF 6.636)
- Heng, W.S., Frank A. E. Kruyt, Cheah S.C. (2021) International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(11): 5697. (Q1; IF 5.923)
Year 2020
- Heng, W.S. and Cheah, S.C. (2020). Molecules, 25(1): 224. (Q2; IF 4.411)
- Abdul Salam, D.S.D., Thit, E.E., Teoh, S.H., Tan, S.Y., Peh, S.C., Cheah, S.C. (2020). Journal of Cancer, 11(1):190-198. (IF 4.207)
- Abdul Salam, D.S.D., Teoh, S.H., Peh, S.C., Cheah, S.C. (2020). Retrospective lymphoma study from Malaysia private hospital. International Journal of Cancer and Clinical Research, 7:140.
- Chia, K.W., Tan, C.K., Lee, S.K., Cheah, S.C. (2020). Clinical and Experimental Investigations (CEI), 1(3): 6-10.
- Marwan, M.A.A., Cheah, S.C., Mayasah, A. Omer, B., Kumar, P.V. (2020) Scientific Reports, 10(1): 17468. (IF 4.379)
Year 2018
- ?Chia-Wei Phan, Joon-Keong Wang, Elson Yi-Yong Tan, Yee-Shin Tan, Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan, Shiau-Chuen Cheah & Sabaratnam Vikineswary. (2018) . Food Reviews International
- Lee Siew? Keah, Margaret Flori Vasthian Patrick, Chia Kam Weng, Lee Chew Kek, Lee Bang Rom, Lim Chai Leng, Tan Geok Puan, Cheah Shiau Chuen, Tan Chung Keat. (2018).
- Palanirajan Vijayaraj Kumar, Marwan Abdelmahmoud Abdelkarim Maki, Yeong Siew Wei, Lee Ming Tatt, Manogaran Elumala. (2018) . Curr Clin Pharmacol.
Year 2017
- Phan Chia Wei, Wang Joon Keong, Murali Naidu, Cheah Shiau Chuen, Pamela David, Vikineswary Sabaratnam (2017) . Critical Reviews in Biotechnology
- Shayma A. Shaker, Hamid Khaledi, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Hapipah Mohd Ali. (2017). Arabian Journal of Chemistry. (2017) .
Year 2013
- Syam Mohan, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Mohd Aspollah Sukari, Suvitha Syam, Mohd. Rais Mustafa and Noorasyikin Shamsuddin. 2013. . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM). (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.77).
- Masoumeh Hosseinzadeh, A. Hamid A. Hadi, Jamaludin Mohamad, Mohammad A. Khalilzadeh, Shiau-Chuen Cheah & Mehran Fadaeinasab. 2013. Flavonoids and Linderone from Lindera oxyphylla and their Bioactivities. Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening. 16(2): 160-166. (ISICited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor 1.903)
- Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Siew-Li Lai, Sui-Ting Lee, and Mohd. Rais Mustafa. 2013. Panduratin A, a Possible Inhibitor in Metastasize A549 Cells Through Inhibition of NF-Kappa B Translocation and Chemoinvasion. Molecules 18(8), 8764-8778 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.428)
- Soon Huat Tiong, Chung Yeng Looi, Hazrina Hazni, Aditya Arya, Mohammadjavad Paydar, Won Fen Wong, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Khalijah Awang. 2013. Antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus. Molecules 18(8): 9770-9784 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.428)
- Putri Narrima Mohd Fauzi, Cheah Shiau-Chuen, David Ross Appleton, Wong Pooi Fong, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Mustafa Ali Mohd and A. Hamid A. Hadi. 2013. An Investigation on Bioactive Constituents from Persea declinata (bl.) Kosterm. The Open Conference Proceedings Journal. Pp 38-42
Year 2012
- Nor Hadiani Ismail, Ahmad Nazif Aziza, Norizan Ahmata, Cheah Shiau-Chuen and Khalijah Awang. 2012. Chemical Constituents from Cytotoxic Extract of Croton laevifolius. Current Medicinal Chem. P.g 153 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1, Impact Factor: 4.859).
- Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Loiy Elsir Ahmed Hassan, Amin MS Abdul Majid, Sakina M. Ahmed Yagi, Syam Mohan, Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha, Syahida Ahmad, Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Putri Narrima, Mohd Mustafa Rais, Suvitha Syam, Bushra Abdulkarim Moharam and A. Hamid A. Hadi. 2012. Cucurbitacin L 2-O- glucoside demonstrates apoptogenesis in colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29): involvement of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species regulation. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM). Volume 2012, Article ID 49013, doi:10.1155/2012/490136 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.77).
- Aditya Arya, Mouna Achoui, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Putri Narrima, Syam Mohan, Mohd Rais Mustafa and Mustafa Ali Mohd. 2012. Fraction of Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Seed Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Exhibits Pleotropic Bioactivities: Inhibitory Role in Human Tumor Cells. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM), vol. 2012, Article ID 627256, (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.77).
- Siew-Li Lai, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Pooi-Fong Wong, Suzita Binti Mohd Noor and Mohd Rais Mustafa. 2012. In vitro and In vivo Anti-angiogenic Actvities of Panduratin A. PlosOne http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038103 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.40)
- Aditya Arya, Chung Yeng Looi, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Mohd Rais Mustafa and Mustafa Ali Mohd. 2012. Anti-diabetic effects of Centratherum anthelminticum seeds methanolic fraction on pancreatic cells, β-TC6 and its alleviating role in type 2 diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. http://0- www.sciencedirect.com.precise.petronas.com.my/science/article /pii/S0378874112005399 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 3.728)
- Syam Mohan, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Behnam Kamalidehghan, Suvitha Syam, Koh Sue May, Nabil Saad Mohammed Harmal, Noor Shafifiyaz, A. Hamid A. Hadi, Najihah Mohd Hashim, Mawardi Rahmani, Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Asdren Zajmi. 2012. Involvement of NF-kB and Bcl2/Bax signaling pathways in the apoptosis of MCF7 cells induced by a xanthone compound Pyranocycloartobiloxanthone A. Phytomedicine http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711312 001900 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 3.268)
- Aditya Arya, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Chung-Yeng Looi, Hairin Taha, Mohd. Rais Mustafa and Mustafa Ali Mohd. 2012. The methanolic fraction of Centratherum anthelminticum seed down regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia in STZ-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.012 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 3.078).
- Abbas Mollataghi, A.hamid A.hadi & Shiau-Chuen, Cheah. 2012. (-)-Kunstleramide, a New Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Dienamide from the bark of Beilschmiedia kunstleri Gamble. Molecules 17(4), 4197-4208 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.386)
- Kong Wai Tan, Hoi Ling Seng, Fei Shen Lim, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Chew Hee Ng, Mohd. Rais Mustafa, Seik Weng Ng, Mohd. Jamil Maah. 2012. Towards a selective cytotoxic agent for prostate cancer: Interaction of zinc complexes of polyhydroxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazones with Topoisomerase I. Polyhedron http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277538712 001404 (ISI-cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.118)
- Shayma A. Shaker, Hamid Khaledi, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Hapipah Mohd Ali. 2012. New Mn(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) complexes with 2-methylbenzimidazole and other ligands, synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility and biological activity studies. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2012.06.013 (ISI Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 1.367)
- Isa NM, Abdelwahab SI, Mohan S, Abdul AB, Sukari MA, Taha MM, Syam S, Narrima P, Cheah SC, Ahmad S, Mustafa MR. 2012. In vitro anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of boesenbergin A, a chalcone isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) (fingerroot). Braz J Med Biol Res. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2012007500022 (ISICited Publication, Tier 3; Impact Factor: 1.129).
- Mariod, A.A., Abdelwahab, S.I., Elkheir, S., Ahmed, Y. M., Fauzi, P. N. M., Cheah S.C. 2012. Antioxidant Activity Of Different Parts From Annona Squamosa, And Catunaregam Nilotica Methanolic Extract. ACTA Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria. 11(3) 2012, 249-257 (Scopus-cited publication)
Year 2011
- Sui-Ting Lee; Pooi-Fong Wong; Shiau-Chuen Cheah; Mohd Rais Mustafa. 2011. Alpha-Tomatine Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Activation on Human Prostatic Adenocarcinoma PC-3 Cell. PLoS ONE 6(4): e18195 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.40).
- Shiau-Chuen Cheah, David R. Appleton, Sui-Ting Lee, May-Lynn Lam, A. Hamid A. Hadi & Mohd. Rais Mustafa. 2011. Panduratin A Inhibits the Growth of A549 Cells through Induction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of NF-KappaB Translocation. Molecules 16, 2583-2598 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.386).
- Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Loiy Elsir Ahmed Hassan, Hasnah Mohd Sirat, Sakina M. Ahmed Yagi, Waleed S. Koko, Syam Mohan, Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha, Syahida Ahmad, Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Putri Narrima, Mohd Mustafa Rais. 2011. AntiInflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E: role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygenase enzymes inhibition. Fitoterapia 82(8): 1190-1197 (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 2; Impact Factor: 2.00)
Year 2010
- David R. Appleton, Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Michael V. Berridge, Victoria L. Webb, Brent R. Copp. 2010. Rossinones A (I) and B (II), Biologically Active Meroterpenoids from the Antarctic Ascidian, Aplidium species. ChemInform Abstract: Volume 41(17). Article first published online: 1 APR 2010, DOI: 10.1002/chin.201017190 (ISI-Cited Publication)
Year 2009
- David R. Appleton, Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Michael V. Berridge, Victoria L. Webb and Brent R. Copp. 2009. Rossinones A and B, Biologically Active Meroterpenoids from the Antarctic Ascidian, Aplidium species. J. Org. Chem. 74 (23), 9195–9198. (ISI-Cited Publication, Tier 1; Impact Factor: 4.450)
Conferences
- The Effects Of Uridine On Amyloid Beta (Aβ)-Treated Human Neuroblastoma (Sh-Sy5y) And Mouse Neuroblastoma (N2a) Cells. Joon-Keong Wang, Shiau-Chuen Cheah, Chia-Wei Phan, Vikineswary Sabaratnam. International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology (ICMSM) 2017. Kuala Lumpur 2017. Malaysian Society for Microbiology
- Chelrythrine chloride inhibits Wnt/β-catenin pathway dose-independently on Wnt dependent lung cancer cell line NCI-H1703. Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Heng Win-Sen, Peh Suat-Cheng. Defence is the best attack: Immuno-Oncology Breakthrough. Barcelona, Spain: 09-11 Oct 2017. European Association Cancer Research
- FISH identifies MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 gene rearrangement in B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma among Malaysian. Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Dayang Sharyati Datu Abdul Salam, Ei Ei Thit, Teoh Siew Hoon, Tan Soo Yong, Peh Suat Cheng. European Human Genetics Conference - ESHG 2017. Copenhagen, Denmark from May 27-30, 2017. European Human Genetics.
- Impact of air pollution on food intake among indoor and outdoor workers: a comparison. Thavin KMS, Tan ESS, Cheah SC, Lim HS, Seghayat MS, Normina AB, ?Tan CK. 1st Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition Conference. Kuala Lumpur, 14th to 17th May 2017. SEA-PHN
- Application of Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) in the Diagnosis of Malaysian Lymphomas. Dayang Sharyati Datu Abdul Salam, Ei Ei Thit, Teoh Siew Hoon, Tan Soo Yong, Peh Suat Cheng, Cheah Shiau-Chuen. 3 PAN-ASIAN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CONFERENCE. 7 - 8 December 2016 at the Premiera Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute
- Targeted Treatment Towards Periorbital Hyperpigmentation Reduction Through Depigmentation. Cheah Shiau-Chuen, Chia Kam Weng, Tan Chung Keat. The 14th Symposium of Malaysian Society of Applied Biology. 29th – 31st May 2016, Malacca, Malaysia. Malaysian Society of Applied Biology (MSAB)
- Identification of Wnt inhibitors on Lung Cancer Stem Cell. Heng Win Sen, Peh Suat Cheng, Cheah Shiau-Chuen. 6th Regional Conference on Molecular Medicine in conjunction with 2nd National Conference for Cancer Research. 23rd - 25th October 2015. UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute
Networks and Collaborations on Research
- University Medical Center of Groningen, Netherlands
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School; Singapore General Hospital; Singhealth Tissue Repository, Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology (IMCB)
- Industry collaboration - Sime Darby Technology Centre
Awards and Recognition
- Trialect Fellowship (2019)
- Silver medal - 31st International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) (2020)
- Gold medal - 32nd International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) (2021)
- International Sponsor Award - Indonesian Invention and Innovation Promotion Association (INNOPA) – Special Award for ITEX (2021)
- Bronze medal – Seoul International Invention Fair (2021)