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 Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
To understand how oncogenic signaling pathways and tumor microenvironment regulate cancer development and metastasis. To search for biomarkers and context-specific therapeutic targets 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 |
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | UT System Rising STARs Award, University of Texas |
| 2018 | FY18 Postdoctoral Travel Awards, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2017 | The Lupe C. Garcia Fellowship in Cancer Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2016 | Odyssey Fellowship, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2014 | Ray Wu Prize, Ray Wu Memorial Foundation |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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: | Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Advanced Prostate Cancer Harboring Specific Tumor Suppressor Deficiencies |
| Funding Source: | Prostate Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Determine the Resistance to CDK4/6 Inhibitors in CHD1 Deficient Prostate Cancer |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson PCa SPORE CEP Award |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award |
| Funding Source: | Prostate Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |