Sai-Juan Chen, Ph.D.
Institutional Affiliation:
Director of Shanghai Institute of Hematology
Professor at the Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine
Tenured professor at Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine
http://www.rjh.com.cn/docpage/c1355/200604/
0419_1355_6264.htm
Education
Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Bachelor of Medicine
Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), Master of Medical Sciences
Hôspital Saint-Louis, Universitê Paris VII, (Paris, France), Ph.D.
Research
Study of Pathogenesis of Leukemia
Impact
This research is designed to study pathogenesis of leukemia so as to provide biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease and also to discover targets for new leukemia therapies.
Summary of Research
Our group aims to develop a new leukemia therapy based on selective induction of cellular differentiation and apoptosis. Translational studies carried out by my group on the target therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) have rendered APL, once the most fatal subtype of leukemia, a curable disease. Presently, we are trying to extend target therapy to other subtypes of leukemia, such as AML-M2b leukemia. Through large-scale drug screening, we found that Oridonin extracted from Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs Isodon plants exerts strong effects in inhibiting the proliferation of AML-M2b cells, and it could selectively induce the cleavage of AML1-ETO oncoprotein and induce the apoptosis of leukemic cells via distinct pathways, showing great potentials in the treatment of AML1-M2b leukemia. We hope in the near future our studies can bring new drugs to the patients.
Our group is also focused on the study of molecular characterization of genetic abnormities in human leukemia and their roles in the occurrence and development of leukemia. After analyzed nearly 13000 karyotypes of leukemia cases, we discovered a number of new chromosome translocations and identified a group of genes implicated in the leukemogenesis. We also carried out functional studies on these abnormities. The findings got by my group have not only enriched current knowledge of the pathogenesis of leukemias, but also provided important cytogenetic and molecular markers for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of leukemia. More importantly, our studies provide new targets for leukemia therapies and form a strong basis for the new concept of molecular-target based cancer therapy. |
