Yixin Yao, PhD
Department of Lymphoma - Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1995 | Beijing University, Beijing, CN, Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| 1992 | Anhui Medical University, Hefei, CN, M.S. in Biochemistry |
| 1989 | Anhui Medical University, Hefei, CN, BS in Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 2004-2007 | Research Fellowship, Cancer Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Instructor, Lymphoma/Myeloma - Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2019
Instructor, Molecular and Cellular Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2017
Instructor, Genitourinary Medical Oncology - Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2013
Other Professional Positions
Postdoctoral Fellow, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004 - 2007
Honors & Awards
| 2020 | Workshop Travel Award, Lymphoma Research Foundation MCL Workshop |
| 2002 | Fellowship Travel Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2023. Exploring BiTE-integrated CAR T-Cell Therapy to Overcome Tumor Antigen Escape and Reinforce CAR-T Therapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. San Diego, Califonia, US.
- 2022. Modulating Immunometabolism to Reinvigorate T-cell Effector Function and Antitumor Immunity in the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Microenvironment. Conference. The 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2021. Abemaciclib in combination with Copanlisib to Overcome Venetoclax-Resistance in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2020. Targeting MTAP and PRMT5 Synthetic Lethality Interaction to Overcome Resistance to Targeted Therapy and Enhance Anti-cancer Immunity in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. Virtual, US.
- 2020. Identifying AMPK-Mediated Autophagy and OXPHOS As a Novel Metabolic Vulnerability for Targeted Therapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. AACR Annual Virtual Meeting 2020. Virtual, US.
- 2019. Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities as novel therapeutic targets for Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. Orlando, Florida, US.
- 2018. Metabolic profiling identified dependency of de novo nucleotide synthesis as a potential metabolic vulnerability for targeted therapy against Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. San Diego, California, US.
- 2016. UBE2O-AMPK-mTOR axis function in tumorigenesis Delivering Cures Through Cancer Science- AACR Annual Meeting 2016, New Orleans, 2016. Conference. Delivering Cures Through Cancer Science- AACR Annual Meeting 2016. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2006. Role and Regulation of C-terminal modulator Protein in Pancreatic Cancer. Conference. Pancreatic Cancer 2006-Early detection and Novel Therapeutics. Chapel Hill, NC, US.
- 2005. Identification of a novel Akt-binding protein – role and regulation in pancreatic cancer. Conference. Pancreas Cancer 2005: State-of-the Art, Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. New York, NY, US.
- 2002. The PI 3- kinase is constitutively activated in pancreatic cancer - Role of Tumor Suppressor MMAC/ PTEN. Conference. Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Conference. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2000. Regulation of NFκB Activation through MMAC. Conference. ASBMB / ASPET Joint Meeting. Boston, MA, US.
International Presentations
- 2023. Harnessing Immunometabolism to Reinvigorate the Effector Function and Antitumor Immunity of CAR T Cells in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. 4th International Conference on Lymphocyte Engineering. Munich, DE.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | BTK Inhibition Potentiates the Efficacy of Anti-CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma models: A Preclinical Study |
| Funding Source: | JANSSEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LLC |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | AWD00008424 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | Development of trispecific T-cell engagers for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Lyda Hill Philanthropies |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Targeting the Unique Paracaspase MALT1 to Overcome Ibrutinib Resistance in Relapsed/Refractory MCL Patients |
| Funding Source: | NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R21CA237969-01A1 |
| Date: | 2018 - 2021 |
| Title: | FoxM1 as a novel therapeutic target to overcome Ibrutinib resistance in MCL |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R21CA234851-01 |
| Date: | 2016 - 2022 |
| Title: | The Role of PTEN Feedback Mechanism in Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 5R01CA196740-03 |
| Title: | Targeting DNMT3A to overcome ibrutinib resistance in mantle cell lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP00014721 |
| Title: | A Risk-Stratified Clinical Trial to Overcome Ibrutinib Resistance in Mantle Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP00005322 |
| Title: | Clinical Evaluation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition to Overcome Ibrutinib Resistance in MCL |
| Funding Source: | NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | GRANT1278057 |
| Title: | The Effects of Metabolic Reprogramming on Immune Cell Function and Anti-Tumor Immunity in Mantle Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | GRANT12895142 |
| Title: | AMPK represents a therapeutic vulnerability for Mantle Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | GRANT12732935 |
| Title: | Harnessing Stem Cell-Like Memory T Cells with Bispecific T-cell Engaging Antibody Therapy for Mantle Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1R21CA311211-01 |
| Title: | Overcoming resistance to CAR19 therapy in MCL Using A New Generation of BTK inhibitors |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson B-cell Lymphoma Moonshot program |
| Role: | Co-I |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liu Y, Hill HA, Li Y, McIntosh J, Jiang V, Yan F, Yao Y, Fei Y, Zhang J, Qu L, Yao J, Jain P, Chen K, Wang M. Integrative profiling strategies to guide personalized therapy in mantle cell lymphoma: a pilot study. NPJ Procis Oncl 9(1):373, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41272086.
- Wang W, Cai Q, Liu Y, Nie L, Lee H, Yan F, Fei Y, Yao Y, Li Y, Tan L, Lorenzi PL, Wang Y, Yao J, Chen Z, McIntosh JM, Yu C, Jain P, Jiang VC, Vargas J, Li X, Zhang T, Li S, Santos D, Thirumurthi S, Seeley EH, Simon LM, Flowers C, Ok CY, Wang M. TCA cycle mode switch determines the fate of pirtobrutinib-tolerant persister cells in mantle cell lymphoma. Blood 146(21):2544-2560, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40700581.
- Li Y, McIntosh J, Jiang V, Yan F, Vargas J, Che Y, Wang W, Li C, Fei Y, Lee C, Nie L, Yao Y, Wang M, Lee H, Liu Y. BCL-2/BCL-XL dual inhibition triggers Gasdermin D-mediated pyroptosis in mantle cell lymphoma. Cancer Letters 632(217961), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40754138.
- Yan, F, Jiang, C, Jordan, A, Che, Y, Liu, Y, Cai, Q, Xue, Y, Li, Y, McIntosh, J, Chen, Z, Vargas, J, Nie, L, Yao, Y, Lee, H, Wang, W, Bigcal, J, Badillo, M, Meena, JK, Flowers, CR, Zhou, J, Zhao, Z, Simon, LM, Wang, L. The HSP90-MYC-CDK9 network drives therapeutic resistance in mantle cell lymphoma. Experimental Hematology and Oncology 13(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38326887.
- Che, Y, Liu, Y, Yao, Y, Hill, H, Li, Y, Cai, Q, Yan, F, Jain, P, Wang, W, Rui, L, Wang, L. Exploiting PRMT5 as a target for combination therapy in mantle cell lymphoma characterized by frequent ATM and TP53 mutations. Blood cancer journal 13(1), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36797243.
- Li, Y, Lee, H, Jiang, C, Che, Y, McIntosh, J, Jordan, A, Vargas, J, Zhang, T, Yan, F, Simmons, ME, Wang, W, Nie, L, Yao, Y, Jain, P, Wang, M, Liu, Y. Potentiation of apoptosis in drug-resistant mantle cell lymphoma cells by MCL-1 inhibitor involves downregulation of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. Cell Death and Disease 14(11), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37919300.
- Che, Y, Liu, Y, Li, Y, McIntosh, J, Jordan, A, Yan, F, Wang, W, Nie, L, Lee, H, Jin, J, Yao, Y, Zhao, Z, Jiang, C, Wang, L. Dual targeting of CDK4/6 and Bcl-2 exhibits a potent antitumor effect on mantle cell lymphoma. Blood Advances 7(14):3361-3365, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37257192.
- Li, L, Nie, L, Jordan, A, Cai, Q, Liu, Y, Li, Y, Che, Y, Vargas, J, Chen, Z, Leeming, A, Wang, W, Yao, Y, Wang, L, Jiang, C. Targeting glutaminase is therapeutically effective in ibrutinib-resistant mantle cell lymphoma. Haematologica 108(6):1616-1627, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36420799.
- Jiang, C, Liu, Y, Lian, J, Huang, S, Jordan, A, Cai, Q, Lin, R, Yan, F, McIntosh, J, Li, Y, Che, Y, Chen, Z, Vargas, J, Badillo, M, Bigcal, J, Lee, H, Wang, W, Yao, Y, Nie, L, Flowers, CR, Wang, L. Cotargeting of BTK and MALT1 overcomes resistance to BTK inhibitors in mantle cell lymphoma. Journal of Clinical Investigation 133(3), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36719376.
- Jiang VC, Hao D, Jain P, Li Y, Cai Q, Yao Y, Nie L, Liu Y, Jin J, Wang W, Lee HH, Che Y, Dai E, Han G, Wang R, Rai K, Futreal A, Flowers C, Wang L, Wang M. TIGIT is the central player in T-cell suppression associated with CAR T-cell relapse in mantle cell lymphoma. Mol Cancer 21(1):185, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36163179.
- Wang ML, Jain P, Zhao S, Lee HJ, Nastoupil L, Fayad L, Ok CY, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Hill HA, Yao Y, Hagemeister FB, Westin JR, Fowler N, Samaniego F, Steiner R, Nair R, Iyer SP, Navsaria L, Badillo M, Research Group MC, Feng L, Xuelin H, Nogueras Gonzalez GM, Xu G, Wagner-Bartak N, Thirumurthi S, Santos D, Tang G, Lin P, Wang SA, Jorgensen J, Yin CC, Li S, Patel KP, Vega F, Medeiros LJ, Flowers CR, Wang L. Ibrutinib-rituximab followed by R-HCVAD as frontline treatment for young patients (=65 years) with mantle cell lymphoma (WINDOW-1): a single-arm, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol 23(3):406-415, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35074072.
- Zhang X, Zhang R, Ren C, Xu Y, Wu S, Meng C, Pataer A, Song X, Zhang J, Yao Y, He H, Chen H, Ma W, Wang J, Meric-Bernstam F, Champlin RE, Heymach JV, Rooney CM, Swisher SG, Vaporciyan AA, Roth JA, You MJ, Wang M, Fang B. Epstein Barr virus-positive B-cell lymphoma is highly vulnerable to MDM2 inhibitors in vivo. Blood Adv 6(3):891-901, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34861697.
- Jain P, Zhao S, Lee HJ, Hill HA, Ok CY, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Hagemeister FB, Fowler N, Fayad L, Yao Y, Liu Y, Moghrabi OB, Navsaria L, Feng L, Nogueras Gonzalez GM, Xu G, Thirumurthi S, Santos D, Iliescu C, Tang G, Medeiros LJ, Vega F, Avellaneda M, Badillo M, Flowers CR, Wang L, Wang ML. Ibrutinib With Rituximab in First-Line Treatment of Older Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 40(2):202-212, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34797699.
- Park MK, Zhang L, Min KW, Cho JH, Yeh CC, Moon H, Hormaechea-Agulla D, Mun H, Ko S, Lee JW, Jathar S, Smith AS, Yao Y, Giang NT, Vu HH, Yan VC, Bridges MC, Kourtidis A, Muller F, Chang JH, Song SJ, Nakagawa S, Hirose T, Yoon JH, Song MS. NEAT1 is essential for metabolic changes that promote breast cancer growth and metastasis. Cell Metab 33(12):2380-2397.e9, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34879239.
- Zhao S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Navsaria L, Ok CY, Zhang S, Nomie K, Han G, Hao D, Hill HA, Jiang C, Yao Y, Nastoupil L, Westin J, Fayad L, Nair R, Steiner R, Ahmed S, Samaniego F, Iyer SP, Oriabure O, Chen W, Song X, Zhang J, Badillo M, Moghrabi O, Aranda J, Tang G, Yin CC, Patel K, Medeiros LJ, Li S, Vega F, Thirumurthi S, Xu G, Neelapu S, Flowers CR, Romaguera J, Fowler N, Wang L, Wang ML, Jain P. Efficacy of venetoclax in high risk relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) - outcomes and mutation profile from venetoclax resistant MCL patients. Am J Hematol 95(6):623-629, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32239765.
- Jain P, Zhang S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ok CY, Nomie K, Gonzalez GN, Gonzalez-Pagan O, Hill HA, Lee HJ, Fayad L, Westin J, Nastoupil L, Hagemeister F, Chen W, Oriabure O, Badillo M, Jiang C, Yixin Y, Li S, Tang G, Yin CC, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Nair R, Ahmed S, Iyer SP, Thirumurthi S, Champlin R, Xu G, Tinsu P, Santos D, Wang R, Han G, Zhang J, Song X, Neelapu S, Romaguera J, Futreal A, Flowers C, Fowler N, Wang L, Wang ML. Genomic profiles and clinical outcomes of de novo blastoid/pleomorphic MCL are distinct from those of transformed MCL. Blood Adv 4(6):1038-1050, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32191807.
- Wang J, Wang J, Lopez E, Guo H, Zhang H, Liu Y, Chen Z, Huang S, Zhou S, Leeming A, Zhang RJ, Jung D, Shi H, Grundman H, Doakes D, Cui K, Jiang C, Ahmed M, Nomie K, Fang B, Wang M, Yao Y, Zhang L. Repurposing auranofin to treat TP53-mutated or PTEN-deleted refractory B-cell lymphoma. Blood Cancer J 9(12):95, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31780660.
- Vila IK, Park MK, Setijono SR, Yao Y, Kim H, Badin PM, Choi S, Narkar V, Choi SW, Chung J, Moro C, Song SJ, Song MS. A muscle-specific UBE2O/AMPKα2 axis promotes insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in obesity. JCI Insight 4(13), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31292296.
- Zhang L, Yao Y, Zhang S, Liu Y, Guo H, Ahmed M, Bell T, Zhang H, Han G, Lorence E, Badillo M, Zhou S, Sun Y, Di Francesco ME, Feng N, Haun R, Lan R, Mackintosh SG, Mao X, Song X, Zhang J, Pham LV, Lorenzi PL, Marszalek J, Heffernan T, Draetta G, Jones P, Futreal A, Nomie K, Wang L, Wang M. Metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation identifies a therapeutic target for mantle cell lymphoma. Sci Transl Med 11(491), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31068440.
- Guo H, Zeng D, Zhang H, Bell T, Yao J, Liu Y, Huang S, Li CJ, Lorence E, Zhou S, Gong T, Jiang C, Ahmed M, Yao Y, Nomie KJ, Zhang L, Wang M. Dual inhibition of PI3K signaling and histone deacetylation halts proliferation and induces lethality in mantle cell lymphoma. Oncogene 38(11):1802-1814, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30361685.
- Park MK, Yao Y, Xia W, Setijono SR, Kim JH, Vila IK, Chiu HH, Wu Y, Billalabeitia EG, Lee MG, Kalb RG, Hung MC, Pandolfi PP, Song SJ, Song MS. PTEN self-regulates through USP11 via the PI3K-FOXO pathway to stabilize tumor suppression. Nat Commun 10(1):636, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30733438.
- Huang S, Jiang C, Zhang H, Bell T, Guo H, Liu Y, Yao Y, Zeng D, Ahmed M, Nomie K, Zhang L, Wang M. The CD20-specific engineered toxin antibody MT-3724 exhibits lethal effects against mantle cell lymphoma. Blood Cancer J 8(3):33, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29559616.
- Vila IK, Yao Y, Kim G, Xia W, Kim H, Kim SJ, Park MK, Hwang JP, González-Billalabeitia E, Hung MC, Song SJ, Song MS. A UBE2O-AMPKα2 Axis that Promotes Tumor Initiation and Progression Offers Opportunities for Therapy. Cancer Cell 31(2):208-224, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28162974.
- Ajani JA, Wang X, Song S, Suzuki A, Taketa T, Sudo K, Wadhwa R, Hofstetter WL, Komaki R, Maru DM, Lee JH, Bhutani MS, Weston B, Baladandayuthapani V, Yao Y, Honjo S, Scott AW, Skinner HD, Johnson RL, Berry D. ALDH-1 expression levels predict response or resistance to preoperative chemoradiation in resectable esophageal cancer patients. Mol Oncol 8(1):142-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24210755.
- Yao Y, Suraokar M, Darnay BG, Hollier BG, Shaiken TE, Asano T, Chen CH, Chang BH, Lu Y, Mills GB, Sarbassov D, Mani SA, Abbruzzese JL, Reddy SA. BSTA promotes mTORC2-mediated phosphorylation of Akt1 to suppress expression of FoxC2 and stimulate adipocyte differentiation. Sci Signal 6(257):ra2, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23300339.
- Shin S, Asano T, Yao Y, Zhang R, Claret FX, Korc M, Sabapathy K, Menter DG, Abbruzzese JL, Reddy SAG. Activator protein-1 has an essential role in pancreatic cancer cells and is regulated by a novel Akt-mediated mechanism. Mol Cancer Res 7(5):745-754, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19435822.
- Asano T, Yao Y, Shin S, McCubrey J, Abbruzzese JL, Reddy SA. Insulin receptor substrate is a mediator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation in quiescent pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer Res 65(20):9164-8, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16230374.
- Asano T, Yao Y, Zhu J, Li D, Abbruzzese JL, Reddy SA. The rapamycin analog CCI-779 is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 331(1):295-302, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15845392.
- Asano T, Yao Y, Zhu J, Li D, Abbruzzese JL, Reddy SA. The PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway is activated due to aberrant Pten expression and targets transcription factors NF-kappaB and c-Myc in pancreatic cancer cells. Oncogene 23(53):8571-80, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15467756.
- Koul D, Yao Y, Abbruzzese JL, Yung WK, Reddy SA. Tumor suppressor MMAC/PTEN inhibits cytokine-induced NFkappaB activation without interfering with the IkappaB degradation pathway. J Biol Chem 276(14):11402-8, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11278366.
Review Articles
- Jung D, Jain P, Yao Y, Wang M. Advances in the assessment of minimal residual disease in mantle cell lymphoma. J Hematol Oncol 13(1):127, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32972438.
- Wadhwa R, Song S, Lee JS, Yao Y, Wei Q, Ajani JA. Gastric cancer-molecular and clinical dimensions. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 10(11):643-55, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24061039.
Other Articles
- Yan, F, Jiang, C, Jordan, A, Che, Y, Liu, Y, Cai, Q, Xue, Y, Li, Y, McIntosh, J, Chen, Z, Vargas, J, Nie, L, Yao, Y, Lee, H, Wang, W, Bigcal, J, Badillo, M, Meena, JK, Flowers, CR, Zhou, J, Zhao, Z, Simon, LM, Wang, L Correction. Experimental Hematology and Oncology 15(1), 2026. PMID: 41668106.
Abstracts
- Yao Y, Fei Y, Li X, McIntosh J, Liu Y, Wang AM. Enhancing the expansion of Naïve, potent T-cells via BTK inhibition reinvigorates CD19-CAR T-cell immunity and boosts antitumor efficacy in relapsed Mantle Cell Lymphoma, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Yao Y, Tong Z, Reddy SA, Guha S. Biological Role of and Targeting Oncogenic Ki-RAS Induced a Novel AKT Regulator in Pancreatic Cancer, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
Letters to the Editor
- Liu, Y, Yan, F, Jiang, C, Li, Y, Che, Y, McIntosh, J, Jordan, A, Hou, I, Nie, L, Jin, J, Wang, W, Lee, H, Yao, Y, Wang, L. Pirtobrutinib and venetoclax combination overcomes resistance to targeted and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in aggressive mantle cell lymphoma. Haematologica 108: 1412-1416, 2023.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026