Canhua Xiao, PhD, RN, FAAN

Research Program

Cancer Prevention and Control
Email Address

canhua.xiao@emory.edu

Biography

Canhua Xiao, PhD, RN, FAAN is an associate professor in Office of Academic Advancement at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University.

Dr. Xiao is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute. In 2018, she was named Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Education

Dr. Xiao received her PhD from University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA.

Titles & Roles

Associate Professor

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University

Research

Dr. Xiao's general research interests focus on patient-reported outcomes, cancer-related symptoms/symptom clusters, and cancer related fatigue and its biological mechanisms. Her research has contributed to the understanding of symptom clusters and fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer. This disease has seen increasing incidence in the U.S. due to the prevalence of human papillomavirus.

Grants

View Grants

Grant Number	Title
1R01CA281873-01A1	Biological and social determinants of psychosocial sequelae in advanced head and neck cancer survivors receiving immunotherapy
1R01CA285198-01	Screening strategies and social determinants of health among people with high risk of anal cancer
1R01DE032243-01	Oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people living with HIV
5R01CA281873-02	Biological and social determinants of psychosocial sequelae in advanced head and neck cancer survivors receiving immunotherapy
5R01CA285198-02	Screening Strategies Among High-Risk Populations for Anal Cancer
5R01CA285198-03	Screening Strategies Among High-Risk Populations for Anal Cancer
5R01DE032243-02	Oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people living with HIV
5R01DE032243-03	Oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people living with HIV
5R01DE032243-04	Oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people living with HIV
5R01NR020188-04	The Role of the Gut Microbiome and Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Regulation of Inflammation and Neuropsychological Symptoms in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Publications

Dr. Xiao has co-authored more than 40 manuscripts. Her work has been published in the fields of cancer, psychoneuroimmunology, and nursing journals including the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Cancer, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, and Cancer Nursing. She is also an active peer reviewers for many of these journals.

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Predicting Post-Radiotherapy Epigenetic Age Acceleration From Pre-Treatment Data Using a Machine Learning Framework in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. Cancer medicine	R Yan, G Dai, Y Lin, Y Wu, J Lu, DW Bruner, AH Miller, NF Saba, X Hu, C Xiao	06/01/2026
Depressive symptoms and perceived stress in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy: A longitudinal study. European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society	J Oh, Q Hu, F Fei, W Zhang, AH Miller, C Xiao, Y Lin	05/25/2026
Perceptions and Needs for a Technology-Based Dyadic Intervention on Symptom Management Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study. Cancer nursing	A Epari, K Kim, C Xiao, LS Porter, OB Alese, L Northouse, D Liu, I Graetz, Y Lin	05/01/2026
Gut Microbiome and Psychoneurological Symptoms Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study. Biological research for nursing	Y Lin, ZA Barandouzi, MC Houser, C Xiao, OB Alese, S Mathebula, J Bai, O Gbolahan, DW Bruner	04/24/2026
Characterizing Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Disease in Oral HPV-Positive (COMP-HPV) individuals with HIV: an observational longitudinal study protocol. BMC oral health	SR Bangera, R Subbiah, S Govindaraj, C Ibegbu, D Reznik, TD Read, TJ Hartman, S Paul, N Torres-Patarroyo, KJ Lymon, NA Ciers-Davis, ML Nguyen, DW Bruner, L Flowers, V Velu, C Xiao	04/14/2026
Chemoradiation ± Atezolizumab in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results of NRG Oncology/Alliance LU005. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology	KA Higgins, C Hu, HJ Ross, SK Jabbour, DE Kozono, TK Owonikoko, TA Ritter, TM Williams, J Welsh, JP Simko, B Movsas, C Xiao, K Kaira, AK Gupta, P Mohindra, EG Dib, J Brownstein, S Chun, CS Kuzma, R Kotecha, AA Onitilo, Y Chen, TE Stinchcombe, X Wang, R Paulus, JD Bradley	03/10/2026
The Impact of Social Determinants on Healthcare Transition Readiness Among Adolescent and Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer	G Kim, H Kim, JG Marchak, KE Effinger, M Higgins, C Xiao	02/17/2026
Associations of Biological Aging With Perceived Stress in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy: A Longitudinal Study. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics	Y Lin, J Pelkmans, A Epari, T Spikes, G Peng, DW Bruner, AH Miller, JC Felger, EC Wommack, KN Conneely, NF Saba, DM Shin, C Xiao	11/22/2025
Neighborhood Deprivation and Biological and Psychosocial Outcomes for Head and Neck Cancer. JAMA network open	C Xiao, AH Miller, S Paul, V Fedirko, G Peng, KN Conneely, JC Felger, DM Shin, NF Saba, DW Bruner	10/01/2025
Metabolomic Associations With Fatigue and Physical Function in Children With Cancer: A Pilot Study. Biological research for nursing	JS Withycombe, J Bai, C Xiao, RC Eldridge	07/01/2025
Evaluation of Large Language Models in Tailoring Educational Content for Cancer Survivors and Their Caregivers: Quality Analysis. JMIR cancer	D Liu, X Hu, C Xiao, J Bai, ZA Barandouzi, S Lee, C Webster, LU Brock, L Lee, D Bold, Y Lin	04/07/2025
DNA methylation profiles of cancer-related fatigue associated with markers of inflammation and immunometabolism. Molecular psychiatry	C Xiao, G Peng, KN Conneely, H Zhao, JC Felger, EC Wommack, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, DW Bruner, AH Miller	01/01/2025
Development of a Technology-Based Dyadic Intervention for Underserved Colorectal Cancer Patients and Caregivers. Studies in health technology and informatics	Y Lin, C Xiao, LS Porter, OB Alese, MK Higgins, DS Liu, D Bold, X Hu	07/24/2024
Distinct Co-occurring Morning and Evening Fatigue Profiles in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy. Cancer nursing	Y Lin, DE Bailey, C Xiao, M Hammer, SM Paul, BA Cooper, YP Conley, JD Levine, KM Kober, C Miaskowski	01/01/2024
Associations of differentially expressed genes with psychoneurological symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer: A longitudinal study. Journal of psychosomatic research	Y Lin, G Peng, DW Bruner, AH Miller, NF Saba, KA Higgins, DM Shin, H Claussen, HR Johnston, MC Houser, EC Wommack, C Xiao	12/01/2023
Circulating short chain fatty acids and fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer: A longitudinal prospective study. Brain, behavior, and immunity	C Xiao, V Fedirko, H Claussen, H Richard Johnston, G Peng, S Paul, KM Maner-Smith, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, EC Wommack, DW Bruner, AH Miller	10/01/2023
Longitudinal associations among physical activity, inflammatory markers, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. Head & neck	S Huang, Y Zhan, S Jeon, DW Bruner, AH Miller, JC Felger, EC Wommack, NF Saba, KA Higgins, ML Irwin, RA Gary, C Xiao	08/01/2023
Associations of inflammation with neuropsychological symptom cluster in patients with Head and neck cancer: A longitudinal study. Brain, behavior, & immunity - health	Z Amirkhanzadeh Barandouzi, DW Bruner, AH Miller, S Paul, JC Felger, EC Wommack, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, C Xiao	07/01/2023
A Web-Based Dyadic Intervention to Manage Psychoneurological Symptoms for Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Their Caregivers: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR research protocols	Y Lin, LS Porter, W Chee, OB Alese, KA Curseen, MK Higgins, L Northouse, C Xiao	06/28/2023
Unsupervised Hierarchical Clustering of Head and Neck Cancer Patients by Pre-Treatment Plasma Metabolomics Creates Prognostic Metabolic Subtypes. Cancers	RC Eldridge, ZS Qin, NF Saba, MC Houser, DN Hayes, AH Miller, DW Bruner, DP Jones, C Xiao	06/14/2023
Outcomes Stratification of Head and Neck Cancer Using Pre- and Post-treatment DNA Methylation From Peripheral Blood. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics	DC Qian, BC Ulrich, G Peng, H Zhao, KN Conneely, AH Miller, DW Bruner, RC Eldridge, EC Wommack, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, AK Smith, B Burtness, HS Park, WA Stokes, JJ Beitler, C Xiao	04/01/2023
The Relationship Between Colorectal Cancer Survivors' Positive Psychology, Symptom Characteristics, and Prior Trauma During Acute Cancer Survivorship. Oncology nursing forum	SF Sheikh-Wu, D Anglade, KA Gattamorta, C Xiao, CA Downs	12/16/2022
A network analysis of self-reported psychoneurological symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Cancer	Y Lin, DW Bruner, S Paul, AH Miller, NF Saba, KA Higgins, DM Shin, W Zhang, C Miaskowski, C Xiao	10/01/2022
Symptom Occurrence, Frequency, and Severity During Acute Colorectal Cancer Survivorship. Oncology nursing forum	SF Sheikh-Wu, D Anglade, KA Gattamorta, C Xiao, CA Downs	08/18/2022
Positive psychology mediates the relationship between symptom frequency and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors during acute cancer survivorship. European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society	SF Sheikh-Wu, D Anglade, K Gattamorta, C Xiao, CA Downs	06/01/2022
The omission of intentional primary site radiation following transoral robotic surgery in 59 patients: No local-regional failures. Head & neck	VR Dhere, CE Escott, S Tian, JM Switchenko, JP Bell, WA Stokes, MW McDonald, KR Magliocca, BJ Boyce, AS Kaka, CE Steuer, NF Saba, DM Shin, C Xiao, MR Patel, JJ Beitler	02/01/2022
Self-reported late effect symptom clusters among young pediatric cancer survivors. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer	R Williamson Lewis, KE Effinger, K Wasilewski-Masker, A Mertens, C Xiao	12/01/2021
Plasma Metabolic Phenotypes of HPV-Associated versus Smoking-Associated Head and Neck Cancer and Patient Survival. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology	RC Eldridge, K Uppal, DN Hayes, MR Smith, X Hu, ZS Qin, JJ Beitler, AH Miller, EC Wommack, KA Higgins, DM Shin, B Ulrich, DC Qian, NF Saba, DW Bruner, DP Jones, C Xiao	10/01/2021
Epigenetic age acceleration, fatigue, and inflammation in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: A longitudinal study. Cancer	C Xiao, JJ Beitler, G Peng, ME Levine, KN Conneely, H Zhao, JC Felger, EC Wommack, CE Chico, S Jeon, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, BA Burtness, DW Bruner, AH Miller	09/15/2021
Association of Epigenetic Age Acceleration With Risk Factors, Survival, and Quality of Life in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics	C Xiao, AH Miller, G Peng, ME Levine, KN Conneely, H Zhao, RC Eldridge, EC Wommack, S Jeon, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, AK Smith, B Burtness, HS Park, ML Irwin, LM Ferrucci, B Ulrich, DC Qian, JJ Beitler, DW Bruner	09/01/2021
The role of the gut microbiome in cancer-related fatigue: pilot study on epigenetic mechanisms. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer	C Xiao, V Fedirko, J Beitler, J Bai, G Peng, C Zhou, J Gu, H Zhao, IH Lin, CE Chico, S Jeon, TM Knobf, KN Conneely, K Higgins, DM Shin, N Saba, A Miller, D Bruner	06/01/2021
Cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the nurse-specific end-of-life professional caregiver survey: a cross-sectional study. BMC palliative care	Z Zou, J Bai, Y Gu, Q Zou, C Xiao, J Yang, Q Zhang, M Lazenby	02/16/2021
Gut Microbiome Associated with the Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers. Cancers	J Bai, DW Bruner, V Fedirko, JJ Beitler, C Zhou, J Gu, H Zhao, IH Lin, CE Chico, KA Higgins, DM Shin, NF Saba, AH Miller, C Xiao	09/06/2020
Pilot study of combined aerobic and resistance exercise on fatigue for patients with head and neck cancer: Inflammatory and epigenetic changes. Brain, behavior, and immunity	C Xiao, JJ Beitler, KA Higgins, CE Chico, JS Withycombe, Y Zhu, H Zhao, IH Lin, F Li, S Jeon, M Irwin, DW Bruner, AH Miller, R Gary	08/01/2020
Association Among Glucocorticoid Receptor Sensitivity, Fatigue, and Inflammation in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer. Psychosomatic medicine	C Xiao, RC Eldridge, JJ Beitler, KA Higgins, CE Chico, JC Felger, EC Wommack, T Knobf, NF Saba, DM Shin, DW Bruner, AH Miller	06/01/2020
Changing functional status within 6 months posttreatment is prognostic of overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer: NRG Oncology Study. Head & neck	RC Eldridge, SL Pugh, A Trotti, K Hu, S Spencer, SS Yom, D Rosenthal, N Read, A Desai, E Gore, G Shenouda, MV Mishra, D Bruner, C Xiao	11/01/2019
A Comparison of Missing-Data Imputation Techniques in Exploratory Factor Analysis. Journal of nursing measurement	C Xiao, DW Bruner, T Dai, Y Guo, A Hanlon	08/01/2019
Learning-based automatic segmentation of arteriovenous malformations on contrast CT images in brain stereotactic radiosurgery. Medical physics	T Wang, Y Lei, S Tian, X Jiang, J Zhou, T Liu, S Dresser, WJ Curran, HK Shu, X Yang	07/01/2019
Smoking, age, nodal disease, T stage, p16 status, and risk of distant metastases in patients with squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx. Cancer	JJ Beitler, JM Switchenko, JJ Dignam, MW McDonald, NF Saba, DM Shin, KR Magliocca, RJ Cassidy, MW El-Deiry, MR Patel, CE Steuer, C Xiao, PA Hudgins, AH Aiken, WJ Curran, QT Le	03/01/2019
Differential regulation of NF-kB and IRF target genes as they relate to fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer. Brain, behavior, and immunity	C Xiao, JJ Beitler, KA Higgins, EC Wommack, NF Saba, DM Shin, DW Bruner, AH Miller, S Cole	11/01/2018
Associations among human papillomavirus, inflammation, and fatigue in patients with head and neck cancer. Cancer	C Xiao, JJ Beitler, KA Higgins, T Glazer, LK Huynh, S Paul, JC Felger, EC Wommack, NF Saba, DM Shin, DW Bruner, AH Miller	08/01/2018
Risk factors for late bowel and bladder toxicities in NRG Oncology prostate cancer trials of high-risk patients: A meta-analysis of physician-rated toxicities. Advances in radiation oncology	C Xiao, J Moughan, B Movsas, AA Konski, GE Hanks, JD Cox, M Roach, KL Zeitzer, CA Lawton, CA Peters, SA Rosenthal, IJ Hsu, EM Horwitz, MV Mishra, JM Michalski, MB Parliament, DP D'Souza, SL Pugh, DW Bruner	01/01/2018
Brainstem dose is associated with patient-reported acute fatigue in head and neck cancer radiation therapy. Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology	MJ Ferris, J Zhong, JM Switchenko, KA Higgins, RJ Cassidy, MW McDonald, BR Eaton, KR Patel, CE Steuer, HM Baddour, AH Miller, DW Bruner, C Xiao, JJ Beitler	01/01/2018
Depressive symptoms and inflammation are independent risk factors of fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Psychological medicine	C Xiao, AH Miller, J Felger, D Mister, T Liu, MA Torres	07/01/2017
A systematic review of the association between fatigue and genetic polymorphisms. Brain, behavior, and immunity	T Wang, J Yin, AH Miller, C Xiao	05/01/2017
Advancing Symptom Science Through Symptom Cluster Research: Expert Panel Proceedings and Recommendations. Journal of the National Cancer Institute	C Miaskowski, A Barsevick, A Berger, R Casagrande, PA Grady, P Jacobsen, J Kutner, D Patrick, L Zimmerman, C Xiao, M Matocha, S Marden	04/01/2017
Quality of Life and Performance Status From a Substudy Conducted Within a Prospective Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Concurrent Standard Radiation Versus Accelerated Radiation Plus Cisplatin for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Carcinoma: NRG Oncology RTOG 0129. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics	C Xiao, Q Zhang, PF Nguyen-Tân, M List, RS Weber, KK Ang, D Rosenthal, EJ Filion, H Kim, C Silverman, A Raben, T Galloway, A Fortin, E Gore, E Winquist, CU Jones, W Robinson, D Raben, QT Le, D Bruner	03/15/2017
Fatigue is associated with inflammation in patients with head and neck cancer before and after intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Brain, behavior, and immunity	C Xiao, JJ Beitler, KA Higgins, K Conneely, B Dwivedi, J Felger, EC Wommack, DM Shin, NF Saba, LY Ong, J Kowalski, DW Bruner, AH Miller	02/01/2016
A prospective study of quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Advances in radiation oncology	C Xiao, AH Miller, J Felger, D Mister, T Liu, MA Torres	01/01/2016
Preliminary patient-reported outcomes analysis of 3-dimensional radiation therapy versus intensity-modulated radiation therapy on the high-dose arm of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0126 prostate cancer trial. Cancer	DW Bruner, D Hunt, JM Michalski, WR Bosch, JM Galvin, M Amin, C Xiao, JP Bahary, M Patel, S Chafe, G Rodrigues, H Lau, M Duclos, M Baikadi, S Deshmukh, HM Sandler	07/15/2015
Risk factors for clinician-reported symptom clusters in patients with advanced head and neck cancer in a phase 3 randomized clinical trial: RTOG 0129. Cancer	C Xiao, A Hanlon, Q Zhang, B Movsas, K Ang, DI Rosenthal, PF Nguyen-Tan, H Kim, Q Le, DW Bruner	03/15/2014
Methods for examining cancer symptom clusters over time. Research in nursing & health	C Xiao, DW Bruner, BM Jennings, AL Hanlon	02/01/2014
Symptom clusters in patients with head and neck cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Oral oncology	C Xiao, A Hanlon, Q Zhang, K Ang, DI Rosenthal, PF Nguyen-Tan, H Kim, B Movsas, DW Bruner	04/01/2013
Comparison between patient-reported and clinician-observed symptoms in oncology. Cancer nursing	C Xiao, R Polomano, DW Bruner	01/01/2013

Awards

Dr. Xiao is the recipient of the following awards:

Young Investigator Award, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), 2018
Young Investigator Award, International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO), 2018
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research's Protegee Award, 2017
Victor Mock New Investigator Award from the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), 2016
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Emerging Scholars Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 2013
ONS Foundation/ONS Connections Conference Scholarship, 2012