Di Zhao, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Over the past decade, large-scale cancer genome studies have uncovered emerging genetic alterations in malignancies. Research in my laboratory focuses on functional cancer genomics, with a special interest in advanced prostate cancer. Combining the state-of-the-art mouse modeling systems and single-cell multi-omics, we aim to 1) characterize the genetic determinants that drive prostate cancer development, metastatic progression, and therapy resistance; 2) determine the impact of cancer genome on the tumor immune microenvironment and responsiveness to immunotherapies; 3) develop biomarker-driven therapies and combinatorial strategies for personalized cancer medicine.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | Fudan University, Shanghai, CHN, PHD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology |
| 2009 | Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, CHN, BS, Biotechnology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2016-2019 | Odyssey Fellow, Cancer Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2014-2019 | Research Fellowship, Cancer Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award, Prostate Cancer Foundation |
| 2020 | Prostate Cancer SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award, MDACC |
| 2019 | UT System Rising STARs Award, University of Texas |
| 2019 | CPRIT Recruitment of First-Time Tenure-Track Faculty Award, CPRIT |
| 2018 | FY18 Postdoctoral Travel Awards, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2018 | NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) , NIH |
| 2017 | The Lupe C. Garcia Fellowship in Cancer Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2017 | Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, Prostate Cancer Foundation |
| 2016 | Odyssey Fellowship, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2014 | Ray Wu Prize, Ray Wu Memorial Foundation |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Shi W, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Kim JJ, Li H, Meng C, Chen F, Zhang J, Mak DH, Van V, Leo J, St Croix B, Aparicio A, Zhao D. Immune Checkpoint B7-H3 is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in Prostate Cancer Harboring PTEN and TP53 Deficiencies. Sci Transl Med 15(695):eadf6724, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37163614.
- Li H, Gigi L, Zhao D. CHD1, a multifaceted epigenetic remodeler in prostate cancer. Front Oncol 13:1123362, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36776288.
- Li H, Wang Y, Lin K, Venkadakrishnan VB, Bakht M, Shi W, Meng C, Zhang J, Tremble K, Liang X, Song JH, Feng X, Van V, Deng P, Burks JK, Aparicio A, Keyomarsi K, Chen J, Lu Y, Beltran H, Zhao D. CHD1 promotes sensitivity to Aurora kinase inhibitors by suppressing interaction of AURKA with its coactivator TPX2. Cancer Res 82(17):3088-3101, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35771632.
- Lee R, Li J, Li J, Wu CJ, Jiang S, Hsu WH, Chakravarti D, Chen P, LaBella KA, Li J, Spring DJ, Zhao D, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Synthetic Essentiality of Tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase 2 in APC-Mutated Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Discov. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35537038.
- Miyahira AK, Zarif JC, Coombs CC, Flavell RR, Russo JW, Zaidi S, Zhao D, Zhao SG, Pienta KJ, Soule HR. Prostate cancer research in the 21st century; report from the 2021 Coffey-Holden prostate cancer academy meeting. Prostate 82(2):169-181, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34734426.
- Deng Y, Xia X, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Martinez C, Yin W, Yao J, Hang Q, Wu W, Zhang J, Yu Y, Xia W, Yao F, Zhao D, Sun Y, Ying H, Hung MC, Ma L. Glucocorticoid receptor regulates PD-L1 and MHC-I in pancreatic cancer cells to promote immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance. Nat Commun 12(1):7041, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34873175.
- Zhao D, Cai L, Lu X, Liang X, Li J, Chen P, Ittmann M, Shang X, Jiang S, Li H, Meng C, Flores I, Song JH, Horner JW, Lan Z, Wu CJ, Li J, Chang Q, Chen KC, Wang G, Deng P, Spring DJ, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Chromatin Regulator, CHD1, Remodels the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in PTEN-Deficient Prostate Cancer. Cancer Discovery 10(9), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32385075.
- Chen P, Zhao D, Li J, Liang X, Li J, Chang A, Henry VK, Lan Z, Spring DJ, Rao G, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Symbiotic Macrophage-Glioma Cell Interactions Reveal Synthetic Lethality in PTEN-Null Glioma. Cancer Cell 35(6):868-884.e6, 2019. PMID: 31185211.
- Liao W, Overman MJ, Boutin AT, Shang X, Zhao D, Dey P, Li J, Wang G, Lan Z, Li J, Tang M, Jiang S, Ma X, Chen P, Katkhuda R, Korphaisarn K, Chakravarti D, Chang A, Spring DJ, Chang Q, Zhang J, Maru DM, Maeda DY, Zebala JA, Kopetz S, Wang YA, DePinho RA. KRAS-IRF2 Axis Drives Immune Suppression and Immune Therapy Resistance in Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Cell 35(4):559-572.e7, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30905761.
- Wang G, Zhao D, Spring DJ, DePinho RA. Genetics and biology of prostate cancer. Genes Dev 32(17-18):1105-1140, 2018. PMID: 30181359.
- Lu X, Pan X, Wu CJ, Zhao D, Feng S, Zang Y, Lee R, Khadka S, Amin SB, Jin EJ, Shang X, Deng P, Luo Y, Morgenlander WR, Weinrich J, Lu X, Jiang S, Chang Q, Navone NM, Troncoso P, DePinho RA, Wang YA. An In Vivo Screen Identifies PYGO2 as a Driver for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 78(14):3823-3833, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29769196.
- Zhao D, DePinho RA. Synthetic essentiality: Targeting tumor suppressor deficiencies in cancer. Bioessays 39(8), 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28675450.
- Dey P, Baddour J, Muller F, Wu CC, Wang H, Liao WT, Lan Z, Chen A, Gutschner T, Kang Y, Fleming J, Satani N, Zhao D, Achreja A, Yang L, Lee J, Chang E, Genovese G, Viale A, Ying H, Draetta G, Maitra A, Wang YA, Nagrath D, DePinho RA. Genomic deletion of malic enzyme 2 confers collateral lethality in pancreatic cancer. Nature 542(7639):119-123, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28099419.
- Zhao D, Lu X, Wang G, Lan Z, Liao W, Li J, Liang X, Chen JR, Shah S, Shang X, Tang M, Deng P, Dey P, Chakravarti D, Chen P, Spring DJ, Navone NM, Troncoso P, Zhang J, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Synthetic essentiality of chromatin remodelling factor CHD1 in PTEN-deficient cancer. Nature 542(7642):484-488, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28166537.
- Wang G, Lu X, Dey P, Deng P, Wu CC, Jiang S, Fang Z, Zhao K, Konaparthi R, Hua S, Zhang J, Li-Ning-Tapia EM, Kapoor A, Wu CJ, Patel NB, Guo Z, Ramamoorthy V, Tieu TN, Heffernan T, Zhao D, Shang X, Khadka S, Hou P, Hu B, Jin EJ, Yao W, Pan X, Ding Z, Shi Y, Li L, Chang Q, Troncoso P, Logothetis CJ, McArthur MJ, Chin L, Wang YA, DePinho RA. Targeting YAP-Dependent MDSC Infiltration Impairs Tumor Progression. Cancer Discov 6(1):80-95, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26701088.
- Zhao D, Mo Y, Li MT, Zou SW, Cheng ZL, Sun YP, Xiong Y, Guan KL, Lei QY. NOTCH-induced aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 deacetylation promotes breast cancer stem cells. J Clin Invest 124(12):5453-65, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25384215.
- Lv L, Xu YP, Zhao D, Li FL, Wang W, Sasaki N, Jiang Y, Zhou X, Li TT, Guan KL, Lei QY, Xiong Y. Mitogenic and oncogenic stimulation of K433 acetylation promotes PKM2 protein kinase activity and nuclear localization. Mol Cell 52(3):340-52, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24120661.
- Zhao D, Xiong Y, Lei QY, Guan KL. LDH-A acetylation: implication in cancer. Oncotarget 4(6):802-3, 2013. PMID: 23868819.
- Zhao D, Zou SW, Liu Y, Zhou X, Mo Y, Wang P, Xu YH, Dong B, Xiong Y, Lei QY, Guan KL. Lysine-5 acetylation negatively regulates lactate dehydrogenase A and is decreased in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell 23(4):464-76, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23523103.
- Lv L, Li D, Zhao D, Lin R, Chu Y, Zhang H, Zha Z, Liu Y, Li Z, Xu Y, Wang G, Huang Y, Xiong Y, Guan KL, Lei QY. Acetylation targets the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase for degradation through chaperone-mediated autophagy and promotes tumor growth. Mol Cell 42(6):719-30, 2011. PMID: 21700219.
- Liu CY, Zha ZY, Zhou X, Zhang H, Huang W, Zhao D, Li T, Chan SW, Lim CJ, Hong W, Zhao S, Xiong Y, Lei QY, Guan KL. The hippo tumor pathway promotes TAZ degradation by phosphorylating a phosphodegron and recruiting the SCF{beta}-TrCP E3 ligase. J Biol Chem 285(48):37159-69, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20858893.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Novel Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Tumor Suppressor Deficiencies in Prostate Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Explore Novel Therapeutic Targets for Advanced Prostate Cancer Harboring PTEN Loss |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting B7-H3 in Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Prostate Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Novel Approaches Targeting B7-H3 in Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Novel Oncogenic Substrate of SPOP Reveals Therapeutic Vulnerability in Metastatic Cancers |
| Funding Source: | The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |