Director of Research, Department of Urologic Surgery
Professor, Department of Urologic Surgery
Dr. Gao’s research focuses on seeking to better understand the molecular changes associated with the progression of prostate cancer, identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets to stop the progression of late-stage prostate cancer.
Urology
M.D., Sichuan Medical College, Chengdu, China 1985
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX 1995
Urology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD 1995-1998
President, Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR), 2018, 2019
Senior Research Career Scientist, Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020
Ralph deVere White endowed Professorship in Urologic Oncology Research, UC Davis, 2008
Ning S, Liu C, Lou W, Yang JC, Lombard AP, D'Abronzo LS, Batra N, Yu AM, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Evans CP, Gao AC. Bioengineered BERA-Wnt5a siRNA targeting Wnt5a/FZD2 signaling suppresses advanced prostate cancer tumor growth and enhances enzalutamide treatment. Mol Cancer Ther. 2022 Aug 5:MCT-22-0216. doi:10.1158/1535-7163. PMID:35930737.
Ning S, Zhao J, Lombard AP, D’Abronzo LS, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Lou W, Liu CF, Yang JC, Evans CP, Corey E, Chen HW, Yu AM, Ghosh PM, Gao AC. Activation of neural lineage networks and ARHGEF2 in enzalutamide-resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancer and association with patient outcomes. Commun Med. 2022 Sep 21;2:118. doi:10.1038/s43856-022-00182-9. PMID:36159187.
Lombard AP, Armstrong CM, D'Abronzo LS, Ning S, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Lou W, Evans CP, Dall'Era M, Chen HW, Chen X, Gao AC. Olaparib Induced Senescence is Bypassed through G2/M Checkpoint Override in Olaparib Resistant Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2022 Jan 27:molcanther.0604.2021. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0604. Online ahead of print. PMID 35086956.
Chengfei Liu, Cameron M. Armstrong, Shu Ning, Joy C. Yang, Wei Lou, Alan P. Lombard, Jinge Zhao, Chun-Yi Wu, Aiming Yu, Christopher P. Evans, Clifford G. Tepper, Pui-kai Li, Allen C. Gao. ARVib suppresses growth of advanced prostate cancer via inhibition of androgen receptor signaling. Oncogene. 2021 Sep;40(35):5379-5392. doi:10.1038/s41388-021-01914-2. Epub 2021 Jul 16. PMID:34272475.
Parikh M, Liu C, Wu CY, Evans CP, Dall'Era M, Robles D, Lara PN, Agarwal N, Gao AC, Pan CX. Phase Ib trial of reformulated niclosamide with abiraterone/prednisone in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 18;11(1):6377. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-85969-x. PMID:33737681.
Armstrong CM, Liu C, Liu L, Yang JC, Lou W, Zhao R, Ning S, Lombard AP, Zhao J, D'Abronzo LS, Evans CP, Li PK, Gao AC. Steroid Sulfatase Stimulates Intracrine Androgen Synthesis and is a Therapeutic Target for Advanced Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Nov 15;26(22):6064-6074. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-1682. Epub 2020 Sep 14. PMID:32928794.
Liu C, Lou W, Yang JC, Liu L, Armstrong CM, Lombard AP, Zhao R, Noel ODV, Tepper CG, Chen HW, Dall'Era M, Evans CP, Gao AC. Proteostasis by STUB1/HSP70 complex controls sensitivity to androgen receptor targeted therapy in advanced prostate cancer. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 16;9(1):4700. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07178-x. PMID:30446660.
Lombard AP, Liu L, Cucchiara V, Liu C, Armstrong CM, Zhao R, Yang JC, Lou W, Evans CP, Gao AC. Intra versus Inter Cross-resistance Determines Treatment Sequence between Taxane and AR-Targeting Therapies in Advanced Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2018 Oct;17(10):2197-2205. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-1269. Epub 2018 Jun 11. PMID:29891490.
Liu C, Lou W, Zhu Y, Yang JC, Nadiminty N, Gaikwad NW, Evans CP, Gao AC. Intracrine Androgens and AKR1C3 Activation Confer Resistance to Enzalutamide in Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2015 Apr 1;75(7):1413-22. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-3080. Epub 2015 Feb 3. PMID:25649766.
Liu C, Lou W, Zhu Y, Nadiminty N, Schwartz CT, Evans CP, Gao AC. Niclosamide inhibits androgen receptor variants expression and overcomes enzalutamide resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Jun 15;20(12):3198-3210. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-13-3296. Epub 2014 Apr 16. Erratum in: Clin Cancer Res. 2017 Jan 1;23 (1):323. PMID:24740322.