# denotes co-first authors; ^ denotes corresponding authors

2026

Liang Z, Long X, Xiong Z, Wong PPC, Huang S, Chen S, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Leung C, Cao J, Wu H, Yue H, Zhao Z, Tu Y, Yin B, Yang W, Wang J, Chen S, Zhang X, Tsang YW, Zhong C, Liu X, Ding L, Lu J, Si-Tou WWY, Liu Y, Wang Y, Lin Y, Liang J, Ren W, Vong JSL, Tong M, Tian X, Hui HX, Zhou J, Ngai S, Ni S, To KF, Braun T, Sung JJY, Chan SL, Cheng ASL. Tumor cells metabolically resist immune-checkpoint therapy by macrophage efferocytosis-mediated fatty acid recycling. Cancer Cell (Accepted)
Chu MKC, Tong M. Emerging potential of CAR-NK cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: current advances and translational challenges. Hepatoma Res. 2026;12:1.

2025

Chan B, Tang H, Zheng X, Xie F, Yu P, Lyu Y, Feng T, Wu J, Liu J, Xu Y, Cheung AH, Fang C, Wang Z, Wang S, Cheung JC, Dong Y, Tian R, Zhang Y, Lu C, Wong CC, Yu J, Wu WK, Burgermeister E, Tong M, Zhang F, Kang W, Leung KT, To KF. Spatial and functional dissection of cancer-associated fibroblasts-mediated immune modulation in H. pylori-associated gastric cancer. Mol Cancer. 2025;24, 282.
Lei MML, Leung CON, Leung RWH, Wu XQ, Chung KPS, Gu CY, Chan MSM, Chau WK, Mu QH, Ng JK, Tong M, Yun JP, Teo JM, Ling CS, Wong PP, Chan SL, Xiong ZW, Cheng AS, Ding J, Ma S, Lee TK. Wild-type KRAS activation drives evasion of interferon-mediated immunity and resistance to immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1): 9913.
Lu J, Chan TT, Wang Y, Wang J, Xiong Z, Li J, Zhang Y, Wang H, Chen J, Yang W, Wang J, Tu Y, Leung HHW, Lung RWM, Kang W, Tong M, Wang DM, Wu QN, Zeng ZL, Cheng ASL, To KF, Chan AWH, Zhou J. FADD Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Potentiates CD8+T Cell Responses and Sensitizes to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Cancer Res. Published online July 14, 2025. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-3854
Tu Y, Wu H, Zhong C, Liu Y, Xiong Z, Chen S, Wang J, Wong PP, Yang W, Liang Z, Lu J, Chen S, Zhang L, Feng Y, Si-Tou WW, Yin B, Lin Y, Liang J, Liang L, Vong JS, Ren W, Kwong TT, Leung HH, To KF, Ma S, Tong M, Sun H, Xia Q, Zhou J, Kerr D, La Thangue N, Sung JJ, Chan SL, Cheng AS. Pharmacological Activation of STAT1-GSDME Pyroptotic Circuitry Reinforces Epigenetic Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gut. 2025;74(4):613-627.
Wu XQ, Ying F, Chung KPS, Leung CON, Leung RWH, So KK, Lei MM, Chau WK, Tong M, Yu J, Wei D, Tai WCS, Ma S, Lu YY, Lee TK. Intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila complements the efficacy of PD1 therapy in MAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Rep Med. 2025;6(1):101900.

2024

Xie Y, Wu H, He Y, Liu L, Huang IB, Zhou L, Lin CY, Leung RW, Loh JJ, Lee TK, Ding J, Man K, Ma S^, Tong M^. Targeting AXL induces tumor-intrinsic immunogenic response in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant liver cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024. 3;15(2):110.

2023

Gao Y, Tong M, Wong TL, Ng KY, Xie YN, Wang Z, Yu HJ, Loh JJ, Li M, Ma S. LncRNA URB1-AS1 suppresses sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by driving ferritin phase separation. ACS Nano 2023;17:22240-58.
Wang Y, Tong M^. Protein Posttranslational Modification in Stemness Remodeling and Its Emerging Role as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Gastrointestinal Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023;24:9173.
Wong TL, Loh JJ, Lu S, Yan HH, Siu HC, Xi R, Chan D, Kam MJ, Zhou L, Tong M, Copland JA, Chen LL, Yun JP, Leung SY, Ma S. ADAR1-mediated RNA editing of SCD1 drives drug resistance and self-renewal in gastric cancer. Nat Commun 2023;14:2861.
Yu H, Zhou L, Loong JH, Lam KH, Wong TL, Ng KY, Tong M, Ma VW, Wang Y, Zhang X, Lee TK, Yun JP, Yu J, Ma S. SERPINA12 promotes the tumorigenic capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells through hyperactivation of AKT/β-catenin signaling. Hepatology 2023;78:1711-26.
Lei MM, Leung CO, Lau EY, Leung RW, Ma VW, Tong M, Lu YY, Huang CY, Zhu QH, Ng IO, Ma S, Lee TK. SCYL3, as a novel binding partner and regulator of ROCK2, promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression. JHEP Rep 2023;5:100604.

2022

Xie YN, Ma S^, Tong M^. Metabolic plasticity of cancer stem cells in response to microenvironmental cues. Cancers 2022;14:5345.
Tong M, Ma S. Protocols to culture and harvest hepatic tumor organoids for metabolic assays. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101597.
Mok EH, Leung CO, Zhou L, Lei MM, Leung HW, Tong M, Wong TL, Lau EY, Ng IO, Ding J, Yun JP, Yu J, Zhu HL, Lin CH, Lindholm D, Leung KS, Cybulski JD, Baker DM, Ma S, Lee TK. Caspase 3-induced SREBP2 activation drives drug resistance through the promotion of cholesterol biosynthesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2022;82:3102-15.
Zhou L, Yu KH, Wong TL, Zhang Z, Chan CH, Loong JH, Che N, Yu HJ, Tan KV, Tong M, Ngan ES, Ho JW, Ma S. Lineage tracing and single-cell analysis reveal proliferative Prom1+ tumor-propagating cells and their dynamic cellular transition during liver cancer progression. Gut 2022;71:1656-68.

2011 - 2021

Feng X#, Tong M#, Tong CS, Chan BK, Chu HY, Wong TL, Fong JH, Cheung MS, Mak KH, Pardeshi L, Huang YH, Wong KH, Choi GC, Ma S, Wong AL. A combinatorial CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies ifenprodil as an adjunct to sorafenib for liver cancer treatment. Cancer Res 2021; 81:6219-32.
Tong M^, Wong TL, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Xie YN, Li CH, Zhou L, Che N, Yun JP, Man K, Lee TK, Cai Z^, Ma S^. Loss of tyrosine catabolic enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase HPD promotes glutamine anaplerosis through mTOR signaling in liver cancer. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109617.
Loh JJ, Li TW, Zhou L, Wong TL, Liu X, Ma V, Lo CM, Man K, Lee TK, Ning W, Tong M^, Ma S^. FSTL1 secreted by activated fibroblasts promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and stemness. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5692-705.
Loong JH, Wong TL, Tong M, Sharma R, Zhou L, Ng KY, Yu HJ, Li CH, Man K, Lo CM, Guan XY, Lee TK, Yun JP, Ma S. Glucose deprivation induced aberrant FUT1-mediated fucosylation drives cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:143377.
Ng KY, Shea QT, Wong TL, Luk ST, Tong M, Lo CM, Man K, Yun JP, Guan XY, Lee TK, Zheng YP, Ma S. Chemotherapy enriched THBS2-deficient cancer stem cells drive hepatocarcinogenesis through matrix softness induced histone H3 modifications. Adv Sci 2021; 8:2002483.
Che N, Ng KY, Wong TL, Tong M, Kau PW, Chan LH, Lee TK, Huen MS, Yun JP, Ma S. PRMT6 deficiency induces autophagy in hostile microenvironments of hepatocellular carcinoma tumors by regulating BAG5-associated HSC70 stability. Cancer Lett 2021; 501:247-62.
Leung HW, Leung CO, Lau EY, Chung KP, Mok EH, Lei MM, Leung RW, Tong M, Keng VW, Ma C, Zhao Q, Ng IO, Ma S, Lee TK. EPHB2 activates β-catenin to enhance cancer stem cell properties and drive sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2021; 81:3229-40.
Zheng Y, Zhao H, Tong M, Zhu L, Ma S, Cai Z. Characterization and determination of 13C-labeled nonessential amino acids in a 13C5-glutamine isotope tracer experiment with a mass spectrometry strategy combining parallel reaction monitoring and multiple reaction monitoring. Anal Chem 2021; 93:13564-13571.
Ho NP, Leung CO, Wong TL, Lau EY, Lei MM, Mok EH, Leung HW, Tong M, Ng IO, Yun JP, Ma S, Lee TK. The interplay of UBE2T and Mule in regulating Wnt/β-catenin activation to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:148.
Leung CO#, Tong M#, Chung KP, Zhou L, Che N, Tang KH, Ding J, Lau EY, Ng IO, Ma S, Lee TK. Overriding adaptive resistance of sorafenib through combination therapy with SHP2 blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2020; 72:155-68.
Luk ST, Ng KY, Zhou L, Tong M, Wong TL, Yu HJ, Lo CM, Man K, Guan XY, Lee TK, Ma S. Deficiency in embryonic stem cell marker REX1 activates MKK6-dependent p38 MAPK signaling to drive hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology 2020; 72:183-97.
Tong M, Che N, Zhou L, Luk ST, Kau PW, Chai S, Ngan ES, Lo CM, Man K, Ding J, Lee TK, Ma S. Efficacy of annexin A3 blockade in sensitizing hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib and regorafenib. J Hepatol 2018; 69:826-39.
Lau MC, Ng KY, Wong TL, Tong M, Lee TK, Ming XY, Law S, Lee NP, Cheung AL, Qin YR, Chan KW, Ning W, Guan XY, Ma S. FSTL1 promotes metastasis and chemoresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through NFκB-BMP signaling crosstalk. Cancer Res 2017; 77:5886-99.
Ng KY, Chan LH, Chai S, Tong M, Guan XY, Lee NP, Yuan YF, Xie D, Lee TK, Dusetti NJ, Carrier A, Ma S. TP53INP1 down-regulation activates a p73-dependent DUSP10/ERK signaling pathway to promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2017; 77:4602-12.
Chai S, Ng KY, Tong M, Lau EY, Lee TK, Chan KW, Yuan YF, Cheung TT, Cheung ST, Wang XQ, Wong N, Lo CM, Man K, Guan XY, Ma S. Octamer4/microRNA-1246 signaling axis drives Wnt/beta-catenin activation in liver cancer stem cells. Hepatology 2016; 64:2062-76.
Fung TM, Ng KY, Tong M, Chen JN, Chai S, Chan KT, Law S, Lee NP, Choi MY, Li B, Cheung AL, Tsao SW, Qin YR, Guan XY, Chan KW, Ma S. Neuropilin-2 promotes tumorigenicity and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through ERK MAPK/ETV4/MMP/E-cadherin deregulation. J Pathol 2016; 239:309-19.
Ng KY, Chai S, Tong M, Guan XY, Lin CH, Ching YP, Xie D, Cheng AS, Ma S. C-terminal truncated hepatitis B virus X protein promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis through induction of cancer and stem cell-like properties. Oncotarget 2016; 7:24005-17.
Tong M, Fung TM, Luk ST, Ng KY, Lee TK, Lin CH, Yam JW, Chan KW, Ng F, Zheng BJ, Yuan YF, Xie D, Lo CM, Man K, Guan XY, Ma S. ANXA3/JNK signaling promotes self-renewal and tumor growth and its blockade provides a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Stem Cell Rep 2015; 5:45-59.
Chai S#, Tong M#, Ng KY#, Kwan PS, Chan YP, Fung CM, Lee TK, Wong N, Xie D, Yuan YF, Guan XY, Ma S. Regulatory role of miR-142-3p on the functional hepatic cancer stem cell marker CD133. Oncotarget 2014; 5:5725-35.
Lee TK, Cheung VC, Lu P, Lau EY, Ma S, Tang KH, Tong M, Lo J, Ng IO. Blockade of CD47-mediated cathepsin S/protease-activated receptor 2 signaling provides a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2014; 60: 179-91.
Tang KH, Dai YD, Tong M, Chan YP, Kwan PS, Fu L, Qin YR, Tsao SW, Lung HL, Lung ML, Tong DK, Law S, Chan KW, Ma S, Guan XY. A CD90+ tumor-initiating cell population with an aggressive signature and metastastic capacity in esophageal cancer. Cancer Res 2013; 73: 2322-32.
Tong M, Chan KW, Bao JY, Wong KY, Chen JN, Kwan PS, Tang KH, Chan YP, Fu L, Qin YR, Lok S, Guan XY, Ma S. Rab25 is a tumor suppressor gene with anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive activities in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Res 2012; 72: 6024-35.
Ma S, Bao JY, Kwan PS, Chan YP, Tong M, Fu L, Zhang N, Tong AH, Qin YR, Tsao SW, Chan KW, Lok S, Guan XY. Identification of PTK6, via RNA sequencing analysis, as a suppressor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Gastroenterology 2012; 143:675-86.
Tang KH, Ma S, Lee TK, Chan YP, Kwan PS, Tong M, Ng IO, Man K, To KF, Lai PB, Lo CM, Guan XY, Chan KW. CD133+ liver tumor-initiating cells promote tumor angiogenesis, growth and self-renewal through neurotensin / IL-8 / CXCL1 signaling. Hepatology 2012; 55: 807-20.
Tong M#, Ma S#, Guan XY. Biology of hepatic cancer stem cells. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 26:1229-37.

Hong Kong Society for Immunology Annual Congress