Xingyao Li, PHD
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Xingyao Li
Dr. Xingyao Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. With a focus on immuno-oncology, Dr. Li's research aims to discover and develop novel therapeutics to treat colorectal cancer and other malignant solid tumors.
Dr. Li holds a Ph.D. in cancer biology, with a strong foundation in colorectal cancer research. Their early work explored the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis, laying the groundwork for a career dedicated to improving cancer treatment. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Georgia Cancer Center, Dr. Li worked with genetically engineered mouse models to investigate DNA damage responses and cancer metabolism under the mentorship of Dr. Chunhong Yan.
Following this, Dr. Li furthered their expertise during an IRTA fellowship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), where they were co-mentored by Dr. Stephen Shears and Dr. Xiaoling Li. Their research during this time focused on the interplay between metabolism and cancer biology, particularly in the context of inositol signaling and its role in disease.
At MD Anderson, Dr. Li continues to push the boundaries of cancer research using innovative models like patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and genetically engineered animal models. Their work is particularly focused on understanding the mechanisms of therapy resistance in colorectal cancer, with the goal of developing new strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Li's contributions to the field are reflected in numerous peer-reviewed publications and collaborations with leading researchers. Their ongoing research is integral to advancing the treatment landscape for gastrointestinal cancers.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, GI Medical Oncology-Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CN, Pharmacy, PhD |
| 2004 | Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, CN, Pharmacy, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2023-2023 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 2017-2023 | IRTA Fellow, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) |
| 2013-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Augusta University |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Research Assistant, Drug discovery, CSPC Pharma, 2004 - 2007
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Registration Award Recipient for the Gordon Conference on the Physiology, Biology, and Pathology of Phosphate |
| 2020 - 2021 | NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) |
| 2013 | CAS Graduate Student Excellent Grades, Abstract Judge |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
International Presentations
- 2023. IP8/XPR1/PiT1 Signaling Axis Controls Cellular Phosphate Homeostasis and Ectopic Calcification. Poster. Gordon Research Conference, Physiology, Biology, and Pathology of Phosphate. Grand Galvez, US.
- 2022. Lysosome/Endoplasmic Reticulum Contacts Control Cellular Phosphate Homeostasis via the XPR1/PiT1 Signaling Axis. Poster. EMBO Workshop, The Endoplasmic Reticulum: The Master Regulator of Membrane Trafficking. Lucca, IT.
- 2019. Insp8 Regulates Cellular Phosphate Homeostasis and Calcification. Poster. ASCB | EMBO 2019 Annual Meeting. Washington DC, US.
- 2018. Regulation of Cellular Phosphate Homeostasis by Inositol Pyrophosphates. Poster. Keystone Symposia, Novel Aspects of Bone Biology (E3). Snowbird, US.
- 2016. The Stress Response Mediator ATF3 Stabilizes p53 by Competing with it for MDM2-Mediated Ubiquitination. Poster. AACR Annual Meeting. New Orleans, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Li X, Kirkpatrick RB, Wang X, Tucker CJ, Shukla A, Jessen HJ, Wang H, Shears SB, Gu C. Homeostatic coordination of cellular phosphate uptake and efflux requires an organelle-based receptor for the inositol pyrophosphate IP8. Cell Rep 43(6):114316, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38833370.
- Li X, Gracilla D, Cai L, Zhang M, Yu X, Chen X, Zhang J, Long X, Ding HF, Yan C. ATF3 promotes the serine synthesis pathway and tumor growth under dietary serine restriction. Cell Rep 36(12):109706, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34551291.
- Sahu S, Wang Z, Jiao X, Gu C, Jork N, Wittwer C, Li X, Hostachy S, Fiedler D, Wang H, Jessen HJ, Kiledjian M, Shears SB. InsP(7) is a small-molecule regulator of NUDT3-mediated mRNA decapping and processing-body dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(32):19245-19253, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32727897.
- Li X, Guo M, Cai L, Du T, Liu Y, Ding HF, Wang H, Zhang J, Chen X, Yan C. Competitive ubiquitination activates the tumor suppressor p53. Cell Death Differ 27(6):1807-1818, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31796886.
- Li X, Gu C, Hostachy S, Sahu S, Wittwer C, Jessen HJ, Fiedler D, Wang H, Shears SB. Control of XPR1-dependent cellular phosphate efflux by InsP(8) is an exemplar for functionally-exclusive inositol pyrophosphate signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(7):3568-3574, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32019887.
- Cui H, Li X, Han C, Wang QE, Wang H, Ding HF, Zhang J, Yan C. The Stress-responsive Gene ATF3 Mediates Dichotomous UV Responses by Regulating the Tip60 and p53 Proteins. J Biol Chem 291(20):10847-57, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26994140.
- Zhao J, Li X, Guo M, Yu J, Yan C. The common stress responsive transcription factor ATF3 binds genomic sites enriched with p300 and H3K27ac for transcriptional regulation. BMC Genomics 17:335, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27146783.
- Kong LM, Feng T, Wang YY, Li X, Ye ZN, An T, Qing C, Luo XD, Li Y. Bisleuconothine A, a bisindole alkaloid, inhibits colorectal cancer cell in vitro and in vivo targeting Wnt signaling. Oncotarget 7(9):10203-14, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26862734.
- Li X, Bai B, Liu L, Ma P, Kong L, Yan J, Zhang J, Ye Z, Zhou H, Mao B, Zhu H, Li Y. Novel beta-carbolines against colorectal cancer cell growth via inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Cell Death Discov 1:15033, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 27551464.
- Qin ZB, Zhang J, Wu XD, He J, Ding LF, Peng LY, Li X, Li Y, Deng L, Guo YD, Zhao QS. Sesquiterpenoids from Tussilago farfara and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production. Planta Med 80(8-9):703-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24963619.
- Bai B, Li X, Liu L, Li Y, Zhu HJ. Syntheses of novel beta-carboline derivatives and the activities against five tumor-cell lines. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 24(1):96-8, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24345445.
- Liang CQ, Shi YM, Li X, Luo RH, Li Y, Zheng YT, Zhang HB, Xiao WL, Sun HD. Kadcotriones A-C: tricyclic triterpenoids from Kadsura coccinea. J Nat Prod 76(12):2350-4, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24299567.
- Wu XD, He J, Li X, Dong LB, Gong X, Gao X, Song LD, Li Y, Peng LY, Zhao QS. Triterpenoids and steroids with cytotoxic activity from Emmenopterys henryi. Planta Med 79(14):1356-61, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23881457.
- Bao MF, Yan JM, Cheng GG, Li XY, Liu YP, Li Y, Cai XH, Luo XD. Cytotoxic indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana divaricata. J Nat Prod 76(8):1406-12, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23944995.
- Wu XD, He J, Li X, Dong LB, Gong X, Song LD, Li Y, Peng LY, Zhao QS. Diterpenoids from the twigs and leaves of Fokienia hodginsii. J Nat Prod 76(6):1032-8, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23691952.
- Yuan CM, Zhang Y, Tang GH, Li Y, He HP, Li SF, Hou L, Li X, Di YT, Li SL, Hua HM, Hao XJ. Cytotoxic limonoids from Melia azedarach. Planta Med 79(2):163-8, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23250810.
- Su J, Zhao P, Kong L, Li X, Yan J, Zeng Y, Li Y. Trichothecin induces cell death in NF-kappaB constitutively activated human cancer cells via inhibition of IKKbeta phosphorylation. PLoS One 8(8):e71333, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23936501.
- Li X, Pu J, Jiang S, Su J, Kong L, Mao B, Sun H, Li Y. Henryin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid, inhibits Wnt signaling through interference with beta-catenin/TCF4 interaction in colorectal cancer cells. PLoS One 8(7):e68525, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23844215.
- Liu W, Su J, Jiang J, Li X, Ye Q, Zhou H, Chen J, Li Y. Two mixed-NH3/amine platinum (II) anticancer complexes featuring a dichloroacetate moiety in the leaving group. Sci Rep 3:2464, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23955304.
- Luo Z, Wang F, Zhang J, Li X, Zhang M, Hao X, Xue Y, Li Y, Horgen FD, Yao G, Zhang Y. Cytotoxic alkaloids from the whole plants of Zephyranthes candida. J Nat Prod 75(12):2113-20, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23190013.
- Liang CQ, Shi YM, Luo RH, Li X, Gao ZH, Li XN, Yang LM, Shang SZ, Li Y, Zheng YT, Zhang HB, Xiao WL, Sun HD. Kadcoccitones A and B, two new 6/6/5/5-fused tetracyclic triterpenoids from Kadsura coccinea. Org Lett 14(24):6362-5, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23230829.
- Huang SZ, Zhang XJ, Li XY, Kong LM, Jiang HZ, Ma QY, Liu YQ, Hu JM, Zheng YT, Li Y, Zhou J, Zhao YX. Daphnane-type diterpene esters with cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 activities from Daphne acutiloba Rehd. Phytochemistry 75:99-107, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22196934.
- Liu YP, Li Y, Cai XH, Li XY, Kong LM, Cheng GG, Luo XD. Melodinines M-U, cytotoxic alkaloids from Melodinus suaveolens. J Nat Prod 75(2):220-4, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22260257.
- Tian LW, Xu M, Li Y, Li XY, Wang D, Zhu HT, Yang CR, Zhang YJ. Phenolic compounds from the branches of Eucalyptus maideni. Chem Biodivers 9(1):123-30, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22253109.
- Wang LQ, Wu MM, Liu JP, Li Y, Hua Y, Wang YY, Li XY, Chen YG, Wang JH. Five new diarylpropan-1-ols from Combretum yunnanense. Planta Med 77(16):1841-4, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21674439.
- Zhu F, Di YT, Li XY, Liu LL, Zhang Q, Li Y, Hao XJ, He HP. Neoclerodane diterpenoids from Scutellaria barbata. Planta Med 77(13):1536-41, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21360416.
- Shi YM, Li XY, Li XN, Luo X, Xue YB, Liang CQ, Zou J, Kong LM, Li Y, Pu JX, Xiao WL, Sun HD. Schicagenins A-C: three cagelike nortriterpenoids from leaves and stems of Schisandra chinensis. Org Lett 13(15):3848-51, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21714531.
- Liu JQ, Wang CF, Li XY, Chen JC, Li Y, Qiu MH. One new pregnane glycoside from the seeds of cultivated Brucea javanica. Arch Pharm Res 34(8):1297-300, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21910051.
- Bai B, Li XY, Li Y, Zhu HJ. Design, synthesis and cytotoxic activities of novel beta-amino alcohol derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 21(8):2302-4, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21397498.
- Wu MM, Wang LQ, Hua Y, Chen YG, Wang YY, Li XY, Li Y, Li T, Yang XY, Tang ZR. New chalcone and dimeric chalcones with 1,4-p-benzoquinone residue from Combretum yunnanense. Planta Med 77(5):481-4, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21053158.
Review Articles
- Gu C, Li X, Zong G, Wang H, Shears SB. IP8: A quantitatively minor inositol pyrophosphate signaling molecule that punches above its weight. Adv Biol Regul 91:101002, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38064879.
- Randall TA, Gu C, Li X, Wang H, Shears SB. A two-way switch for inositol pyrophosphate signaling: Evolutionary history and biological significance of a unique, bifunctional kinase/phosphatase. Adv Biol Regul 75:100674, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31776069.
Other Articles
- Wu XD, Wang L, He J, Li X, Dong LB, Gong X, Gao X, Song L, Li Y, Peng L, Zhao Q Two New Indole Alkaloids from Emmenopterys henryi. Helvetica Chimica Acta 96(12):2207-2213, 2013.
- Feng T, Li ZH, Yin X, Dong ZJ, Wang GQ, Li X, Li Y, Liu JK New benzene derivatives from cultures of ascomycete Daldinia concentrica. Nat Prod Bioprospect 3(4):150-153, 2013.
- Li X, Wang YY, Yuan CM, Hao XJ, Li Y A reporter gene system for screening inhibitors of Wnt signaling pathway. Nat Prod Bioprospect 3(1):24-28, 2013.
- Cheng JT, He J, Li X, Wu XD, Shao LD, Dong L, Deng X, Gao X, Peng L, Cheng X, Li Y, Zhao Q Three New Sucrose Fatty Acid Esters from Equisetum hiemale L. Helvetica Chimica Acta 95(7):1158-1163, 2012.
- Li X, Li ZH, Li X, Su J, Li Y, Liu JK Two novel fomannosane-type sesquiterpenoids from the culture of the basidiomycete Agrocybe salicacola. Nat Prod Bioprospect 2(3):130-132, 2012.
- Li SF, Zhang Y, Li Y, Li X, Kong LM, Tan CJ, Li SL, Di YT, He HP, Hao XJ β-Carboline alkaloids from the leaves of Trigonostemon lii Y.T. Chang. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 22(6):2296-9, 2012. PMID: 22342628.
- He F, Li X, Yang G, Li XN, Luo X, Zou J, Li Y, Xiao WL, Sun H Nortriterpene constituents from Schisandra sphenanthera. Tetrahedron 68(2):440-446, 2012.
- Liu LY, Zhang L, Feng T, Li ZH, Dong ZJ, Li X, Su J, Li Y, Liu JK Unusual illudin-type sesquiterpenoids from cultures of Agrocybe salicacola. Nat Prod Bioprospect 1(2):87-92, 2011.
- Li L, Ni W, Li X, Hua Y, Fang PL, Kong LM, Pan LL, Li Y, Chen CX, Liu HY Taccasubosides A-D, four new steroidal glycosides from Tacca subflabellata. Steroids 76(10-11):1037-42, 2011. PMID: 21515300.
- Dong LB, He J, Li X, Wu XD, Deng X, Xu G, Peng LY, Zhao Y, Li Y, Gong X, Zhao QS Chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Musella lasiocarpa. Nat Prod Bioprospect 1(1):41-47, 2011.
Letters to the Editor
- Huang SZ, Zhang XJ, Li XY, Jiang HZ, Ma QY, Wang PC, Liu YQ, Hu JM, Zheng YT, Zhou J, Zhao YX. Phenols with anti-HIV activity from Daphne acutiloba. Planta Med 78: 182-5, 2012.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026