Xiao Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., FRCSC
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Xiao Zhao
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Adjunct Professor, Department of Genetics, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Core Curriculum Conference, Co-Director, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Tumor Evolution, Tumor Metabolism, Oral Premalignancy, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | University of Toronto, Toronto, CA, Ph.D. in Doctor of Philosophy |
| 2010 | Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, CA, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2022 | Clinical Fellowship, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2019-2020 | Clinical Fellowship, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2019 | Clinician Investigator Program, Clinician Investigator Program, University of Toronto, Toronto |
| 2010-2019 | Clinical Residency, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC), University of Toronto, Toronto |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2019 | The State of Texas Medical Board - Otolaryngology |
Experience & Service
Editorial Activities
Editor/Service on Editorial Board(s), Frontiers of Oncology, 2020 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2017 | AACR Head and Neck Translational Research Award |
| 2017 | Laidlaw Manuscript Competition |
| 2016 - 2018 | Canadian Institute of Health Research Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship |
| 2015 - 2018 | Raymond Ng Graduate Award |
| 2015 - 2016 | Department of Otolaryngology Annual Research Day: Percy Ireland Best Overall Paper |
| 2015 | Excellence in Radiation Research 21 Poster Award |
| 2015 | Richard Hill Graduate Research Award |
| 2015 | Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America Poster Award |
| 2015 | The Ara Mooradian Scholarship |
| 2014 - 2015 | Canadian Institute of Health Research – Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship |
| 2014 - 2015 | Gifford Scholarship |
| 2013 - 2014 | The Terry Fox Foundation Strategic Training Initiative for Excellence in Radiation Research for the 21st Century Scholarship |
| 2013 | Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Poliquin Resident Research Competition |
| 2013 | University of Toronto Shiley E.O. Pelausa Best Otolaryngology Resident Award |
| 2012 - 2013 | Chapnik, Freeman, and Friedberg Clinician Scientist Award |
| 2006 | Samuel Lunenfeld Summer Research Poster Award |
| 2005 | Institute of Medical Sciences Summer Student Award |
| 2005 | Toronto Biotechnology Initiative Award |
| 2004 - 2006 | University of Toronto (U of T) Scholarship |
| 2004 - 2006 | University of Toronto Dean’s List |
| 2004 - 2006 | University of Toronto Dr. James Scholarship in Science and Mathematics |
| 2004 - 2005 | University of Toronto Chemistry Excellence letter |
| 2004 | University of Toronto Biology Outstanding Achievement Award |
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Functional evolution of BRAFV600E anaplastic thyroid cancer in response to BRAF/MEK inhibition. Invited. Systems Biology Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. CDKN2A Loss is an Early and Under-detected Event in the Evolution to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Invited. AHNS 12th Annual International Conference for Head and Neck Cancer. Boston, US.
- 2023. Genetic and Functional Evolution of BRAFV600E Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Invited. AHNS 11th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer. Houston, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Elucidating subclonal evolution and fitness dynamics in oral carcinogenesis |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Development of novel brush biopsy technology for efficient DNA collection and genomic analysis of oral premalignant lesions |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | Deep Learning Image Analysis Algorithms to Improve Oral Cancer Risk Assessment for Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | R01DE030656 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | Co-evolution of Tumor and Immune Evolution in Oral Premalignancy |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC - Precancer Atlas Head & Neck Initiative |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Elucidating the Evolution of Oral Premalignancy to Oral Cancer |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC – Start Up Funds |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | Elucidating the role of mutant p53-driven fatty acid oxidation suppression in oral carcinogenesis |
| Funding Source: | Physician Scientist Program/ MD Anderson |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2020 - Present |
| Title: | Metabolic alterations in anaplastic thyroid cancer provide functional variation for tumor progression and vulnerabilities for treatment |
| Funding Source: | Petrick Thyroid Research Fund |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2023 |
| Title: | Developing anti-fibrosis treatment to improve cancer survivorship |
| Funding Source: | Canada Cancer Society Research Institute |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Date: | 2017 - 2020 |
| Title: | Mitigating Radiation Fibrosis and Lymphedema through Metabolic Reprogramming |
| Funding Source: | Godsoe |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2016 - 2017 |
| Title: | Utilizing Metabolic Alterations Induced by Adipose Derived Stromal Cells to Identify Novel Drugs for the Treatment of Radiation Fibrosis |
| Funding Source: | Harry Barberian Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2017 |
| Title: | Elucidating the role of CD36 as a master regulator of extracellular matrix regulation: Implications for Fibrosis Therapy |
| Funding Source: | Harry Barberian Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2015 - 2016 |
| Title: | Characterization of Metabolic Alterations in Radiation Fibrosis |
| Funding Source: | Harry Barberian Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2014 - 2016 |
| Title: | Epigenetic reprogramming of radiation fibrosis |
| Funding Source: | Canadian Cancer Research Institute |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2014 - 2016 |
| Title: | Role of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Reversal of Radiation Fibrosis |
| Funding Source: | Physician Services Incorporated (PSI) Resident Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | ImpACT: Improving Treatment Strategies for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Through 1.Integration of Novel Therapies and Assessment of Tumor Response |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Title: | Mobile detection of high-risk oral lesions with AI-assisted, point-of-care imaging and molecular cytology |
| Funding Source: | CPRIT |
| Role: | Co-I |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- John E, Lesluyes T, Baker TM, Tarabichi M, Gillenwater A, Wang JR, Van Loo P, Zhao X. Reconstructing oral cavity tumor evolution through brush biopsy. Sci Rep 14(1):22591, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39343812.
- Lu L, Wang JR, Henderson YC, Bai S, Yang J, Hu M, Shiau CK, Pan T, Yan Y, Tran TM, Li J, Kieser R, Zhao X, Wang J, Nurieva R, Williams MD, Cabanillas ME, Dadu R, Busaidy NL, Zafereo M, Navin N, Lai SY, Gao R. Anaplastic transformation in thyroid cancer revealed by single-cell transcriptomics. J Clin Invest 133(11), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37053016.
- Zhao X, Wang JR, Dadu R, Busaidy NL, Xu L, Learned KO, Chasen NN, Vu T, Maniakas A, Eguia AA, Diersing J, Gross ND, Goepfert R, Lai SY, Hofmann MC, Ferrarotto R, Lu C, Gunn GB, Spiotto MT, Subbiah V, Williams MD, Cabanillas ME, Zafereo ME. Surgery After BRAF-Directed Therapy Is Associated with Improved Survival in BRAFV600E Mutant Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study. Thyroid 33(4):484-491, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36762947.
- Lu L, Wang JR, Henderson YC, Bai S, Yang J, Hu M, Shiau C, Pan T, Yan Y, Tran TM, Li J, Kieser R, Zhao X, Wang J, Nurieva R, Williams MD, Cabanillas ME, Dadu R, Busaidy NL, Zafereo M, Navin N, Lai SY, Gao R. Anaplastic transformation model in thyroid cancer revealed by single cell lineage and fate analysis. Cancer Research 83, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Cao S, Wang JR, Ji S, Yang P, Dai Y, Guo S, Montierth MD, Shen JP, Zhao X, Chen J, Lee JJ, Guerrero PA, Spetsieris N, Engedal N, Taavitsainen S, Yu K, Livingstone J, Bhandari V, Hubert SM, Daw NC, Futreal PA, Efstathiou E, Lim B, Viale A, Zhang J, Nykter M, Czerniak BA, Brown PH, Swanton C, Msaouel P, Maitra A, Kopetz S, Campbell P, Speed TP, Boutros PC, Zhu H, Urbanucci A, Demeulemeester J, Van Loo P, Wang W. Estimation of tumor cell total mRNA expression in 15 cancer types predicts disease progression. Nat Biotechnol 40(11):1624-1633, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35697807.
- Wang JR, Montierth M, Xu L, Goswami M, Zhao X, Cote G, Wang W, Iyer P, Dadu R, Busaidy NL, Lai SY, Gross ND, Ferrarotto R, Lu C, Gunn GB, Williams MD, Routbort M, Zafereo ME, Cabanillas ME. Impact of Somatic Mutations on Survival Outcomes in Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. JCO Precis Oncol 6:e2100504, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35977347.
- Guo T, Kiong KL, CMKL Y, Windon M, Zebda D, Jozaghi Y, Zhao X, Hessel AC, Hanna EY. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Otolaryngology trainee education. Head Neck 42(10):2782-2790, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32666664.
- Cao S, Wang JR, Ji S, Yang P, Montierth MD, Guo S, Shen JP, Zhao X. Tumor cell total mRNA expression shapes the molecular and clinical phenotype of cancer. bioRxiv, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Zhao X. An Overview of COVID-19 Testing and Implications for Otolaryngologists. Authorea Preprints, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Zhao X, Psarianos P, Ghoraie LS, Yip K, Goldstein D, Gilbert R, Witterick I, Pang H, Hussain A, Lee JH, Williams J, Bratman S, Ailles L, Haibe-Kains B, Liu FF. Metabolic regulation of dermal fibroblasts contributes to skin extracellular matrix homeostasis and fibrosis. Nature Metabolism 1(1):147-157, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 32694814.
- Zhao X. Targeting Metabolic Dysregulation for the Treatment of Radiation Fibrosis. University of Toronto (Canada), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Psarianos P, Zhao X, Carvalho D, Yip K, Liu FF. FOXO1 Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy for Radiation Fibrosis. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 105(1), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Demidov V, Zhao X, Demidova O, Pang HYM, Flueraru C, Liu FF, Vitkin IA. Preclinical quantitative in-vivo assessment of skin tissue vascularity in radiation-induced fibrosis with optical coherence tomography. J Biomed Opt 23(10):1-9, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30315644.
- Inoue M, Enomoto M, Koike Y, Grappa M, Zhao X, Yip K, Huang SH. Intravascular Redox Homeostasis Regulates NETosis and Cancer Metastasis. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 100(5), 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Inoue M, Enomoto M, Koike Y, Grappa M, Zhao X, Yip K, Huang SH. Plasma Redox Imbalance Caused by Albumin Oxidation Promotes Lung-Predominant NETosis and Metastasis in Patients Treated with Definitive Radiation Therapy. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 102(3), 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Zhao X, Psarianos P, Lee JH, Ailles L, Yip K, Liu FF. The role of adipose stromal cells for reversal of radiation fibrosis. Radiotherapy and Oncology 118, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Zhao X, Lee JH, Yip K, Ailles L, Liu FF. The role of adipose derived stromal cells for reversal of radiation fibrosis. Cancer Research 75(15), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Zhao X, Yao GS, Liu Y, Wang J, Satkunendrarajah K, Fehlings M. The role of neural precursor cells and self assembling peptides in nerve regeneration. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 42:60, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24351041.
- Zhao X, Roth K, Fung K. Type I thyroplasty: risk stratification approach to inpatient versus outpatient postoperative management. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 39(6):757-61, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21144375.
- Zhao X, Chandarana S, Husein M, Rogers J, MacRae DL. Surgical distance to the sphenoid ostium: a comparison of healthy patients and patients with cystic fibrosis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 136(5):475-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20479379.
- Zhao X, Higgins KM, Enepekides D, Farwell G. Medicinal leech therapy for venous congested flaps: case series and review of the literature. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 38(2):E61-4, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19442357.
- Wang K, Zhao X, Chan S, Cil O, He N, Song X, Paterson AD, Pei Y. Evidence for pathogenicity of atypical splice mutations in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 4(2):442-9, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19158373.
- Pei Y, Zhao X. Diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Expert Opin Med Diagn 2(7):763-72, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 23495816.
- Lau LM, Nugent JK, Zhao X, Irwin MS. HDM2 antagonist Nutlin-3 disrupts p73-HDM2 binding and enhances p73 function. Oncogene 27(7):997-1003, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 17700533.
- Zhao X, Paterson AD, Zahirieh A, He N, Wang K, Pei Y. Molecular diagnostics in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: utility and limitations. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 3(1):146-52, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18077784.
- Pei Y, Zhao X. Diagnostic approach in AD PKD. Expert opinion in medical diagnostics 2:763-772, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Wang J, Montierth M, Xu L, Goswami M, Zhao X, Cote G, Wang W, Iyer P, Dadu R, Busaidy N, Lai S, Gross N, Ferrarotto R, Lu C, Gunn B, Williams M, Routbort M, Zafereo M, Cabanillas M. Impact of Somatic Mutations on Survival Outcomes in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Patients. Clinical Cancer Research.
Review Articles
- Hussein NI, Molina AH, Sunga GM, Amit M, Lei YL, Zhao X, Hartgerink JD, Sikora AG, Young S. Localized intratumoral delivery of immunomodulators for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. Oral Oncol 158:106986, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39137489.
- Vinh DB, Zhao X, Kiong KL, Guo T, Jozaghi Y, Yao C, Kelley JM, Hanna EY. Overview of COVID-19 testing and implications for otolaryngologists. Head Neck 42(7):1629-1633, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32342570.
- MD Anderson Head MD, Guidelines Consortium NST, members C, Maniakas A, Jozaghi Y, Zafereo ME, Sturgis EM, Su SY, Gillenwater AM, Gidley PW, Lewis CM, Diaz E, Goepfert RP, Kupferman ME, Gross ND, Hessel AC, Pytynia KB, Nader ME, Wang JR, Lango MN, Kiong KL, Guo T, Zhao X, CMKL Y, Appelbaum E, Alpard J, Garcia JA, Terry S, Flynn JE, Bauer S, Fournier D, Burgess CG, Wideman C, Johnston M, You C, De Luna R, Joseph L, Diersing J, Prescott K, Heiberger K, Mugartegui L, Rodriguez J, Zendehdel S, Sellers J, Friddell RA, Thomas A, Khanjae SJ, Schwarzlose KB, Chambers MS, Hofstede TM, Cardoso RC, Wesson RA, Won A, Otun AO, Gombos DS, Al-Zubidi N, Hutcheson KA, Gunn GB, Rosenthal DI, Gillison ML, Ferrarotto R, Weber RS, Hanna EY, Myers JN, Lai SY. Head and neck surgical oncology in the time of a pandemic: Subsite-specific triage guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Head Neck 42(6):1194-1201, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32342541.
- Zhao X, Kwan JYY, Yip K, Liu PP, Liu FF. Targeting metabolic dysregulation for fibrosis therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 19(1):57-75, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31548636.
- Zhao X, Grewal A, Briel M, Lee JM. A systematic review of nonabsorbable, absorbable, and steroid-impregnated spacers following endoscopic sinus surgery. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 3(11):896-904, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23894058.
- Zhao X, Chandarana S, Husein M, Kwan K. Atypical presentation of congenital epulis: case report and review of the literature. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 38(2):E65-8, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19442358.
Abstracts
- Houl JH, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Kunnimalaiyaan M, Miranda Mendez P, Kidd JL, Dadbin A, Jurado Ruiz A, Parekh PA, Henderson YC, Chari NS, Thennavan AT, Powell RT, Stephan CC, Zhao X, Maniakas A, Nurieva R, Busaidy NL, Cabanillas ME, Dadu R, Zafereo M, Wang JR, Lai SY, Hofmann MC. Role of the ETV5/p38 signaling axis in aggressive thyroid cancer cells. bioRxiv, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40027641.
- Zhao X, Psarianos P, Goldstein D, Gilbert R, Witterick I, Ailles L. Utilizing metabolic reprogramming to regulate fibroblast phenotype and reduce radiation fibrosis. CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH 26(12), 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Psarianos P, Zhao X, De Carvalho D, Yip K, Liu FF. Psarianos P, Zhao X, De Carvalho D, Yip K, Liu FF. Poster Presentation ASTRO, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Psarianos P, Zhao X, De Carvalho D, Yip K, Liu FF. FOXO1 inhibition: A novel therapeutic strategy for the reversal of radiation fibrosis. Poster Presentation. Manchester UK, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Inoue M, Nakashima R, Enomoto M, Koike Y, Zhao X, Yip K, Huang SH, Waldron JN, Ikura M, Liu FF, Bratman SV. Plasma redox imbalance caused by albumin oxidation promotes lung-predominant NETosis and pulmonary cancer metastasis. Nat Commun 9(1):5116, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30504805.
- Zhao X, Ghoraie LS, Psarianos P, Yip K, Habie-Kains, B, Liu FF. Pharmacogenomics identification of drugs to reverse radiation fibrosis. Poster Presentation at AACR AHNS. San Diego, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zhao X, Ghoraie LS, Psarianos P, Yip K, Ailles L, Haibe-Kains B, Liu FF. Metabolic reprogramming of radiation fibrosis using adipose derived stromal cells. Cancer Research 77(13), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zhao X, Ghoraie LS, Psarianos P, Yip K, Goldstein D, Haibe-Kains B. Mitigating Radiation Fibrosis Through Metabolic Regulation. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 99(2), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Zhao X, Lee JH, Ailles L, Yip K, Liu FF. Adipose derived-stromal cells for reversal of radiation fibrosis. Podium Presentation at American Head and Neck Society Translational meeting. Boston, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Zhao X, Lee JH, Ailles L, Yip K, Liu FF. Adipose derived-stromal cells for reversal of radiation fibrosis. Poster Presentation at American Association for Cancer Research. Philadelphia, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Zhao X, Lee JH, Ailles L, Yip K, Liu FF. Metabolic regulation of Extracellular Matrix. Poster Presentation at American Society for Radiation Oncology. San Francisco, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Zhao X, Lee JH, Ailles L, Yip K, Liu FF. Adipose derived-stromal cells for reversal of radiation fibrosis. Poster Presentation at Clinician Investigator Program Scientific Day. Toronto, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Zhao X, Grewal A, Briel M, Lee J. A systematic review of non-absorbale, absorbable and medicated spacers following endoscopic sinus surgery. Podium presentation at the American Rhinology Society COSM in Florida,, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Zhao X, LiuG, Liu Y, Satkunendrarajah K, Wang J, Fehlings MG. The role of neuronal precursor cells and self assembling peptides in spinal cord repair. Poster presentation at TERMIS (Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine international society. Seattle, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Zhao X, LiuG, Liu Y, Satkunendrarajah K, Wang J, Fehlings MG. The role of neuronal precursor cells and self assembling peptides in nerve regeneration. Podium presentation for poliquin presentation, Canadian Otolaryngology Society, Banff, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Zhao X, Chandarana S, Tuddy R, Husein M, MacRae D. Surgical distance to sphenoid sinus in pediatric patients. Podium presentation at the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology Conference in Seattle, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Zhao X, Chandarana S, Husein M. Congenital epulis: An atypical presentation. Poster presentation at the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Conference, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 25, 2026