Lu Le, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Le received his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, and a medical degree (M.D.) from the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  He completed an Internship in Internal Medicine at UCLA/St. Mary Medical Center, residency training in Dermatology and a postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Biology from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.  He is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology.  Dr. Le sees patients in the Dermatology clinic and at the UTSW Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis clinic.

As an investigator in Cancer Biology, his primary research goals are to 1) elucidate mechanisms that initiate and drive human cancer, 2) generate robust animal models to better understand disease pathogenesis and 3) develop novel therapeutic targets for human cancers.  A related goal is to translate basic scientific findings in the laboratory into human clinical trials.  His principal scientific interests include identifying the cell origin of tumorigenesis and elucidating the roles of tumor microenvironment in cancer development.  His laboratory utilizes Neurofibromatosis Type I, a common tumor predisposition human genetic disorder, as a model to address these two fundamental questions of Cancer Biology as well as elucidating cutaneous nervous system development and regeneration.

Graduate School	University of California - Los Angeles (2002)
Medical School	University of California, Los Angeles (2003)
Internship	Saint Mary's Medical Center-Long Beach (2004), Internal Medicine
Residency	University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas (2007), Dermatology
Fellowship	UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomed Sciences (2009), Cancer Biology

• Allergy
• Cancer
• Dermatology
• General Dermatology
• Neurofibromatosis
• Skin Allergies

• Primary Interests
• Acne
• Chronic Cellulitis
• Eczema
• Neurofibromatosis
• Nevi (Moles)
• Patients With Multiple Moles
• Pigmented Lesions
• Previous Skin Cancers
• Psoriasis
• Skin Check
• Skin Disorders
• Transplant Patients

• Cancer Biology
• Neurofibromatosis
• Stem Cell Biology

Featured Publications

CXCR4/CXCL12 mediate autocrine cell cycle progression in NF1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors

Mo, W., Chen, J., Patel, A., Zhang, L., Chau, V., Li, Y, Cho, W., Lim, K., McKay, R., Lev, D., Le, L.Q. (Co-corresponding author) and Parada, L. (Co-corresponding author) Cell 2013 152 (5)1077-1090

Skin-derived precursors as a source of progenitors for cutaneous nerve regeneration

Chen, Z., Pradhan, S., Liu, C. and Le, L.Q. Stem Cells 2012 30 (10) 2261-2270.

Susceptible Stages in Schwann cells for NF1-Associated Plexiform Neurofibroma Development

Le, L.Q. (Corresponding author), Liu, C., Shipman, T., Chen, Z., Suter, U., Parada, L.F. Cancer Research 2011 71(13) 4686-95

Cutaneous features predict paraspinal neurofibromas in Neurofibromatosis type 1

Brown, R., Klesse, L., Le, L.Q. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2010 130 (9) 2167-9

Cell of origin and microenvironment contribution for NF1-associated dermal neurofibromas.

Le, L.Q., Shipman, T., Burns, D.K., Parada, L.F. Cell Stem Cell May 2009 4 (5) 453-463

Tumor Microenvironment and Neurofibromatosis Type I: Connecting the GAPs

Le, L.Q., Parada, L.F. Oncogene 2007 26(32) 4609-4616

Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Analysis of G2A as a Negative Modifier of Lymphoid Leukemogenesis Initiated by the BCR-ABL Oncogene

Le, L.Q., Kabarowski, J., Wong, S., Nguyen, K., Gambhir, S., Witte, O.N. Cancer Cell 2002 1(4) 381-391

Mice lacking the orphan G protein-coupled receptor, G2A, develop a late-onset autoimmune syndrome

Le, L.Q., Kabarowski, J., Weng, Z., Satterthwaite, A., Harvill, E., Jensen, E., Miller, J.F. and Witte, O.N. Immunity 2001 14(5) 561 - 571

The transcriptionally regulated orphan G protein-coupled receptor (G2A) elicits RhoA dependent actin rearrangement via G-alpha13

Kabarowski, J.H.S., Feramisco, J.D., Le, L.Q., Gu, J.L., Luoh, S-W., Simon, M.I., and Wite, O.N. Proc. Natil. Acad. Sci. USA 2000 97 12109 - 12114

• European Society for Dermatological Research/Society for Investigative Dermatology Collegiality Travel Awards
  (2012)
• U.S. Department of Defense-Neurofibromatosis Research Program Awards
  (2012)
• Victor Newcomer Award
  (2012)
• Outstanding Teaching Award from Dermatology residents
  (2010)
• Disease-Oriented Clinical Scholars (DOCS) Award
  (2009)
• Career Awards for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund
  (2008)
• President's Research Council Distinguished Young Researcher Award (UTSW)
  (2008)
• The American Academy of Dermatology Young Investigator Award
  (2008)
• The Dermatology Foundation Physician Scientist Career Development Award
  (2008)

• Texas Dermatological Society
• The American Academy of Dermatology
• The Society for Investigative Dermatology
• UCLA Association of Chemists and Biochemists