Stanley Liu

PhD, MD, FRCPC
Senior Scientist, Clinician-Scientist, Radiation Oncology

Research Assistant:

Melanie Suttar Phone
Phone: 416-480-6100
Email: melanie.suttar@sunnybrook.ca

Research Assistant:

Louise Tucker Phone
Phone: 416-480-4998
Email: Louise.Tucker@sunnybrook.ca

The treatment of advanced prostate cancer, which includes recurrent or metastatic disease, has undergone a therapeutic transformation with the addition of newer systemic agents and advanced radiotherapy techniques. A major clinical limitation is the inability to predict disease response for an individual patient due to the lack of predictive biomarkers. This is further hindered by the lack of research models that represent the clinical heterogeneity of advanced prostate cancer, including ethnic diversity.

To address these problems, our lab is deriving primary prostate cancer cells directly from patient biopsies to determine their sensitivity to clinically approved treatments. In the setting of disease progression, we leverage drug screening to identify drugs that may be useful for repurposing. We are concurrently investigating how patient circulating immune cells may serve as biomarkers of therapy response and prognosis for advanced prostate cancer patients. Additionally, we have established and continue to interrogate our models of radiorecurrent prostate cancer to elucidate the biology of treatment resistance. Collectively, our translational research program strives to improve outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Education

  • B.Sc., 1995, Biochemistry, Queen’s University
  • Ph.D., 2000, Molecular & Cellular Biology / Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
  • M.D., 2004, Doctor of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • F.R.C.P.C., 2009, Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

Appointments & Affiliations

  • Senior Scientist, Biological Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute,
  • Radiation oncologist, Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook,
  • Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto,
  • Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto,

Research Foci

  • Advanced prostate cancer and radiation resistance
  • Biomarkers
  • Patient-derived prostate cancer models
  • Therapy prediction

Publications

Affiliated Labs & Programs

Selected Publications

  1. Haas R, Frame G, Khan S, Neilsen BK, Hong BH, Yeo CPX, Yamaguchi TN, Ong EHW, Zhao W, Carlin B, Yeo ELL, Tan KM, Bugh YZ, Zhu C, Hugh-White R, Livingstone J, Poon DJJ, Chu PL, Patel Y, Tao S, Ignatchenko V, Kurganovs NJ, Higgins GS, Downes MR, Loblaw A, Vesprini D, Kishan AU, Chua MLK, Kislinger T, Boutros PC, Liu SK. The Proteogenomics of Prostate Cancer Radioresistance. Cancer Res Commun. 2024 Sep 1;4(9):2463-2479

  2. Frame G, Leong H, Haas R, Huang X, Wright J, Emmenegger U, Downes M, Boutros PC, Kislinger T, Liu SK. Targeting PLOD2 suppresses invasion and metastatic potential in radiorecurrent prostate cancer. BJC Rep. 2024;2(1):60

  3. Wang H, Gong L, Huang X, White SD, Chung HT, Vesprini D, Petchiny TN, Fokas E, He H, Kerbel RS, Liu SK. Potentiating Salvage Radiotherapy in Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer Through Anti-CTLA4 Therapy: Implications from a Syngeneic Model. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Aug 14;16(16). doi: 10.3390/cancers16162839

  4. Kurganovs N, Wang H, Huang X, Ignatchenko V, Macklin A, Khan S, Downes MR, Boutros PC, Liu SK, Kislinger T. A proteomic investigation of isogenic radiation resistant prostate cancer cell lines. Proteomics Clin Appl. 2021 Sep;15(5):e2100037

  5. Wang H, Mendez L, Morton G, Loblaw A, Chung HT, Cheung P, Mesci A, Escueta V, Petchiny TN, Huang X, White SD, Downes M, Vesprini D, Liu SK. Brachytherapy for high grade prostate cancer induces distinct changes in circulating CD4 and CD8 T cells - Implications for systemic control. Radiother Oncol. 2024 Feb;191:110077