Background
Educational Background and Previous Appointment:
Ph.D (Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, University of London); Lecturer (Chinese University of Hong Kong); Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School); Instructor (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School); Assistant Professor (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School); Laboratory Director (Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School).
Current Appointments:
Professor, Department of
Anatomy, University of Hong Kong
Director, Center of Cancer Research, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Hong Kong
Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine,
University of Hong Kong
Honorary Director, Center for Cellular Biology,
University of Hong Kong
International Advisory Board:
Board member of Epstein-Barr virus Association (elected in
2006)
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Research
Research Interests:
Cancer cell biology,
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Epstein-Barr virus biology, cell
immortalization and tumorigenesis, mitotic checkpoint
dysregulation, chromosome instability, live cell imaging
Current Research Topics:
Molecular basis of cell
immortalization and human carcinogenesis; EBV infection and
pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; genomic instability
in cells and mitotic checkpoint dysregulation, esophageal
carcinoma
Summary of Research:
My laboratory is interested
in the elucidation of major molecular and cellular events
involved in human carcinogenesis
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
We are defining the genetic elements involved in
immortalization and malignant transformation of primary
nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. A panel of immortalized
nasopharyngeal epithelial cell lines has been established. The
functional roles of specific genetic and cellular events
identified in premalignant nasopharyngeal epithelium are
examined. Among these events is the infection of EBV which is
believed to play an etiological role in carcinogenesis in
nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV infection of these premalignant
nasopharyngeal epithelial cell models have been achieved.
EBV infection is closely associated with nasopharyngeal
carcinoma. The EBV DNA could be detected in practically all
NPC cells. The EBV encoded oncogenes may functionally interact
with genetic alterations present in precancerous
nasopharyngeal lesions converting them into invasive cancers.
The oncogenic potential of EBV genes and their effects on cell
signaling mechanisms leading to deregulation of cell growth,
escape from senescence, resistance to apoptosis and
development of invasive properties are under current
investigation using immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial
cell models established in my laboratory.
Esophageal carcinoma
We have established immortalized esophageal cell models
from Hong Kong and areas in mainland China with high risk
esophageal carcinoma. The functional role of specific genetic
events involved in immortalization and malignant
transformation of normal esophageal epithelium will be
defined.
Genomic
instability in tumorigenesis
Immortalized epithelial cell models from nasopharyangeal
and epithelial origins have been established in our
laboratory. These immortalized epithelial cells are used to
investigate major invents lending to mitotic dysregulation and
chromosome instability and their contribution to tumorigenesis.
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Selected Publications
(from over 200 international and
peer-reviewed manuiscripts)
*Principal/corresponding author
Man, C., Rosa, J., Yip, Y. L., Cheung, A.
L., Kwong, Y. L., Doxsey, S. J., and *Tsao, S. W. Id1
overexpression induces tetraploidization and multiple
abnormal mitotic phenotypes by modulating aurora A.
Molecular Biology of Cell, 19: 2389-2401, 2008.
Deng, W., Tsao, S. W., Kwok, Y. K., Wong, E., Huang,
X. R., Liu, S., Tsang, C. M., Ngan, H. Y., Cheung, A. N.,
Lan, H. Y., Guan, X. Y., and Cheung, A. L. Transforming
growth factor beta1 promotes chromosomal instability in
human papillomavirus 16 E6E7-infected cervical epithelial
cells. Cancer Research, 68: 7200-7209, 2008.
Choy EY, Siu KL, Kok KH,
Lung RW, Tsang CM, To KF, Kwong DL, Tsao SW,
Jin DY. An Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNA targets PUMA
to promote host cell survival. Journal
of Experimental Medicine,
205(11):2551-60, 2007.
Man, C., Rosa, J., Lee, L.
T., Lee, V. H., Chow, B. K., Lo, K. W., Doxsey, S., Wu, Z. G.,
Kwong, Y. L., Jin, D. Y., Cheung, A. L., and *Tsao, S. W.
Latent membrane protein 1 suppresses RASSF1A expression,
disrupts microtubule structures and induces chromosomal
aberrations in human epithelial cells. Oncogene,
26: 3069-3 2007.
Li, H. M., Man, C., Jin,
Y., Deng, W., Yip, Y. L., Feng, H. C., Cheung, Y. C., Lo, K. W.,
Meltzer, P. S., Wu, Z. G., Kwong, Y. L., Yuen, A. P., and *Tsao,
S. W. Molecular and cytogenetic changes involved in the
immortalization of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells by
telomerase. International Journal of Cancer, 119:
1567-1576, 2006.
Tsai, C. L., Li, H. P., Lu, Y. J., Hsueh,
C., Liang, Y., Chen, C. L., Tsao, S. W., Tse, K. P.,
Yu, J. S., and Chang, Y. S. Activation of DNA
methyltransferase 1 by EBV LMP1 Involves c-Jun
NH(2)-terminal kinase signaling. Cancer Research,
66: 11668-11676, 2006.
Li HM, Zhuang ZH, Wang Q, Pang JC, Wang XH, Wong HL, Feng
HC, Jin DY, Ling MT, Wong YC, Eliopoulos AG, Young LS, Huang
DP, *Tsao SW. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane
protein 1 (LMP1) upregulates Id1 expression in
nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Oncogene,
23(25):4488-94, 2004.
Deng W,
Tsao SW, Guan XY,
Lucas JN, Si HX, Leung CS, Mak P, Wang LD, Cheung AL.
Distinct profiles of critically short telomeres are a key
determinant of different chromosome aberrations in
immortalized human cells: whole-genome evidence from
multiple cell lines.
Oncogene,
23(56):9090-101, 2004.
Lo AK, Huang DP, Lo KW,
Chui YL, Li HM, Pang JC, *Tsao SW. Phenotypic alterations
induced by the Hong Kong-prevalent Epstein-Barr virus-encoded
LMP1 variant (2117-LMP1) in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells.
International Journal of Cancer. 109(6):919-25, 2004.
Lo AKF, Liu Y, Wang XH,
Huang DP, Yuen PW, Wong YC and *Tsao SW. Alterations of
biologic properties and gene expression in nasopharyngeal
epithelial cells by the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent
membrane protein 1. Laboratory Investigation, 83,
697-709, 2003.
Wong X., Jin D.Y., Wong
H.L., Feng H., Wong Y.C. and *Tsao S.W. MAD2-induced
sensitization to vincristine is associated with mitotic arrest
and Raf/Bcl-2 phosphorylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
Oncogene, 22, 109-116, 2003.
*Tsao S.W.
Tramoutanis G, Dawson C.W, Lo AKF and Huang D.P. The
significance of LMP1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Seminars in Cancer Biology, 474-487, 2003.
Wang X., Jin D.Y., Ng R.W.,
Feng H., Wong Y.C., Cheung A.L.M., *Tsao S.W.
Significance of MAD2 expression to mitotic checkpoint control in
ovarian cancer cells. Cancer Research, Vol 62,
1662-8, 2002.
Wang X.H., Jin D.Y., Wong Y.C., Cheung A.L.M., Chun A.C.S., Lo
A.K.F., Liu Y. and *Tsao S.W. Correlation of defective
mitotic checkpoint with aberrantly reduced expression of MAD2
protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Carcinogenesis,
Vol 21, 2293-2297, 2000.
Wang X.H., Wong S.C.H, Pan J., Tsao S.W., Fung K.H.Y,
Kwong D.L.W, Sham J.S.T. and Nicholls J.M. Evidence of
cisplastin-induced senescent-like growth arrest in
nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Cancer Research,
Vol 58: 5019-5022, 1998.
He D., Zhang D.K., Lam K.Y., Ma L., Ngan H.Y.S., Liu S.S., *Tsao
S.W. Prevalence of HPV infection in esophageal squamous cell
carcinoma in Chinese Patients and its relationship to the p53
gene mutation. International Journal of Cancer,
Vol 72, 959-964, 1997.
*Tsao S.W., Mok S.C.H., Fey E., Fletcher J., Wan T.S.K.,
Chew E.C., Michael G. M., Knapp R.C., Berkowitz R.S.
Immortalization and characterization of an human ovarian surface
epithelial cell line. Experimental Cell Research,
Vol 218, 499-507, 1995.
Mok S.C.H., Bell D.A., Knapp R.C., Fishbaugh P.M., Welch W.R.,
Muto M.G. Berkowitz R.S. and *Tsao S.W. Mutation of K-ras
protooncogene in human ovarian epithelial tumors of borderline
malignancy. Cancer Research, Vol 53, 1489-1492,
1993.
Mok C.H., *Tsao S.W., Knapp R.C., Fishbaugh P. and Lau
C.C. Unifocal origin of advanced human epithelial ovarian
cancers. Cancer Research, Vol 52, 5119-5122, 1992.Back to top
Collaborations
International:
Professor Steve Doxsey,
University of Massachusetts, USA
Professor Gary Gorbsky, University of Oklahoma, USA
Professor Kenzo Takada, University of Hokkaido, Japan
Professor Lawrence Young, University of Birmingham, UK
National:
Professor Zeng YX, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University,
Guangzhou, PR China
Professor Zeng MS, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen Univeristy,
Guangzhou, PR China
Professor Cao Y, Cancer Research Institute, XiangYa School of
Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China
Hong Kong:
Prof M. Lung, Dept. of Clinical Oncology, HKU
Dr. ALM Cheung, Dept. of anatomy, HKU
Professor HYS Ngan, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, HKU
Professor ANY Cheung, Dept. of Pathology, HKU
Dr. DY Jin, Dept. of Biochemistry, HKU
Dr. YB Feng, School of Chinese Medicine, HKU
Dr. ZG Wu, Dept. of Biochemistry, HKUST
Professor. Randy Poon, Dept. of Biochemistry, HKUST
Professor KW Lo, Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, CUHK
Professor Qian Tao, Dept. of Clinical Oncology, CUHK
Professor Vivien Liu, Dept. of Clinical Oncology, CUHK
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