Dr. Xing Zhang is currently a professor and a chief physician of the department of Immunotherapy and Medical Oncology of Melanoma and Sarcoma in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. She specializes in immunotherapy of solid tumor, molecular targeted drug therapy, medical treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma and melanoma.  She is one of the Guangdong outstanding young medical talents and principle investigator of 5 National Natural Science Foundation projects. She has published dozens of SCI papers as the first author or correspondent author, including Oncogene, Mol Cancer, Br J Cancer, Clin Cancer Res, etc. She has also participated in the draft and development of 3 national medical treatment guidelines.

She served as group leader of chemoradiotherapy group of Sarcoma Professional Committee of China Anticancer Association, the chairman of Sarcoma Professional Committee of Guangdong anticancer association and the standing member of sarcoma Professional Committee of China Anticancer Association. She has many academic titles, including the member of target and individualized treatment special committee of Guangdong anticancer association, the  vice chairman of Guangdong Cell Biology Association, the standing member of bone tumor branch of Guangdong Doctor Association, Guangdong Province Standing committee member of biotherapy special committee of anticancer association, the vice chairman of tumor support and rehabilitation treatment professional committee of Guangzhou anticancer association.

Immunotherapy of solid tumor and molecular targeted drug therapy. Medical treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma, melanoma.

Dr. Xing Zhang graduated from Henan Medical University in 1994, majoring in clinical medicine. In 2004, she graduated from Sun Yat-sen University with a doctor's degree in oncology. From 2001 to 2003, she studied in the Medical School of Boston University.

Selected publications
1. ALK ATI Interacts With c-Myc and Promotes Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties in Sarcoma.Xu BS, Chen HY, Que Y, Xiao W, Zeng MS, Zhang X#. Oncogene. 2020 Jan;39(1):151-163.

2. LAG-3 expression on tumor-infiltrating T cells in soft tissue sarcoma correlates with poor survival.Que Y, Fang Z, Guan Y, Xiao W, Xu B, Zhao J, Chen H, Zhang X, Zeng M, Liang Y, Zhang X#. Cancer Biol Med. 2019 May;16(2):331-340.

3. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T-cell Therapy for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α-positive Rhabdomyosarcoma.Xiao W, Wang J, Wen X, Xu B, Que Y, Yu K, Xu L, Zhao J, Pan Q, Zhou P, Zhang X#. Cancer. 2020 May 1;126 Suppl 9:2093-2100.

4. The changing landscape of phase II/III metastatic sarcoma clinical trials-analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov.Que Y, Xiao W, Xu BS, Wen XZ, Weng DS, Zhang X#. BMC Cancer. 2018 Dec 13;18(1):1251.

5. PD-L1 Expression Is Associated with FOXP3+ Regulatory T-Cell Infiltration of Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Poor Patient Prognosis.Que Y, Xiao W, Guan YX, Liang Y, Yan SM, Chen HY, Li QQ, Xu BS, Zhou ZW, Zhang X#. J Cancer. 2017 Jul 5;8(11):2018-2025.

6. Preoperative platelet - lymphocyte ratio is superior to neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for soft-tissue sarcoma. Que Y, Qiu H, Li Y, Chen Y, Xiao W, Zhou Z, Zhang X#. BMC Cancer. 2015 Oct 2;15(1):648.

7. The clinical significance of transforming acidic coiled-coil protein 3 expression in non-small cell lung cancer. Jiang F, Kuang BH, Que Y, Lin ZL, Yuan L, Xiao W, Peng RQ, Zhang XS,  Zhang X#. Oncol Rep. 2015 Nov 2.

8. Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 and its phosphorylated form pY881 are novel prognostic markers for non-small-cell lung cancer progression and patients' overall survival.Kuang BH, Zhang MQ, Xu LH, Hu LJ, Wang HB, Zhao WF, Du Y, Zhang X#. Br J Cancer. 2013 Sep 3;109(5):1252-63

9. The prognostic value of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.  Kuang BH, Wen XZ, Ding Y, Peng RQ, Cai PQ, Zhang MQ, Jiang F, Zhang XS, Zhang X#. Med Oncol. 2013 Jun;30(2):536.

10. Sp1 and Sp3 are involved in the full transcriptional activity of centromere protein H in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.Zhao WF, Wang HB, Xie B, Hu LJ, Xu LH, Kuang BH, Li MZ, Zhang X#. FEBS J. 2012 Aug; 279(15):2714-26.

11. Cell aggregation induces phosphorylation of PECAM-1 and Pyk2 and promotes tumor cell anchorage-independent growth. Zhang X, Xu LH, Yu Q. Mol Cancer 2010 Jan 14;9(1):7.

Updated July 2020

(1) Cancer genetics study: Tumor suppressor gene down-regulation may play an important role in tumor progress and development. We investigated several tumor suppressors such as ING2, TESTIN, BATF2, LZAP and BIN1, et al. expression in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or gastric cancer (GC) and evaluated the relationship between these tumor suppressors’ expression and clinicopathological parameters of HCC or GC. Meanwhile, the prognostic value of these tumor suppressors for HCC or GC patients was also investigated. Furthermore, by examining in vitro proliferation, clone formation, motility, invasion and apoptosis of tumor cell lines, he also study the functional role of these tumor suppressors in the tumorigenesis of HCC or GC.

(2) Cancer Immunotherapy study: Immunotherapy is an important comprehensive treatment method for cancer patient. In Dr. Xia’s group, heinvestigated several immuno-effector cells such as cytokines induced killer cells (CIK), natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC) and DC-CIK for treatment of cancer patients. Furthermore, he investigated negative regulator such as SOCS1 and IDO for the function of DC, and studied whether silencing these negative regulators could enhance the anti-tumor immunity of DC. More ever, he also investigated that DC/tumor fusion vaccines or genetic modified-DC vaccines for the treatment of cancer patients.

1980-1984 B.S. Biology, Nanchang University, Jiangxi, P.R. China.

1991-1994 M.S. Cancer genetics, Harbin Medical Univercity, Haerbin, P.R.China.

1994-1997 Ph.D. Cancer genetics, Harbin Medical Univercity, Haerbin, P.R.China.

1998-2000 Postdoctoral. Cancer genetics, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

2000-2003 Postdoctoral. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

1. Lv L, Pan K, Li XD, She KL, Zhao JJ, Wang W, Chen JG, Chen YB, Yun JP, Xia JC (Corresponding). The Accumulation and Prognosis Value of Tumor Infiltrating IL-17 Producing Cells in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 31;6(3):e18219

2. Liang XT, Pan K, Chen MS, Li JJ, Wang H, Zhao JJ, Sun JC, Chen YB, Ma HQ, Wang QJ, Xia JC (Corresponding). Decreased expression of XPO4 is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Mar;26(3):544-9.

3. Ma H, Liang X, Chen Y, Pan K, Sun J, Wang H, Wang Q, Li Y, Zhao J, Li J, Chen M, Xia J (Corresponding). Decreased expression of BATF2 is associated with a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2011 Feb 15;128(4):771-7.

4. Ma H, Weng D, Chen Y, Huang W, Pan K, Wang H, Sun J, Wang Q, Zhou Z, Wang H, Xia J (Corresponding). Extensive analysis of D7S486 in primary gastric cancer supports TESTIN as a candidate tumor suppressor gene. Mol Cancer. 2010 Jul 13;9:190.

5. Chen JG, Xia JC (Corresponding), Liang XT, Pan K, Wang W, Lv L, Zhao JJ, Wang QJ, Li YQ, Chen SP, He J, Huang LX, Ke ML, Chen YB, Ma HQ, Zeng ZW, Zhou ZW, Chang AE, Li Q. Intratumoral Expression of IL-17 and Its Prognostic Role in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients. Int J Biol Sci. 2011 Jan 11;7(1):53-60.

6. Pan K, Zhao JJ, Wang H, Li JJ, Liang XT, Sun JC, Chen YB, Ma HQ, Liu Q, Xia JC (Corresponding). Comparative analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte response induced by dendritic cells loaded with hepatocellular carcinoma -derived RNA or cell lysate. Int J Biol Sci. 2010 Oct 13;6(7):639-48.

7. Sun JC, Liang XT, Pan K, Wang H, Zhao JJ, Li JJ, Ma HQ, Chen YB, Xia JC (Corresponding). High expression level of EDIL3 in HCC predicts poor prognosis of HCC patients. World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Sep 28;16(36):4611-5.

8. Wang QJ, Wang H, Pan K, Li YQ, Huang LX, Chen SP, He J, Ke ML, Zhao JJ, Li JJ, Sun JC, Liang XT, Ma HQ, Chen YB, Xia JC (Corresponding). Comparative study on anti-tumor immune response of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, dendritic cells-CIK (DC-CIK), and semi-allogeneic DC-CIK. Chin J Cancer. 2010 Jul;29(7):641-8.

9. Sun JC, Pan K, Chen MS, Wang QJ, Wang H, Ma HQ, Li YQ, Liang XT, Li JJ, Zhao JJ, Chen YB, Pang XH, Liu WL, Cao Y, Guan XY, Lian QZ, Xia JC (Corresponding). Dendritic cells-mediated CTLs targeting hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells. Cancer Biol Ther. 2010 Aug;10(4):368-75.

10. Ma H, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Li Y, He J, Wang H, Sun J, Pan K, Chen M, Xia J (Corresponding). Therapeutic safety and effects of adjuvant autologous RetroNectin activated killer cell immunotherapy for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation. Cancer Biol Ther. 2010 Jun 6;9(11).

11. Zhang H, Ma H, Wang Q, Chen M, Weng D, Wang H, Zhou J, Li Y, Sun J, Chen Y, Liang X, Zhao J, Pan K, Wang H, Xia J (Corresponding). Analysis of loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 4q in hepatocellular carcinoma using high-throughput SNP array. Oncol Rep. 2010 Feb;23(2):445-55.

12. Ma HQ, Liang XT, Zhao JJ, Wang H, Sun JC, Chen YB, Pan K, Xia JC (Corresponding). Decreased expression of Neurensin-2 correlates with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Oct 14;15(38):4844-8.

13. Zhou J, Weng D, Zhou F, Pan K, Song H, Wang Q, Wang H, Wang H, Li Y, Huang L, Zhang H, Huang W, Xia JC (Corresponding). Patient-derived renal cell carcinoma cells fused with allogeneic dendritic cells elicit anti-tumor activity: in vitro results and clinical responses. Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 2009 Oct;58(10):1587-97.

14. Pan K, Wang H, Liu W, Zhang H, Zhou J, Li J, Weng D, Huang W, Sun J, Liang X, Xia JC (Corresponding). The pivotal role of p38 and NF-κB signal pathways in the maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells stimulated by streptococcal agent OK-432. Immunobiology, 2009, 214(5):350-358.

15. Zhang HK, Pan K, Wang H, Weng DS, Song HF, Zhou J, Huang W, Li JJ, Chen MS, Xia JC (Corresponding). Decreased Expression of Ing2 Gene and Its Clinicopathological Significance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Lett, 2008, 261(2): 183-192.

16. Weng DS, Zhou J, Zhou QM, Zhao M, Wang QJ, Huang LX, Li YQ, Chen SP, Wu PH, Xia JC (Corresponding). Minimally Invasive Treatment Combined with Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells Therapy Lower the Short-Term Recurrence Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinomas. J Immunother, 2008, 31(1): 63-71.

17. Wang H, Pan K, Zhang HK, Weng DS, Zhou J, Li JJ, Huang W, Song HF, Chen MS, Xia JC (Corresponding). Increased Polycomb-Group Oncogene Bmi-1 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2008, 134(5): 535-541.

18. Pan K, Wang H, Chen MS, Zhang HK, Weng DS, Zhou J, Huang W, Li JJ, Song HF, Xia JC (Corresponding). Expression and prognosis role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2008, 134(11):1247-1253

19. Li JJ, Xu GL, Gu MF, Luo GY, Rong Z, Wu PH, Xia JC (corresponding). Complications of high intensity focused ultrasound in patients with recurrent and metastatic abdominal tumors. World J Gastroenterol. 2007, 13(19):2747-2751.

20. Liu JY, Wu Y, Zhang XS, Yang JL, Li HL, Mao YQ, Wang Y, Cheng X, Li YQ, Xia JC, Masucci M, Zeng YX. Single administration of low dose cyclophosphamide augments the antitumor effect of dendritic cell vaccine. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2007, 56(10):1597-1604.

21. Weng DS, Li JT, Mai SJ, Pan ZZ, Feng BJ, Feng QS, Huang LX, Wang QJ, Li YQ, Yu XJ, Chen SP, He J, Xia JC (corresponding). Identification of a new target region on the long arm of chromosome 7 in gastric carcinoma by loss of heterozygosity. World J Gastroenterol. 2006, 12(15):2437-2440.

22. Xia JC, Weng DS, Li JT, Qin HD, Mai SJ, Feng BJ, Fan Q, Feng QS, Huang LX, Yu XJ, Pan ZZ, Li YQ, Wang QJ, Zhan YQ, Chen SP, He J, Huang WL, Wu PH, Zeng YX. Loss of heterozygosity analysis of a candidate gastric carcinoma tumor suppressor locus at 7q31. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2006, 166(2):166-172.

23. Liu JY, Zhang XS, Ding Y, Peng RQ, Cheng X, Zhang NH, Xia JC, Zeng YX. The changes of CD4+CD25+/CD4+ proportion in spleen of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. J Transl Med. 2005, 28;3(1):5.

24. Zhang XS, Wang HH, Hu LF, Li A, Zhang RH, Mai HQ, Xia JC, Chen LZ, Zeng YX. V-val subtype of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 preferentially exists in biopsies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer Lett. 2004, 211(1):11-18

25. Tanaka Y, Koido S, Xia JC, Ohana M, Liu C, Cote GM, Sawyer DB, Calderwood S, Gong J. Development of Antigen-Specific CD8+ Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in MHC Class I-Deficient Mice through CD4 to CD8 Conversion. J Immunol, 2004, 172: 7848-7858.

26. Xia JC, Tanaka Y, Koido S, Liu C, Mukherjee P, Gendler SJ, Gong J Prevention of spontaneous breast carcinoma by prophylactic vaccination with dendritic/tumor fusion cells. J Immunol, 2003, 170 (4):1980-1986.

27. Chen D, Xia JC, Tanaka Y, Chen H, Koido S, Wernet O, Mukherjee P, Gendler SJ, Kufe D, Gong J. Immunotherapy of spontaneous mammary carcinoma with fusions of dendritic cell and mucin 1-positive carcinoma cells. Immunology 2003, 109:300-307.

28. Feng BJ, Huang W, Shugart YY, Lee MK, Zhang F, Xia JC, Wang HY, Huang TB, Jian SW, Huang P, Feng QS, Huang LX, Yu XJ, Li D, Chen LZ, Jia WH, Fang Y, Huang HM, Zhu JL, Liu XM, Zhao Y, Liu WQ, Deng MQ, Hu WH, Wu SX, Mo HY, Hong MF, King MC, Chen Z, Zeng YX. Genome-wide scan for familial nasopharyngeal carcinoma reveals evidence of linkage to chromosome 4. Nat Genet. 2002, 31(4):395-399

29. Zhang XS, Song KH, Mai HQ, Jia WH, Feng BJ, Xia JC, Zhang RH, Huang LX, Yu XJ, Feng QS, Huang P, Chen JJ, Zeng YX. The 30-bp deletion variant: a polymorphism of latent membrane protein 1 prevalent in endemic and non-endemic areas of nasopharyngeal carcinomas in China. Cancer Lett. 2002, 176(1):65-73

Last updated on: 2011

1. Comprehensive treatment of melanoma

2. Immunotherapy of Liver cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and other kinds of tumors

Working Experience
1993 – 1988 Resident Physician, Qingshen Hospital, Leshan City, Sichuan Province

1988 – 1995 Attending Physician, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

1995 – 1998 Associate Professor, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

2000 – Present Professor & Vice Director of Tumor Biotherapy Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

1979 – 1983 MB, Chongqing Medical University

1983 – 1988 MM, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

1995 – 1998 PhD, Chongqing Medical University

1998 – 2000 Post-Doctor, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

August – October, 2005 Visiting Scholar, Karolinska University, Sweden

Last updated on: May, 2014

(1) Cancer genetics studyTumor suppressor gene down-regulation may play an important role in tumor progress and development. We investigated several tumor suppressors such as ING2, TESTIN, BATF2, LZAP and BIN1, et al. expression in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or gastric cancer (GC) and evaluated the relationship between these tumor suppressors’ expression and clinicopathological parameters of HCC or GC. Furthermore, by examining in vitro proliferation, clone formation, motility, invasion and apoptosis of tumor cell lines, we also study the functional role of these tumor suppressors in the tumorigenesis of HCC or GC.

(2) Cancer Immunotherapy studyImmunotherapy is an important comprehensive treatment method for cancer patient. Dr. Weng investigated several immuno-effector cells such as cytokines induced killer cells (CIK), natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC) and DC-CIK for treatment of cancer patients. More ever, he also investigated that DC/tumor fusion vaccines or genetic modified-DC vaccines for the treatment of cancer patients.

1993-1998 M.D. Medicine, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

2001-2004 M.S. Pathology, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

2005-2008 Ph.D. Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

2008-2012 Postdoctor. Boston University Medical School, Boston, US.

1. Wu Z*, Weng D(co-first), Li G. Quantitative proteome analysis of overexpressed Cripto-1 tumor cell reveals 14-3-3gamma as a novel biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Proteomics, 83C: 26-36, 2013　　

2. Weng D, Song B, Koido S, Calderwood SK, Gong J*. Immunotherapy of radioresistant mammary tumors with early metastasis using molecular chaperone vaccines combined with ionizing radiation. J Immunol, 191(2): 755-763, 2013　　

3. Weng D, Penzner JH, Song B, Koido S, Calderwood SK, Gong J*. Metastasis is an early event in mouse mammary carcinomas and is associated with cells bearing stem cell markers. Breast Cancer Res., 14(1):R18, 2012　　

4. Weng D, Calderwood SK, Gong J*. Preparation of a heat-shock protein 70-based vaccine from DC-tumor fusion cells. Methods Mol Biol.,787:255-65, 2011　　

5. Weng D, Song B, Durfee J, Sugiyama V, Wu Z, Koido S, Calderwood SK, Gong J*. Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against ovarian cancer-initiating cells. Int J Cancer., 129(8):1990-2001, 2011　　

6. Weng D, Cunin MC, Song B, Price BD, Eller MS, Gilchrest BA, Calderwood SK, Gong J*. Radiosensitization of mammary carcinoma cells by telomere homolog oligonucleotide pretreatment. Breast Cancer Res., 12(5):R71, 2010　　

7. Pan K, Wang Q, Liu Q, Zheng H, Li Y, Weng D, Li J, Huang L, He J, Chen S, Ke M, Zeng Y, Xia J*. The phenotype of ex vivo generated cytokine-induced killer cells is associated with overall survival in patients with cancer. Tumour Biol, 35(1): 701-707, 2014　　

8. Xia, JC*，Weng D. Progress of biotherapy in gastrointestinal carcinomas. Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi 16(1): 22-27, 2013　　

9. Pan K, Zheng H, Zhao J, Pan Q, Li J, Weng D, Jiang S, Chang AE, Li Q*, Xia J*. OK-432 synergizes with IFN-γ to confer dendritic cells with sustained immunity and activate the p38 and NF-κB pathways. Immunology and Cell Biology, (Epub ahead of print), 2013　　

10. Lu L, Pan K, Zheng H, Li J, Qiu H, Zhao J, Weng D, Pan Q, Wang D, Jiang S, Chang AE, Li Q*, Xia J*. IL-17A promotes immune effector cell recruitment in human esophageal cancer by inducing tumor cell chemokine production , J Immunotherapy, 36: 451–458, 2013

11. Pan, QZ, Pan K, Weng D, Zhao J, Zhang X, Wang D, Lv L, Jiang S, Zheng H, Xia J*. Annexin A3 promotes tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Carcinog, (Epub ahead of print), 2013

Last updated on: 2013

After she got a bachelor's degree in medicine in former Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences in 2011, Dr. Peng started to work in the Biotherapy Research Center in Cancer Center. In the same year, she incepted a doctorate in oncology. In 2013, she was promoted to associate chief physican. She mainly focuses on the biotherapy of malignant cander, melanin medical treatment and is familiar with the medical treatment of all sorts of solid tumors.

1. Peng RQ, et al. A pilot study of paclitaxel combined with gemcitabine followed by interleukin-2 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor for patients with metastatic melanoma. Cancer Biol Ther. 2012.12.

2. Peng RQ, et al. Co-expression of nuclear and cytoplasmic HMGB1 is inversely associated with infiltration of CD45RO+ T cells and prognosis in patients with stage IIIB colon cancer.BMC Cancer. 2010;10:496. 

3. Peng RQ, et al. Expression of calreticulin is associated with the infiltration of T-cells in stage IIIB colon cancer.World J Gastroenterol.2010；16（19）2428-2434.

4. Gao YF, Peng RQ, et al. The paradoxical patterns of expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in colon cancer. J Transl Med. 2009;7:71

Obtained a master degree in the Department of Clinical Medicine in Sun Yat-sen University in June, 2003, she serves as a resident physician in the biotherapy endemic area in the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University.  Since the end of 2005, she has served as the attending physician of this endemic area.  She has studied Oncology for a doctor's degree since September, 2008. She is a master of melanoma treatment and is familiar with the medical treatment of all sorts of cancers, especially the biotherapy of cancer.