Expertise
Our laboratory research explores the molecular mechanisms of epithelial differentiation and morphogenesis during embryogenesis and the alterations that lead to epithelial cell transformation in carcinogenesis. One hallmark of carcinomas, malignancies of epithelial origin, is the loss of cell positional organization: cancer cells are no longer arranged as a discrete epithelium. Ovarian cancer biology and early embryogenesis
Specifically, our main research projects include the following:
- Mechanisms in cell differentiation and pattern formation in primitive endoderm development and early embryogenesis.
- The role of Dab2 gene in epithelial polarity and in morphological transformation of carcinoma cells.
- The role of GATA transcription factors in epithelial dedifferentiation of ovarian cancer cells.
- Development and study of an ovarian tumor mouse model reflecting postmenopausal ovarian cancer risk.
- Role of nuclear envelope defects in chromosomal instability and cancer.
Dr. Xu is interested in ovarian cancer biology, embryonic stem cell differentiation, and the mechanism of early embryogenesis.
Additionally, Dr. Xu's laboratory is interested in the study of the role of genetic instability in cancer development.
Furthermore, Dr. Xu's laboratory also interests in developmental therapies and mechanisms of drug action and resistance in ovarian cancer treatment.