The Mao laboratory uses genetically modified mouse models to investigate how mis-regulation of the Hedgehog, Hippo and Wnt pathways contribute to initiation, progress, and regulation of tumor microenvironment in gastrointestinal cancers, rhabdomyosarcoma, and uveal melanoma.

• Rajurkar et al. (2012) The activity of Gli transcription factors is essential for Kras-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis. PNAS.  109(17): E1038-47.
• Wang et al. (2013) TRIB2 acts downstream of Wnt/TCF in liver cancer cells to regulate YAP and C/EBP function. Molecular Cell 51(2):211-25.

• Rajurkar et al. (2014) Distinct cellular origin and genetic requirement of Hedgehog-Gli in postnatal rhabdomyosarcoma genesis. Oncogene 33(46):5370-8