Tong Chen MD, PhD

Dr. Tong Chen is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State University and a member of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the OSUCCC – James. Dr. Chen is a physician-scientist who believes that cancer chemoprevention is a cornerstone of cancer control. Her lab team has been focusing on translational research, mainly molecular carcinogenesis and cancer chemoprevention of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using a variety of rodent models, in vitro systems, and human clinical trials. One of the animal studies her lab uses is a carcinogen-induced rat model of esophageal SCC. This animal model mimics the neoplastic process occurring in humans and has been an extremely valuable tool for studying human esophageal SCC. Her laboratory also researches to elucidate the mechanisms through which pure compounds and natural food products (like black raspberries and strawberries) help prevent esophageal carcinogenesis and identify biomarkers as novel preventive and therapeutic targets for this disease.