Research Summary

Dr. Francis Yao is a gastroenterologist who serves as medical director of the UCSF Liver Transplant Program. He also directs the UCSF Liver Transplant Outreach and Community Liaison Program.

In his research, Yao is interested in liver cancer treatment, particularly as related to liver transplants. He has contributed to important publications in this area. His other research interests include hepatitis B infection and outcomes for patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Education

Fellowship, 1993 - Gastroenterology, Stanford Hospital and Clinics
Residency, 1990 - Internal Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics
1987 - , Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Selected Publications

  1. Li PJ, Tabrizian P, Daher D, Gaviria F, Ajmera V, Montalvan-Sanchez EE, Gutierrez JA, Zhou K, Delebecque F, Garcia N, Barrick B, Wong C, Nephew L, Holden J, Dave S, Schnickel GT, Rich NE, Florman SS, Sapisochin G, Yao F, Singal AG, Mehta N. A prospective multicenter validation of RETREAT for posttransplantation HCC recurrence prediction. Hepatology. 2025 Mar 11.  View on PubMed
  2. Xu E, Tabrizian P, Gutierrez J, Hoteit M, Ghaziani T, Zhou K, Parikh N, Ajmera V, Aby E, Shui A, Marino R, Martin A, Wong C, Kao K, Dave S, Florman S, Yao F, Mehta N. Downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation: Results from a national multicenter prospective cohort study. Hepatology. 2025 Jan 14.  View on PubMed
  3. Norman JS, Li PJ, Kotwani P, Yao FY, Pham S, Gamez J, Mehta N. Enhancing the prognostic accuracy of the RETREAT score with AFP-L3 and DCP tumor markers. Liver Transpl. 2025 Jun 01; 31(6):727-736.  View on PubMed
  4. Zheng E, Yao F. Real-World Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Selected Case Presentations Highlighting the Dilemmas of Surveillance. Clin Liver Dis. 2025 Feb; 29(1):49-58.  View on PubMed
  5. Ha NB, Yao F. Alcohol and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Liver Dis. 2024 Nov; 28(4):633-646.  View on PubMed
  6. Norman JS, Li PJ, Kotwani P, Shui AM, Yao F, Mehta N. AFP-L3 and DCP strongly predict early hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation. J Hepatol. 2023 12; 79(6):1469-1477.  View on PubMed
  7. Natarajan B, Tabrizian P, Hoteit M, Frenette C, Parikh N, Ghaziani T, Dhanasekaran R, Guy J, Shui A, Florman S, Yao FY, Mehta N. Downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation: A multicenter analysis of the "all-comers" protocol in the Multicenter Evaluation of Reduction in Tumor Size before Liver Transplantation (MERITS-LT) consortium. Am J Transplant. 2023 11; 23(11):1771-1780.  View on PubMed
  8. Mehta N, Kelley RK, Yao FY. Refining the approach to down-staging of HCC prior to liver transplantation: Patient selection, loco-regional treatments, and systemic therapies. Hepatology. 2024 07 01; 80(1):238-253.  View on PubMed
  9. Mehta N, Kotwani P, Norman J, Shui A, Li PJ, Saxena V, Chan W, Yao FY. AFP-L3 and DCP are superior to AFP in predicting waitlist dropout in HCC patients: Results of a prospective study. Liver Transpl. 2023 10 01; 29(10):1041-1049.  View on PubMed
  10. Giard JM, Dodge JL, Yao FY, Mehta N. Alpha-fetoprotein slope over 7.5 ng/ml over 3 months before liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma predicts recurrence even after controlling for alpha-fetoprotein at liver transplantation. Liver Transpl. 2023 02 01; 29(2):233-235.  View on PubMed
  11. Huang AC, Dodge JL, Yao FY, Mehta N. National Experience on Waitlist Outcomes for Down-Staging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: High Dropout Rate in All-Comers. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 06; 21(6):1581-1589.  View on PubMed
  12. Silverstein J, Yao FY, Grab JD, Braun HJ, Roberts J, Dodge JL, Mehta N. National experience with living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Transpl. 2022 07; 28(7):1144-1157.  View on PubMed
  13. Goldman ML, Zhou K, Dodge JL, Yao F, Mehta N. Lower Alpha-Fetoprotein Threshold of 500 ng/mL for Liver Transplantation May Improve Posttransplant Outcomes in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Transpl. 2022 05; 28(5):763-773.  View on PubMed
  14. Bernards S, Hirose R, Yao FY, Jin C, Dodge JL, Huang CY, Mehta N. The Impact of Median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease at Transplant Minus 3 National Policy on Waitlist Outcomes in Patients With and Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Transpl. 2022 03; 28(3):376-385.  View on PubMed
  15. Yao F. Review of Liver Transplantation in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2021 Nov; 17(11):536-538.  View on PubMed
  16. Cullaro G, Rubin J, Mehta N, Yao F, Verna EC, Lai JC. Sex-based Disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation. Transplantation. 2021 11 01; 105(11):2420-2426.  View on PubMed
  17. Mehta N, Yao FY. Liver Transplantation After Downstaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Using Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Pipe Dream or Reality? Liver Transpl. 2021 12; 27(12):1706-1708.  View on PubMed
  18. Mehta N, Frenette C, Tabrizian P, Hoteit M, Guy J, Parikh N, Ghaziani TT, Dhanasekaran R, Dodge JL, Natarajan B, Holzner ML, Frankul L, Chan W, Fobar A, Florman S, Yao FY. Downstaging Outcomes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results From the Multicenter Evaluation of Reduction in Tumor Size before Liver Transplantation (MERITS-LT) Consortium. Gastroenterology. 2021 11; 161(5):1502-1512.  View on PubMed
  19. Harding-Theobald E, Yao FYK, Mehta N. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts High-Risk Explant Features and Waitlist Survival But Is Not Independently Associated With Recurrence or Survival Following Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Transpl. 2021 06; 27(6):818-829.  View on PubMed
  20. Lokken RP, Kerlan RK, Chung YC, Chen YF, Mehta NJ, Yao FY, Fidelman N. Hepatic Toxicity After Selective Chemoembolization Is Associated With Decreased Survival Among Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2021 05; 216(5):1283-1290.  View on PubMed

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