Zhisong Cao, Ph.D.

Education

• B.S., Chemistry, Huazhong Normal University, 1982
• M.S.,Organic Chemistry, Huazhong Normal University, 1984
• Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Delaware, 1992

Post-doctoral Training

• University of Texas Medical Branch,  1994

Area of Interest

• Drug Development
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Organic Chemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry

Current Position

• Associate Laboratory Director, CHRISTUS Stehlin Foundation

Professional Positions Held

• Research Scientist, The Stehlin Foundation, Houston, TX 1997
• Associate Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Huazhong Normal University, Wuhan, P.R. China 1988
• Assistant Professor Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Huazhong Normal University,  Wuhan, P.R. China 1987

Professional Organization Memberships

• American Chemical Society
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Representative Publications

Cao Z, Kozielski A, Liu X, Wang Y, Vardeman D, and Giovanella B.  Crystalline camptothecin-20(S)-O-propionate hydrate: A novel antitumor agent with strong activity against 19 human tumor xenografts. 2009.  Cancer Research, 69:4742-4749

Zhisong Cao, John Mendoza, Albert DeJesus, and Dana Vardeman, and Beppino Giovanella Synthesis and antitumor activity of aromatic camptothecin esters.  2008.  International Journal of Molecular Medicine  21:477-487

Zhisong Cao, John Mendoza, Albert DeJesus, Beppino Giovanella. Structure-activity relationship of camptothecin esters. IV. Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of alkenyl camptothecin esters. 2005.   Acta Pharmacoligica Sinica 26(2): 235-241

Zhisong Cao, Panayotis Pantazis, John Mendoza,  Janet Early, Anthony Kozielski, Nick Harris, Beppino Giovanella.  2003.  Structure-Activity Relationship of Alkyl 9-Nitrocamptothecin Esters. Acta Pharmacoligica Sinica 24(2):109-119

Z. Cao, J. Mendoza, J. Early, and B. Giovanella.  The structure-antitumor activity relationship of camptothecin esters.   2000.  Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. Vol. 922:122 – 135

Z. Cao, K. Armstrong, M. Shaw, E. Petry, and N. Harris. Nitration of camptothecin with various inorganic nitrate salts in concentrated sulfuric acid: A new preparation of anticancer drug 9-nitrocamptothecin.  1998.  Synthesis  1724-1730

Z. Cao, N. Harris, T. Kozielski, D. Vardeman, and B. Giovanella. Alkyl esters of camptothecin and 9 – nitrocamptothecin: synthesis, in vitro pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and antitumor activity. 1998. J. Med. Chem.  41:31-37

Z. Cao, and J. G. Liehr, An effective approach to B-ring aromatization of equilin.  1997.
Synth. Commun. 27:145-155

Z. Cao, An alternative preparation of camptothecin 20 (S) acetate.  1997.  Synthetic Communications  27(11):2013-2019

Z. Cao. Preparation of 14-nitrocamptothecin derivatives by reactions of camptothecin with  nitronium tetrafluoroborate in acidic solvents. 1996. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1:2629-2632

Z. Cao, and J. G. Liehr. Total synthesis of 3-hydroxy-6-oxaestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one. 1996.  J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1:841-844