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Yongbaek Kim , DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVP

EDUCATION

• 1997 - 2002: Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology
• Residency, Anatomic Veterinary Pathology
• The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• 1993 - 1995: M.S. in Veterinary Pathology
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Seoul National University, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
• 1986 - 1993: B.S. in Veterinary Medicine
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Seoul National University
• Seoul, The Republic of Korea

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

• 2006 - Current: Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathology
• Dept. of Population Health and Pathobiology,
• College of Veterinary Medicine,
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
• 2002 - 2006: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
• National Institute of Health,
• Research Triangle Park, NC
• 1996 - 1997: Visiting Scientist
• Department of Pathology,
• College of Veterinary Medicine,
• The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• 1995 -1997: Veterinary Quarantine Officer
• National Animal Quarantine Services,
• Seoul, The Republic of Korea

LICENCES AND CERTIFICATES IN PROFESSION

• National Veterinary Board, The Republic of Korea, 1993
• North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board for Teaching, 2006
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 2004

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology
• Molecular Diagnostic Pathology
• Rodent and Toxicologic Pathology
• Molecular Carcinogenesis of Human and Veterinary Tumors

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Molecular Carcinogenesis of Human and Veterinary Tumors. The long-term objective of my research program is to determine the molecular mechanisms of malignant mesothelioma, in order to help to design better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Despite the use of aggressive therapeutic approaches such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or their combinations, the overall outcome of malignant mesothelioma remains very poor. New approaches for the treatment of malignant mesotheliomas are urgently needed. We have recently shown that variable signaling pathways are involved in the carcinogenesis of malignant mesotheliomas. Specifically, activation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway and inactivation of apoptosis are key in the rat malignant mesotheliomas.We are studying the expression of IGF-1 signaling pathway and the effect of IGF-1R kinase inhibitor in human and rat peritoneal mesothelioma cell lines. In addition, we are studying the role of neurofibromatosis type 2 gene function in human malignant mesothelioma cell lines and animal models. These in vitro and in vivo systems will be utilized for preclinical evaluation of new therapeutic regimens for malignant mesotheliomas.

Characterization of Mesothelial Cancer Stem Cells. A long-term objective of principal investigator's research program is to elucidate the pathogenesis of human malignant mesothelioma (HMM), in order to design better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been the subject of great interest in recent years because of their unique biological properties and potential therapeutic significance. The CSCs could drive tumor growth, invade into other tissues, and form metastatic tumors. Moreover, tumor recurrence following traditional antiproliferative therapy may be due to untargeted CSC compartment repopulating the tumor. Because CSC-specific cell surface markers are known for only a limited number of tumors, characterization of the putative CSCs in solid and leukemic tumors has largely relied on the separation of side populations (SP) by Hoechst 33342 staining. SP and non-SP of HMM cell lines will be separated using Hoechst 33342 staining method, and the biological properties including proliferation, invasiveness, chemosensitivity and clonogenicity, will be assessed in vitro. The tumorigenicity of the SP and NSP will be assessed by subcutaneous injection into immunodeficient mice. This proposal will allow us to determine if SP fraction is truly enriched for CSCs in HMM cell lines, and pave the way to further analyze the mechanisms involved in the maintenance and amplification of potential CSCs of HMMs.

LABORATORY PERSONNELS

Susan D'Costa, PhD, Research Specialist, Full-time (2008 - Current)

Kai Kiyonori, DVM, MS, PhD, Visiting Researcher from Japan (2007- Current)

Kwang-Ok Shin, MS, Research Specialist, Full-time (2006-2008)

Nancy Brown, BS, Research Assistant, Part-time (2007)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Y. Kim, J-H. Kim, I-B. Seo, E-J. Bak, D-Y. Kim, J-H. Han (1997). Pathologic observation on the canine mammary gland tumors and immunohistochemical study on the origin of chondroid tissue in mammary gland mixed tumors. Korean J Vet Res. 1997. 37(4): 843 - 854

2. Y. Kim, S. M. Gharaibeh, N. L. Stedman, and T. P. Brown. (2002) Comparison and verification of quantitative competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QC-RT-PCR) and real time RT-PCR for avian leukosis virus subgroup J. J Virol Methods. 102(1-2): 1 - 8.

3. Y. Kim, T. P. Brown and M. Pantin-Jackwood. (2003) Lesions induced in broiler chickens by cyclophosphamide treatment. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2003 45(3): 121 - 123

4. Y. Kim, T. P. Brown and M. Pantin-Jackwood. (2004) Effects of cyclosporin A treatment on the pathogenesis of avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection in broiler chickens with Marek's disease virus exposure. J Vet Sci. 4(3): 245 - 255.

5. T. V. Ton, H. H. Hong, C. H. Anna, J. K. Dunnick, T. R. Devereux, R. C. Sills and Y. Kim. (2004) Predominant K-ras Codon 12 G A Transition in Chemically Induced Lung Neoplasms in B6C3F1 Mice. Toxicol Pathol. 32(1): 16 - 21.

6. Y. Kim, T. P. Brown and M. Pantin-Jackwood. (2004) Effects of cyclophosphamide treatment on the pathogenesis of avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection in broiler chickens with Marek's disease virus exposure. J Vet Sci. 5(1): 49 - 58.

7. Y. Kim and T. P. Brown. (2004) Development of quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QC-RT-PCR) of avian leukosis virus subgroup J. J Vet Diag Invest. 16(3):191 - 196.

8. M. J. Pantin-Jackwood, T. P. Brown, Y. Kim and G. R. Huff (2004) Proventriculitis in broiler chickens: Effects of immunosuppression. Avian Dis. 48(2): 300 - 316.

9. Y. Kim, S. Reinecke and D. E. Malarkey. (2005) Cutaneous angiomatosis in a young dog. Vet Pathol. 42(3): 378 - 381.

10. Y. Kim, E. W. Howerth, N-S. Shin, S-W. Kwon, S. P. Terrell and D-Y. Kim. (2005) Disseminated visceral coccidiosis in Japanese white-naped crane, J Parasitol. 91(1), 199 - 201

11. Y. Kim, R. C. Sills and C. Houle. (2005) Overview of the molecular biology of hepatocellular neoplasms and hepatoblastomas of the mouse liver. Toxicol Pathol. 33: 175 - 180

12. L. Lambertini, K. Surin, T. T. Ton, N. Clayton, J. K. Dunnick, T. R. Devereux, Y. Kim, H. L. Hong and R. C. Sills. (2005) Analysis of p53 tumor suppressor gene, H-ras protooncogene and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in skin lesions of HRA/Skh mice following exposure to 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and UVA radiation (PUVA therapy). Toxicol Pathol. 33: 292 - 299.

13. Y. Kim, H. L. Hong, Y. Lachat, N. P. Clayton, T. R. Devereux, R. L. Melnick, M. E. Hegi and R. C. Sills. (2005) Genetic alterations in brain tumors following 1,3-butadiene exposure in B6C3F1 mice. Toxicol Pathol. 33: 307 - 312

14. M-S. Kang, M-S. Park, S-W. Kwon, S-A. Ma, D-Y. Cho, D-Y. Kim, and Y. Kim. (2006) Amyloid producing odontogenic tumor (calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour) in the mandible of a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). J Comp Pathol. 134(2-3):236-40

15. M-S. Park, Y. Kim, M-S. Kang, S-Y. Oh, D-Y. Cho, N-S. Shin, and D-Y. Kim (2006). Disseminated transmissible venereal tumor in a dog. J Vet Diag Invest. 18: 130-133

16. Y. Kim, T. Ton, A. B. DeAngello, K. Morgan, T. R. Devereux, C. Anna, J. B. Collins, R. S. Paules, L. M. Crosby and R. C. Sills. (2006) Major carcinogenic pathways identified by gene expression analysis of peritoneal mesotheliomas following chemical treatment in F344 rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 214:144-51.

17. H. L. Hong, J. Dunnick, R. Herbert, J. Foley, T. R. Devereux, Y. Kim and R. C. Sills. (2007) Genetic alterations in K-ras oncogene and p53 tumor suppressor gene in lung neoplasms of Swiss (CD-1) male mice exposed transplacentally to AZT. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. 48:299-306.

18. Thai-Vu Ton, Hue-Hua Hong, Theodora R. Devereux, Ronald L. Melnick, Robert C. Sills and Yongbaek Kim. (2007) Evaluation of genetic alterations in cancer-related genes in lung and brain tumors from B6C3F1 mice exposed to 1,3-butadiene or chlorophrene. Chemico-Biol Interactions, 166:112-20.

19. I.H. Bae, Y. Kim, B. Pakhrin, M.H. You, C.Y. Hwang, J.H. Kim, D.Y. Kim. (2007) Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma with systemic metastasis in a young dog. Vet. Pathol. 44: 518-20.

20. Macias E, Kim Y, Miliani de Marval PL, Klein-Szanto A, Rodriguez-Puebla ML. (2007) Cdk2 deficiency decreases ras/CDK4-dependent malignant progression, but not myc-induced tumorigenesis. Cancer Res. 67(20):9713-20

21. Hue-Hua L.Hong, Thai-Vu.T. Ton, Yongbaek Kim, Nobuko Wakamatsu, Natasha P. Clayton, Po-Chuen Chan, Robert C. Sills, and Stephanie A. Lahousse. Genetic alterations in K-ras and p53 cancer genes in lung neoplasms from B6C3F1 mice exposed to cumene. Toxicologic Pathology, Accepted.