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Xin Shelley Wang, MD, MPH

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Wang was trained as a medical oncologist and became a clinical researcher in 1996. Her research focuses on the measurement and management of fatigue and other symptoms experienced by patients with cancer. Her ongoing projects include investigation of the biomarkers of inflammation, a potential mechanism underlying the development of severe symptom burden related to aggressive cancer therapies or cancer progression.

 

Research Interests

Dr. Wang's research focuses on the cancer-related symptoms of patients who are undergoing active treatment or who have advanced disease. She has been involved in the development and validation of symptom-assessment tools in cancer patients. Among cancer patients undergoing aggressive therapies, such as concurrent chemoradiation and stem cell transplant, her research in the area of cancer-related fatigue and other sickness symptoms has illustrated the important relationship between inflammatory cytokines and the development of symptoms, a better understanding of which might lead to potential mechanism-driven symptom control.

Dr. Wang also contributed to the international symptom studies that investigated patient reported symptoms and their impact on functional status, and provided a comparison of cross-cultural, cross-national similarities and differences in symptom reporting. 

 

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Symptom Research
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Unit Number: 1450
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FCT11.5080
Phone: (713) 745-3504
Fax: (713) 745-3475

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2004 The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, MPH, International Health
1984 Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, MD, Medicine

Postgraduate Training

9/1989-12/1990 Chief Resident, Medical Oncology, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing, China
7/1987-9/1989 Research Fellowship, Biochemistry, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing, China
7/1987-9/1989 Clinical Residency, Medical Oncology, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing, China
9/1986-7/1987 Clinical Residency, Hematology, First Hospital of Beijing Medical University, Beijing, China
9/1984-9/1986 Clinical Residency, Medical Oncology, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing, China

Professional Memberships

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Member, 1999-present
American Society of Hematology (ASH)
Member, 2006-present
European Hematology Association
Member, 2007-2010
Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society
Member, 2008-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Cleeland CS, Sloan JA, Cella D, Chen C, Dueck AC, Janjan NA, Liepa AM, Mallick R, O'Mara A, Pearson JD, Torigoe Y, Wang XS, Williams LA, Woodruff JF, CPRO (Assessing the Symptoms of Cancer Using Patient-Reported Outcomes) Multisymptom Task Force. Recommendations for including multiple symptoms as endpoints in cancer clinical trials : A report from the ASCPRO (Assessing the Symptoms of Cancer Using Patient-Reported Outcomes) Multisymptom Task Force. Cancer 119(2):411-20, 1/15/2013. e-Pub 8/28/2012. PMID: 22930243.
2. Wang XS, Williams LA, Krishnan S, Liao Z, Liu P, Mao L, Shi Q, Mobley GM, Woodruff JF, Cleeland CS. Serum sTNF-R1, IL-6, and the development of fatigue in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemoradiation therapy. Brain Behav Immun 26(5):699-705, 7/2012. e-Pub 1/10/2012. PMCID: PMC3355215.
3. Wang XS, Rhines LD, Shiu AS, Yang JN, Selek U, Gning I, Liu P, Allen PK, Azeem SS, Brown PD, Sharp HJ, Weksberg DC, Cleeland CS, Chang EL. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for management of spinal metastases in patients without spinal cord compression: a phase 1-2 trial. Lancet Oncol 13(4):395-402, 4/2012. e-Pub 1/27/2012. NIHMSID: NIHMS367673.
4. Boyette-Davis JA, Eng C, Wang XS, Cleeland CS, Wendelschafer-Crabb G, Kennedy WR, Simone DA, Zhang H, Dougherty PM. Subclinical peripheral neuropathy is a common finding in colorectal cancer patients prior to chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. e-Pub 4/2012. PMID: 22496202.
5. Cleeland CS, Mendoza TR, Wang XS, Woodruff JF, Palos GR, Richman SP, Nazario A, Lynch GR, Liao KP, Mobley GM, Lu C. Levels of symptom burden during chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer: differences between public hospitals and a tertiary cancer center. J Clin Oncol 29(21):2859-65, 7/20/2011. e-Pub 6/20/2011. PMCID: PMC3138716.
6. Cleeland CS, Wang XS, Shi Q, Mendoza TR, Wright SL, Berry MD, Malveaux D, Shah PK, Gning I, Hofstetter WL, Putnam JB, Vaporciyan AA. Automated symptom alerts reduce postoperative symptom severity after cancer surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J Clin Oncol 29(8):994-1000, 3/10/2011. e-Pub 1/31/2011. PMCID: PMC3068055.
7. Mendoza TR, Wang XS, Lu C, Palos GR, Liao Z, Mobley GM, Kapoor S, Cleeland CS. Measuring the symptom burden of lung cancer: the validity and utility of the lung cancer module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Oncologist 16(2):217-27, 2011. e-Pub 2/1/2011. PMID: 21285393.
8. Shi Q, Trask PC, Wang XS, Mendoza TR, Apraku WA, Malekifar M, Cleeland CS. Does recall period have an effect on cancer patients' ratings of the severity of multiple symptoms? J Pain Symptom Manage 40(2):191-9, 8/2010. e-Pub 6/25/2010. PMID: 20579835.
9. Wang XS, Shi Q, Williams LA, Mao L, Cleeland CS, Komaki RR, Mobley GM, Liao Z. Inflammatory cytokines are associated with the development of symptom burden in patients with NSCLC undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Brain Behav Immun 24(6):968-74, 8/2010. e-Pub 3/29/2010. PMCID: PMC2897921.
10. Nejmi M, Wang XS, Mendoza TR, Gning I, Cleeland CS. Validation and application of the Arabic version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory in Moroccan patients with cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 40(1):75-86, 7/2010. PMID: 20619213.
11. Wang XS, Cleeland CS, Mendoza TR, Yun YH, Wang Y, Okuyama T, Johnson VE. Impact of cultural and linguistic factors on symptom reporting by patients with cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 102(10):732-738, 5/19/2010. e-Pub 3/26/2010. PMCID: PMC2873184.
12. Wang XS, Williams LA, Eng C, Mendoza TR, Shah NA, Kirkendoll KJ, Shah PK, Trask PC, Palos GR, Cleeland CS. Validation and application of a module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory for measuring multiple symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (the MDASI-GI). Cancer 116(8):2053-63, 4/15/2010. e-Pub 2/2010. PMID: 20166216.
13. Wang XS, Shi Q, Lu C, Basch EM, Johnson VE, Mendoza TR, Mobley GM, Cleeland CS. Prognostic value of symptom burden for overall survival in patients receiving chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer 116(1):137-45, 1/1/2010. e-Pub 10/2009. PMID: 19852033.
14. Mendoza TR, Laudico AV, Wang XS, Guo H, Matsuda ML, Yosuico VD, Fragante EP, Cleeland CS. Assessment of fatigue in cancer patients and community dwellers: validation study of the Filipino version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory. Oncology 79(1-2):112-7, 2010. e-Pub 11/22/2010. PMID: 21088437.
15. Wang XS, Fairclough DL, Liao Z, Komaki R, Chang JY, Mobley GM, Cleeland CS. Longitudinal study of the relationship between chemoradiation therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer and patient symptoms. J Clin Oncol 24(27):4485-91, 9/2006. PMID: 16983118.

Invited Articles
1. Wang XS. Pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue. Clin J Oncol Nurs 12(5 Suppl):11-20, 10/2008. PMCID: PMC3281752.

Abstracts
1. Wang XS, Williams LA, Johnson VE, Mao L, Krishnan S, Liao Z, Mobley G, Cleeland CS. Association of sTNF-R1 and the development of treatment-related symptoms in patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy for colorectal or esophageal cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology 2009 Annual Meeting, Orlando FL, May 29 - Jun 2, 2009. J Clin Oncol 27(15 Suppl) (#3041), 5/2009.

Book Chapters
1. Wang XS. Cancer-related fatigue: clinical science. In: Cancer Symptom Science: Measurement, Mechanisms, and Management. Ed(s) CS Cleeland, MJ Fisch, AJ Dunn. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge UK, 110-23, 2011.
2. Wang XS, Cleeland CS. Outcomes measurement in cancer pain. In: Pain Management: Evidence, Outcomes, and Quality of Life. A Sourcebook. Ed(s) HM Wittink, DB Carr. Elsevier: Philadelphia PA, 361-76, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-444-51414-1.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Effectiveness of Minocycline for Reducing Symptoms in Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/1/2012 - 8/31/2014
 
Title: Symptom Progression in Pancreatic Cancer
Funding Source: U. S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 10/2008 - 9/2010
 
Title: Mechanisms of Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma and Its Therapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: PI for Project 1
Principal Investigator: CS Cleeland
Duration: 9/18/2008 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Reducing the Symptom Burden Produced by Aggressive Cancer Therapies
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: CS Cleeland
Duration: 7/1/2008 - 4/30/2014
 
Title: Inflammatory Cytokines Associated with Symptom Burden in NSCLC Patients Receiving CXRT
Funding Source: NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2008 - 6/30/2012
 
Title: MDASI-GI Validation and Clinical Utility in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy
Funding Source: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 3/2008 - 3/2010
 
Title: Neuropathic Pain Project - Colorectal Cancer Clinical Study
Funding Source: Astra Zeneca
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: CS Cleeland
Duration: 11/26/2007 - 11/30/2012
 
Title: Neuropathic Pain Project - Multiple Myeloma
Funding Source: AstraZeneca
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Charles Cleeland
Duration: 11/26/2007 - 11/30/2012
 
Title: Single Agent ALIMTA in Poor Performance Status NSCLC
Funding Source: Eli Lilly and Company
Role: Investigator
Principal Investigator: Zinner, Ralph
Duration: 9/1/2005 - 9/1/2012
 
Title: Needs Assessment for Cancer Pain Relief Programs in Three Cancer Treatment Centers in Viet Nam
Funding Source: U. S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/2003 - 5/2011
 
Title: Using a Novel System to Assess and Manage Post-Operative Pain and Other Symptoms in Patients with Lung Cancer
Funding Source: Pharmacia
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: CS Cleeland
Duration: 3/2002 - 2/2004
 
Title: Repeated Measure of Postoperative Fatigue: A Feasibility Study
Funding Source: Texas Medical Center
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 12/2000 - 1/2002
 
Title: Symptoms of Transplant Patients Near the End of Life
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: KO Anderson
Duration: 2/2000 - 1/2004

Last updated: 2/22/2013