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Jean-Pierre Issa, MD

Professor, Medicine

Director, Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology

3307 North Broad Street, Room 154 (Allied Health Building)

Telephone:  215-707-4307

Email: jpissa@temple.edu

Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology

Department of Medicine, Section of Oncology

BS, The American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 1983

 

MD, The American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 1987

 

Residency, Internal Medicine, The Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 1987-1990

 

Fellowship, Medical Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1990-1994

 

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• Leukemias

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• Internal Medicine, 1990
• Medical oncology, 1993

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• Epigenomics and genomics in normal, aging and cancer cells (DNA methylation and histone modifications; genome wide genetic changes)
• Basic mechanisms in epigenetics
• Tumor-suppressor genes
• Translational studies in cancer
• Pre-clinical and clinical research in epigenetic therapy

My laboratory is involved in both basic and translational research in the field of molecular epigenetics, which refers to stable gene expression states such as X-inactivation, imprinting etc. Specifically, we are interested in epigenetic mechanisms - a DNA modification termed DNA methylation that is commonly abnormal in aging tissues and in various malignancies; and histone modifications involved in determining gene expression states.

Current projects include:

• Large scale mapping of epigenomics patterns in normal, aging and cancer cells
• Investigating the causes of aberrant methylation in cancer, focusing on aging; genetic changes; a particular hypermethylator phenotype we described called CpG Island methylator phenotype; environmental exposures and familial predisposition
• Basic mechanisms governing the establishment of DNA methylation in normal and cancer cells
• Studying the causes and consequences of DNA methylation changes in normal aging tissues. Does reducing methylation prevent tumor formation and prolong lifespan?
• Clinical implications of methylation profiling in cancer. Can we identify subgroups with particular characteristics, prognosis, etc.?
• Clinical trials of drugs that affect histone modifications and DNA methylation are ongoing. Can we predict who will respond to the drugs? Can we make the therapy better? Does it work the way it is supposed to?
• Screens for drugs that affect epigenetics, alone or in synergy with current FDA approved molecules.
  

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• Rosenthal Award, American Association for Cancer Research, 2011
• Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Research, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2007
• American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship, 2007
• Frei Award in Translational Research from the Division of Cancer Medicine, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2006
• Election to American Society of Clinical Investigation, 2003
• Sidney Kimmel Foundation Scholar Award, 1997

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Recent Medically Related Publications, Obtained from PubMed (Click on PubMed ID to view abstract)

23720055. Natsume A, Ito M, Katsushima K, Ohka F, Hatanaka A, Shinjo K, Sato S, Takahashi S, Ishikawa Y, Takeuchi I, Shimogawa H, Uesugi M, Okano H, Kim SU, Wakabayashi T, Issa JP, Sekido Y, Kondo Y, Chromatin Regulator PRC2 Is a Key Regulator of Epigenetic Plasticity in Glioblastoma. Cancer Res 73:14(4559-4570)2013 Jul 15

23660859. Issa JP, The myelodysplastic syndrome as a prototypical epigenetic disease. Blood 121:19(3811-7)2013 May 9

23619168. Pickering CR, Zhang J, Yoo SY, Bengtsson L, Moorthy S, Neskey DM, Zhao M, Ortega Alves MV, Chang K, Drummond J, Cortez E, Xie TX, Zhang D, Chung W, Issa JP, Zweidler-McKay PA, Wu X, El-Naggar AK, Weinstein JN, Wang J, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Wheeler DA, Myers JN, Frederick MJ, Integrative genomic characterization of oral squamous cell carcinoma identifies frequent somatic drivers. Cancer Discov 3:7(770-81)2013 Jul

23249680. Yamazaki J, Estecio MR, Lu Y, Long H, Malouf GG, Graber D, Huo Y, Ramagli L, Liang S, Kornblau SM, Jelinek J, Issa JP, The epigenome of AML stem and progenitor cells. Epigenetics 8:1(92-104)2013 Jan

23188507. Beck S, Bernstein BE, Campbell RM, Costello JF, Dhanak D, Ecker JR, Greally JM, Issa JP, Laird PW, Polyak K, Tycko B, Jones PA, A blueprint for an international cancer epigenome consortium. A report from the AACR Cancer Epigenome Task Force. Cancer Res 72:24(6319-24)2012 Dec 15

23075513. Jelinek J, Liang S, Lu Y, He R, Ramagli LS, Shpall EJ, Estecio MR, Issa JP, Conserved DNA methylation patterns in healthy blood cells and extensive changes in leukemia measured by a new quantitative technique. Epigenetics 7:12(1368-78)2012 Dec 1

23054654. Yamazaki J, Issa JP, Epigenetic aspects of MDS and its molecular targeted therapy. Int J Hematol 97:2(175-82)2013 Feb

22970792. Issa JP, Defino HL, Sebald W, Coutinho-Netto J, Iyomasa MM, Shimano AC, Bentley MV, Pitol DL, Biological evaluation of the bone healing process after application of two potentially osteogenic proteins: an animal experimental model. Gerodontology 29:4(258-64)2012 Dec

22952045. Estécio MR, Gallegos J, Dekmezian M, Lu Y, Liang S, Issa JP, SINE retrotransposons cause epigenetic reprogramming of adjacent gene promoters. Mol Cancer Res 10:10(1332-42)2012 Oct

22869041. Ulrich CM, Toriola AT, Koepl LM, Sandifer T, Poole EM, Duggan C, McTiernan A, Issa JP, Metabolic, hormonal and immunological associations with global DNA methylation among postmenopausal women. Epigenetics 7:9(1020-8)2012 Sep

22797825. Iyomasa MM, Rizzi EC, Leão JC, Issa JP, Dias FJ, Pereira YC, Fonseca MJ, Vicentini FT, Watanabe IS, Zymographic and ultrastructural evaluations after low-level laser irradiation on masseter muscle of HRS/J strain mice. Lasers Med Sci 28:3(777-83)2013 May

22791633. Duro CC, Ciena AP, De Almeida SR, Righetti MM, Grisolia Dde F, Issa JP, Da Silva MC, Watanabe IS, Qualitative study of young, adult, and aged Wistar rats temporomandibular synovial membrane employing light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Microsc Res Tech 75:11(1522-7)2012 Nov

22695491. Xu J, Shetty PB, Feng W, Chenault C, Bast RC Jr, Issa JP, Hilsenbeck SG, Yu Y, Methylation of HIN-1, RASSF1A, RIL and CDH13 in breast cancer is associated with clinical characteristics, but only RASSF1A methylation is associated with outcome. BMC Cancer 12:(243)2012 Jun 13

22665218. Boumber Y, Kantarjian H, Jorgensen J, Wen S, Faderl S, Castoro R, Autry J, Garcia-Manero G, Borthakur G, Jabbour E, Estrov Z, Cortes J, Issa JP, Ravandi F, A randomized study of decitabine versus conventional care for maintenance therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in complete remission. Leukemia 26:11(2428-31)2012 Nov

22612842. do Nascimento C, Issa JP, Mello AS, de Albuquerque Junior RF, Effect of electromagnetic field on bone regeneration around dental implants after immediate placement in the dog mandible: a pilot study. Gerodontology 29:2(e1249-51)2012 Jun

22600741. Zhang Y, Shu J, Si J, Shen L, Estecio MR, Issa JP, Repetitive elements and enforced transcriptional repression co-operate to enhance DNA methylation spreading into a promoter CpG-island. Nucleic Acids Res 40:15(7257-68)2012 Aug

22564986. Issa JP, DNA methylation as a clinical marker in oncology. J Clin Oncol 30:20(2566-8)2012 Jul 10

22439938. Tsai HC, Li H, Van Neste L, Cai Y, Robert C, Rassool FV, Shin JJ, Harbom KM, Beaty R, Pappou E, Harris J, Yen RW, Ahuja N, Brock MV, Stearns V, Feller-Kopman D, Yarmus LB, Lin YC, Welm AL, Issa JP, Minn I, Matsui W, Jang YY, Sharkis SJ, Baylin SB, Zahnow CA, Transient low doses of DNA-demethylating agents exert durable antitumor effects on hematological and epithelial tumor cells. Cancer Cell 21:3(430-46)2012 Mar 20

22395470. Yamazaki J, Taby R, Vasanthakumar A, Macrae T, Ostler KR, Shen L, Kantarjian HM, Estecio MR, Jelinek J, Godley LA, Issa JP, Effects of TET2 mutations on DNA methylation in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Epigenetics 7:2(201-7)2012 Feb

22322598. Bhardwaj A, Song HW, Beildeck M, Kerkhofs S, Castoro R, Shanker S, De Gendt K, Suzuki K, Claessens F, Issa JP, Orgebin-Crist MC, Wilkinson MF, DNA demethylation-dependent AR recruitment and GATA factors drive Rhox5 homeobox gene transcription in the epididymis. Mol Endocrinol 26:4(538-49)2012 Apr

22219169. Raynal NJ, Si J, Taby RF, Gharibyan V, Ahmed S, Jelinek J, Estécio MR, Issa JP, DNA methylation does not stably lock gene expression but instead serves as a molecular mark for gene silencing memory. Cancer Res 72:5(1170-81)2012 Mar 1

22138693. Challen GA, Sun D, Jeong M, Luo M, Jelinek J, Berg JS, Bock C, Vasanthakumar A, Gu H, Xi Y, Liang S, Lu Y, Darlington GJ, Meissner A, Issa JP, Godley LA, Li W, Goodell MA, Dnmt3a is essential for hematopoietic stem cell differentiation. Nat Genet 44:1(23-31)2011 Dec 4

22132162. Konishi K, Watanabe Y, Shen L, Guo Y, Castoro RJ, Kondo K, Chung W, Ahmed S, Jelinek J, Boumber YA, Estecio MR, Maegawa S, Kondo Y, Itoh F, Imawari M, Hamilton SR, Issa JP, DNA methylation profiles of primary colorectal carcinoma and matched liver metastasis. PLoS One 6:11(e27889)2011

22095190. Rosa AP, de Sousa LG, Regalo SC, Issa JP, Barbosa AP, Pitol DL, de Oliveira RH, de Vasconcelos PB, Dias FJ, Chimello DT, Siéssere S, Effects of the combination of low-level laser irradiation and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in bone repair. Lasers Med Sci 27:5(971-7)2012 Sep

21967838. Ciena AP, de Almeida SR, Dias FJ, Bolina Cde S, Issa JP, Iyomasa MM, Ogawa K, Watanabe IS, Fine structure of myotendinous junction between the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and intermediate tendon in adults rats. Micron 43:2-3(258-62)2012 Feb

21924919. Dias FJ, Issa JP, Barbosa AP, de Vasconcelos PB, Watanabe IS, Mizusakiiyomasa M, Effects of low-level laser irradiation in ultrastructural morphology, and immunoexpression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 of rat masseter muscle. Micron 43:2-3(237-44)2012 Feb

21858090. Qin T, Castoro R, El Ahdab S, Jelinek J, Wang X, Si J, Shu J, He R, Zhang N, Chung W, Kantarjian HM, Issa JP, Mechanisms of resistance to decitabine in the myelodysplastic syndrome. PLoS One 6:8(e23372)2011

21853109. Watanabe Y, Castoro RJ, Kim HS, North B, Oikawa R, Hiraishi T, Ahmed SS, Chung W, Cho MY, Toyota M, Itoh F, Estecio MR, Shen L, Jelinek J, Issa JP, Frequent alteration of MLL3 frameshift mutations in microsatellite deficient colorectal cancer. PLoS One 6:8(e23320)2011

21809465. Leão JC, Issa JP, Pitol DL, Rizzi EC, Dias FJ, Siéssere S, Regalo SC, Iyomasa MM, Histomorphological and Angiogenic Analyzes of Skin Epithelium After Low Laser Irradiation in Hairless Mice. Anat Rec (Hoboken) :()2011 Aug 1

21792236. Issa JP, Epigenetic variation and cellular Darwinism. Nat Genet 43:8(724-6)2011 Jul 27

21767955. Ciena AP, de Almeida SR, Alves PH, Bolina-Matos Rde S, Dias FJ, Issa JP, Iyomasa MM, Watanabe IS, Histochemical and ultrastructural changes of sternomastoid muscle in aged Wistar rats. Micron 42:8(871-6)2011 Dec

21761496. Issa JP, Defino HL, Pereira YC, Netto JC, Sebald W, Bentley MV, Iyomasa MM, Ervolino E, Bone repair investigation using rhBMP-2 and angiogenic protein extracted from latex. Microsc Res Tech 75:2(145-52)2012 Feb

21761494. Do Prado Ribeiro DC, de Abreu Figueira L, Issa JP, Dias Vecina CA, Josédias F, Da Cunha MR, Study of the osteoconductive capacity of hydroxyapatite implanted into the femur of ovariectomized rats. Microsc Res Tech 75:2(133-7)2012 Feb

21761492. Iyomasa MM, Issa JP, de Queiróz Tavares ML, Pereira YC, Stuani MB, Mishima F, Coutinho-Netto J, Sebald W, Influence of low-level laser associated with osteogenic proteins recombinant human BMP-2 and Hevea brasiliensis on bone repair in Wistar rats. Microsc Res Tech 75:2(117-25)2012 Feb

21760961. Jelinek J, Gharibyan V, Estecio MR, Kondo K, He R, Chung W, Lu Y, Zhang N, Liang S, Kantarjian HM, Cortes JE, Issa JP, Aberrant DNA methylation is associated with disease progression, resistance to imatinib and shortened survival in chronic myelogenous leukemia. PLoS One 6:7(e22110)2011

21745137. Dias FJ, Issa JP, Vicentini FT, Fonseca MJ, Leão JC, Siéssere S, Regalo SC, Iyomasa MM, Effects of low-level laser therapy on the oxidative metabolism and matrix proteins in the rat masseter muscle. Photomed Laser Surg 29:10(677-84)2011 Oct

21709651. Alonso MB, Costa PP, Issa JP, Monteiro SA, Tiossi R, Watanabe PC, Radiographical evaluation of bone quality after extraction of mandibular impacted and semi-impacted third molars. Minerva Stomatol 60:7-8(359-64)2011 Jul-Aug

21693122. Issa JP, Just W, Epigenetics. FEBS Lett 585:13(1993)2011 Jul 7

21618653. Pereira NT, Issa JP, Nascimento Cd, Pitol DL, Ervolino E, Cunha MR, Pedrazzi V, Effect of alveolex on the bone defects repair stimulated by rhBMP-2: Histomorphometric study. Microsc Res Tech 75:1(36-41)2012 Jan

21586619. Chung W, Bondaruk J, Jelinek J, Lotan Y, Liang S, Czerniak B, Issa JP, Detection of bladder cancer using novel DNA methylation biomarkers in urine sediments. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 20:7(1483-91)2011 Jul

21563268. Pícoli LC, Dias FJ, Issa JP, Ogawa K, Ciena A, Iyomasa MM, Lopes RA, Watanabe IS, Ultrastructure of submandibular salivary glands of mouse: TEM and HRSEM observations. Microsc Res Tech 74:12(1154-60)2011 Dec

21548464. Boumber Y, Issa JP, Epigenetics in cancer: what's the future? Oncology (Williston Park) 25:3(220-6, 228)2011 Mar

21533621. do Nascimento C, Monesi N, Ito IY, Issa JP, de Albuquerque Junior RF, Bacterial diversity of periodontal and implant-related sites detected by the DNA Checkerboard method. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 30:12(1607-13)2011 Dec

21509761. Ahn JB, Chung WB, Maeda O, Shin SJ, Kim HS, Chung HC, Kim NK, Issa JP, DNA methylation predicts recurrence from resected stage III proximal colon cancer. Cancer 117:9(1847-54)2011 May 1

21459801. Pathiraja TN, Shetty PB, Jelinek J, He R, Hartmaier R, Margossian AL, Hilsenbeck SG, Issa JP, Oesterreich S, Progesterone receptor isoform-specific promoter methylation: association of PRA promoter methylation with worse outcome in breast cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res 17:12(4177-86)2011 Jun 15

21439246. Cogdell D, Chung W, Liu Y, McDonald JM, Aldape K, Issa JP, Fuller GN, Zhang W, Tumor-associated methylation of the putative tumor suppressor AJAP1 gene and association between decreased AJAP1 expression and shorter survival in patients with glioma. Chin J Cancer 30:4(247-53)2011 Apr

21383028. Fini L, Piazzi G, Daoud Y, Selgrad M, Maegawa S, Garcia M, Fogliano V, Romano M, Graziani G, Vitaglione P, Carmack SW, Gasbarrini A, Genta RM, Issa JP, Boland CR, Ricciardiello L, Chemoprevention of intestinal polyps in ApcMin/+ mice fed with western or balanced diets by drinking annurca apple polyphenol extract. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 4:6(907-15)2011 Jun

21331099. Spannhoff A, Kim YK, Raynal NJ, Gharibyan V, Su MB, Zhou YY, Li J, Castellano S, Sbardella G, Issa JP, Bedford MT, Histone deacetylase inhibitor activity in royal jelly might facilitate caste switching in bees. EMBO Rep 12:3(238-43)2011 Mar

21303263. Siéssere S, de Sousa LG, Issa JP, Iyomasa MM, Pitol DL, Barbosa AP, Semprini M, Sebald W, Bentley MV, Regalo SC, Application of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) and rhBMP-2 in critical bone defect of ovariectomized rats: histomorphometric evaluation. Photomed Laser Surg 29:7(453-8)2011 Jul

21205738. Issa JP, Garber JE, Time to think outside the (genetic) box. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 4:1(6-8)2011 Jan

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