Xiaoling Zhong, MD, PhD
Associate Research Professor of Surgery
- Phone
- (317) 278-8030
- Address
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635 Barnhill Dr., Center for Surgical Sciences, Van Nuys Medical Science Building
MS 2031
Indianapolis, IN 46202 - PubMed:
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Bio
Dr. Zhong currently serves as an Associate Research Professor. She received MD and MS degrees from Zunyi Medical University in Zunyi, China and PhD degree from Toho University in Tokyo, Japan.
Dr. Zhong’s research focus is on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the associated cachexia (PDAC–cachexia). PDAC is among the most lethal malignancies, with a median survival of less than one year and a five-year survival rate of approximately 8%. Nearly 80% of patients with PDAC develop cachexia, a multifactorial wasting syndrome characterized by progressive weight loss primarily due to severe depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Cachexia profoundly diminishes quality of life by causing weakness, fatigue, and a decline in functional capacity, and it significantly limits patients’ ability to tolerate aggressive anticancer therapies. Notably, cachexia directly contributes to up to 30% of cancer-related deaths. Despite its substantial clinical impact, there are currently no FDA–approved effective therapies specifically for treating cancer cachexia. Because cachexia is difficult to reverse once significant weight loss occurs, identifying early predictive biomarkers is critical. Therefore, the long-term goal of Dr. Zhong’s research is to develop effective strategies to prevent the onset and progression of PDAC–cachexia, ultimately improving survival and quality of life for patients affected by this devastating disease.
Dr. Zhong has co-authored peer-reviewed publications, including as corresponding author. She is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and Cancer Cachexia Society.
Key Publications
1. Narasimhan A, Zhong X, Counts BR, Young A, Cao S, Wan J, Liu S, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. Transcriptome and microRNAome profiling of human skeletal muscle in pancreatic cancer cachexia. medRxiv. 2025 Sep 4;. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.02.25334959. PubMed PMID: 40950454; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12424907.
2. Preda MB, Nastase-Rusu EG, Neculachi CA, Zhong X, Voellenkle C, Mazure NM, Balacescu O, Ivan C, Zheng XW, Gherghiceanu M, Lebrigand K, Simionescu M, Martelli F, Mari B, Catrina SB, Burlacu A, Ivan M. miR-210 locus deletion disrupts cellular homeostasis: an integrated genetic study. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22659. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-07572-8. PubMed PMID: 40595052; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12217331.
3. Hamidi T, Jiang Y, Robinson T, Kronbergs A, Au, E Rupert JE, Zhong X, Lai S, Liang T, Robling TAG, Hoggatt A, Carvalho RF, Cury SS, Wells CD, Zimmers TA, Koniaris TG. Hepatic Yap1 activates systemic catabolism and muscle loss during organ repair: evidence for a liver-derived common mechanism with cancer cachexia. bioRxiv. 2025 Apr 7; doi: 10.1101/2025.04.01.646698. 2025 April.
4. Liang T, Kota J, Williams KE, Saxena R, Gawrieh S, Zhong X, Zimmers TA, Chalasani N. Dynamic Alterations to Hepatic MicroRNA-29a in Response to Long-Term High-Fat Diet and EtOH Feeding. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 26;24(19). doi: 10.3390/ijms241914564. PubMed PMID: 37834011; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10572557.
5. Narasimhan A, Jengelley DHA, Huot JR, Umberger TS, Doud EH, Mosley AL, Wang M, Zhong X, Counts BR, Rupert JE, Young AR, Bonetto A, Horan DJ, Robling AG, Fishel ML, Kelley MR, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel preserves skeletal and cardiac mass and function in a murine model of pancreatic cancer cachexia. bioRxiv. 2023 Apr 18; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.15.536434
6. Jengelley DHA, Wang M, Narasimhan A, Rupert JE, Young AR, Zhong X, Horan DJ, Robling AG, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. Exogenous Oncostatin M induces Cardiac Dysfunction, Musculoskeletal Atrophy, and Fibrosis. Cytokine. 2022 Nov;159:155972. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155972. Epub 2022 Aug 30. PubMed PMID: 36054964; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10468097.
7. Zhong X, Narasimhan A, Silverman LM, Young AR, Shahda S, Liu S, Wan J, Liu Y, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. Sex specificity of pancreatic cancer cachexia phenotypes, mechanisms, and treatment in mice and humans: role of Activin. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022 Aug;13(4):2146-2161. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12998. Epub 2022 May 5. PubMed PMID: 35510530; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9397557.
8. Loumaye A, Lause P, Zhong X, Zimmers TA, Bindels LB, Thissen JP. Activin A Causes Muscle Atrophy through MEF2C-Dependent Impaired Myogenesis. Cells. 2022 Mar 25;11(7). doi: 10.3390/cells11071119. PubMed PMID: 35406681; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8997966.
9. Wang R, Bhat-Nakshatri P, Zhong X, Zimmers T, Nakshatri H. Hormonally Regulated Myogenic miR-486 Influences Sex-specific Differences in Cancer-induced Skeletal Muscle Defects. Endocrinology. 2021 Oct 1;162(10). doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqab142. PubMed PMID: 34265069; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8335968.
10. Narasimhan A, Zhong X, Au EP, Ceppa EP, Nakeeb A, House MG, Zyromski NJ, Schmidt CM, Schloss KNH, Schloss DEI, Liu Y, Jiang G, Hancock BA, Radovich M, Kays JK, Shahda S, Couch ME, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. Profiling of Adipose and Skeletal Muscle in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cachexia Reveals Distinct Gene Profiles with Convergent Pathways. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Apr 20;13(8). doi: 10.3390/cancers13081975. PubMed PMID: 33923976; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8073275.
11. Zhong X, Zimmers TA. Sex Differences in Cancer Cachexia. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2020 Dec;18(6):646-654. doi: 10.1007/s11914-020-00628-w. Epub 2020 Oct 12. Review. PubMed PMID: 33044689; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7732790.
12. Dey S, Liu S, Factora TD, Taleb S, Riverahernandez P, Udari L, Zhong X, Wan J, Kota J. Global targetome analysis reveals critical role of miR-29a in pancreatic stellate cell mediated regulation of PDAC tumor microenvironment. BMC Cancer. 2020 Jul 13;20(1):651. doi: 10.1186/s12885-020-07135-2. PubMed PMID: 32660466; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7359459.
13. Zhong X, Pons M, Poirier C, Jiang Y, Liu J, Sandusky GE, Shahda S, Nakeeb A, Schmidt CM, House MG, Ceppa EP, Zyromski NJ, Liu Y, Jiang G, Couch ME, Koniaris LG, Zimmers TA. The systemic activin response to pancreatic cancer: implications for effective cancer cachexia therapy. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2019 Oct;10(5):1083-1101. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12461. Epub 2019 Jul 8. PubMed PMID: 31286691; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6818463.
14. Mace TA, Shakya R, Pitarresi JR, Swanson B, McQuinn CW, Loftus S, Nordquist E, Cruz-Monserrate Z, Yu L, Young G, Zhong X, Zimmers TA, Ostrowski MC, Ludwig T, Bloomston M, Bekaii-Saab T, Lesinski GB. IL-6 and PD-L1 antibody blockade combination therapy reduces tumour progression in murine models of pancreatic cancer. Gut. 2018 Feb;67(2):320-332. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311585. Epub 2016 Oct 21. PubMed PMID: 27797936; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5406266.
15. Zhong X, Rescorla FJ. Cell surface adhesion molecules and adhesion-initiated signaling: understanding of anoikis resistance mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Cell Signal. 2012 Feb;24(2):393-401. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2011.10.005. Epub 2011 Oct 17. Review. PubMed PMID: 22024283. (corresponding author)
16. Zhong X, Hoelz DJ, Kumar HR, Sandoval JA, Rescorla FJ, Hickey RJ, Malkas LH. Bin1 is linked to metastatic potential and chemosensitivity in neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009 Sep;53(3):332-7. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22068. PubMed PMID: 19418541. (corresponding author)
17. Zhong X, Safa AR. Phosphorylation of RNA helicase A by DNA-dependent protein kinase is indispensable for expression of the MDR1 gene product P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant human leukemia cells. Biochemistry. 2007 May 15;46(19):5766-75. doi: 10.1021/bi700063b. Epub 2007 Apr 19. PubMed PMID: 17441731.
18. Zhong X, Safa AR. RNA helicase A in the MEF1 transcription factor complex up-regulates the MDR1 gene in multidrug-resistant cancer cells. J Biol Chem. 2004 Apr 23;279(17):17134-41. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M311057200. Epub 2004 Feb 9. PubMed PMID: 14769796.
BOOK CHAPTER
1. Ivan M, Zhong X, Greco S, Martelli F. Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in the hypoxic response. In: Giovanni Melillo (Eds.), Hypoxia and cancer: Biological implications and therapeutic opportunities. In: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development series. Springer, New York, Jan. 1, 2013; pp43-64
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-9167-5_3
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | PhD | Toho University |
| 1991 | MS | Zunyi Medical College |
| 1983 | MD | Zunyi Medical College |
Dr. Zhong’s research interests are on studying pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the associated cachexia (PDAC–cachexia) through a bidirectional translational research approach, integrating mouse models, cell-based systems, and patient-derived biospecimens to bridge basic and clinical insights.
1. Investigate phenotypic manifestations of PDAC–cachexia and the underlying molecular mechanisms using genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), orthotopic transplantation systems and in vitro culture platforms.
2. Validate findings from in vivo and in vitro models using patient-derived specimens. Conversely, evaluate the therapeutic potential of molecular targets identified in human specimens through in vitro and in vivo models.
3. Identify early predictive biomarkers and test early targeted intervention strategies to prevent PDAC–cachexia onset and interrupt the syndrome before irreversible wasting occurs.