Deborah Lang, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Lang, appointed as an Associate Professor of Dermatology, was recruited from the University of Chicago. Here at BU, she will continue her basic science research mission focusing on the molecular and cellular biology of melanoma. The lab’s research is centered on studying processes that occur during pigment cell development of the embryo and applying these findings toward melanoma. The premise is that pathways that are essential for development (such as growth, survival, and migration) are also important for melanoma progression (over-growth, inappropriate survival, and metastasis). She has mentored over twenty students and has served as an elected council member and plenary speaker of the Pan American Society for Pigment Cell Research.

Publications

  • Published 5/14/2025

    Moore SPG, Ganesh Krishnan S, Jaswanth Kothari R, Prince NB, Kenny C, Zhang C, Lang D. PAX3 Regulatory Signatures and Gene Targets in Melanoma Cells. Genes (Basel). 2025 May 14; 16(5). PMID: 40428399.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/29/2022

    Vittoria MA, Kingston N, Kotynkova K, Xia E, Hong R, Huang L, McDonald S, Tilston-Lunel A, Darp R, Campbell JD, Lang D, Xu X, Ceol CJ, Varelas X, Ganem NJ. Inactivation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway promotes melanoma. Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 29; 13(1):3732. PMID: 35768444.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/29/2021

    Huang L, Zhai Y, Fajardo CD, Lang D. YK-4-279 Attenuates Progression of Pre-Existing Pigmented Lesions to Nodular Melanoma in a Mouse Model. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Dec 29; 14(1). PMID: 35008307.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/1/2021

    Lui JW, Moore SPG, Huang L, Ogomori K, Li Y, Lang D. YAP facilitates melanoma migration through regulation of actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 5 (ARPC5). Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2022 01; 35(1):52-65. PMID: 34468072.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/1/2021

    Huang L, Zhai Y, La J, Lui JW, Moore SPG, Little EC, Xiao S, Haresi AJ, Brem C, Bhawan J, Lang D. Targeting Pan-ETS Factors Inhibits Melanoma Progression. Cancer Res. 2021 04 15; 81(8):2071-2085. PMID: 33526511.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 33 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • Drexel University College of Medicine, PhD
  • Philadelphia University, BS

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