Di Ai, MD, PHD
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div
About Dr. Di Ai
In addition to my clinical practice in pathology, I have a strong interest in research, with experience spanning basic, translational, and clinical domains. My basic science research focused on the WNT signaling pathway in developmental biology and mouse genetics, utilizing genetically engineered mouse models. In translational research, I investigated the role of platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) in maintaining cardiac function under mechanical stress. My clinical research experience includes identifying a novel diagnostic immunohistochemical marker (TRPS1) in breast cancer, studying chromosome 3 abnormalities in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, and contributing to large-scale clinical trials such as POISE-II (NCT00860925).
I am a breast pathology fellowship–trained pathologist currently practicing at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. We evaluate more than three thousand breast resection specimens annually, the majority of which are estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive. Immunohistochemical analysis for biomarkers such as ER and PR is routinely performed on all malignancies, and tumor profiling via molecular testing guides clinical management, particularly in ER-positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease. Leveraging access to well-annotated breast tumor specimens, my current translational research centers on gene regulation and dysregulated signaling pathways across distinct breast cancer subtypes, including ER-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2007 | Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TEXAS, US, PHD |
| 1999 | Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, CN, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2021 | Breast Pathology Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2019-2020 | Surgical Pathology Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2015-2019 | Pathology Residency, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Temple, Texas |
| 2012-2014 | Clinical Research Fellow, The university of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2007-2010 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson, Houston, Texas |
| 1999-2001 | Internal Medicine Residency, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu |
Experience & Service
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Consultation, PathAI, 2022 - 2023
Institutional Committee Activities
Director, Immunohistochemistry Subcommittee,, 2024 - 2025
Admissions Committee, Admissions Committee, 2024 - 2027
Director, Chinese American Pathologists Association (CAPA), 2023 - 2024
Director, IT and Website Subcommittee, 2023 - 2024
Conflict of Interest and Commitment Office Committee (COI/COC), Conflict of Interest and Commitment Office Committee (COI/COC),, 2022 - 2023
Associate Director, Membership and Operation Subcommittee, 2021 - 2022
Membership Committee, Georgia Association of Pathology, 2021 - 2023
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - Present | 1st place Poster Presentation - Case Report Category, Texas Society of Pathologists |
| 2024 - Present | CAPA Service Award, Chinese American Pathologists Association (CAPA), Baltimore, MD |
| 2017 - Present | TSP Educational Foundation Scholarship, Texas Society of Pathologists (TSP), Temple, TX |
| 2017 - Present | Research travel award, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Temple, TX |
| 2016 - Present | The Highest Ranked Breast Pathology Abstract Award, International Society of Breast Pathology, Seattle, WA 2016 |
| 2016 - Present | Research travel award, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Temple, TX |
| 2010 - Present | Travel Award Winner, The 1st São Paulo School of Translational Sciences Conference, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2009 - Present | Trainee Excellence Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2008 - Present | Travel Award Winner, Mitochondrial Biology in Cardiovascular Health and Diseases Conference |
| 1999 - Present | Outstanding Intern, Jiangsu Province Hospital |
| 1998 - Present | Magna cum laude graduate, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China |
| 1998 - Present | The 1st class scholarship, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China |
| 1996 - Present | The 2nd class scholarship, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China |
| 1995 - Present | The 1st class scholarship, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ai D, Arrey EN, Postlewait LM, Gao Y, Li X. The prevalence and clinical significance of residual occult breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: reassessing surgical pathology in cases initially described as pathological complete response. Histopathology, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39904575.
- Turashvili G, Gao Y, Ai DA, Ewaz AM, Gjeorgjievski SG, Wang Q, Nguyen TTA, Zhang C, Li X. Low interobserver agreement among subspecialised breast pathologists in evaluating HER2-low breast cancer. J Clin Pathol 77(12):815-821, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37714693.
- Rehman AU, Rolle NA, Ghleilib I, Ai D. Adenoid cystic carcinoma in situ of the breast. Elsevier 37, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Ai D, Turashvili G, Gjeorgjievski SG, Wang Q, Ewaz AM, Gao Y, Nguyen T, Zhang C, Li X. Subspecialized breast pathologists have suboptimal interobserver agreement in Ki-67 evaluation using 20% as the cutoff. Breast Cancer Res Treat 204(2):415-422, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38157098.
- Liao Y, Xiang Y, Zhao Z, Ai D. Bayesian mixed-effect higher-order hidden Markov models with applications to predictive healthcare using electronic health records. IISE Trans 57(2):186-198, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Turashvili G, Gjeorgjievski SG, Wang Q, Ewaz A, Ai D, Li X, Badve SS. Intraoperative assessment of axillary sentinel lymph nodes by telepathology. Breast Cancer Res Treat 202(3):423-434, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37688667.
- Ai Di, Zhang J, Ai D. Antimicrobial Effects of Essential Oils on Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Journal of Pathology Research Reviews & Reports 4(4):1-6, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Hu S, Alpert L, M Cates JM, Gonzalez RS, Graham R, Goldblum JR, Bakhshwin A, Shetty S, Wang HL, Lollie T, Ma C, Siddique A, Karamchandani DM, Chen F, Yantiss RK, Hissong E, Chatterjee D, Chopra S, Chen W, Vazzano J, Wang W, Ai D, Lin J, Zheng L, Davis JL, Brinkerhoff B, Breitbarth A, Yang M, Madahian S, Panarelli N, Kuan K, Pomper J, Longacre T, Raghavan S, Misdraji J, Cui M, Yang Z, Savant D, Harpaz N, Chen X, Resnick M, Wu EY, Klimstra D, Shia J, Vyas M, Kakar S, Choi W, Robert ME, Li H, Lee M, Clark I, Li Y, Cao W, Chang Q, Bronner MP, Dong Z, Zhang W, Buehler D, Swanson PE, Mantilla JG, Bellizzi AM, Feely M, Cooper HS, Nagarathinam R, Pai R, Hammer S, Hosseini M, Hu J, Westerhoff M, Cheng J, Agostini-Vulaj D, Lauwers G, Ghayouri M, Pezhouh MK, Zeng J, Xia R, Yin F, Zhang T, Gao Z, Demko N, Chen HH, Yu S, Hart J. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arising in uncommon locations: clinicopathologic features and risk assessment of esophageal, colonic, and appendiceal GISTs. Mod Pathol 4(35):554-563, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Ai D, Sweeney K, Li X. Short review of malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast. Elsevier 27, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Zheng M, Erhardt S, Ai D, Wang J. Bmp Signaling Regulates Hand1 in a Dose-Dependent Manner during Heart Development. Int J Mol Sci 22(18), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34576009.
- Ai D, Yao J, Yang F, Huo L, Chen H, Lu W, Soto LMS, Jiang M, Raso MG, Wang S, Bell D, Liu J, Wang H, Tan D, Torres-Cabala C, Gan Q, Wu Y, Albarracin C, Hung MC, Meric-Bernstam F, Wistuba II, Prieto VG, Sahin AA, Ding Q. TRPS1: a highly sensitive and specific marker for breast carcinoma, especially for triple-negative breast cancer. Mod Pathol 34(4):710-719, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33011748.
- Ai Di, Yao Y, Yang F, Huo L, Chen, H, Lu W, Soto LM, Jiang M, Raso, MG, Wang SF, Bell D, Liu JS, Wang HM, Tan, DF, Torres-Cabala C, Gan Q, Wu Y, Albarracin CT, Hung MC, Meric-Bernstam F, Wistuba II, Prieto VG, Sahin A, Ding QQ. Surgical Pathology: Identifying a Novel Diagnostic Marker for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Surgical Pathology: Identifying a Novel Diagnostic Marker for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer 4(34):710-719, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Ai D, Zreik RT, Harris FS, Hill G, Shan Y. Primary epithelioid angiosarcoma of the temporal bone with initial presentation of otalgia. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 31(1):84-87, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29686564.
- Konda P, Ai D, Guerra CE, Rodriguez-Restrepo A, Mehran RJ, Rice D, Hofstetter W, Heir J, Kwater P, Gottumukkala V, Hernandez M, Cata JP. Identification of Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 31(2):474-481, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27720491.
- Ai D, Jebakumar D, McCormick-Baw C, Zhou S, Wu EX, Baker J, Liu L, Rao A. PITX2 Expression is Elevated in a Progressive Manner in Breast Papilloma and Triple-negative Breast Carcinoma, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Chen ZI, Ai DI. Cardiotoxicity associated with targeted cancer therapies. Mol Clin Oncol 4(5):675-681, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27123262.
- Ai DI, Liu W, Lu G, Patel KP, Chen ZI. Extramedullary blast crisis as initial presentation in chronic myeloid leukemia with the e1a2 BCR-ABL1 transcript: A case report. Mol Clin Oncol 3(6):1319-1322, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26807241.
- Wang W, Cortes JE, Lin P, Beaty MW, Ai D, Amin HM, McDonnell TJ, Ok CY, Kantarjian HM, Medeiros LJ, Hu S. Clinical and prognostic significance of 3q26.2 and other chromosome 3 abnormalities in CML in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Blood 126(14):1699-706, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26243778.
- Ai D, Lasala J, Mehran JR, Xu G, Banchs J, Cata JP. Preoperative Echocardiographic Parameters of Diastolic Dysfunction Did Not Provide a Predictive Value for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Lung and Esophageal Cancer Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 29(5):1127-30, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25976602.
- Wang W, Tang G, Cortes JE, Liu H, Ai D, Yin CC, Li S, Khoury JD, Bueso-Ramos C, Medeiros LJ, Hu S. Chromosomal rearrangement involving 11q23 locus in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a rare phenomenon frequently associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. J Hematol Oncol 8:32, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25888368.
- Ai D, Xu G, Feng L, Yu J, Banchs J, Vaporciyan AA, Cata JP. Dexmedetomidine does not reduce atrial fibrillation after lung cancer surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 29(2):396-401, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25440618.
- Ai D, Xu G, Feng L, Yu J, Banchs J, Vaporciyan AA, Cata JP. Dexmedetomidine does not reduce atrial fibrillation after lung cancer surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2(29):396-401, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Ramirez MF, Ai D, Bauer M, Vauthey JN, Gottumukkala V, Kee S, Shon D, Truty M, Kuerer HM, Kurz A, Hernandez M, Cata JP. Innate immune function after breast, lung, and colorectal cancer surgery. J Surg Res 194(1):185-93, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25475022.
- Zhang J, Chintalgattu V, Shih T, Ai D, Xia Y, Khakoo AY. MicroRNA-9 is an activation-induced regulator of PDGFR-beta expression in cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 51(3):337-46, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21684288.
- Chintalgattu V, Ai D, Langley RR, Zhang J, Bankson JA, Shih TL, Reddy AK, Coombes KR, Daher IN, Pati S, Patel SS, Pocius JS, Taffet GE, Buja LM, Entman ML, Khakoo AY. Adult Heart Disease. The Journal of clinical investigation 2(120):472-84, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Chintalgattu V, Ai D, Langley RR, Zhang J, Bankson JA, Shih TL, Reddy AK, Coombes KR, Daher IN, Pati S, Patel SS, Pocius JS, Taffet GE, Buja LM, Entman ML, Khakoo AY. Cardiomyocyte PDGFR-beta signaling is an essential component of the mouse cardiac response to load-induced stress. J Clin Invest 120(2):472-84, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20071776.
- Weng J, Luo J, Cheng X, Jin C, Zhou X, Qu J, Tu L, Ai D, Li D, Wang J, Martin JF, Amendt BA, Liu M. Deletion of G protein-coupled receptor 48 leads to ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) through down-regulation of Pitx2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105(16):6081-6, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18424556.
- Ai D, Wang J, Amen M, Lu MF, Amendt BA, Martin JF. Nuclear factor 1 and T-cell factor/LEF recognition elements regulate Pitx2 transcription in pituitary development. Mol Cell Biol 27(16):5765-75, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17562863.
- Ai Di, Wang J, Amen M, Lu MF, Amendt BA, Martin JF. Developmental Biology. Molecular and Cellular Biology 16(27):5765-75, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Ai D, Fu X, Wang J, Lu MF, Chen L, Baldini A, Klein WH, Martin JF. Canonical Wnt signaling functions in second heart field to promote right ventricular growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104(22):9319-24, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17519332.
- Ai Di, Fu X, Wang J, Lu MF, Chen L, Baldini A, Klein WH, Martin JF. Developmental Biology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 22(104):9319-24, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Dong F, Sun X, Liu W, Ai D, Klysik E, Lu MF, Hadley J, Antoni L, Chen L, Baldini A, Francis-West P, Martin JF. Pitx2 promotes development of splanchnic mesoderm-derived branchiomeric muscle. Development 133(24):4891-9, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17107996.
- Ai D, Liu W, Ma L, Dong F, Lu MF, Wang D, Verzi MP, Cai C, Gage PJ, Evans S, Black BL, Brown NA, Martin JF. Pitx2 regulates cardiac left-right asymmetry by patterning second cardiac lineage-derived myocardium. Dev Biol 296(2):437-49, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16836994.
- Ai D, Liu W, Ma L, Dong F, Lu MF, Wang D, Verzi MP, Cai C, Gage PJ, Evans S, Black BL, Brown NA, Martin JF. Developmental Biology. Development Biology 2(296):437-49, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
Other Articles
- Assaye T, Abunimer L, Calisi N, Ai D Breast Hemangioma Diagnosed in a Male Patient: A Case Report. Cureus 17(2):e78390, 2025. PMID: 40046370.
- Cata JP, Ramirez MF, Velasquez JF, Di AI, Popat KU, Gottumukkala V, Black DM, Lewis VO, Vauthey JN Lidocaine Stimulates the Function of Natural Killer Cells in Different Experimental Settings. Anticancer Res 37(9):4727-4732, 2017. PMID: 28870891.
Abstracts
- Ai D, Jebakumar D, McCormick-Baw C, Zhou S, Wu EX, Baker J, Liu L, Rao A. PITX2 Expression is Elevated in a Progressive Manner in Breast Papilloma and Triple-negative Breast Carcinoma. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting.
Book Chapters
- Di A, et al. Breast Pathology volume in the Surgical Pathology: Case Based Approach to Diagnosis, 2025.
- Shan Y, Wu HW, Zhang DR, Ai D, Zreik R, Huang H. Soft tissue tumors, molecular diagnosis and pathology. In: Advances in Soft Tissue Tumors, 2022.
- Ai Di, Cata JP. Atrial fibrillation after surgery. In: General Surgery: Principles, Practice and Postoperative Complications, 2014.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- Signing out cases with residents daily in breast pathology, head & neck pathology and general pathology, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2025 |
| Title: | Investigating how deregulated tRNA modifications leads to translational reprogramming in cancer |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP260225 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Lactation on Breast Tumorigenesis |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | R01 CA2715801A1 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Utility and specificity of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of eccrine porocarcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Sharing Organizational and Unit Performance (SOUP) Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | The identification of a novel diagnostic marker for metastatic triple negative breast cancer |
| Funding Source: | Divisional Research Funding, The university of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2018 |
| Title: | Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) expression in triple negative |
| Funding Source: | Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Research Mentorship Award |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2008 - 2010 |
| Title: | The platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) as an essential component of cardiomyocytes response to stress |
| Funding Source: | American Heart Association (AHA), South Central Affiliate #0825014F |
| Role: | PI |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 29, 2025