Sarah Wu, Ph.D.

Sarah Wu, Ph.D.
  • Assistant Research Professor
  • Co-Director, Biological Irradiation Lab
  • Co-Director, Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Lab

Contact Info

Biography —

Xiaoqing Wu joined Dr. Liang Xu’s lab at the University of Kansas as a postdoctoral researcher in April, 2012. She was promoted to Assistant Research Professor in August, 2016, and the same time as Co-Director of the Biological Irradiation Laboratory and the Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Laboratory.

Dr. Wu’s research focuses on drug discovery for novel small-molecule based cancer therapy targeting RNA binding proteins.

Dr. Wu received her Ph.D. from Southeast University, Nanjing, China in 2010. She worked in Jiangsu Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd before joining KU.

Selected Publications —

  1. Slone S, Anthony SR, Wu X, Benoit JB, Aube J, Xu L, Tranter M. Activation of HuR downstream of p38 MAPK promotes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Cellular Signaling 2016 (In press).
  2. Wu X, Tang W, Marquez T, Li K, Highfill C, He F, Lian J, Lin J, Fuchs J, Ji M, Li L, Xu L. Overcoming chemo/radio-resistance of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. Oncotarget 2016; 7(10): 11708-11723. PMID: 26887043.
  3. Wu X, Lan L, Wilson DM, Marquez RT, Tsao WC, Gao P, Roy A, Turner B.A., McDonald P, Tunge JA, Rogers SA, Dixon DA, Aubé J, Xu L. Identification and Validation of Novel Small Molecule Disruptors of HuR-mRNA Interaction. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10(6): 1476-1784. PMC4631057.
  4. Cai J, Wei H, Hong KH, Wu X, Cao M, Zong X, Li L, Sun C, Chen J, Ji M. Discovery and preliminary evaluation of 2-aminobenzamide and hydroxamate derivatives containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole moiety as potent histone deacetylase inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 96: 1-13. PMID: 25874326.
  5. Lan L, Appelman C, Smith AR, Yu J, Larsen S, Marquez RT, Liu H, Wu X, Gao P, Roy A, Anbanandam A, Gowthaman R, Karanicolas J, De Guzman RN, Rogers S, Aubé J, Ji M, Cohen RS, Neufeld KL, Xu L. Natural product (-)-gossypol inhibits colon cancer cell growth by targeting RNA-binding protein Musashi-1. Mol Oncol 2015; 9(7):1406-1420. PMC4523432.
  6. Cai J, Wei H, Hong KH, Wu X, Zong X, Cao M, Wang P, Li L, Sun C, Chen B, Zhou G, Chen J, Ji M. Discovery, bioactivity and docking simulation of Vorinostat analogues containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole moiety as potent histone deacetylase inhibitors and antitumor agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23(13): 3457-3471. PMID: 25953722.
  7. Cao C, Wu X, Kindscher K, Xu L, Timmermann B. Withanolides and Sucrose Esters from Physalis neomexicana. ‎J Nat Prod 2015; 78(10): 2488-2493. PMID: 26492982.
  8. Cai J, Liu L, Hong KH, Wang P, Li L, Cao M, Sun C, Wu X, Zong X, Chen J, Ji M. Discovery of phenoxybutanoic acid derivatives as potent endothelin antagonists with antihypertensive activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23(4): 657-667. PMID: 25614116.
  9. Cai J, Li L, Hong KH, Wu X, Chen J, Wang P, Cao M, Zong X, Ji M. Discovery of 4-aminoquinazoline--urea derivatives as Aurora kinase inhibitors with antiproliferative activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 22(21):5813-5823. PMID: 25270403.
  10. Li L, Tang W, Wu X*, Karnak D, Meng X, Thompson R, Hao X, Li Y, Qiao XT, Lin J, Fuchs J, Simeone DM, Chen ZN, Lawrence TS, Xu L. HAb18G/CD147 Promotes pSTAT3-Mediated Pancreatic Cancer Development via CD44s. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19(24): 6703-6715. PMC3873783. (* co-first author)
  11. Cai J, Sun M, Wu X, Chen J, Wang P, Zong X, Ji M. Design and synthesis of novel 4-benzothiazole amino quinazolines Dasatinib derivatives as potential anti-tumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2013; 63: 702-712. PMID: 23567960.
  12. Cai J, Zhang S, Zheng M, Wu X, Chen J, Ji M.  Design, synthesis, and in vitro antiproliferative activity of novel Dasatinib derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2012; 22(2): 806-810. PMID: 22217877.
  13. Wu X, Li M, Tang W, Zheng Y, Lian J, Xu L, and Ji M. Design, synthesis, and in vitro antitumor activity evaluation of novel 4-pyrrylamino quinazoline derivatives. Chem Biol Drug Des 2011; 78(6): 932-940. PMC3412131.
  14. Lian J, Wu X, He F, Karnak D, Tang W, Meng Y, Xiang D, Ji M, Lawrence TS and Xu L. A natural BH3 mimetic induces autophagy in apoptosis-resistant prostate cancer via modulating Bcl-2-Beclin1 interaction at endoplasmic reticulum. Cell Death Differ 2011; 18(1): 60-71. PMC2950895.
  15. Wu X, Li M, Qu Y, Tang W, Zheng Y, Lian J, Ji M, and Xu L. Design and synthesis of novel Gefitinib analogues with improved anti-tumor activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2010; 18(11):3812-3822. PMC2890262.
  16. Sun M, Wu X, Chen J, Cai J, Cao M, Ji M. Design, synthesis, and in vitro antitumor evaluation of novel diaryl ureas derivatives. Eur J Med Chem 2010; 45(6): 2299-2306. PMID: 20181414.
  17. Zheng Y, Wu X, Xue B, Li M, Ji M. Design, synthesis, docking and antitumor activity of quinazolino [3, 4-a] thieno [3, 2-d] pyrimidin-8-one derivatives. Chem Biol Drug Des 2010; 76(3): 285-290. PMID: 20604799.
  18. Wu X, Yu J, Ji M. Novel process for large scale synthesis of N-(4-hydroxy phenyl) retinamide. Journal of Southeast University (English Edition) 2008; 24(2): 247-249.
  19. Zheng Y, Wu X, Sun M, Feng L, Li M, Ji M. Design, synthesis, crystal structure and antitumor activity of a new ethyl 3-(quinazolin-4-ylamino)-1H- pyrrole-2-carboxylate derivative. Lett Drug Des Discov 2009; 6(7): 538-541.
  20. Liu H, Wu X, Duan Y, Gu B, Ji M. An efficient one-pot, two-step synthesis of Cyclobuxophyllinine M from Cyclovirobuxine D in aqueous media. Lett Org Chem 2008; 5(2): 140-141.
  21. Liu H, Wu X, Duan Y, Dou R, Ji M. An efficient one-pot synthesis of cyclovirobuxine A from buxozine C. Chem of Nat Compd 2008; 44(6): 829- 830.
  22. Meng Y, Tang W, Dai Y, Wu X, Liu M, Ji Q, Ji M, Pienta K, Lawrence T, and Xu L. Natural BH3-mimetic (-)-gossypol chemosensitizes human prostate cancer via Bcl-xL inhibition accompanied by increase of Puma and Noxa. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7(7): 2192-2202.  PMC2515935.
  23. Liu H, Wu X, Duan Y, Ji M. Cyclobuxophyllinine M, an alkaloid from Buxus microphyll a. Acta Cryst E 2007; E63: o2194-o2195.