- About
- Dean’s Office
- Research
- Education
- Patient Care
- People
- News
- Events
Xin Chen, PhD
What I do
I study molecular genetics and signaling pathways in liver cancer development with the goal to develop better targeted therapy for this deadly malignancy.
Departmental research area
My research expertise
liver cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, genomics, signaling pathway, stem cells, cancer metabolism, pharmacogenomics, targeted therapy
Degrees
PhD, Cell and Developmental Biology, Harvard University, 1997
Bachelor of Medicine, Medicine, Beijing Medical University, Bejing, China, 1992
Biography
My lab studies molecular genetics and signaling pathways during hepatic carcinogenesis. Specifically, using genomic approaches including expression arrays and array based CGH, we have identified large numbers of genes which are deregulated during liver cancer development. Using murine models, we are studying how these genetic alterations contribute to malignant transformation and progression in vivo. Our current studies focus on AKT/mTOR and Notch pathways and how they regulate cancer metabolism and cancer cell proliferation. In addition, using the novel mouse models as preclinical models, we are testing the therapeutic potentials of PI3K/mTOR or Notch inhibitors in treating liver cancers.
Research keywords
Snail Family Transcription Factors, Liver Neoplasms, Carcinogenesis, Receptor, Notch2, Axin Protein, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Bile Duct Neoplasms, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases, Cholangiocarcinoma, Liver Neoplasms, Experimental, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt, Liver Regeneration, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met