Rong Chen PhD
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Chen
I received my Bachelor
of Science degree in Biochemistry from Wuhan University in Wuhan, China in
1992, and a Master of Science degree in Molecular Biology from the Institute of
Genetics in the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing in 1995. My thesis
focused on the molecular cloning and expression of proteinase inhibitors
that protect crops from insect damage. I came to the United States and
received my Ph.D. in 2002 from the University of Texas Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences in Houston and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, under the
supervision of Dr. James Arly Nelson. My research was focused on the function
of organic cation transporters in the secretion of nucleoside analogs. After
graduation, I came to Dr. William Plunkett's lab in the department of
Experimental Therapeutics in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as a postdoctoral
fellow and I am currently an assistant professor in the same
department. My major interest of research is the pre-clinical and clinical development
of novel therapeutic strategies for leukemia and lymphoma, with the enhanced
understanding of the pathogenesis of the diseases. I am specially focusing on
agents that interfere with the biosynthesis processes such as transcription,
RNA splicing and translation,as well as the mechanism-based combinations of
these agents with other biological and kinase inhibitors. My mechanistic
studies in the laboratory have helped to advance these compounds to clinical
evaluation. One of them was approved by FDA to benefit the patients. We also
perform lab correlative pharmacodynamic studies to validate their actions in
vivo during the clinical trials.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
The major focus of my research is developing inhibitors of transcription/translation for the therapy of cancer. Some tumors are dependent upon the continued activity of a single oncogene for maintenance of their malignant phenotype. This has been characterized as "oncogene addiction". We hypothesized that strategies that decrease expression of critical oncogene products by transcription/translational inhibitors will have therapeutic benefit. The biological context of dependence of the oncogene for survival, and the short intrinsic half-life of the mRNA/protein of the oncogene would provide the specificity for this therapy. Small molecular cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors such as flavopiridol, roscovitine, SNS-032 that are active in transcriptional control, transcription inhibitor Actinomycin D, as well as translational inhibitor Homoharringtonine have been evaluated in our lab in leukemia cell systems such CML, CLL and mantle cell lymphoma. They are effective in inducing apoptosis in these systems through the transcriptional /translational inhibition of oncoproteins such as Bcr-Abl, Mcl-1 and Cyclin D1. Currently, our studies focus on developing new transcription/translation inhibitors, as well as evaluating these inhibitors in overcoming resistance to conventional therapy.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2002 | University of Texas Health Science Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, US, Ph.D. in Cancer Biology |
| 1995 | Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics, Beijing, US, M.S. in Molecular Biology |
| 1992 | Wuhan University, Wuhan, US, BS in Biochemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2002-2007 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Molecular Pharmacology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2022
Instructor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2010
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
faculty reviewer, Academic Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2025
Chair, The Daisy Ho Memorial Lecture Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Seminar Committee, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present
Faculty Reviewer, Academic Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2022
Faculty Reviewer, Faculty Academic Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2017
Member, Website Design Committee, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2006 - 2007
Honors & Awards
| 2013 - 2014 | Leukemia SPORE Career Development Award, MDACC Leukemia SPORE |
| 2009 | Best poster award, Gordon Research Conferences, Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Oligonucleotides |
| 2006 | The Kimberly Patterson Fellowship in Leukemia Research |
| 2003 - 2005 | Aventis Translational Research Fellowship Award |
| 1998 - 2001 | Travel Award, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas in Houston |
| 1991 | Student Research Award, Wuhan University |
| 1989 - 1991 | Wuhan University Scholarship Award, Wuhan University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2021. Creating novel translation inhibitors to target pro-survival proteins in CLL. Conference. Creating novel translation inhibitors to target pro-survival proteins in CLL. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Conference. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Conference. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Houston, TX, US.
- 2015. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Conference. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Houston, TX, US.
- 2012. Strategy to induce apoptosis and circumvent resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Conference. Strategy to induce apoptosis and circumvent resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Houston, TX, US.
- 2008. Targeting the biological context in the design of cancer therapy. Conference. Targeting the biological context in the design of cancer therapy. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2022. Targeting CLL Pathophysiology. Conference. CLL Global Research Foundation. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Targeting the pathophysiology of CLL by the CDK9 inhibitor fadraciclib. Conference. Targeting the pathophysiology of CLL by the CDK9 inhibitor fadraciclib, US.
- 2015. Targeting protein translation in acute myeloid leukemia by omacetaxine. Conference. Hematological Malignancies SPORE. Rockville, MD, US.
- 2013. Targeting SF3B1 mediated splicing control of Mcl-1. Conference. CLL Research Consortium. New Orleans, LA, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. Targeting the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Conference. Symposium on World Cancer Research. Singapore, SG.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | CLL MS Project 2: Developing synergistic therapies for progressive CLL and RT |
| Funding Source: | CLL Moon Shot |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Targeting the Bcl-2 Family Proteins n CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Strategy to target CLL Richter Transformation |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00017522 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Sponsored research agreement for the lab correlative study for the phase 1/2 trial of fadraciclib in leukemias and MDS |
| Funding Source: | Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Evaluation of Biomarkers of CYC065 pharmacodynamics in the Phase 1 Trial |
| Funding Source: | Cyclacel |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2019 - 2023 |
| Title: | Strategies to target the pathophysiology of CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2017 - 2019 |
| Title: | Single agent and mechanism-based combinations of CYC065 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Cyclacel, Ltd |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | LS2017-00053881-LK |
| Date: | 2013 - 2023 |
| Title: | CLL Moon Shot: Project 2 Curative Targeted Therapy |
| Funding Source: | CLL Moon Shot |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2013 - 2014 |
| Title: | Exploring the activity and mechanism-based combinations of omacetaxine in AML |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Investigator |
| ID: | P50 CA100632-06-10 |
| Date: | 2013 - 2016 |
| Title: | Creating Novel Translation Inhibitors To Target Pro-Survival proteins in CLL |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2011 - 2017 |
| Title: | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research Consortium |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 5-P01-CA 81534 years 11-15 |
| Date: | 2011 - 2013 |
| Title: | Investigations of the multi-kinase inhibitor TG02 in CLL |
| Funding Source: | Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | LS2011-00034993JW 01 |
| Date: | 2010 - 2013 |
| Title: | A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation and Pharmacokinetic Study of TG02 Citrate in Patients with Advanced Hematological Malignancies |
| Funding Source: | Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | CS2010-00032439JW 01 |
| Date: | 2007 - 2009 |
| Title: | A Phase I multi-center, dose-escalation clinical study of the safety and tolerability of intravenously administered SNS-032, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, administered to patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | CS-2006-1089 |
| Date: | 2007 - 2008 |
| Title: | Mechanisms of Action of SNS-032 in CLL |
| Funding Source: | Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | LS2007-00019428DH |
| Date: | 2003 - 2005 |
| Title: | Circumventing Resistance in CLL by Flavopiridol |
| Funding Source: | Aventis |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | Ls2003-00 009937HM-01 |
| Title: | Preclinical development of novel translation inhibitors to target the vulnerabilities of cancer |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Title: | Circumventing hypoxia mediated drug resistance in multiple myeloma |
| Funding Source: | Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Dissecting the role of SF3B1-mediated splicing control in chronic lymphocyctic leukemia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Chen R, Chen Y, Xiong P, Zheleva D, Blake D, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor fadraciclib (CYC065) depletes anti-apoptotic protein and synergizes with venetoclax in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leukemia 36(6):1596-1608, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35383271.
- Zhu L, Ji J, Ma J, Wang D, Liu M, Du JX, Chen R, Hou W, Abbruzzese JL, Logsdon CD, Yang VW, Luo Y, Lu W. Differential Effects of Dietary Macronutrients on the Development of Oncogenic KRAS-Mediated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 14(11), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35681705.
- Chen R, Tsai J, Thompson PA, Chen Y, Xiong P, Liu C, Burrows F, Sivina M, Burger JA, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. The multi-kinase inhibitor TG02 induces apoptosis and blocks B-cell receptor signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia through dual mechanisms of action. Blood Cancer J 11(3):57, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33714981.
- Luo Y, Yang Y, Liu M, Wang D, Wang F, Bi Y, Ji J, Li S, Liu Y, Chen R, Huang H, Wang X, Swidnicka-Siergiejko AK, Janowitz T, Beyaz S, Wang G, Xu S, Bialkowska AB, Luo CK, Pin CL, Liang G, Lu X, Wu M, Shroyer KR, Wolff RA, Plunkett W, Ji B, Li Z, Li E, Li X, Yang VW, Logsdon CD, Abbruzzese JL, Lu W. Oncogenic KRAS Reduces Expression of FGF21 in Acinar Cells to Promote Pancreatic Tumorigenesis in Mice on a High-Fat Diet. Gastroenterology 157(5):1413-1428.e11, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31352001.
- Chen R, Zhu M, Chaudhari RR, Robles O, Chen Y, Skillern W, Qin Q, Wierda WG, Zhang S, Hull KG, Romo D, Plunkett W. Creating novel translation inhibitors to target pro-survival proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 33(7):1663-1674, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30700841.
- Jouanneau M, McClary B, Reyes JC, Chen R, Chen Y, Plunkett W, Cheng X, Milinichik AZ, Albone EF, Liu JO, Romo D. Derivatization of Agelastatin A Leading to Bioactive Analogs and a Trifunctional Probe. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 26(8):2092-7, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26951751.
- Yeh YY, Chen R, Hessler J, Mahoney E, Lehman AM, Heerema NA, Grever MR, Plunkett W, Byrd JC, Johnson AJ. Up-regulation of CDK9 kinase activity and Mcl-1 stability contributes to the acquired resistance to cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in leukemia. Oncotarget 6(5):2667-79, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25596730.
- Koay EJ, Baio FE, Ondari A, Truty MJ, Cristini V, Thomas RM, Chen R, Chatterjee D, Kang Y, Zhang J, Court L, Bhosale PR, Tamm EP, Qayyum A, Crane CH, Javle M, Katz MH, Gottumukkala VN, Rozner MA, Shen H, Lee JE, Wang H, Chen Y, Plunkett W, Abbruzzese JL, Wolff RA, Maitra A, Ferrari M, Varadhachary GR, Fleming JB. Intra-tumoral heterogeneity of gemcitabine delivery and mass transport in human pancreatic cancer. Physicol Biology 11(6):065002, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25427073.
- Koay EJ, Truty MJ, Cristini V, Thomas RM, Chen R, Chatterjee D, Kang Y, Bhosale PR, Tamm EP, Crane CH, Javle M, Katz MH, Gottumukkala VN, Rozner MA, Shen H, Lee JE, Wang H, Chen Y, Plunkett W, Abbruzzese JL, Wolff RA, Varadhachary GR, Ferrari M, Fleming JB. Transport properties of pancreatic cancer describe gemcitabine delivery and response. J Clin Invest 124(4):1525-36, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24614108.
- Liu H, Zhang T, Chen R, McConkey DJ, Ward JF, Curley SA. Multiple kinase pathways involved in the different de novo sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cell lines to 17-AAG. J Surg Res 176(1):147-53, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22099584.
- Carter BZ, Mak DH, Shi Y, Fidler JM, Chen R, Ling X, Plunkett W, Andreeff M. MRx102, a triptolide derivative, has potent antileukemic activity in vitro and in a murine model of AML. Leukemia 26(3):443-50, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 21904380.
- Zecevic A, Sampath D, Ewald B, Chen R, Wierda W, Plunkett W. Killing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia by the combination of fludarabine and oxaliplatin is dependent on the activity of XPF endonuclease. Clin Cancer Res 17(14):4731-41, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21632856.
- Chen R, Guo L, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. Homoharringtonine reduced Mcl-1 expression and induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 117(1):156-64, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 20971952.
- Chen R, Chubb S, Cheng T, Hawtin RE, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Responses in mantle cell lymphoma cells to SNS-032 depend on the biological context of each cell line. Cancer Res 70(16):6587-97, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20663900.
- Tong WG, Chen R, Plunkett W, Siegel D, Sinha R, Harvey RD, Badros AZ, Popplewell L, Coutre S, Fox JA, Mahadocon K, Chen T, Kegley P, Hoch U, Wierda WG. Phase I and pharmacologic study of SNS-032, a potent and selective Cdk2, 7, and 9 inhibitor, in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. J Clin Oncol 28(18):3015-22, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20479412.
- Kurtova AV, Balakrishnan K, Chen R, Ding W, Schnabl S, Quiroga MP, Sivina M, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Keating MJ, Shehata M, Jäger U, Gandhi V, Kay NE, Plunkett W, Burger JA. Diverse marrow stromal cells protect CLL cells from spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis: development of a reliable and reproducible system to assess stromal cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. Blood 114(20):4441-50, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19762485.
- Chen R, Wierda WG, Chubb S, Hawtin RE, Fox JA, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Mechanism of action of SNS-032, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 113(19):4637-45, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19234140.
- Qin T, Youssef EM, Jelinek J, Chen R, Yang AS, Garcia-Manero G, Issa JP. Effect of cytarabine and decitabine in combination in human leukemic cell lines. Clin Cancer Res 13(14):4225-4232, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17634552.
- Chen R, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. A sequential blockade strategy for the design of combination therapies to overcome oncogene addiction in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Cancer Res 66(22):10959-10966, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17108134.
- Chen R, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Transcription inhibition by flavopiridol: mechanism of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell death. Blood 106(7):2513-2519, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15972445.
- Chen R, Jonker JW, Nelson JA. Renal organic cation and nucleoside transport. Biochem Pharmacol 64(2):185-190, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12123738.
- Chen R, Nelson JA. Role of organic cation transporters in the renal secretion of nucleosides. Biochem Pharmacol 60(2):215-219, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10825466.
- Chen R, Pan BF, Sakurai M, Nelson JA. A nucleoside-sensitive organic cation transporter in opossum kidney cells. Am J Physiol 276(2 Pt 2):F323-328, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 9950964.
- Pan BF, Sweet DH, Pritchard JB, Chen R, Nelson JA. A transfected cell model for the renal toxin transporter, rOCT2. Toxicol Sci 47(2):181-186, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10220855.
- Zhou Z, Zhu Z, Liu CM, Chen R, Xiao GF, Li XH. Molecular cloning of thiol-proteinase inhibitor gene. High Technology Letters 2(2):89-94, 1996. e-Pub 1996.
- Zhou Z, Zhu Z, Chen R, Liu C, Li X. High level expression of oryzacystatin in Escherichia coli. Chin J Biotechnol 12(1):17-24, 1996. e-Pub 1996. PMID: 8877110.
- Xie Z, Chen R. Producing single cell protein from corn wastes through mixed micro-organisms culturing. Cereal & Food Industry 7:28-31, 1994. e-Pub 1994.
Invited Articles
- Chen R, Plunkett W. Strategy to induce apoptosis and circumvent resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 23(1):155-66, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20620979.
- Chen R, Plunkett W. Sequential Blockade of Oncogenic Kinases. American Association for Cancer Research 96th Annual Meeting Educational Book:344-348, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
Abstracts
- Chen R, Xiong P, Liu C, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Gandhi V, Jain N, w P. The Bcl-2 family proteins in CLL: effects by the cytogenetics, microenvironments and therapy. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Chen R, Chen Y, Xiong P, w P. Targeting the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Symposium on World Cancer Research 2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Chen R, Liu C, Xiong P, Chen Y, Zheleva D, Blake D, Wierda, W, Plunkett W. Development of a quantitative assay to measure the Bcl-2 family proteins and their relationships to drug response. The XIX International Workshop on CLL, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Wierda WG, Lee S, Chen R, Zheleva D, Blake D, Chiao J, Plunkett W. A Phase I Study Combining CDK2/9 Inhibitor CYC065 with Venetoclax, a BCL2 Inhibitor, to Treat Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Blood 134(Supplement_1):Abs # 1761, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Chen R, Zhu M, Chaudhari RR, Robles O, Chen Y, Skillern W, Qin Q, Wierda W, Zhang S, Hull KG, Romo D, Plunkett W. Novel pateamine analogs to target the translation initiation factor eIF4A in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 60:474, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Chen R, Chen Y, Frame S, Blake D, Wierda WG, Zheleva D, Plunkett W. Strategic combination of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CYC065 with venetoclax to target anti-apoptotic proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 59, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Chen R, Qi Y, Gruber M, Chen Y, Wong JJ, Rassenti L, Ghia M, Kipps T, Wu K, Su X, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Targeting SF3B1 mediated splicing control in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. May 12-15, 2017. New York, NY USA, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Chen R, Zhu M, Robles O, Chen Y, Skillern W, Qin Q, Wierda W, Hull KG, Romo D, Plunkett W. Novel pateamine A analogs to target pro-survival proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. AACR special meeting on Translational Control of Cancer. October 27 - 30, 2016. San Francisco, California, USA, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Chen R, Zhu M, Chen Y, Skillern W, Wierda WG, Hull K, Romo D, Plunkett W. Creating novel translation inhibitors to target prosurvival proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of America Association for Cancer Researc 56, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Chen R, Leung B, Chen Y, Plunkett W. Targeting protein translation in acute myeloid leukemia by omacetaxine. Hematology SPORE Workshop, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Chen R, Malouf GG, Zhang J, Huang X, Weinstein JN, Spano JP, Molldrem JJ, Plunkett W, Su X. Genome-wide mapping and subtype classification of long non-coding RNA in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 124, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Chen R, Chen Y, Ghia E, Rassenti L, Kipps T, Keating M, Wierda W, Plunkett W. Targeting SF3B1 mediated splicing control of Mcl-1 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of America Association for Cancer Research 55, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Chen R, Leung B, Chen Y, Plunkett W. Activities and Mechanism Based Combinations of Omacetaxine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blood 122(21):ABs# 1288, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Chen R, Tsai J, Chen Y, Burrows F, Wierda W, Plunkett W. Mechanism of action of the multikinase inhibitor TG02 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of America Association for Cancer Research 53, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Chen R, Guo L, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Wierda W, Plunkett W. Reducing Mcl-1 by Homoharringtonine Induces Apoptosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. Blood 112, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Chen R, Chen Y, Green SR, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. A novel derivative of the Cdk inhibitor roscovitine that induces apoptosis in CLL and overcomes stromal cell-mediated protection. Proceedings of America Association for Cancer Research 51, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Chen R, Chubb S, Cheng T, Hawtin RE, Fox JA, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. SNS-032 reduced the expression of cyclin D1 and Mcl-1 and inhibited survival in mantle cell lymphoma cell lines. Proceedings of America Association for Cancer Research 50, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Guo L, Chen R, Wierda WG, Plunkett W. Homoharringtonine downregulates Mcl-1 and induces apoptosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia cells. Proceedings of American Association for Cancer Research 50, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Wierda WG, Chen R, Plunkett W, Coutre S, Badros A, Popplewell L, Fox JA, Hoch U, Goldberg Z. A phase 1 trial of SNS-032, a potent and specific cdk 2, 7 and 9 inhibitor, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Blood 110, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Chen R, Chubb S, Hoch U, Hawtin RE, Fox JA, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. SNS-032, a novel inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 7 and 9, blocks transcription of cyclin D1 and Mcl-1, causing cell death in mantle cell lymphoma cell lines. Proceedings of American Association for Cancer Research 49, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
- Chen R, Wierda WG, Chubb S, Hoch U, Hawtin RE, Fox JA, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Mechanism of action of SNS-032, a novel cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: comparison with flavopiridol. Blood 109, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Chen R, Tsai CY, Plunkett W. Transcription inhibition by Actinomycin D as a mechanism-based approach to treatment of Bcr-Abl-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. Proceedings of American Association for Cancer Research 48:764 #3211, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Quintás-Cardama A, Kantarjian H, Wierda W, Ferrajoli A, Chen R, Ravandi F, Plunkett W, Cortes J. A phase II study of intravenous (iv) homoharringtonine (HHT) and imatinib (IM) in patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Blood 108(11):261, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Chen R, Cortes J, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Sequential blockade of Bcr-Abl expression overcomes resistance to imatinib. National Spore Meeting, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Chen R, Plunkett W. Sequential blockade of Bcr-Abl production overcomes resistance to imatinib. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 47:709, 2006. e-Pub 2006.
- Chen R, Cortes J, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. A sequential blockade strategy to target the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein in chronic myelogenous leukemia with the combination of flavopiridol, homoharringtonine and Imatinib. National Spore Meeting, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- Chen R, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Flavopiridol-induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells through the transcriptional down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 46:769, 2005. e-Pub 2005.
- Chen R, Plunkett W. A sequential blockade strategy to target the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein in chronic myelogenous leukemia by the combination of flavopiridol, homoharringtonine and STI571. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 45:124, 2004. e-Pub 2004.
- Pan JX, Chen R, Plunkett W. Claspin, a Chk1 interacting protein, is involved in gemcitabine-induced S phase checkpoint activation. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 45:538, 2004. e-Pub 2004.
- Chen R, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Transcriptional down-regulation of oncogene expression in CML and CLL by actinomycin D and flavopiridol. AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics:146 #B114, 2003. e-Pub 2003.
- Chen R, Benaissa S, Plunkett W. A sequential blockade strategy to target the BCR/ABL oncoprotein in chronic myelogenous leukemia with STI571 and the protein synthesis inhibitor homoharringtonine. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 44:867, 2003. e-Pub 2003.
- Pan BF, Chen R, Farquhar D, Nelson JA. Multidrug resistance and collateral sensitivity in human renal carcinoma. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 43:951, 2002. e-Pub 2002.
- Chen R, Chen Y, Xiong P, Plunkett W. The CDK2/9 inhibitor fadraciclib is active in Richter transformation and lymphoma cell lines by targeting both cell survival and proliferation. AACR Annual Meeting 2024.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 11, 2026