^corresponding author

2023
Luo J, Gong L, Yang Y, Fang X, Zhang B, Huang J, Liu M, Liu B, Bai L, Tang Y, Shi C, Wong CN, Huang J, Liu S, Zhang Y, Ding T, Kwan M, Lee V, Ma S, Guan XY. Enhanced mitophagy driven by ADAR1-GLI1 editing supports the self-renewal of cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023 Jan 24; Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 36683660

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 Jan 13; Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 36630996

Yan D, Cui D, Zhu Y, Chan CK, Choi CH, Liu T, Lee NP, Law S, Tsao SW, Ma S, Cheung AL. M6PR- and EphB4-rich exosomes secreted by serglycin-overexpressing esophageal cancer cells promote cancer progression. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:625-40.
PMID: 36632458

Wong MT, Wong TL, Zhou L, Man K, Purcell J, Lee TK, Yun JP, Ma S^. Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) promotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma under SOX9 regulation and TGF-β signaling. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023: 15:13-37.
PMID: 36202326

2022
Chen W, Teo JM, Yau SW, Wong YM, Lok CN, Che CM, Javed A, Huang Y, Ma S, Ling GS. Chronic type I interferon signaling promotes lipid peroxidation-driven terminal CD8+ T cell exhaustion and curtails anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy. Cell Rep 2022: 41:111647.
PMID: 36384131

Xie YN, Ma S^, Tong M^. Metabolic plasticity of cancer stem cells in response to microenvironmental cues. Cancers 2022; 14:5345.
PMID: 36358763

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 2022; 5:100604.
PMID: 36440258

Seo EB, Jang HJ, Kwon SH, Kwon YJ, Kim SK, Lee SH, Kim MJ, Shin HM, Kim YN, Ma S, Kim H, Suh PG, Lee YH, Ye SK. Loss of phospholipase Cγ1 suppresses hepatocellular carcinogenesis through blockade of STAT3-mediated cancer development in the tumor microenvironment. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:3234-46.
PMID: 36153805

Yan D, Cui D, Zhu Y, Chan CK, Choi CH, Liu T, Tsao SW, Ma S, Cheung AL. Serglycin-induced interleukin-1β from esophageal cancer cells upregulates hepatocyte growth factor in fibroblasts to promote tumor angiogenesis and growth. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1031.
PMID: 35994394

Tong M, Ma S^. Protocols to culture and harvest hepatic tumor organoids for metabolic assays. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101597.
PMID: 35942348

Lam KH, Ma S^. Noncellular components in the liver cancer stem cell niche: biology and potential clinical implications. Hepatology 2022; in press.
PMID: 35727189

Man KF, Ma S^. Mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in liver cancer stem cells and potential therapeutic approaches. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:371-86.
PMID: 35818992

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. #equal contribution
PMID: 35767704

Tong Y#, Cheng PS#, Or CS#, Yue SS, Siu HC, Lo SL, Law S, Tsui WY, Chan D, Ma S, Lee SP, Chan AS, Chan AS, Yun SW, Hui HS, Yuen ST, Leung SY^, Yan HH^. Escape from cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion dependence underscore disease progression in gastric cancer organoid models. Gut 2022; in press. #equal contribution
PMID: 35705367

Tey SK#, Wong SW#, Chan JY, Mao XW, Ng TH, Yeung CL, Leung Z, Fung HL, Tang AH, Wong DK, Mak LY, Yuen MF, Sin CF, Ng IO, Ma S, Lee TK, Cao PH, Zhong K, Gao Y, Yun JP, Yam JW. Patient pIgR-enriched extracellular vesicles drive cancer stemness, tumorigenesis and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2022; 76:883-95. #equal contribution
(Awarded the 2022 Faculty Outstanding Research Output Prize, HKUMed)
PMID: 34922977

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. #equal contribution
(Awarded the 2022 Faculty Outstanding Research Output Prize, HKUMed)
PMID: 34588223

Zhou L, Ma S^. Deciphering cancer stem cells in liver cancers: new tools with improved resolution. Carcinogenesis 2022; 43:297-300. [invited commentary]
PMID: 35262641

Yu JH, Ma S^. Organoids as research models for hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Cell Res 2022; 411:112987.
PMID: 34942189

Lee TK, Guan XY, Ma S^. Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma: from origin to clinical implications. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:26-44.
PMID: 34504325

2021
Xu F#, 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 AS^. A combinatorial CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies ifenprodil as an adjunct to sorafenib for liver cancer treatment. Cancer Res 2021; 81:6219-32. #equal contribution
PMID: 34666996

Loh JJ, Ma S^. The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts as a dynamic player in mediating cancer stemness in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:727640.
PMID: 34760886

Loh JJ, Li TW, Zhou L, Wong TL, Liu X, Ma VW, 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.
PMID: 34551961

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; 93:13564-71. #equal contribution
PMID: 34570481

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; 37:109976.
PMID: 34433044

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. #equal contribution
PMID: 33903122

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.
PMID: 33878034

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.
PMID: 33717837

Kong FE#, Li GM#, Tang YQ#, Xi SY, Loong JH, Li MM, Li HL, Cheng W, Zhu WJ, Mo JQ, Gong YF, Tang H, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Ma S, Guan XY, Ma NF, Xie MB, Liu M. Targeting tumor lineage plasticity in hepatocellular carcinoma using an anti-CLDN6 antibody-drug conjugate. Sci Trans Med 2021; 13:eabb622. #equal contribution
PMID: 33536280

Yang XD#, Kong FE#, Qi L# Lin JX#, Yan Q, Loong JH, Xi SY, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Yuan YF, Ma NF, Ma S, Guan XY, Liu M. PARP inhibitor olaparib overcomes sorafenib resistance through reshaping the pluripotent transcriptome in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:20. #equal contribution
PMID: 33485358

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. #equal contribution
PMID: 33542213

Yan Q#, Zhang Y#, Fang X#, Liu B, Wong TL, Gong L, Liu S, Yu D, Liu M, Jiang L, Wang X, Wei T, Jia Y, Li L, Sun L, Tang Y, Yuan YF, Li Y, Ma S, Guan XY. PGC7 promotes tumor oncogenic dedifferentiation through remodeling DNA methylation patterns for key developmental transcription factors. Cell Death Diff 2021; doi: 10.1038/s41418-020-00726-3. #equal contribution
PMID: 33500560

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 #equal contribution
PMID: 33186656

Huang YH#, Zhang CZ#, Huang QS#, Yeong J, Wang F, Yang X, He YF, Zhang XL, Zhang H, Chen SL, Zheng YL, Deng R, Lin CS, Yang MM, Li Y, Jiang C, Lee TK, Ma S, Zeng MS, Yun JP. Clinicopathologic features, tumor immune microenvironment and genomic landscape of EBV-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. J Hepatol 2021; 74:838-49. #equal contribution
PMID: 33212090

2020
Leung HW#, Lau EY#, Leung CO, Lei MM, Mok EH, Ma V, Cho WC, Ng IO, Yun JP, Cai SH, Yu HJ, Ma S, Lee TK. NRF2/SHH signaling cascade promotes tumor-initiating cell lineage and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2020; 476:48-56. #equal contribution
PMID: 32061952

Liu M, Yan Q, Sun Y, Nam Y, Hu L, Loong JH, Ouyang Q, Zhang Y, Li HL, Kong FE, Li L, Li Y, Li MM, Cheng W, Jiang L, Fang S, Yang X, Mo JQ, Gong YF, Tang YQ, Li Y, Yuan YF, Ma NF, Lin G, Ma S, Wang J, Guan XY. A hepatocyte differentiation model reveals two subtypes of liver cancer with different oncofetal properties and therapeutic targets. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2020; 117:6103-13.
PMID: 32123069

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. #equal contribution
PMID: 31610028

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.
PMID: 31680287

Wong TL, Ng KY, Tan KV, Chan LH, Zhou L, Che N, Hoo RL, Lee TK, Richard S, Lo CM, Man K, Khong PL, Ma S^. CRAF methylation by PRMT6 regulates aerobic glycolysis driven hepatocarcinogenesis via ERK-dependent PKM2 nuclear relocalization and activation. Hepatology 2020; 71:1279-96.
PMID: 31469916

2019
Han L, Cui D, Li B, Xu WW, Lam AK, Chan KT, Zhu Y, Lee NP, Law S, Guan XY, Qin YR, Chan KW, Ma S, Tsao SW, Cheung AL. Role of microRNA-338-5p reverses chemoresistance and inhibits invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting Id-1. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:3677-88.
PMID: 31646712

2018
Hu H, Gehart H, Artegiani B, Lopez-Iglesias C, Dekkers F, Basak O, van Es J, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Begthel H, Korving J, van den Born M, Zou C, Quirk C, Chiriboga L, Rice CM, Ma S, Rios A, Peters PJ, de Jong YP, Clevers H. Long-term expansion of functional mouse and human hepatocytes as 3D organoids. Cell 2018; 175:1591-606.
PMID: 30500538

Yan HH, Siu HC, Law S, Ho SL, Yue SS, Tsui WY, Chan D, Chan AS, Ma S, Lam KO, Bartfeld S, Man AH, Lee BC, Chan AS, Wong JW, Cheng PS, Chan AK, Zhang J, Shi J, Fan X, Kwong DL, Mak TW, Yuen ST, Clevers H, Leung SY. A comprehensive human gastric cancer organoid biobank captures tumor subtypes heterogeneity and enables therapeutic screening. Cell Stem Cell 2018; 23:882-97.
(Awarded the 2019 Faculty Outstanding Research Output Prize, HKUMed)
PMID: 30344100

Chan LH#, Zhou L#, Ng KY#, Wong TL#, Lee TK, Sharma R, Loong JH, Ching YP, Yuan YF, Xie D, Lo CM, Man K, Artegiani B, Clevers H, Yan HH, Leung SY, Richard S, Guan XY, Huen MS, Ma S^. PRMT6 regulates RAS/RAF binding and MEK/ERK-mediated cancer stemness activities in hepatocellular carcinoma through CRAF methylation. Cell Rep 2018; 25:690-701. #equal contribution
PMID: 30332648

Sin ST, Li Y, Liu M, Yuan YF, Ma S, Guan XY. Down-regulation of TROP-2 predicts poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Hepatol Commun 2018; 2:1408-14.
PMID: 30411086

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.
PMID: 29885413

Cheng BY#, Lau EY#, Leung DH#, Ho NP, Cheng LK, Lin CH, Lo RC, Ma S, Ng IO, Lee TK. IRAK1 augments cancer stemness and drug resistance via the AP-1/AKR1B10 signaling cascade in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 2018; 78:2332-42. #equal contribution
PMID: 29483095

2017
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. #equal contribution
PMID: 28883005

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.
PMID: 28674078

Ma MK, Lau EY, Leung DH, Lo J, Ho NP, Cheng LK, Ma S, Lin CH, Copland JA, Lo RC, Ng IO, Lee TK. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase regulates sorafenib resistance via modulation of ER stress induced differentiation. J Hepatol 2017; 67:979-90.
PMID: 28647567

Wong TL#, Che N#, Ma S^. Reprogramming of central carbon metabolism in cancer stem cells. Biochim Biophys Acta 2017; 1863:1728-38. #equal contribution
PMID: 28502706

2016
Ming XY, Fu L, Zhang LY, Qin YR, Cao TT, Chan KW, Ma S, Xie D, Guan XY. Integrin α7 is a functional cancer stem cell surface marker in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13568.
PMID: 27924820

Ma S^. Deciphering ZIC2/OCT4 signaling as a vulnerability in liver cancer stem cells. Transl Cancer Res 2016. [invited editorial]

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/β-catenin activation in liver cancer stem cells. Hepatology 2016; 64:2062-76.
(Comment by Wu WK, et al. A transcriptional-microRNA network for β-catenin-driven stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2016)
(Comment by Eshelman and Yochum. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is activated in miR-1246 in liver cancer stem cells. Transl Cancer Res 2016)
PMID: 27639189

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. #equal contribution
PMID: 27063000

Lau EY, Lo J, Cheng BY, Ma MK, Lee MF, Ng KY, Chai S, Lin N, Tsang FS, Ma S, Ng IO, Lee TK. Cancer-associated fibroblasts regulate tumor-initiating cell plasticity in hepatocellular carcinoma through c-Met/FRA1/HEY1 signaling. Cell Rep 2016; 15:1175-89.
PMID: 27134167

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.
PMID: 27006468

Zhang LY, Wu JL, Qiu HB, Dong SS, Zhu YH, Lee VH, Qin YR, Li Y, Chen J, Liu HB, Bi J, Ma S, Guan XY, Fu L. PSCA acts as a tumor suppressor by facilitating the nuclear translocation of RB1CC1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2016; 37:320-32.
PMID: 26785734

Li J, Zhang BZ, Qin YR, Bi J, Liu HB, Li Y, Cai MY, Ma S, Chan KW, Xie D, Guan XY. CD68 and interleukin 13, prospective immune markers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma prognosis prediction. Oncotarget 2016; 7:15525-38.
PMID: 26771842

Li J, Chen JN, Zeng TT, He F, Chen SP, Ma S, Bi J, Zhu XF, Guan XY. CD133+ liver cancer stem cells resist interferon-gamma induced autophagy. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:15.
PMID: 26758620

Tang KD, Holzapfel BM, Liu J, Lee TK, Ma S, Jovanovic L, An J, Russell PJ, Clements JA, Hutmacher DW, Ling MT. Tie-2 regulates the stemness and metastatic properties of prostate cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 7:2572-84.
PMID: 25978029

Tang KD, Liu J, Jovanovic L, An J, Hill MM, Vela I, Lee TK, Ma S, Nelson C, Russell PJ, Clements JA, Ling MT. Adipocytes promote prostate cancer stem cell self-renewal through amplification of the cholecystokinin autocrine loop. Oncotarget 2016;7:4939-48.
PMID: 26700819

2015
Won C, Kim BH, Yi EH, Choi KJ, Kim EK, Jeong JM, Lee JH, Jang JJ, Yoon JH, Jeong WI, Park IC, Kim TW, Bae SS, Factor VM, Ma S, Thorgeirsson SS, Lee YH, Ye SK. STAT3-mediated CD133 upregulation contributes to promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2015; 62:1160-73.
PMID: 26154152

Song Y, Pan G, Chen L, Ma S, Zeng T, Chan TH, Li L, Lian Q, Chow R, Cai X, Li Y, Li Y, Liu M, Li Y, Zhu Y, Wong N, Yuan YF, Pei D, Guan XY. Loss of ATOH8 increases stem cell features of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Gastroenterology 2015; 149:1068-81.
PMID: 26099525

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 Reports 2015; 5:45-59.
PMID: 26095609
Patents granted: Above findings have directly led to two successful patent applications (Patent US. 9487831 B2, Nov 8 2016 and Patent US. 10,000,558, Jun 19 2018) for the use of the ANXA3 antibody for the detection and targeting of HCC.
Licenses of intellectual property to external parties: Since 2016, ANXA3 antibody licensed to Merck Millipore for sale and use by the research community.

Chan LH, Luk ST, Ma S^. Turning hepatic cancer stem cells inside out – a deeper understanding through multiple perspectives. Mol Cells 2015; 38:202-9.
PMID: 25666349

2014
Liu L, Dai Y, Chen J, Zeng T, Li Y, Chen L, Zhu YH, Li J, Li Y, Ma S, Xie D, Yuan YF, Guan XY. Maelstrom promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition by way of Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling. Hepatology 2014; 59:531-43.
PMID: 23929794

Lee TK, Cheung VC, Lu P, Lau EY, Ma S, Tang KH, Tong M, Lo J, Ng IO. Blockade of CD47 mediated CTSS-PAR2 signaling provides a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2014; 60:179-91.
(Comment by Roberts DD, et al. Therapeutic targeting of the thrombospondin-1 receptor CD47 to treat liver cancer. J Cell Commun Signal 2015; 9:101-2)
PMID: 24523067

Chai S#, Tong M#, Ng KY#, Kwan PS, Chan YP, Fung TM, 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. #equal contribution
PMID: 25015418

2013
Tang KH, Dai Y, 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 metastatic capacity in esophageal cancer. Cancer Res 2013; 73:2322-32.
PMID: 23382045

Dai YD, Liu LL, Zeng TT, Zhu YH, Li JC, Chen LL, Li Y, Yuan YF, Ma S^, Guan XY. Characterization of the oncogenic function of centromere protein F in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 436:711-8.
PMID: 23791740

Ma S^. Biology and clinical implications of CD133⁺ liver cancer stem cells. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:126-32. 
PMID: 22999864

Chai S, Ma S^. Clinical implications of miRNA in liver cancer stem cells. Chin J Cancer 2013; 32:419-26. [invited perspective article]
PMID: 23668930

2012
Tang KH, Ma S^, Lee TK, Chan YP, Kwan PS, Tong CM, 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/interleukin-8/CXCL1 signaling. Hepatology 2012; 55:807-20.
PMID: 21994122

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.
PMID: 22705009

Tong M, Chan KW, Bao JY, Wong KY, Chen JN, Kwan PS, Tang KH, 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.
PMID: 22991305

2011
Lee TK, Castilho A, Cheung VC, Tang KH, Ma S, Ng IO. Lupeol targets liver tumor initiating cells through PTEN modulation. Hepatology 2011; 53:160-70.
PMID: 20979057

Luk SU, Yap WN, Chiu YT, Lee DT, Ma S, Lee TK, Vasireddy RS, Wong YC, Ching YP, Nelson C, Yap YL, Ling MT. Gamma-tocotrienol as an effective agent in targeting prostate cancer stem cell-like population. Int J Cancer 2011; 128:2182-91.
PMID: 20617516

Ma S^, Chan YP, Kwan PS, Lee TK, Yan M, Tang KH, Ling MT, Vielkind J, Guan XY, Chan KW. microRNA-616 induces androgen-independent growth of prostate cancer cells by suppressing expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor TFPI-2. Cancer Res 2011; 71:583-92.
PMID: 21224345

Ma S^, Guan XY. miRegulators in cancer stem cells of solid tumors. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:571-2. [invited commentary]
PMID: 21311235

Luk SU, Lee TK, Liu J, Lee DT, Chiu YT, Ma S, Ng IO, Wong YC, Chan FL, Ling MT. Chemopreventive effect of PSP through targeting of prostate cancer stem cell-like population. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19804.
PMID: 21603625

Lee TK, Castilho A, Cheung VC, Tang KH, Ma S, Ng IO. CD24⁺ liver tumor-initiating cells drive self-renewal and tumor initiation through Stat3-mediated Nanog regulation. Cell Stem Cell 2011; 9:50-63.
(Awarded the 2012 Faculty Outstanding Research Output Prize, HKUMed)
(Selected as one of the top ten “featured research papers” of Cell Stem Cell in 2012)
PMID: 21726833

Tong CM*, Ma S*, Guan XY. Biology of hepatic cancer stem cells. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 26:1229-37. (*both authors contributed equally)
PMID: 21557770

Tang KH*, Ma S*, Guan XY. Liver tumor-initiating cells / cancer stem cells: past studies, current status and future perspectives. In: Advances in Cancer Stem Cell Biology (R Scatena, A Mordente, B Giardina, Eds.) Springer Publishing 2011, ISBN 978-1-4614-0808-6. (*both authors contributed equally)

2010
Ma S^, Tang KH, Chan YP, Lee TK, Kwan PS, Castilho A, Ng IO, Man K, Wong N, To KF, Zheng BJ, Lai PB, Lo CM, Chan KW, Guan XY. miR-130b promotes CD133⁺ liver tumor-initiating cell growth and self-renewal via tumor protein 53-induced nuclear protein 1. Cell Stem Cell 2010; 7:694-707.
(Awarded the 2011 Faculty Outstanding Research Output Prize, HKUMed)
PMID: 21112564

Chen LL, Chan TH, Yuan YF, Hu L, Huang J, Ma S, Wang J, Dong SS, Tang KH, Xie D, Li Y, Guan XY. CHD1L promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis in mice and is associated with these processes in human patients. J Clin Invest 2010; 120:1178-91.
(Comment by Teoh NC. Pre-“EMT”ing key processes in liver carcinogenesis: Growing evidence for how malignant hepatocytes invade and conquer. Hepatology 2010; 52:384-8)
(Comment by Jou J and Diehl AM. Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and hepatocarcinogenesis. J Clin Invest 2010; 120:1031-4)
PMID: 20335658

Ma S, Chan KW, Guan XY. Cancer stem cells – Concepts, methodologies and therapeutic implications. In: Cancer Stem Cells (XY Guan, Ed.). Research Signpost 2010, ISBN: 978-81-7895-465-3.

Ma S, Tang KH, Chan KW, Guan XY. Liver cancer stem cells – A review of current literature and protocols. In: Cancer Stem Cells (XY Guan, Ed.). Research Signpost 2010, ISBN: 978-81-7895-465-3.

Lee TK, Castilho A, Ma S, Ng IO. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer stem cells. In: Cancer Stem Cells (XY Guan, Ed.). Research Signpost 2010, ISBN: 978-81-7895-465-3.

2009
Ma S, Chan YP, Woolcock B, Hu L, Wong KY, Ling MT, Bainbridge T, Webber D, Chan THM, Guan XY, Lam W, Vielkind J, Chan KW. DNA fingerprinting tags novel altered chromosomal regions and identifies the involvement of SOX5 in the progression of prostate cancer. Int J Cancer 2009; 124:2323-32.
PMID: 19173284

Chen LL, Hu L, Chan THM, Tsao SW, Xie D, Huo KK, Ma S, Fu L, Zheng BJ, Guan XY. CHD1L suppresses the nucleus-to-mitochondria translocation of Nur77 to sustain hepatocellular carcinoma cell survival. Hepatology 2009; 50:122-9.
PMID: 19441106

Lee TK, Castilho A, Ma S, Ng IO. Liver cancer stem cells: Implications for a new therapeutic target. Liver Int 2009; 29: 955-65.
PMID: 19490415

2008
Ma S, Lee TK, Zheng BJ, Chan KW, Guan XY. CD133⁺ HCC cancer stem cells promote chemoresistance by preferential expression of the Akt/PKB survival pathway. Oncogene 2008; 27:1749-58.
(F1000 Rating: 8 Must Read; Mishra L: 2008. F1000.com/1096034)
PMID: 17891174

Ma S, Chan KW, Lee TK, Tang KH, Wo JY, Zheng BJ, Guan XY. Aldehyde dehydrogenase discriminates the CD133 liver cancer stem cell populations. Mol Cancer Res 2008; 6:1146-53.
(Most cited paper in Mol Cancer Res in 2008)
PMID: 18644979

Ma S, Chan KW and Guan XY. In search of liver cancer stem cells. Stem Cell Rev 2008, 4:179-92.
PMID: 18663610

2007
Ma S, Chan KW, Hu L, Lee TK, Wo JY, Ng IO, Zheng BJ, Guan XY. Identification and characterization of tumorigenic liver cancer stem/progenitor cells. Gastroenterology 2007; 132:2542-56.
PMID: 17570225

Ma S, Guan XY, Beh PS, Wong KY, Chan YP, Yuen HF, Vielkind J, Chan KW. Significance of LMO2 expression in progression of prostate cancer. J Pathol 2007; 211:278-85.
PMID: 17167821

Ma S, Guan XY, Lee TK, Chan KW. Clinicopathological significance of missing in metastasis B expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hum Pathol 2007; 38:1201-6.
PMID: 17442377

Lee TK, Poon RT, Wo JY, Ma S, Guan XY, Myers JN, Yuen AP. Lupeol suppresses cisplatin-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and inhibits local invasion and nodal metastasis in orthotopic nude mouse model. Cancer Res 2007; 67:8800-9.
PMID: 17875721

Ma S, Hu L, Huang XH, Cao LQ, Chan KW, Wang Q, Guan XY. Establishment and characterization of a human cholangiocarcinoma cell line. Oncol Rep 2007; 18:1195-200.
PMID: 17914572

Lee TK, Poon RT, Man K, Guan XY, Ma S, Liu XB, Myers JN, Yuen AP. Fascin over-expression is associated with aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2007; 253:308-15.
PMID: 17499430

2006
Shen J, Ma S, Chan P, Lee W, Fung PC, Cheung RT, Tong Y, Liu KJ. Nitric oxide down-regulates caveolin-1 expression in rat brains during focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. J Neurochem 2006; 96:1078-89.
PMID: 16417587