Xiaochao Tan
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
John McGovern Medical School
Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology
Our laboratory studies how dysregulation of the Golgi apparatus and secretory pathways drives cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, with a particular focus on lung cancer. The Golgi functions as the cell’s central “distribution center,” controlling the processing and secretion of proteins that promote tumor growth and influence the tumor microenvironment. Our work has identified that oncogenic alterations, including p53 loss and chromosomal amplifications, reprogram Golgi-dependent secretion to promote metastasis, immune evasion, and tumor growth. We are especially interested in defining “secretory dependencies” in cancer cells and leveraging these vulnerabilities to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Our research integrates cell biology, cancer biology, and translational approaches, including functional genomics, advanced imaging, and in vivo models such as patient-derived xenografts.
Graduate students in the lab will have the opportunity to work on projects such as identifying key regulators of Golgi trafficking in cancer, dissecting mechanisms of secretory pathway rewiring, and testing targeted therapeutic strategies (e.g., small molecules or antibody-drug conjugates) that disrupt these processes. Through these projects, students will gain training in CRISPR-based gene editing and other molecular and cellular biology techniques, imaging of intracellular trafficking, and preclinical cancer models. They will also develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. Our goal is to provide a rigorous, collaborative, and supportive training environment that prepares students for careers in academia, industry, or translational research.
McGovern Medical School Faculty
Education & Training
PhD, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 2012