Zhongxing Liao, M.D.
- Contact Address
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, TX - Professional Affiliations
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Position held: Center Medical Director of Radiation Oncology - M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Position held: Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
- M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Expertise
- Cancers of the Chest
- Lung Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Education
- Hunan Medical University, The People's Republic of China, M.D., 1978 - 1982
- Residencies
- Resident, Hunan Tumor Hospital & Institution Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China, Radiation Oncology, 1983 - 1986
- Internship, The Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Internal Medicine, 1994 - 1995
- Resident, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology, 1995 - 1999
- Fellowships
- Fellowship, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Experimental Radiation Oncology, 1989 - 1990
- Postdoctoral Fellow, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Experimental Radiation Oncology, 1990 - 1993
- Research Fellowship, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology, 1993 - 1994
- Board Certification
- American Board of Radiology - Radiation Oncology, 1999
- Website
- Biography/CV (will open new window)
- Biography
My research interests in cancer of the chest include both clinical investigations and translational research questions.
Clinically, I have been focusing my efforts in improving efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for lung and esophageal cancers using molecular targeting strategies. Together with our group, I have extensively explored the potential of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in combination with radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy for the past few years. These clinical studies are an extension of laboratory investigations performed in collaboration with Dr. Luka Milas’s lab in the Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology. Our group was the first to initiate a US-based clinical trial at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center using a selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, in combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of surgically unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, we have a phase II study investigating concurrent chemoradiation and celecoxib for non-small cell lung cancer patients.
In addition to research on COX-2, I am actively involved in several other avenues of research. First, using genetic markers obtained from normal lymphocytes and tumor tissue, our group collaborated with colloquies in molecular epidemiology in searching, in retrospective and prospective studies, for genetic factors that predict tumor response (esophageal cancer) to radio chemotherapy. The ultimate goal of this research is to be able to tailor individual patient treatment for cancer of the esophagus. Normal tissue toxicity after concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy is a dose limiting and sometimes fatal toxicity of cancer treatment. Our group has been actively investigating factors that would put patient on high risk for complication. Our group has identified critical predictive factors that were associated with treatment complication. Methods to reduce the toxicity have been developed.
Second, our group has developed a prospective clinical trial using CT/PET and Feed-back Guided Breath Hold for the treatment of esophageal cancer. These techniques are aimed at better definition of target volume and more accurate delivery of radiation.
Third, collaborating with my colleagues from the department of integrative medicine, I serve as a Co-PI on a clinical research in traditional Chinese Medicine, supported by a R21 grant. The aim of this research is to establish international collaboration in assessing the role of complimentary and alternative medicine in cancer patient care. This trial was so successful that NCI has awarded this group a U-19 grant where I serve as Co-PI (PI – Dr. L. Cohen).
Finally, with the development of our proton center, I have developed a clinical trial for patients with the cancer of the esophagus that cannot be surgically removed. This new modality will offer the benefit of reduced toxicity.
