Journal of Oncology and Cancer Research

Dr. Byung Chull An obtained his Ph.D. in Biomaterials Engineering from Korea University in 2010. He began his research career as a Researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and subsequently worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the UMass Medical School (USA) under Dr. Mitsuo Ikebe. He later joined the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and served as an Assistant Professor at Chonnam National University Medical School before assuming his current position as Senior Researcher at Cell Biotech Co., Ltd. His pioneering work focuses on genetically engineered probiotics as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). Dr. An discovered the Lactobacillus rhamnosus-derived therapeutic protein P8, which suppresses CRC proliferation and restores gut microbiota diversity. His research demonstrates that probiotic-based drug delivery offers multiple advantages — safety, oral delivery, persistence, and cost-effectiveness — in comparison to conventional chemotherapy. He has authored over 44 peer-reviewed SCI papers, filed 18 Korean patents, 1 U.S. patent, and registered 8 genes in GenBank.

• Metabolic and gene expression regulation
• Anticancer drug development
• Cancer cell pharmacology & colorectal cancer therapy

• Senior Researcher, Cell Biotech Co., Ltd. (2017–present)
• Assistant Professor, Chonnam National University Medical School (2015–2017)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (2013–2014)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, UMass Medical School (USA) (2011–2013)
• Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (2005–2011)
• Holder of 19 patents (1 U.S., 18 Korean)
• 8 gene sequence registrations in GenBank
• Published 44 SCI-indexed papers (plus 3 under review)
• Active in radiation biology, molecular microbiology, and biotechnology research
• Collaborator in anticancer drug design and biotherapeutic protein development

• Probiotic-Derived P8 Protein: Promoting Proliferation and Migration in Stem Cells and Keratinocytes. Int. J. Stem Cells, 2025, 18, 87–98.

• Development for Probiotics Based Insulin Delivery System. Curr. Issues Mol. Biol., 2025, 47(3), 137.

• Therapeutic Potential of Probiotic-Derived P8 Protein as an Anti-Metastatic Agent in Colorectal Cancer. Microorganisms, 2025, 13, 2175.

• Cosmetic Upgrade of EGF: Genetically Modified Probiotic-Derived Cell-Free Supernatants Containing Human EGF Protein Exhibit Diverse Biological Activities. Cosmetics, 2025, 12(4), 176.

• A Synthetic Probiotic Engineered for Colorectal Cancer Therapy Modulates Gut Microbiota. Microbiome, 2021, 9(1), 122.

• Toxicological Evaluation of a Probiotic-Based Delivery System for P8 Protein as an Anti-Colorectal Cancer Drug. Drug Des. Devel. Ther., 2021, 15, 4761–4793.

• Anti-Colorectal Cancer Effects of Probiotic-Derived P8 Protein. Genes (Basel), 2019, 10(8), 624.

• Colorectal Cancer Therapy Using a Pediococcus pentosaceus SL4 Drug Delivery System Secreting P8 Protein. Molecules and Cells, 2019, 42(11), 755–762.

• Epigenetic and Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Glutathione Peroxidase 3 in Lung Cancer Cells. Molecules and Cells, 2016, 39(8), 631–638.

• GPx3-Mediated Redox Signaling Arrests the Cell Cycle and Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Lung Cancer Cell Lines. PLoS One, 2018, 13(9), e0204170.