Xiao Ni, MD, PhD
Department of Dermatology, Division of Internal Medicine
About Dr. Ni
Have leaded a preclinical study about dendritic cell vaccine on cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). By finishing this project, we established the optimal protocol for further clinical study, and we also established a collaborative team of basic immunologists, physician scientists, and clinicians.
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Have three ongoing research projects:
One project is implementing to the clinical trial of anti-CCR4 antibody on CTCL. We are assessing the effect of this antibody on regulatory T cells, an immune suppressive cell, if the antibody could reduce or eliminate the Treg, it could be used for many tumors which have increased Tregs.
Another project is to identify the biomarkers for response and resistance to photopheresis for CTCL, and hope that we could find a set of signature genes to help us subgroup patients for better specific therapy indications.
The new project is to find molecular genetic mutations contributing to CTCL and further determine the effect of tumor-associated molecular markers on overall survival, progression free survival and response to targeted therapy.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology - Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Member, The University of Texas, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Skin immunology, tumor immunology, immunotherapy, dendritic cell subsets, and T cell subsets
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1999 | Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, CHN, PHD, Investigative Dermatology |
| 1983 | Nantong Medical College, Nantong, CHN, MD, Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2000-2003 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Tumor immunology, Immunotherapy, Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1988-1989 | Clinical Fellowship, Dermatopathology, Institution of Dermatology, The Chinese Academy of Medicine and Sciences, Nanjing |
| 1984-1988 | Clinical Residency, Dermatology, University of Nanjing - Affiliated Gulou Hospital, Nanjing |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2014
Adjunct Faculty, The University of Texas, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2013
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Clinical Research Committee, 2008 - 2010
Adjunct member, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - Advisory/Supervisory Committee, 2007 - 2013
Honors & Awards
| 2017 | Cyrus Scholar Award Finalist, Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat |
| 2015 | Basic Research Distinguish Paper Award, Division of Internal Medicine |
| 2008 | Young Investigator Award, Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation |
| 2007 | Cyrus Scholar Award Semi-Finalist, Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat |
| 2005 | Research Grant Award, Ladies Leukemia League |
| 2003 | Research Grant Award, Dermatology Foundation |
| 2002 | Trainee Excellence Award, MD Anderson Alumni and Faculty Association |
| 1998 | Outstanding Young Investigator, The Institute of Dermatology, the Chinese Academy of Medicine and Sciences, China |
| 1996 | Graduate Student Excellence Award, The Chinese Academy of Medicine and Sciences, Peking Union Medial College, China |
| 1994 | Excellent Teacher, University of Nanjing - Affiliated Gulou Hospital, China |
| 1993 | Outstanding Employee, University of Nanjing - Affiliated Gulou Hospital, China |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Velatooru LR, Hu CH, Bijani P, Wang X, Bojaxhi P, Chen H, Duvic M, Ni X. New JAK3-INSL3 Fusion Transcript - An Oncogenic Event in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Cells 12(19):2381, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37830594.
- Ni X, Maiti S, Redko A, Bijani P, Duvic M. Monitoring malignant T-cell clones by direct TCR expression assay in patients with leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma during extracorporeal photopheresis. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 38(2):290-298, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34543492.
- Ni X, Austin M, Langridge T, Bojaxhi P, Bijani P, Wang X, Duvic M. CD209+ monocyte-derived myeloid dendritic cells were increased in patients with leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma undergoing extracorporeal photopheresis via the CELLEXTM system. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 36(4):290-298, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32187738.
- Ying Z, Shiue L, Park K, Kollet J, Bijani P, Goswami M, Duvic M, Ni X. Correction: Blood transcriptional profiling reveals IL-1 and integrin signaling pathways associated with clinical response to extracorporeal photopheresis in patients with leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 10(52):5492, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31534633.
- Ying Z, Shiue L, Park K, Kollet J, Bijani P, Goswami M, Duvic M, Ni X. Blood transcriptional profiling reveals IL-1 and integrin signaling pathways associated with clinical response to extracorporeal photopheresis in patients with leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 10(34):3183-3197, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31139332.
- Chen H, Xue YN, Xin CM, Xiong JS, Ni X, Sun JF. Secondary Cutaneous Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma with Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg-like Cells in a Patient with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma. Acta Derm Venereol 98(10):981-982, 2018. PMID: 29956714.
- Ni X, Zhang X, Hu CH, Langridge T, Tarapore RS, Allen JE, Oster W, Duvic M. ONC201 selectively induces apoptosis in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells via activating pro-apoptotic integrated stress response and inactivating JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways. Oncotarget 8(37):61761-61776, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28977902.
- Min HY, Lee SC, Woo JK, Jung HJ, Park KH, Jeong HM, Hyun SY, Cho J, Lee W, Park JE, Kwon SJ, Lee HJ, Ni X, Shin YK, Johnson FM, Duvic M, Lee HY. Essential role of DNA methyltransferase 1-mediated transcription of insulin-like Growth Factor 2 in Resistance to Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res 23(5):1299-1311, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27582487.
- Lefrançois P, Tetzlaff MT, Moreau L, Watters AK, Netchiporouk E, Provost N, Gilbert M, Ni X, Sasseville D, Duvic M, Litvinov IV. TruSeq-Based Gene Expression Analysis of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Samples: Subgroup Analysis Results and Elucidation of Biases from FFPE Sample Processing on the TruSeq Platform. Front Med (Lausanne) 4:153, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29018799.
- Wang L, Ni X, Covington KR, Yang BY, Shiu J, Zhang X, Xi L, Meng Q, Langridge T, Drummond J, Donehower LA, Doddapaneni H, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Wheeler DA, Duvic M. Genomic profiling of Sézary syndrome identifies alterations of key T cell signaling and differentiation genes. Nat Genet 47(12):1426-34, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26551670.
- Ni X, Jorgensen JL, Goswami M, Challagundla P, Decker WK, Kim YH, Duvic MA. Reduction of Regulatory T cells by Mogamulizumab, a Defucosylated Anti-CC Chemokine Receptor 4 Antibody, in Patients with Aggressive/Refractory Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome. Clin Cancer Res 21(2):274-85, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25376389.
- Shiue LH, Ni X, Prieto VG, Jorgensen JL, Curry JL, Goswami M, Sweeney SA, Duvic M. A case of invisible leukemic cutaneous T cell lymphoma with a regulatory T cell clone. Int J Dermatol 18(9):1365-4632, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22257096.
- Shiue LH, Alousi AM, Wei C, Hosing CM, Duvic M, Ni X. Augmentation of blood dendritic cells by extracorporeal photopheresis in patients with leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease. J Invest Dermatol 133(8):2098-100, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23519332.
- Goswami M, Duvic M, Dougherty A, Ni X. Increased Twist expression in advanced stage of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. J Cutan Pathol 39(5):500-7, 2012. PMID: 22515221.
- Ni X, Richmond H, Liao X, Decker W, Shiue L, Shpall E, Duvic M.. Induction of T-cell Responses against Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas ex vivo by Autologous Dendritic Cells Transfected with Amplified Tumor RNA. J Invest Dermatol 128(11):2631-2639, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18480841.
- Duvic M, Talpur R, Ni X, Zhang C, Hazarika P, Kelly C, Chiao JH, Reilly JF, Ricker JL, Richon VM, Frankel SR. Phase 2 trial of oral vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, SAHA) for refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Blood 109(1):31-9, 2007. PMID: 16960145.
- Doherty SD, Ni X, Doherty CB, Jones D, Zhao X, Owen LB, Duvic M. Abnormal expression of interleukin-23 in mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome lesions. Arch Dermatol Res 298(7):353-6, 2006. PMID: 17021762.
- Zhang C, Richon V, Ni X, Talpur R, Duvic M. Selective induction of apoptosis by histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells: relevance to mechanism of therapeutic action. J Invest Dermatol 125(5):1045-52, 2005. PMID: 16297208.
- Ni X, Zhang C, Talpur R, Duvic M. Resistance to activation-induced cell death and bystander cytotoxicity via the Fas/Fas ligand pathway are implicated in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T cell lymphomas. J Invest Dermatol 124(4):741-750, 2005. PMID: 15816832.
- Zhang C, Ni X, Konopleva M, Andreeff M, Duvic M. The novel synthetic oleanane triterpenoid CDDO (2-cyano-3, 12-dioxoolean-1, 9-dien-28-oic acid) induces apoptosis in Mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome cells. J Invest Dermatol 123(2):380-7, 2004. PMID: 15245439.
- Apisarnthanarax N, Talpur R, Ward S, Ni X, Kim HW, Duvic M. Tazarotene 0.1% Gel for Refractory Mycosis Fungoides Lesions: An Open-label Pilot Study. J Am Acad Dermatol 50(5):600-607, 2004. PMID: 15034511.
- Duvic M, Ni X, Talpur R, Herne K, Schulz C, Sui D, Ward S, Joseph A, Hazarika P. Tazarotene induced gene-3 is suppressed in basal cell carcinomas and reversed in vivo by tazarotene application. J Invest Dermatol 121(4):902-9, 2003. PMID: 14632211.
- Zhang CL, Hazarika P, Ni X, Weidner DA, Duvic M. Induction of Apoptosis by Bexarotene in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Cells: Relevance to Mechanism of therapeutic Action. Clin Cancer Res 8(5):1234-1240, 2002. PMID: 12006543.
- Ni X, Hazarika P, Zhang C, Talpur R, Duvic M. Fas ligand expression by neoplastic T- lymphocytes mediates elimination of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mycosis fungoides: a potential mechanism of tumor immune escape? . Clin Cancer Res 7(9):2682-92, 2001. PMID: 11555580.
- Ni X, Sun JF, Zeng XS,Sang HG, Li AM, Ye GY. The excessive proliferation and apoptosis are correlated with the abnormal expression of c-myc, P53 and bcl-2 in psoriatic lesions. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 33(4):240-242, 2000.
- Ni X, Sun JF. Methygreen-Pyronin staining for apoptotic cells in psoriatic lesions. Journal of Clinical Dermatology 29(6):334-336, 2000.
- Ni X, Sun JF. The value of pathological examination in the diagnosis of atypical psoriasis. Chinese Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 13(2):75-76, 1999.
- Ni X, Jiang YQ, Sun JF. Apoptosis and Pilomatricoma. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 31(6):386-387, 1998.
- Ni X, Yang HP, Sun JF. Excessive proliferation and apoptosis in both keratinocytes and lymphocytic infiltrates of psoriatic lesions. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 31(2):95-96, 1998.
- Yang HP, Ni X, Sun JF. Psoriasis arthropathica: analysis of 26 cases. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 31(2):114- 115, 1998.
- Ni X, Chen ZG, Zhu WW. Epidermal-grafting for a patient with Piebaldism. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 28(4):261, 1995.
- Ni X. A case study: Piebaldism and the pedigree analysis. Journal of Clinical Dermatology 24(1):50, 1995.
- Ni X. Two cases of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 27(3):183, 1994.
- Ni X, Fang Y, Zhu WW. A clinical trial of Germanium Huangqi for psoriasis vulgaris. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 27(6):377-378, 1994.
- Ni X , Lu ML, Li FQ. Chinese herbs for summer dermatitis. Journal of Clinical Dermatology 23(1):46, 1994.
- Gu JG, Gu XJ, Ni X. Clinical efficacy of enoxacin for skin infections. Chinese Journal of Antibiotics 18(6):465-468, 1993.
- Ni X, Li FQ. Non-papillomatous hyperplastic lesions in genitalia. Jiangsu Medical Journal 19:282, 1993.
- Ni X, Li FQ. A case report: pseudo-acanthosis nigricans. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 25(5):348, 1992.
- Ni X, Li FQ, Liu JH. A case report: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma manifesting lethal midline granuloma. Chinese Journal of Dermatology 24(4):275-276, 1991.
Invited Articles
- Ni X, Duvic M. Dendritic cells and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas. G Ital Dermatol Venereol 146(2):103-13, 2011. PMID: 21505396.
- Ni X, Sun JF. In situ polymerase chain reaction and its applications in the dermatology. Foreign Medical Sciences 23(5):279-282, 1997.
- Ni X, Sun JF. The aberrant molecular biological pathways in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Foreign Medical Sciences 23(2):85-87, 1997.
Book Chapters
- Ni X. Dermatopathology - Introduction. In: The Basis of Modern Dermatology. The People's Medical Publishing House, 1035-1063, 2001.
- Ni X, Sun J, Liu J. Dermatopathology in China. In: Chinese Modern Scientific Encyclopedia. Scientific Publishing House, 2000.
- Ni X. Benign and Malignant epidermal tumors. In: Atlas of Dermatology and Venereology. The People's Medical Publishing House, 337-354, 1998.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Strategies for effective ex vivo priming of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma -specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by autologous dendritic cells pulsed with whole tumor cells |
| Funding Source: | Dermatology Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Induction of Polyclonal T-cell Responses against Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas by Autologous Dendritic Cells Transfected with Amplified Tumor RNA |
| Funding Source: | Ladies Leukemia League |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Immunologic mechanisms of extracorporeal photopheresis in cutaneous T- cell lymphomas: Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells or regulatory T cells? |
| Funding Source: | Therakos, Inc |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Effect of anti-CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) monoclonal antibody on regulatory T cells and natural killer cells in patients with aggressive/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co.LTD |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Identifying biomarkers of response and resistance to ECP in patients with MF/SS |
| Funding Source: | Therakos, Inc |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Molecular targets in Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) |
| Funding Source: | Drs. Martin and Dorothy Spatz Foundation |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | The Effect of ECP on Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg Cytokines and Related Molecules in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | American Skin Association |
| Role: | Research Mentor |
| Title: | Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) gene fusion(s) - a potential druggable target in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Institutional Research Grant (IRG) Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Biomarkers in Patients with Advanced CTCL in ONC201 Phase II Clinical Trial |
| Funding Source: | Drs.Martin and Dorothy Spatz Charitable Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | New molecular targets for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) |
| Funding Source: | Drs.Martin and Dorothy Spatz Charitable Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified January 08, 2024