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Zhidong Xu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Contact Information
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94143-0128
(415) 514-0592 Phone
(415) 502-3179 Fax
zxu@cc.ucsf.edu
Education
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1978-82, Shanghai Fisheries University, Shanghai, China, B.A., Aquaculture
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1984-86, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois, M.S. , Biology/Cytogenetics
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1986-92, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, Ph.D., Molecular Mutagenesis
Postdoctoral Training
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1998-2001 , UCSF, Assistant Researcher III, Molecular Biologist
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1993-1998, UCSF, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Gene Therapy Core Center, Postgraduate Researcher Molecular Biologist
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1986-1992, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, Research Assistant
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1984-1986, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Research Assistant
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1982-1984, Department of Aquaculture, Shanghai Fisheries University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China, Assistant Instructor
Program Affiliations
- Thoracic Oncology Program
- Thoracic Oncology Laboratory
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Research Interests
- Gene expression profiling
- Epigentics
- Hypermethylation
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Molecularly targeted therapies
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
- Recombinant DNA technology
- WIF-1
- Wnt pathway
Biography
Dr. Zhidong Xu is a molecular biologist and senior
scientist in the Thoracic Oncology Laboratory. Dr. Xu
graduated Shanghai Fisheries University in China in 1982
with an undergraduate degree in marine aquaculture and
received a masters in biology/cytogenetics in 1986 from
Western Illinois University. In 1992, he received a Ph.D.
in Molecular Mutagenesis from the University of
Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Xu then became a post-doctoral
Fellow at the Human Genome Mapping Center at UCSF, and
later in the Cardiovascular Research Institute. In
1998, Dr. Xu was recruited to
the Thoracic Oncology Laboratory by Dr. David
Jablons.
In 2001, he joined the faculty at the UCSF School of Medicine as an
Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of
Surgery. Dr. Xu has played an important role in the
expansion of the lab. Between 1999-'2001. Dr. Xu's
research on full-length cDNA cloning technology was supported
by an NIH R21 grant. He is also co-PI on an NIH R01
grant, The Wnt Pathway in Malignant Mesothelioma, research
that will elucidate the molecular mechanisms of malignant
mesothelioma.Dr. Xu's research is focused on the molecular
biology of non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma, including
the development of novel targeted therapeutics
based on recombinant DNA technology. A summary of his overall
research includes:
- Using microarray technology for the identification of novel genes and therapeutic targets.
- Methylation in lung carcinogenesis and as a marker in the detecting early lung cancers.
- Elucidation of novel molecular mechanisms in the Wnt Signaling Pathway.
- Oncolytic viral gene therapy.
- Development of anti-Wnt ligand monoclonal antibodies for lung cancer therapeutics
- Development of recombinant human proteins targeting Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF-1).
- Differential gene expression profiling.
Dr. Xu has also played a critical role in forging international ties with the medical establishment in China, the goal to improve treatment lung cancer patients worldwide. Dr. Xu also helped draft the "Beijing Declaration on Lung Cancer, A Campaign for Treatment, Research and Prevention", at the 2nd North South Lung Cancer Summit in Beijing, China. He has also authored numerous peer-reviewed papers in his fields of research.
Selected Publications
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Biao He, L. You, K. Uematsu, K. Zang, Z. Xu, M. Matsangou, F. McCormick and D. M. Jablons. A monoclonal antibody against Wnt-1 induces apoptosis in human cancer cells, Neoplasia, 2004, 6: 7-14, Role: Planned and performed experiments, compiled data summaries.
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You, L., B. He, K. Uematsu, Z. Xu, F. McCormick, and D. M. Jablons. Inhibition of Wnt-1 signaling induces apoptosis in beta-Catenin-deficient mesothelioma cells, Cancer Research, 2004, 64: 3474-3478, Role: Planned and performed experiments, compiled data summaries.
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You, L. B. He, Z. Xu, K. Uematsu, A.Y. Lee, F. McCormick and D.M. Jablons. A novel anti-human Wnt-2 monoclonal antibody induces programmed cell death in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells, Oncogene, 2004, Jun 21 [Epub ahead of print], Role: Planned and performed experiments, compiled data summaries.
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You, L., B. He, Z. Xu, K. Uematsu, A.Y. Lee, J. Mazieres, F. McCormick and D.M. Jablons. A novel anti-human Wnt-2 monoclonal antibody induces programmed cell death in human melanoma cells, Cancer Research, 2004 (In press). Role: Planned and performed experiments, compiled data summaries.
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Mazieres, J. Biao He, L. You, Z. Xu, A. Lee, I. Mikami, F. McCormick and D. M. Jablons. Wnt Inhibitory Factor-1 (WIF-1) is silenced by promoter hypermethylation in human lung cancer, Cancer Research, 2004 (In press). Role: Planned and performed experiments, compiled data summaries.
In the News
Zhidong Xu Invited Speaker at 14th European Cancer Conference
Barcelona, Spain - Sep 24, 2007Zhidong Xu, Ph.D., a senior scientist in the Thoracic Oncology Lab and Assistant Adjunct Professor of Surgery, spoke at the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14) in Barcelona, Spain. In his talk, Novel agents targeting the Wnt pathway in lung cancer, Dr. Xu discussed how predictive markers could be used in conjunction with targeted therapies in lung cancer.
