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Su S. Chen, MD, PHD

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Hematopathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Director, Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program, Department of Hematopathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Unit Number: 072
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: R4.2115d
Phone: 713-792-2576
Fax: 713-792-4821
Email: sschen@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1999 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, PHD, Genes and Development Program, Advisor: Benoit de Crombrugghe, MD, Chairman, Department of Molecular Genetics
1990 Calcutta Medical College, Calcutta, West Bengal, India, MBBS, Medicine and Surgery

Postgraduate Training

7/2005-9/2006 Clinical Fellowship, Molecular Genetic Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, Fellowship Director: James Versalovic, M.D., Ph.D.
7/2004-6/2005 Clinical Fellowship, Pediatric Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX, Fellowship Director: Beverly B. Rogers, M.D.
7/2000-6/2004 Clinical Residency, Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, Residency Director: Charles F. Timmons, M.D.,Ph.D.
8/1999-6/2000 Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Supervisor: Benoit de Crombrugghe, M.D.
8/1990-1/1992 Clinical Residency, Pathology and Microbiology, Calcutta Medical College Hospitals, Calcutta, West Bengal, India, Supervisor: Sabitri Sanyal, M.D.
8/1989-7/1990 Clinical Internship, Medicine and Surgery, Calcutta Medical College Hospitals, Calcutta, West Bengal, India, Supervisor: Subhash Chowdhury, M.D.

Board Certifications

9/2009 American Board of Pathology, Molecular Genetic Pathology
7/2009 American Board of Pathology, Combined Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Adjunct Faculty Member, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 7/2008-6/2011
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 10/2006-12/2008

Other Appointments/Responsibilities

Inspector, Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP), College of American Pathologists, Northfield, IL, 11/2007-present
Graduate Research Asssistant, Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 6/1993-7/1999
Rotating Research Assistant, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/1992-5/1993

Institutional Committee Activities

Member, Graduate Medical Education (GME) Committee, 1/2009-present
Member, Continued Medical Education (CME) Advisory Committee, 10/2008-present

Honors and Awards

2012 MD Anderson Alumni and Faculty Association Undergraduate Award in Non-Radiologic Science Research. 1st Place in Platform Presentation. "Novel ICEPlex RT-PCR assay for detection and identification of BCR-ABL1 fusion transcript variants in leukemia," Hasan S, Hu PC, Chen SS., The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
2009 ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Award, 1st Place in Platform Presentation. "A 9-gene predictor of therapy response in adult Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL)," Zuo Z, Jones DM, Thomas DA, O'Brioen S, Ravandi F, Kantarjian HM, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Chen SS., American Society of Clinical Oncology
2007 Association of Genetic Technologists Student Research Award, 1st Place in Poster Presentation. "The association of glutathione S-transferase theta 1 polymorphism with the risk to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia," Masri S, Bowman C, Hu P. Lennon PA, Luthra R, Jones D, Chen SS., Association of Genetic Technologists
2006 John R. Rainey, MD, Residents'/Fellows' Seminar, 1st Place in Podium Competition. "Modified IDI-MRSA assay to directly detect MRSA in clinical blood culture specimens positive for Gram-positive cocci," Chen SS, Luna R, Zapalac P, Versalovic J., Texas Society of Pathologists

Professional Memberships

American Society for Clinical Pathology
Member, 2004-present
Association for Molecular Pathology
Member, 2005-present
Cancer Cytogenomics Microarray Consortium
Member, 2012-present
College of American Pathologists
Member, 2000-present
Society of Pediatric Pathology
Member, 2012-present
United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology
Member, 2009-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Welsh JW, Komaki R, Amini A, Munsell M, Unger W, Allen PK, Chang JY, Wefel J, McGovern S, Garland LL, Chen SS, Holt J, Liao Z, Brown P, Sulman E, Heymach JV, Kim ES, Stea B. Phase II trial of Erlotinib plus concurrent whole-brain radiation therapy for patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. In Press.
2. Wheler JJ, Falchook GS, Tsimberidou AM, Hong DS, Naing A, Piha-Paul SA, Chen SS, Fu S, Stephen B, Fok JY, Janku F, Kurzrock R. Aberrations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in 958 patients with diverse advanced tumors: implications for therapy. Ann Oncol. e-Pub 11/8/2012. PMID: 23139256.
3. Andreou A, Kopetz S, Maru DM, Chen SS, Zimmitti G, Brouquet A, Shindoh J, Curley SA, Garrett C, Overman MJ, Aloia TA, Vauthey JN. Adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX for primary colorectal cancer is associated with increased somatic gene mutations and inferior survival in patients undergoing hepatectomy for metachronous liver metastases. Ann Surg 256(4):642, 10/2012. PMID: 22968062.
4. Hoehn D, Medeiros LJ, Chen SS, Tian T, Jorgensen JL, Ahmed Y, Lin P. CD117 expression is a sensitive but nonspecific predictor of FLT3 mutation in T actue lymphoblastic leukemia and T/myeloid acute leukemia. Am J Clin Pathol 137(2):213, 2/2012. PMID: 22261446.
5. Barakat FH, Luthra R, Yin CC, Barkoh BA, Hai S, Jamil W, Bhakta YI, Chen S, Medeiros LJ, Zuo Z. Detection of nucleophosmin 1 mutations by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction versus capillary electrophoresis: a comparative study. Arch Pathol Lab Med 135(8):994, 8/2011. PMID: 21809990.
6. Vigil CE, Wang SA, Cortes JE, Bueso-Ramos C, Verstovsek S, Shinder R, Chen SS, Katz RL, Khanna A, Esmaeli B, Manning JT, You MJ, Miranda RN. Dasatinib-responsive mast cell neoplasms as initial presentation of chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase. J Clin Oncol 29(17):e514, 6/10/2011. e-Pub 4/4/2011. PMID: 21464405.
7. Billah S, Stewart J, Staerkel G, Chen S, Gong Y, Guo M. EGFR and KRAS mutations in lung carcinoma: molecular testing by using cytology specimens. Cancer Cytopathol 119(2):111, 4/25/2011. e-Pub 3/11/2011. PMID: 21400670.
8. Sun J, Yin CC, Cui W, Chen SS, Medeiros LJ, Lu G. Chromosome 20q deletion: a recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in remission. Am J Clin Pathol 135(3):391, 3/2011. PMID: 21350093.
9. Sun J, Konoplev SN, Wang X, Cui W, Chen SS, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. De novo acute myeloid leukemia with inv(3)(q21q26.2) or t(3;3)(q21;q26.2): a clinicopathologic and cytogenetic study of an entity recently added to the WHO classification. Mod Pathol 24(3):384, 3/2011. e-Pub 11/26/2010. PMID: 21113141.
10. Cui W, Bueso-Ramos CE, Yin CC, Sun J, Chen S, Muddasani R, Lu G. Trisomy 14 as a sole chromosomal abnormality is associated with older age, a heterogenous group of myeloid neoplasms with dysplasia and a wide spectrum of disease progression. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology 2010(Article ID 365318), 1/2011.
11. Zuo Z, Jones D, Yao H, Thomas DA, O'Brien S, Ravandi F, Kantarjian HM, Abruzzo LV, Medeiros LJ, Chen SS, Luthra R. A pathway-based gene signature correlates with therapeutic response in adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Mod Pathol 23(11):1524, 11/2010. e-Pub 8/20/2010. PMID: 20729815.
12. Wang SA, Jabbar K, Lu G, Chen SS, Galili N, Vega F, Jones D, Raza A, Kantarjian H, Garcia-Manero G, McDonnell TJ, Medeiros LJ. Trisomy 11 in myelodysplastic syndromes defines a unique group of disease with aggressive clinicopathologic features. Leukemia 24(4):740, 4/2010. e-Pub 1/14/2010. PMID: 20072149.
13. Feng B, Jorgensen JL, Jones D, Chen SS, Hu Y, Medeiros LJ, Wang SA. Flow cytometric detection of peripheral blood involvement by mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome using T-cell receptor Vbeta chain antibodies and its application in blood staging. Modern Pathology 23(2):284, 2/2010.
14. Torres-Cabala CA, Wang WL, Trent J, Yang D, Chen S, Galbincea J, Kim KB, Woodman S, Davies M, Plaza JA, Nash JW, Prieto VG, Lazar AJ, Ivan D. Correlation between KIT expression and KIT mutation in melanoma: a study of 173 cases with emphasis on the acral-lentiginous/mucosal type. Mod Pathol 22(11):1446, 11/2009. e-Pub 8/28/2009. PMID: 19718013.
15. Lu G, Gurevich I, Vo BT, Chen SS. t(10;12)(q24;p13) as the sole abnormality in a case with refractory acute myeloid leukemia: The first case report and literature review. Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao 41(4):480, 8/18/2009. PMID: 19727243.
16. Zuo Z, Chen SS, Chandra PK, Galbincea JM, Soape M, Doan S, Barkoh BA, Koeppen H, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R. Application of COLD-PCR for improved detection of KRAS mutations in clinical samples. Mod Pathol 22(8):1023, 8/2009. e-Pub 5/8/2009. PMID: 19430420.
17. Gustafson SA, Lin P, Chen SS, Chen L, Abruzzo LV, Luthra R, Medeiros LJ, Wang SA. Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22) shares many features with de novo acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22) but does not have a favorable outcome. Am J Clin Pathol 131(5):647, 5/2009. PMID: 19369623.
18. Luthra R, Singh RR, Luthra MG, Li YX, Hannah C, Romans AM, Barkoh BA, Chen SS, Ensor J, Maru DM, Broaddus RR, Rashid A, Albarracin CT. MicroRNA-196a targets annexin A1: a microRNA-mediated mechanism of annexin A1 downregulation in cancers. Oncogene 27(52):6667, 11/6/2008. e-Pub 7/28/2008. PMID: 18663355.
19. Wu T, Xie C, Bhaskarabhatla M, Yan M, Leone A, Chen SS, Zhou XJ, Putterman C, Mohan C. Excreted urinary mediators in an animal model of experimental immune nephritis with potential pathogenic significance. Arthritis Rheum 56(3):949, 3/2007. PMID: 17328072.
20. Wang SA, Galili N, Cerny J, Sechman E, Chen SS, Loew J, Liu Q, Fadare O, Hasserjian R, Jones D, Qawi H, Woda B, Raza A. Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia evolving from preexisting myelodysplasia shares many features with de novo disease. Am J Clin Pathol 126(5):789, 11/2006. PMID: 17050076.
21. Chen SS, Ruteshouser EC, Maity SN, de Crombrugghe B. Cell-specific in vivo DNA-protein interactions at the proximal promoters of the pro-alpha1(I) and the pro-alpha2(I) collagen genes. Nucleic Acids Res 25(16):3261, 8/15/1997. PMCID: PMC146878.
22. Rossert JA, Chen SS, Eberspaecher H, Smith CN, de Crombrugghe B. Identification of a minimal sequence of the mouse pro-alpha1(I) collagen promoter that confers high-level osteoblast expression in transgenic mice and that binds a protein selectively present in osteoblasts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93(3):1027, 2/6/1996. PMCID: PMC40024.

Invited Articles
1. Jorgensen JL, Chen SS. Monitoring of minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia: methods and best applications. Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia 11(S1):S49, 6/2011.

Editorials
1. Amin A, Metka F, Chen SS, Schneider-Stock R. Cancer chemoprevention. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology 2012(Article ID 250491), 9/2012.
Other Articles
1. Chen SS. Hematopathology embraces molecular tools. Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory Newsletter 19(1):24-26, 1/2010.

Abstracts
1. Patel KP, Singh R, Reddy N, Routbort M, Aldape K, Medeiros L, Sargent R, Chen SS, Yin C, Zuo J, Barkoh BA, Handal B, Paladugu A, Patel R, Rahimi H, Grant F, Luthra R. Comparison of next generation sequencing platforms for multi-gene mutational profiling of hematologic malignancies in a clinical diagnostics laboratory. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 14(6), 11/2012.
2. Chen SS, Yin CC, Konoplev SN, Young KH, Muddasani R, Medeiros LJ, Lu G. Acquired trisomy 21 as a sole chromosomal abnormality is associated with a heterogeneous group of myeloid neoplasms and variable disease outcome. Modern Pathology 25(S2):329A, 2/2012.
3. Chen SS, Tarrand JJ, Prieto V, Lin P, Fernandez MH, Hasan T, Medeiros LJ, Bueso-Ramos C. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) detected in plasma of post-bone marrow transplant patients by SYBR green-based real-time PCR and melting curve analysis. Modern Pathology 25(S2):386A, 2/2012.
4. Greaves WO, Patel KP, Reddy N, Rodriguez S, Hai S, Mishra B, Barkoh BA, Chen SS, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R. A novel nanofluidics-based approach for simultaneous and quantitative detection of multiple recurrent translocations in hematologic malignancies. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 13(6):734, 11/2011.
5. Kanagal-Shamanna R, Young KH, Chen SS, Muddassani R, Medeiros LJ, Lu G. Acute myeloid leukemias with isolated del(6p): a rare entity with a common deleted region confined to 6p23-p24 and infrequent mutations of FLT3, RAS, KIT and NPM1. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 13(6):734, 11/2011.
6. Barkoh BA, Do D, Hai S, Yin C, Chen S, Sargent R, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Patel K. High resolution melting analysis as an upfront cost effective screening method for detection of KIT exon 17 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia in the clinical laboratory. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 13(6):732, 11/2011.
7. Zuo Z, Greaves WO, Luthra R, Sargent R, Chen SS, Glabincia J, Medeiros LJ, Yin C. KIT mutation is rare in acute myeloid leukemias, almost always involves exon 17, and occurs predominantly in AML with t(8;21)(q22;q22). Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 13(6):729, 11/2011.
8. Kanagal-Shamanna R, Paladugu A, Barkoh B, Rahimi H, Chen SS, Sargent RL, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Patel KP. Validation of high resolution melting curve analysis (HRMA) using LightCycler 480 for screening of TP53 mutations in human malignancies. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 13(6):783, 11/2011.
9. Hoehn D, Chen SS, Lennon PA, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. B lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with inv(3)(q21;q26)/t(3;3)(q21;q26). Modern Pathology 24(S1):301A, 2/2011.
10. Hoehn D, Ahmed Y, Chen SS, Tian T, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. FLT3 mutation is rare in T-lymphoblastic ALL and its presence supports concurrent myeloid differentiation. Modern Pathology 24(S1):300A, 2/2011.
11. Chen SS, Zuo Z, Luthra R, Lu G, Borthakur G, Wang S, Medeiros LJ, Yin CC. Double mutations of NRAS and KRAS in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome are associated with monocytic differentiation, multilineage dysplasia, increased myeloblasts and prior chemotherapy. Modern Pathology 24(S1):290A, 2011.
12. Ma D, Luthra R, Chen SS, Yin CC, Sargent RL, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Zuo Z. RAS mutation analysis in 9334 solid and hematopoietic malignancies. Modern Pathology 24(S1):394A, 2011.
13. Chen SS, Zuo Z, Galbincea JM, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R. False-positive vs true-positive results of EGFR mutation analysis using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue for clinical diagnostic applications. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 12(1):920, 11/2010.
14. Patel KP, Luthra R, Abraham R, Chen SS. Incorporation of laser capture microdissection into clinical molecular testing workflow. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 12(1):919, 11/2010.
15. Padula A, Patel KP, Abraham R, Luthra R, Chen SS. PicoPure DNA extraction: a simple and efficient method of DNA extraction from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue for clinical diagnostic applications. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 12(6):913, 11/2010.
16. Chen SS, Luthra R, Medeiros LJ, Zuo Z. Molecular profiles of EGFR and KRAS mutations in non-small cell lung carcinoma: A survey of 344 cases. Modern Pathology 23(S1):399A, 2/2010.
17. Barakat FH, Luthra R, Medeiros LJ, Barkoh BA, Li J, Hai S, Jamil W, Bhakta YI, Herrmann S, Chen SS, Zuo Z. NPM1 molecular detection: a comparative study of quantitative real-time PCR and capillary electrophoresis in 157 clinical samples. Modern Pathology 23(S1):431A, 2/2010.
18. Sun J, Chen S, Cui W, Yin CC, Medeiros LJ, Lu G. Chromosome 20q deletion - a recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in remission. Modern Pathology 23(S1):323A, 2010.
19. Sun J, Konoplev S, Chen S, Cui W, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. De novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with inv(3) or t(3;3): a clinicopathologic study of 30 cases. Modern Pathology 23(S1):323A, 2010.
20. Zuo Z, Jones DM, Thomas DA, O'Brien S, Ravandi F, Kantarjian HM, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Chen SS. A nine-gene predictor of therapy response in adult Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology 27(15):7014, 5/2009.
21. Chen SS, Habeebu SS, Galbincea JM, Jones D, Luthra R. GSTT1 genotype predicts for failure to achieve molecular remission in adult Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 8(5):638, 11/2006.
22. Chen SS, Luna R, Zapalac P, Versalovic J. Modified IDI-MRSA assay to directly detect MRSA in clinical blood culture specimens positive for Gram-positive cocci. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 8(5):647, 11/2006.

Book Chapters
1. Chen SS, Hai S, Gulley ML, Luthra R. EBV and CMV viral load monitoring by qPCR. In: Modern Clinical Molecular Techniques. Ed(s) Hu PC, Lennon PA, Hegde M. Springer: New York, 2012.
2. Chen SS, Zuo Z, Jones D. Molecular Diagnostics and Cytogenetic Testing. In: Neoplastic Hematopathology: Experimental and Clinical Approaches. Ed(s) D Jones. Humana Press Inc., 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60761-383-1.

Letters to the Editor
1. McAuliffe JC, Wang WL, Pavan GM, Pricl S, Yang D, Chen SS, Lazar AJ, Pollock RE, Trent JC. Unlucky number 13? Differential effects of KIT exon 13 mutation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Molecular Oncology 2(2):161, 8/2008.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Development of clinical molecular assays using STAR technology and ICEPlex instrument
Funding Source: Sponsor: PrimeraDx
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2/14/2011 - 4/30/2012
 
Title: Identification of gene expression signature to predict therapeutic response in adult Philadelphia-chromosome positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Funding Source: Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/2008 - 6/2009
 
Title: Identification and characterization of molecular biomarkers (including viruses) for diagnosis, prognosis, minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, and predicting therapy response in cancer, and Pharmacogenomics and stress response mechanisms in acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy
Funding Source: UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 10/18/2006 - 8/31/2011

Last updated: 12/10/2012