Yihai Cao Group- gammal sida
Our research group studies the fundamental mechanisms of angiogenesis, the key process of blood vessel formation, in various diseases. Our aim is to understand molecular and functional mechanisms of angiogenesis in the onset and progression of most common and lethal human diseases such as cancer, metabolic disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Through these mechanistic studies, we propose new concepts and paradigms that are beneficial for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these and other human diseases. The ultimate goal of our research is to develop novel therapeutics for treatment of angiogenesis-dependent diseases.
Research areas
Cancer
We focus our efforts on studying alterations of the tumor microenvironment in affecting tumor growth, metastasis, and drug responses. We are particularly interested in studying the vascular functions in promoting tumor growth and metastasis and in understanding the mechanisms underlying antiangiogenic therapy. Our research mechanistic projects include:
- Fundamental mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis
- Studying the role of tumor vessels in supporting primary tumor growth
- Tumor vessels and cancer metastasis
- Lymphangiogensis and lymphatic metastasis
- Interactions between tumor stromal cellular and molecular components
- Tumor microenvironment in cancer metastasis
- Antiangiogenic drug resistance
- Cancer metabolism and anticancer drug response
- Translational research towards clinical therapy
- Defining novel therapeutic targets and development of more effective therapies
Obesity and Metabolic Diseases
We are interested in investigating the mechanisms and functions of the adipose vasculature in regulating adipose metabolism. We are beginning to understand the crucial roles of the adipose vasculature in modulating adipocyte functions under metabolic quiescent and active states. Targeting the adipose vasculature provides a new concept and paradigm for treating obesity, metabolic disease such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic disease complications. Our research projects and interests include the following aspects:
- Angiogenesis in obesity and metabolic disease
- Vascular stem cells in contributing to adipose tissue development and functions
- Interactions between vascular cells and adipocytes
- Non-shivering thermogenesis in energy expenditure
- Growth factors, adipocytokines, adipokines in mediating the vasculature-adipocyte dialog
- Brown adipose tissue and browning white adipose tissues activation and metabolic disease
- Vascular functions in development of liver steatosis and NASH
- Endocrine functions of adipose tissues
- Vascular roles in development of diabetic complications
- Defining novel therapeutic targets for treatment of obesity and T2DM
Other projects
Our other research programs include therapeutic angiogenesis for treating cardiovascular disease, especially after myocardial infarction. We have developed a novel regimen of combination therapy targeting both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. We have also developed novel therapeutics that target vasculatures, fibrosis, and inflammation for treating eye diseases including age-related macular disease (AMD) and glaucoma. These novel therapeutics are ready for early clinical trials and preclinical studies demonstrated exciting therapeutic efficacy.
Snapshot of scientific publications
Total number of published articles: 243
Nature publishing group: 26
- 2 Nature
- 3 Nature Medicine
- 1 Nature Reviews Cancer
- 1 Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology
- 1 Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
- 1 Nature Reviews Endocrinology
- 1 Nature Reviews Materials
- 11 Nature Communications
- 5 Nature Protocols
Cell Press group: 14
- 1 Cell
- 2 Cancer Cell
- 5 Cell Metabolism
- 4 Cell Reports
- 1 Developmental Cell
- 1 Neuron
Science and sister journals: 7
- 2 Science
- 2 Science Translational Medicine
- 2 Science Advances
- 1 Science Signaling
PNAS USA: 48
Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI): 10
- 8 JCI
- 2 JCI Insight
Circulation: 4
Blood: 4
Selected publications
Selected 10 original research articles
Cancer Lipid Metabolism Confers Antiangiogenic Drug Resistance.
Iwamoto H, Abe M, Yang Y, Cui D, Seki T, Nakamura M, et al
Cell Metab. 2018 Jul;28(1):104-117.e5
Monitoring drug target engagement in cells and tissues using the cellular thermal shift assay.
Martinez Molina D, Jafari R, Ignatushchenko M, Seki T, Larsson EA, Dan C, et al
Science 2013 Jul;341(6141):84-7
Cold exposure promotes atherosclerotic plaque growth and instability via UCP1-dependent lipolysis.
Dong M, Yang X, Lim S, Cao Z, Honek J, Lu H, et al
Cell Metab. 2013 Jul;18(1):118-29
PDGF-BB modulates hematopoiesis and tumor angiogenesis by inducing erythropoietin production in stromal cells.
Xue Y, Lim S, Yang Y, Wang Z, Jensen LD, Hedlund EM, et al
Nat. Med. 2011 Dec;18(1):100-10
Hypoxia-independent angiogenesis in adipose tissues during cold acclimation.
Xue Y, Petrovic N, Cao R, Larsson O, Lim S, Chen S, et al
Cell Metab. 2009 Jan;9(1):99-109
PDGF-BB induces intratumoral lymphangiogenesis and promotes lymphatic metastasis.
Cao R, Björndahl MA, Religa P, Clasper S, Garvin S, Galter D, et al
Cancer Cell 2004 Oct;6(4):333-45
Angiogenic synergism, vascular stability and improvement of hind-limb ischemia by a combination of PDGF-BB and FGF-2.
Cao R, Bråkenhielm E, Pawliuk R, Wariaro D, Post MJ, Wahlberg E, et al
Nat. Med. 2003 May;9(5):604-13
Placenta growth factor-1 antagonizes VEGF-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth by the formation of functionally inactive PlGF-1/VEGF heterodimers.
Eriksson A, Cao R, Pawliuk R, Berg SM, Tsang M, Zhou D, et al
Cancer Cell 2002 Feb;1(1):99-108
Angiogenesis inhibited by drinking tea.
Cao Y, Cao R
Nature 1999 Apr;398(6726):381
Spinal cord repair in adult paraplegic rats: partial restoration of hind limb function.
Cheng H, Cao Y, Olson L
Science 1996 Jul;273(5274):510-3
Selected 10 review articles
Adipocyte and lipid metabolism in cancer drug resistance.
Cao Y
J. Clin. Invest. 2019 07;129(8):3006-3017
Obesity Protects Cancer from Drugs Targeting Blood Vessels.
Cao Y
Cell Metab. 2018 06;27(6):1163-1165
VEGF-targeted cancer therapeutics-paradoxical effects in endocrine organs.
Cao Y
Nat Rev Endocrinol 2014 Sep;10(9):530-9
Angiogenesis and vascular functions in modulation of obesity, adipose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity.
Cao Y
Cell Metab. 2013 Oct;18(4):478-89
Forty-year journey of angiogenesis translational research.
Cao Y, Arbiser J, D'Amato RJ, D'Amore PA, Ingber DE, Kerbel R, et al
Sci Transl Med 2011 Dec;3(114):114rv3
Optimizing the delivery of cancer drugs that block angiogenesis.
Cao Y, Langer R
Sci Transl Med 2010 Jan;2(15):15ps3
Adipose tissue angiogenesis as a therapeutic target for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Cao Y
Nat Rev Drug Discov 2010 Feb;9(2):107-15
Off-tumor target--beneficial site for antiangiogenic cancer therapy?
Cao Y
Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2010 10;7(10):604-8
Positive and negative modulation of angiogenesis by VEGFR1 ligands.
Cao Y
Sci Signal 2009 Feb;2(59):re1
Opinion: emerging mechanisms of tumour lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.
Cao Y
Nat. Rev. Cancer 2005 09;5(9):735-43
Group Members
Associated Members
- André Dias
- Xingkang He
- Xiaoting Sun
Former Members
- Post Doc Lasse Jensen
- Post Doc Sharon Lim
- Post Doc Jennifer Honek
- Post Doc Hideki Iwamoto
- PhD, Guest Researcher Zhaodong Zhong
- PhD, Guest Researcher Lixiang Wang
- MD, Guest Researcher Fang Chen
- M.D. PhD Zhichao Si
- Ph.D Piotr Religa
- M.Sci, Ph.D Niina Veitonmaki
- Ph.D, post-doctoral fellow Johan Nissen
- Ph.D Meit Björndahl
- M.Sci, Ph.D Ebba Brakenhielm
- PhD, Lab Manager Ying Zhao
- PhD, Post Doc Eva-Maria Hedlund
- PhD Student Hong Ji
- PhD Student Junwei Zhang
- Post Doc Pegah Rouhi
- Post Doc Yuan Xue