Li Jinjun, Professor of Tumor Molecular Pathology, Principal Investigator at Shanghai Cancer Institute

Introduction

Dr. Li Jinjun is a dedicated scholar focused on cancer stem cell research. His work has systematically progressed from basic cellular studies to animal models and, ultimately, to clinical applications, continuously pushing the frontiers of oncology.

At the forefront of medical research, Dr. Li has made significant contributions to basic science at the Shanghai Cancer Institute and Renji Hospital. His team has established critical platforms for molecular pathology and shared new research findings, advancing the entire field. The Institute’s unique “institute-hospital integration” with Renji Hospital fosters a synergy between clinical practice and basic research, creating a dynamic environment for medical innovation in China.

A Dedication to Diligence and Lifelong Learning

Dr. Li is not only a diligent and down-to-earth cancer researcher but also an enthusiastic practitioner of traditional Chinese culture. His hobbies—Peking Opera, calligraphy, and table tennis—provide a balance to his demanding scientific life. He finds Peking Opera to be a treasure of China’s cultural heritage, while calligraphy cultivates patience and depth. These arts bring him peace and relaxation.

“Peking Opera is a national treasure,” Dr. Li shares. “I enjoy performing the role of Lao Sheng (older male characters), which is refreshing. Calligraphy is a remedy for the soul. And table tennis, our national sport, is a perfect physical and mental workout that relieves the tension of my research.”

Before entering medicine, Dr. Li majored in veterinary medicine. He recognized the strong overlap between veterinary and human medicine in core sciences like anatomy and histopathology, which laid a solid foundation for his later work in cancer research and creating animal models.

His master’s research focused on copper poisoning mechanisms in sheep. For his Ph.D., he studied gastric mucosal cell apoptosis in rats at Yamaguchi University in Japan. After completing his doctorate, he returned to China to work at the National Veterinary Diagnostic Center during a critical time.

“China was then suffering a severe outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), or ‘blue-ear disease,’” he recalls. “I participated in the control efforts, helping develop diagnostic kits and implementing prevention strategies. That period was extremely challenging, but the experience of managing the epidemic has been invaluable to my subsequent work.”

In 1999, an unexpected opportunity arose when the renowned scientist Dr. Gu Jianren invited Dr. Li to join the Shanghai Cancer Institute. Despite his background in veterinary medicine, Dr. Li embraced the challenge. He spent two months at the Institute’s National Key Laboratory adapting to the new research environment.

Under Dr. Gu’s leadership, Dr. Li’s work focused on two main objectives: establishing essential technology platforms for research and studying the function of cancer-related genes. The formal integration of the Cancer Institute with Renji Hospital in 2010 created new avenues for his team to collaborate directly with clinical experts.

Cancer stem cells are a critical area of oncology, driving tumor initiation, progression, recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Since 1999, Dr. Li has been a pioneer in this field for over 25 years.

His team, focusing on the complexities of liver cancer, was the first to reveal that the molecular marker CD133 can enrich liver cancer stem cells. This breakthrough was inspired by CD117, a known marker for leukemia stem cells. By applying similar logic, Dr. Li’s team confirmed that CD133 is highly expressed on liver cancer stem cells, enabling their precise identification for the first time and opening new avenues for treating solid tumors.

“CD133 helps us find new drugs and track cancer stem cells,” Dr. Li explains. “Clinically, metastasis and drug resistance are the main causes of death. If we can precisely identify and kill these target cells, we can treat cancer more effectively.”

To tackle drug resistance, his team explored new strategies. They discovered that using a protein called BMP4 could induce differentiation in CD133+ cancer stem cells, inhibiting their tumor-forming ability and making them more susceptible to chemotherapy. This process is linked to a gene called NRBP2. Their research showed that high NRBP2 expression downregulates “stemness” genes and sensitizes cancer cells to drugs like Cisplatin. In simple terms, Dr. Li’s work suggests a dual approach: using specific targets to improve drug efficiency while overcoming resistance.

For precise diagnosis, Dr. Li’s team investigated the protein ANGPTL4, which is overexpressed in liver cancer and linked to metastasis. By analyzing clinical samples, they found that ANGPTL4 levels are significantly elevated in liver cancer patients. Crucially, their data showed ANGPTL4 is a highly sensitive biomarker for detecting liver cancer metastasis, with nearly 100% accuracy. This provides clinicians with a powerful tool to assess disease progression.

Dr. Li’s team has also studied other key molecules. They found that ZNF143, a transcription factor, is highly expressed in liver cancer and promotes metastasis by regulating multiple signaling pathways. Conversely, they discovered that RRM2B is expressed at low levels in liver tumors but high levels in adjacent tissue, suggesting a potential role in suppressing tumor development. These findings further illuminate the complex mechanisms of liver cancer and offer new potential targets for future therapies.

Cultivating the Next Generation, Offering Advice and Suggestions

Today’s young researchers face many challenges and difficulties. Although from a material perspective, life is comfortable, pressures from housing loans, child-rearing, and supporting elderly parents are not insignificant.

Therefore, during his tenure as a member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Li Jinjun called on relevant departments to coordinate resources from all parties, hoping to alleviate some of the life pressures on young scientific and technological personnel and create conditions for them to focus on research. At the same time, he hopes that young people will look further ahead, as there may be more rewards in the future.

“In addition to meeting some basic material needs of young people, I believe that young people need to be sensitive to time, especially in our field of research. Sometimes, if you submit your work a little later, similar or identical research results might be published first by domestic or international peers, rendering years of research efforts futile. Research in our field is always in a state of ‘competing on timing, quality, and novelty.’ Young researchers must not ‘lie flat’ at any stage; opportunities are fleeting.”

Li Jinjun said that the scientific and technological awards received by the team are mainly a summary and review of past research achievements, and also a relatively concentrated way to share research results with peers. They also have an inspiring and exemplary role for young scientific and technological personnel.

“As far as our research group is concerned, it is our responsibility to let young people fully display their talents and realize their self-worth. It is also my hope that they grow into healthy, confident, and aspiring individuals.”

Li Jinjun hopes that the government and hospitals will invest more resources in the future to smooth the research path for young researchers, allowing them to have no regrets about their youth and no worries. He wants them to be able to devote more of their golden years to the research cause of the Cancer Institute, achieving “an organized life, uninterrupted work, and successful research.”

As a two-term member of the Shanghai Municipal CPPCC, Li Jinjun has also organized many of his ideas into proposals, actively offering advice and suggestions for the rights and interests of medical researchers, doctors, and patients, striving for more rights and policies.

Li Jinjun has paid attention to the issues of difficult-to-treat diseases and rare diseases. He submitted a proposal to relevant departments, emphasizing the importance of scientific research projects on rare diseases and the establishment of collaborative diagnosis and treatment platforms.

At the same time, Li Jinjun also noticed the significant shortage of pathologists.

“Pathologists are sometimes called ‘doctors’ doctors.’ The training cycle for an excellent pathologist is very long and not easy! However, the current compensation for pathologists in hospitals is low, which does not match their importance. Therefore, I suggest that government departments take more effective measures to improve the treatment of pathologists and strengthen the training of young pathologists.”

After releasing this suggestion, he was interviewed by Dragon TV, and many pathologists resonated with these issues, thanking him for his suggestion.

In addition, Li Jinjun actively participated in special investigations and studies by the medical and health sector on issues such as difficulty and high cost of getting medical treatment, and smart healthcare. He also paid attention to the problem of elderly people who cannot use smartphones having difficulty accessing medical services in the information age. Therefore, he proposed how to take care of the elderly while promoting medical intelligence. He hopes that while promoting intelligence, the actual situation of the elderly can be considered, finding a more suitable development path for them and providing them with humane medical services.

Li Jinjun believes that enabling the majority of patients to obtain a sustainable, relatively fair, and comfortable medical environment and experience is of profound significance, because it is not only a manifestation of technological development but also a symbol of urban governance and humanistic care, affecting a very large audience.