Dr. YAU Chung Cheung, Thomas
MBBS (HK), MD (HK), MRCP (UK), FRCP(London), FHKCP (Med Onc), FHKAM (Medicine)
Consultant in Medical Oncology
Honorary Clinical Associate Professor
Biography
My main research interests are gastrointestinal oncology, early phase clinical trials and translational research. I pioneered Hong Kong Liver Cancer classification, which has revolutionized the treatment algorithm of liver cancer patients. Moreover, I am actively involved in cancer drug development, especially in the field of caner immunotherapy. I have led few global ground-breaking immunotherapy trials for liver cancer and some of these trials led to global drug approval for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients. I have published more than 140 peer-review publications with first author articles in various leading oncology journals, namely Lancet, JAMA Oncology, Gastroenterology, and Journal of Hepatology. My latest H index is 49 with over 10000 citations in the literature. I am the recipient of projects funded by, Theme-based Research Scheme and General Research Fund, University Grant Committee in Hong Kong. I also received Innovation and Technology Fund and Hong Kong Health and Research Fund as well.
Internationally, I am currently the faculty member of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) in gastrointestinal cancer and a member of The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. I am also vice president of Asia Pacific Neuroendocrine Tumour Society, council member of The Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE) Association and International Faculty Board Member of International Association of Surgeons Gastroenterologist and Oncologists and member of many international professional societies. Previously, I was an international member of US NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force. In Hong Kong, I am a general secretary of Hong Kong Liver Cancer Foundation and council member of Hong Kong Sustainable Council.
I have delivered more than 200 regional and international invited and plenary lectures. I have received Supervisor award and Young Investigator award from the Hong Kong College of Physician in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Notably, he was the orator of Richard Yu lecture in the Hong Kong College of Physicians for his seminal work in liver cancer in 2019. He currently serves as associate editor and the editorial board members of many international peer-reviewed journals.
Five Most Representative Publications
1) El-Khoueiry AB*, Sangro B*, Yau T*, Crocenzi TS, Kudo M, Hsu C, Kim TY, Choo SP, Trojan J, Welling TH Rd, Meyer T, Kang YK, Yeo W, Chopra A, Anderson J, Dela Cruz C, Lang L, Neely J, Tang H, Dastani HB, Melero I
Co-First Authour*
Nivolumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 040): results of phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion
Lancet. 2017 Jun 24;389(10088):2492-2502
[Citation: 2110] [IF: 53.254(JCR 2017)] [Rank: 2/155 in Medicine, General & Internal ] [Role: Co-first Author]
2) Yau T, Kang YK, Kim TY, El-Khoueiry AB, Santoro A, Sangro B, Melero I, Kudo M, Hou MM, Matilla A, Tovoli F, Knox JJ, Ruth He A, El-Rayes BF, Acosta-Rivera M, Lim HY, Neely J, Shen Y, Wisniewski T, Anderson J, Hsu C
Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Previously Treated With Sorafenib (CheckMate 040): A Randomized Clinical Trial
2020 JAMA Oncology Oct 1
[Citation: 112 ] [IF: 31.78 (JCR 2020)] [Rank: 8/213 in Oncology] [Role: First and Corresponding author]
3) Yau T, Hsu C, Kim TY, Choo SP, Kang YK, Hou MM, Numata K, Yeo W, Chopra A, Ikeda M, Kuromatsu R, Moriguchi M, Chao Y, Zhao H,erson J, Cruz CD, Kudo M.
Nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Sorafenib-experienced Asian cohort analysis
J Hepatol 2019; 71(3):543-552.
[Citation: 82] [IF: 20.58 (JCR 2019)] [Rank: 1/84 in Gastroenterology & Hepatology ] [Role: First and Corresponding author]
4) Yau T, Tang YF, Yao TJ, Fan ST, Lo CM, Poon RT
Hong Kong Liver Cancer Prognostic Staging System with Treatment Stratification for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Gastroenterology* 2014 Feb 25
*Cover page article with accompanying editorial
[Citation: 504] [IF: 16.716 (JCR 2014 )] [Rank: 1/76 in Gastroenterology & Hepatology ] [Role: First Author]
5) Wong JSL, Kwok GGW, Tang V, Li BCW, Leung R, Chiu J, Ma KW, She WH, Tsang J, Lo CM, Cheung TT, Yau T.
Ipilimumab and Nivolumab/Pembrolizumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Refractory to Prior Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer 2021 Feb;9(2):e001945.
(Citation: 2 ] [IF:13.75 (JCR 2020)] [Rank: 15/ 213 in Oncology] [Role: Last and Corresponding author]
Research Grant Awards
Hong Kong Research Grants Council
General Research Fund (2019 /20 ) – A Phase 1/2 Study of Polo-like Kinase 4 inhibitor CFI-400945 Plus Nivolumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients [Role: PI]
General Research Fund (2019 /20 ) – Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy with anti-PD1 in Borderline Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma [Role: Co-I]
General Research Fund (2017/18) – A Phase 1b Study of Polo-like Kinase 4 inhibitor CFI-400945 in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma [Role: PI]
Theme-based Research Scheme (2016/17) – Understanding Cancer Stemness in Liver Cancer – From Regulation to Translational Applications [Role:Co-I]
General Research Fund (2015/16) – A Prospective Validation of the Hong Kong Liver Cancer (HKLC) Prognostic Staging System: A Multi-Centre Study in Hong Kong [Role: PI]
General Research Fund (2014/2015) – Randomized Phase II Trial of Sorafenib, Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin (SECOX) versus Single Agent Sorafenib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma [Role: PI]
Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau
Medical and Health Research Fund (2020/21) – Commissioned research programme - COVID19: a pilot study of adaptive immunity and anti-PD1 [Role: PI]
Medical and Health Research Fund (2014/15) – A Combination of Sorafenib, Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients with Locally Advanced Hepatocelullar Carcinoma: A Phase II Study [Role: PI]
Innovative and Technology Commission
Innovative and Technology Fund (2014-2016) – A Phase II Study of the Safety and Efficacy of PEG-BCT-100 Combined with Capecitabine/Oxaliplatin in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Part I) [Role: PI]