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Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor, Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Adjunct Professor, Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, School of Public Health, Houston, TX
Distinguished Clinical Professor, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China

Bio Statement

Dr. Lorenzo Cohen is Professor and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Distinguished Clinical Professor, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China. Dr. Cohen is a founding member and past president of the international Society for Integrative Oncology. Dr. Cohen is currently conducting a number of NIH-funded randomized controlled clinical trials examining the biobehavioral effects of contemplative mind-body practices aimed at reducing the negative aspects of cancer treatment and improving quality of life including studies of meditation, Tibetan yoga, Patanjali-based yoga, Tai chi/Qigong, and other behavioral strategies such as stress management, emotional writing, and neurofeedback. He is interested in examining different types of complementary programs that can be easily incorporated into conventional treatment to decrease the psychophysiological consequences associated with treatment and improve outcomes. He is principal investigator of a newly funded phase III clinical trial of yoga for women with breast cancer with colleagues from Bangalore, India and a phase III clinical trial of acupuncture to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia with colleagues from Shanghai, China. Dr. Cohen is also conducting research to demonstrate that lifestyle changes can influence cancer outcomes.  Ongoing studies are examining lifestyle changes in the areas of diet/nutrition, physical activity, and stress management/social network to change the risk of developing cancer and influencing outcomes in those with cancer. 

 

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1994 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, PHD, Medical Psychology
1993 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, MS, Medical Psychology
1987 Reed College, Portland, OR, BA, Psychology

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2002-present
Chief, Section of Integrative Medicine, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2002-8/2008

Honors and Awards

2011 Faculty Poster Award, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Cancer Survivorship Research Symposium
2011 Shanghai Gold Magnolia Memorial Award, Shanghai Municipal People's Government
2008 Shanghai Silver Magnolia Memorial Award, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government
2007-present Distinguished Clinical Professor, Fudan University Cancer Hospital
2007 International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Municipal People's Government
2004-present Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
1994-1997 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, National Cancer Institute of Canada

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Gao Y, Li HX, Xu LT, Wang P, Xu LY, Cohen L, Yang PY, Gu K, Meng ZQ. Bufalin enhances the anti-proliferative effect of sorafenib on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through downregulation of ERK. Mol Biol Rep 39(2):1683-9, 2/2012. e-Pub 5/27/2011. PMID: 21617941.
2. Milbury K, Tannir NM, Cohen L. Treatment-Related Optimism Protects Quality of Life in a Phase II Clinical Trial for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Ann Behav Med 42(3):313-20, 12/2011. e-Pub 8/6/2011. PMID: 21822749.
3. Meng Z, Garcia MK, Hu C, Chiang J, Chambers M, Rosenthal DI, Peng H, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Zhao G, Liu L, Spelman A, Palmer JL, Wei Q, Cohen L. Randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. e-Pub 11/9/2011. PMID: 22072272.
4. Biegler K, Cohen L, Scott S, Hitzhusen K, Parker P, Gilts CD, Canada A, Pisters L. The role of religion and spirituality in psychological distress prior to surgery for urologic cancer. Integr Cancer Ther. e-Pub 9/30/2011. PMID: 21964511.
5. Wang L, Raju U, Milas L, Molkentine D, Zhang Z, Yang P, Cohen L, Meng Z, Liao Z. Huachansu, Containing Cardiac Glycosides, Enhances Radiosensitivity of Human Lung Cancer Cells. Anticancer Res 31(6):2141-2148, 6/2011. PMID: 21737634.
6. Chien CR, Su SY, Cohen L, Lin HW, Lee RT, Shih YC. Use of Chinese Medicine Among Survivors of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study. Integr Cancer Ther. e-Pub 4/15/2011. PMID: 21498473.
7. Cohen L, Parker PA, Vence L, Savary C, Kentor D, Pettaway C, Babaian R, Pisters L, Miles B, Wei Q, Wiltz L, Patel T, Radvanyi L. Pre-surgical stress management improves post-operative immune function in men with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Psychosom Med 73(3):218-25, 4/2011. e-Pub 1/21/2011. PMID: 21257977.
8. Li H, Wang P, Gao Y, Zhu X, Liu L, Cohen L, Meng Z, Yang P. Na+/K+-ATPase a3 mediates sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to bufalin. Oncol Rep 25(3):825-30, 3/2011. e-Pub 12/22/2010. PMID: 21181095.
9. Cohen L, Zhen Chen , Arun B, Zhimin Shao , Dryden M, Linhhui Xu , Le-Petross C, Dogan B, McKenna BJ, Markman M, Babiera G. External Qigong therapy for women with breast cancer prior to surgery. Integr Cancer Ther 9(4):348-353, 12/2010. PMID: 21106615.
10. Chandwani KD, Thornton B, Perkins GH, Arun B, Raghuram NV, Nagendra HR, Wei Q, Cohen L. Yoga improves quality of life and benefit finding in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol 8(2):43-55, 2010. PMID: 20388445.

Invited Articles
1. Chandwani KD, Chaoul-Reich A, Cohen L. The role of yoga in breast cancer. Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly 17:330-331, 2007.
2. Cohen L, Gerner J, Baile WB. Complementary programs for patients with cancer: Implications for quality of life, treatment response, and survival. The Lancet Oncology 1:55-56, 2000.

Book Chapters
1. Ulbricht C, Cohen L, Lee R. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care. In: CANCER: Principles & practice of oncology, 9th Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore, 2550-2561, 2011.
2. Cohen L, Russell N, Garcia K, Frenkel M. The Role of Integrative Oncology in Cancer Care. In: Cancer Medicine, 8. People's Medical Publishing House-USA: Shelton, 846-853, 2010.
3. Basch E, Ulbricht C, Cohen L, Frenkel M. Complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies. In: Cancer principles and practice of oncology. 1 & 2, 8. Ed(s) DeVita, Hellman, Rosenberg. Wolters Kulwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadephia, 2949-2963, 2008.
4. Russell N, Cohen L. Integrative and alternative medicine and palliative medicine. In: Palliative Medicine. Ed(s) E Bruera, C Ripamonti, C von Gunten. Arnold Publishing: London, United Kingdom, 896-902, 2006.

Books (edited and written)
1. Frenkel M, Cohen L. Integrative Medicine in Oncology: Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. 22, 4. Elsevier, Inc. Philadelphia, 2008.
2. L Cohen, M Markman. Integrative Oncology: Incorporating Complementary Medicine into Conventional Cancer Care. Humana Press: Totowa, NJ, 2008.

Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
1. Cohen L. *CD: Important Conversations: Complementary Therapies. What You Must Ask and Why. Copyright 2005*. Video series can be seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resource (CIMER) website. *The video series won the International Health & Medical Media Awards (FREDDIE award) in the category of Health & Wellness, 2005.
2. Cohen L. *CD: Important Conversations: Talking With Patients About Complementary Therapies, 2003.
3. Cohen L. *CD: Patients talk about.. Complementary Therapies and Cancer, 2003.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Effects of Meditation on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Cancer
Funding Source: Sister Institution Network Fund
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Neural function, neuromodulation, and chronic cancer pain
Funding Source: American Cancer Society (ACS)
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Sarah Prinsloo
Duration: 7/1/2011 - 6/30/2014
 
Title: Placebo controlled trial of acupuncture to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2/15/2011 - 1/31/2015
 
Title: Yoga for Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2010 - 3/31/2015
 
Title: Biobehavioral effects of Qigong during treatment for rectal cancer
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2008 - 3/31/2012
 
Title: Effects of Tibetan yoga on fatigue and sleep in cancer
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 3/10/2006 - 1/31/2013
 
Title: Chemotherapy and Mindfulness Relaxation: A Randomized Trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator of Supplement
Principal Investigator: Fisch
Duration: 6/1/2002 - 5/31/2013

Last updated: 2/20/2013