- Specialty Pleural Mesothelioma
- Procedure Proton Therapy
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, Texas 77030

Dr. Anne Tsao
Thoracic Surgeon
Dr. Anne Tsao is an internationally known mesothelioma expert and thoracic oncologist. As an avid researcher, she studies the molecular mechanisms of mesothelioma. Her research has led to the discovery of different genes and molecules that may be useful targets for cancer treatments, as well as the development of proton therapy as a method of treatment for mesothelioma.
About Dr. Anne Tsao
Dr. Anne Tsao has been working as a thoracic oncologist for 20 years. She is the director of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s (MDACC) department of mesothelioma as well as the director of their thoracic chemo-radiation program.
On top of that, she is also a professor for the MDACC’s department of thoracic/head and neck medical oncology. As a professor, she has conducted many lectures both nationally and internationally on different and new therapies for aerodigestive malignancies.
Dr. Tsao is a leader in her field when it comes to researching malignant mesothelioma and thoracic oncology. Currently, she is focusing on finding new gene therapy treatments for mesothelioma.
Awards and Contributions
Dr. Tsao has been recognized for her tireless efforts to find a cure or new methods of treatment.
She has been recognized with the following awards:
- American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award
- MD Anderson Achievement in Research Award
- Head and Neck SPORE Career Development Award
- ASCO Young Investigator Award
- ASCO Career Development Award
- NIH Clinician Scientist K12 Award
Based on her research and that of her teams, she has written or co-authored more than 100 publications in a variety of academic journals.
Her research is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer, Nature Medicine Clinical Oncology, and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Memberships and Organizations
Dr. Anne Tsao serves on many committees, boards, and is an active member of many national and international oncology societies.
She is a member of the following organizations:
- MDACC Clinical Research Committee (Co-Chair)
- SWOG (formerly known as the Southwest Oncology Group) Mesothelioma Steering Committee
- SWOG Lung Executive Committee
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Lung Executive Committee
- Scientific Board of the American Radium Society
On top of that, she works with ASCO and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to lobby the U.S. Congress to improve the amounts of funding they provide for cancer research.
As it currently stands, the government only approves eight out of every 100 research grant proposals they receive.
Dr. Taso is also a member of the following medical research associations:
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
- American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) development program
Background
After completing a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Tsao attended the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine where she earned her medical degree in 1998.
Next, she did an internship and residency in internal medicine at the Indiana University Department of Internal Medicine in Indianapolis.
When her residency was finished, she completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Center.