Asst. Prof. Canhui Cao ,Molecular biology, Cancer Immunology, Virus-Associated Cancers, Best Researcher Award
Dr. Canhui Cao is a clinician-scientist specializing in gynecologic oncology, tumor immunology, and cancer epigenetics. His research integrates multi-omics, single-cell technologies, and three-dimensional genome architecture to uncover mechanisms of tumor–immune and neuron–tumor interactions in HPV-related and gynecologic malignancies. He has published extensively in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Trends in Cancer, Neuron, Cell Genomics, and Cancer Letters, and serves as an academic editor and reviewer for leading international journals.
Online Profiles
Dr. Cao maintains an active international research presence through ORCID (0000-0002-7328-0264) and Google Scholar (H-index: 16), reflecting sustained scholarly impact in oncology, immunology, and genomics. His publications are indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, Crossref, and PubMed, ensuring global visibility and citation.
Education
Dr. Cao earned his Ph.D. in Gynecologic Oncology from Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2017–2020), following an M.S. in Gynecologic Oncology (2015–2017) at the same institution. He completed his M.D. (equivalent) in Clinical Medicine at Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2010–2015), receiving rigorous training in clinical oncology and translational medicine.
Research Focus
His research focuses on tumor–immune epigenetics, neuron–tumor crosstalk, HPV-driven chromatin remodeling, immune exhaustion, and therapeutic resistance. He applies single-cell and spatial omics, epigenomic profiling, and 3D genome technologies to elucidate cancer progression mechanisms and identify translational targets for immunotherapy and precision oncology.
Experience
Dr. Cao has extensive experience in translational cancer research, integrating clinical datasets with molecular and computational biology. He has led multidisciplinary projects involving genomics, immunology, and bioinformatics, contributing to both mechanistic discoveries and clinically relevant biomarkers in gynecologic and virus-associated cancers.
Research Timeline
From early work on HPV infection, ovarian aging, and platinum resistance, Dr. Cao’s research evolved toward multi-omics integration and immune regulation in cancer. His recent studies emphasize neural regulation of tumor immunity, immune exhaustion pathways, and epigenetic reprogramming, reflecting a continuous progression from molecular oncology to systems-level cancer biology.
Research Publications
Cao C. Orchestrating tumor–immune epigenetics via SERT–H3Q5ser axis. Trends Cancer. 2025;Dec:S2405-8033(25)00278-X. doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2025.11.004.
Cao C. Neuron–tumor crosstalk fuels small cell lung cancer. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2025;46(11):1041–1043. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2025.10.007.
Cao C. Targeting tumor-associated nerves enhances cancer immunotherapy. Neuron. 2025;113(19):3076–3078. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2025.09.005.
Cao C, Xu M, Peng T, et al. Blocking CXCR4⁺ CD4⁺ T cells reprograms Treg-mediated immunosuppression via Rho-GTPase/NF-κB signaling. Genome Med. 2025;17:85.
Cao C, Xu M, Wei Y, et al. CXCR4 orchestrates TOX-programmed CD8⁺ T-cell exhaustion via JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Cell Genomics. 2024;4(10):100659.
Cao C, Xu Q, Zhu Z, et al. Three-dimensional chromatin analysis reveals Sp1-mediated HPV–host epigenetic reprogramming in cervical cancer. Cancer Lett. 2024;588:216809.
Cao C, Hong P, Huang X, et al. C/EBPβ enhances platinum resistance by reprogramming H3K79 methylation in ovarian cancer. Nat Commun. 2018;9:1739.
(Complete publication list available upon request; all indexed in PubMed/Web of Science.)
Research Impact
Dr. Cao’s work has significantly advanced understanding of immune exhaustion, tumor–neural signaling, and epigenetic regulation in cancer. His findings have influenced emerging therapeutic strategies targeting immune checkpoints, chemoresistance, and tumor microenvironment remodeling, with broad implications for gynecologic and virus-associated cancers.
Innovation & Intellectual Property
His research introduces innovative concepts linking neural signaling to tumor immunity and epigenetic plasticity. By integrating spatial multi-omics and 3D genome mapping, he has contributed novel analytical frameworks that enable identification of actionable regulatory elements and immune targets in cancer.
Research Projects & Funding
Dr. Cao has served as Principal Investigator for multiple competitive grants, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and the Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation, supporting independent research in cancer immunology and genomics.
Conference Contributions
He has contributed to international oncology and genomics conferences through invited talks, oral presentations, and scholarly reviews, disseminating advances in tumor immunology, HPV-related cancers, and multi-omics technologies.
Academic Excellence
Dr. Cao serves as Academic Editor for European Journal of Cancer Care and Editorial Board Member of BMC Immunology. His consistent publication in top-tier journals reflects sustained academic excellence and leadership in translational oncology.
Societal / Industry Contribution
Through clinically relevant research on immunotherapy response, chemoresistance, and early cancer detection, Dr. Cao’s work supports improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, contributing to public health and precision medicine initiatives.
Global Recognition
Dr. Cao is an active peer reviewer for over 30 international journals, including International Journal of Cancer, Gynecologic Oncology, Journal of Hematology & Oncology, Molecular Therapy, and Nature-affiliated journals, underscoring his global recognition as an expert in cancer biology and immunology.