Mesothelioma Doctors / Physicians
Anne Tsao, M.D.
- Contact Address
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, TX, 77030
- Professional Affiliations
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- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Expertise
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- Novel Therapeutics
- Biomarker-driven Clinical Trials
- New strategies for Treatment of Lung Cancer, Head & Neck Cancers and Mesothelioma.
- Website
- Biography/CV (will open new
window)
- Biography
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Research InterestsNovel therapeutics, biomarker-driven clinical trials, new strategies for therapy for lung, head and neck, and mesothelioma.
I am interested in the use of novel biologic therapies that target cell signal transduction pathways and am specifically focused on the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R), Src kinase, growth factor pathways, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (i.e. N-cadherin), and tumor angiogenesis. My research interests extend across the aerodigestive malignancies (lung and head and neck cancers) but I have a specific focus on developing research programs for non-smoking related thoracic cancers, such as mesothelioma and adenocarcinomas arising in women and never-smoking patients. Under my leadership, our department currently offers clinical trials for every setting in mesothelioma and we have a robust translational research program dedicated to finding new therapies and surrogate peripheral markers for response for this cancer. In the laboratory, our research efforts have recently identified Src kinase as a new target for therapy (Molecular Cancer Therapeutics) and we have shown that N-cadherin upregulation correlates with survival in mesothelioma (AACR, ASCO 2008). We have translated our laboratory work into the clinic and now offer clinical trials in mesothelioma with inhibitors to Src kinase, histone deactylase, and angiogenesis.
In addition to the mesothelioma work, I have developed and am the principal investigator for several clinical trials in lung and head and neck cancers. Some of the agents that we use in these trials target angiogenesis (ZD6474, AZD2171), platelet derived-growth factor receptor (imatinib), and RNA polymerase (TAS-106). I am also conducting an epidemiology trial on the transmission of HPV in oropharyngeal cancers to define a candidate population for vaccine therapy. Under development is a comprehensive translational program for lung cancer patients who have never smoked before.
As I am a clinician-scientist with both a laboratory and clinical research effort, I am currently supported by funding from a head and neck SPORE Career Development Award and an NIH K12 grant. I have also received funding through an ASCO Merit Award, M. D. Anderson Achievement in Research Award, ASCO Young Investigator Award, and ASCO Career Development Award. I serve as a principal investigator for a trial funded through our Department of Defense BATTLE grant and I am a project leader for the Department of Defense PROSPECT grant.
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