The Gao lab investigate tumor metastasis and microenvironment using in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models. We have been pioneered in developing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) lineage tracing models to answer critical questions about tumor metastasis initiation, progression, and therapy resistance development. Following the old but reviving “seed and soil” hypothesis, disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) need to be capable of forming a secondary tumor, organ-specific microenvironment needs to be permissive, and eventually, the interactions between DTCs and microenvironment determine the outgrowth of metastasis. Our long-term goal is to understand the biology of metastasis and target the critical steps to prevent this deadly manifestation of cancer.
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Recent Publications
- Retrovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy approach for hepatocellular carcinoma.
- [Influence of hepatic stimulator substance on p21(ras) expression in human hepatic carcinoma cells BEL-7402].
- Decoy oligodeoxynucleotide characterization of transcription factors controlling endothelin-B receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.
- Phosphorylation of hepatic stimulator substance on mitogen-activated protein kinase in BEL-7402 hepatoma cells.