Tumor Biology and Liver Cancer Stem Cell Research Group

Liver cancer is the 5th most common and 3rd most lethal malignancy worldwide. Liver cancer is a stem cell disease since liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are critically involved in multiple aspects of liver cancer development and treatment failure.

My group undertakes stem cells-oriented research, aiming to better understand the pathogenesis of liver cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms with the ultimate goal of developing more efficient treatments for liver cancer.

Our research is informed by clinicians practicing at Westmead Hospital and Norwest Hospital. We have access to patient cohorts and surgical samples which provide a robust platform for translational research.

Research Directions

  • Understanding the role of cancer stem cells in primary liver cancer;
  • Developing reliable pre-clinical models (e.g., precision-cut liver slice, iPSCs derived multilineage liver organoids, patient tissues derived organoids) for translational research;
  • Understanding the natural evolvement of common pre-cancerous conditions (e.g., MAFLD) to end-stage liver diseases and exploring novel molecular diagnostics, prognostics and therapies;
  • Understanding the mechanisms of liver cancer heterogeneity and its impact on treatment resistance;
  • Developing glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified liposomes as a carrier for anticancer agents to target LCSCs.

Recent Achievements

  • Dr. Romario Ngyuen awarded Sydney Cancer Partners Seed Grant.
  • Dr. QIAO awarded a philanthropic grant to develop vascularized liver organoids for personalized treatment of advanced liver disease
  • Dr. QIAO recognized for his research and community leadership with appointment of the Chair of the Professional Development and Junior Investigators Subcommittee, Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) (2017-2019)
  • Dr. QIAO received the Best Abstract Presenter Award in Liver Cancer Forum 2020, Australian Experimental Liver Cancer Research Network, Brisbane 3rd- 4th Dec, 2020

Recent publications

Role of BMP-9 in human liver disease. Gut 2019; 68(11):2097-2100. [PMID: 30343271]

November 2019

An aptamer-based drug delivery agent (CD133-apt-Dox) selectively and effectively kills liver cancer stem-like cells. Cancer Lett 2021; 501:124-132. [PMID: 33352247]

March 2021

LECT2, a ligand for Tie1, plays a crucial role in liver fibrogenesis. Cell 2019; 178(6):1478-1492.e20. [PMID: 31474362]

September 2019

Single cell RNA-seq analysis identifies a noncoding RNA mediating resistance to sorafenib treatment in HCC. Mol Cancer 2022; 21(1):6. [PMID: 34980140]

January 2022

Aptamer-mediated Doxorubicin delivery reduces HCC burden in 3D organoids model. J Control Release 2022; 341:341-50. [PMID: 34848243]

January 2022

NAME ROLE
Dr. Liang QIAO Group Leader
Dr. Romario Ngyuen Postdoctoral Fellow
Ms Shadi Zerehpoosh PhD student
Ms Safri Fatema PhD student
Ms Anna Lisa Wielsch Exchange German medical student (commenced Aug 2023)

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