Physician Profile
Lynda Chin, MD
Associate Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School
Department
Medical Oncology/Molecular and Cellular
Area of Research
Genetics and Biology of Tumor Genesis, Progression, and Maintenance
Contact Information
Lynda Chin, MDDana-Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney Street
Mayer 448A
Boston, MA 02115
Office phone: (617) 632-6091
Fax: (617) 582-8169
E-mail: lynda_chin@dfci.harvard.edu
Preferred contact method: e-mail
Research
Our laboratory focuses on the molecular genetics of cancer genesis, maintenance, and progression, with particular emphasis on malignant melanoma and glioblastoma. As part of a major effort to understand the human oncogenome, we are developing refined mouse models of human cancers for use in functional genomics and genetic screens. Translation of our early discoveries into biomarkers and therapeutic targets -and ultimately into drugs - is now under way.
Mouse models of human cancers.
In one area of research, we are engineering mutations in transgenic and knockout mice to create models that mimic cancer-prone conditions. In particular, we are developing inducible tumor models in which a dominant-acting oncogene is regulated in a time- and tissue-specific manner, thereby enabling us to characterize the roles of oncogenic lesions in tumor genesis and maintenance; these models also help us to explore the complexity of host-tumor interactions. With these biological model systems, we can apply functional genomics and genetic screens to discover genes, dissect pathways, and better understand tumor biology.
Oncogenomics.
In this program, we have focused on developing array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technology and bioinformatic tools with the goals of identifying known and novel cancer-related genes, and defining molecular subclasses with distinct biological behavior. Currently, we are developing systematic approaches for comparing data across species (e.g., mouse and human) and across platforms (e.g., DNA copy number, epigenetics, and RNA expression) to gain an accurate and detailed view of the cancer genome.
Biomarkers and drug discovery.
Ultimately, we hope to translate our basic discoveries into diagnostic tests and/or therapeutic agents that will improve the management and outcome of cancer patients. We have already initiated a number of projects, including high-throughput screening for inhibitors, generation of therapeutic antibodies, and assessment of the prognostic value of candidate biomarkers on clinically annotated tumor specimens.
Recent Awards
- Election to American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2004
- The James S. McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Research Award, 2003
- The Goldhirsh Brain Tumor Foundation Research Award, 2002
Biography
Dr. Chin received her MD in 1993 and postgraduate training in dermatology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. During her research fellowship, Dr. Chin contributed to an understanding of the interactions among members of the myc superfamily and to the discovery of the Sin3-HDAC corepressor complex. Since joining DFCI in 1998, her laboratory has focused on the identification and molecular characterization of known and novel genes involved in melanoma and glioma genesis and progression.
Select Publications
- Bardeesy N, Kim MJ, Xu J, Kim RS, Shen Q, Bosenberg MW, Wong WH, Chin L. The role of EGFR signaling in RAS-driven melanoma. Mol Cell Biol 2005;25:4176-88.
- Tang Y, Kim MJ, Carrasco D, Kung AL, Chin L, Weissleder R. In vivo assessment of RAS-dependent maintenance of tumor angiogenesis by real-time MRI. Cancer Res 2005;65:8324-30.
- Tonon G, Wong KK, Maulik G, Brennan C, Feng B, Zhang Y, Khatry DB, Protopopov A, You MJ, Aguirre AJ, Martin ES, Yang Z, Ji H, Chin L, DePinho RA. High resolution genomic profiles of human lung cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005;102:9625-30.
- Westbrook TF, Martin ES, Schlabach MR, Leng Y, Liang AC, Feng B, Zhao JJ, Roberts TM, Mandel G, Hannon GJ, DePinho RA, Chin L, Elledge SJ. A genetic screen for candidate tumor suppressors identifies REST. Cell 2005;121:837-48.
- Aguirre A, Brennan C, Bailey G, Sinha R, Feng B, Leo C, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Gans JD, Bardeesy N, Cauwels C, Cordon-Cardo C, Redston M, DePinho RA, Chin L. High-resolution characterization of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma genome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004;101:9067-72.
- Brennan CW, Zhang Y, Leo C, Feng C, Cauwels C, Aguirre AJ, Kim MJ, Protopopov A, Chin L. High-resolution global profiling of genomic alterations with long oligonucleotide microarray. Cancer Res 2004;64:4744-8.
- Hochedlinger K, Blelloch R, Brennan CW, Yamada Y, Kim MJ, Chin L, Jaenisch R. Reprogramming of a melanoma genome by nuclear transplantation. Genes Dev 2004;18:1875-85.
- Kannan K, Sharpless NE, Xu J, O'Hagan RC, Bosenberg M, Chin L. Components of the Rb pathway are critical targets of UV mutagenesis in a murine melanoma model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003;100:1221-5.
- O'Hagan RC, Brennan CW, Strahs A, Zhang X, Kannan K, Donovan M, Cauwels C, Sharpless NE, Wong WH, Chin L. Array CGH for tumor classification and gene discovery in mouse models of malignant melanoma. Cancer Res 2003;63:5352-6.
- Sharpless NE, Kannan K, Xu J, Bosenberg M, Chin L. Both products of the mouse Ink4a/Arf locus suppress melanoma formation in vivo. Oncogene 2003;22:5055-9.
