Scientist Profiles

Ellen Chang, Sc.D. Research Scientist, Northern California Cancer Center Consulting Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Dept. of Health Research & Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine Chief Epidemiologist, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University Member, Stanford Cancer Center

2201 Walnut Avenue, Suite 300
Fremont, California 94538-2334
E-mail: echang@nccc.org
Phone: 510-608-5033
Fax: 510-608-5085


Research Interests:

• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Lung cancer in non-smokers

Hodgkin lymphoma: Dr. Chang and colleagues recently found that variation in inflammatory genes may also be associated with risk of Hodgkin lymphoma risk, and she is currently pursuing other studies of genetic susceptibility and gene-environment interactions in Hodgkin lymphoma development. In addition, she is currently collaborating with colleagues in Denmark on registry-based studies of the association between aspirin use and Hodgkin lymphoma risk. Previously, in a population-based case-control study led by Dr. Nancy Mueller of the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Chang investigated how determinants of childhood social environment and infection were associated with Hodgkin lymphoma risk, and how serum levels of antibodies against the Epstin-Barr virus (EBV)and other risk factors varied between EBV-positive and EBV-negative Hodgkin lymphoma. Also, using data from Swedish population registries, Dr. Chang studied the association of sibship size with Hodgkin lymphoma risk, and examined seasonal patterns in the incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma among children and young adults.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Much of Dr. Chang’s current research aims to clarify the roles of immune function, genetic susceptibility, and environmental exposures in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. She is currently leading a study of vitamin D, ultraviolet radiation, and risk of lymphoid malignancies in the California Teachers Study, a prospective cohort study of over 130,000 female California public school teachers and administrators. Much of Dr. Chang’s previous research has been based within a population-based case-control study of malignant lymphoma in Denmark and Sweden, led by Prof. Mads Melbye of the Statens Serum Institute and Prof. Hans-Olov Adami of the Karolinska Institute. Dr. Chang's research in this study included investigations of the roles of viral and bacterial infections, diet and alcohol, tobacco smoking, childhood social environment, body mass index, medication use, family history of hematopoietic malignancy, prior autoimmune disease, and genetic susceptibility in the development of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: Dr. Chang is working with Drs. Samuel So, Mei-Sze Chua, and colleagues at the Asian Liver Center at Stanford to investigate the etiology and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. Part of their research involves translating genomic and proteomic data into useful clinical biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, Dr. Chang plays an active role in the Asian Liver Center’s community-based outreach and education programs aiming to prevent hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asians and Pacific Islanders. Dr. Chang is also partnering with Dr. Mindie Nguyen of the Stanford Hepatology Clinic to investigate the role of cytokines in chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Dr. Chang is part of an international team of collaborators (in China, the U.S., and Sweden) conducting a population-based case-control study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Southeast China, where this malignancy is endemic. The new study aims to elucidate the interactions of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and viral infection (with EBV) in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Lung cancer in non-smokers: Dr. Chang is collaborating with Drs. Scarlett Lin Gomez and Heather Wakelee of the Stanford Cancer Center on several studies of lung cancer in non-smokers. Dr. Chang is currently leading a pilot study to identify a representative sample of non-smoking Asian/Pacific Islander and Latina women in the general population, with the goal of eventually developing a population-based case-control study of non-smoking-associated lung cancer in these population groups with a low prevalence of smoking. In addition, Drs. Chang, Gomez, and Wakelee are presently collaborating on studies of lung cancer survival in non-smokers and in Asians/Pacific Islanders.

Research Projects:

Chang ET, Shema SJ, Wakelee HA, Clarke CA, Gomez SL. Uncovering disparities in survival after non-small-cell lung cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander ethnic populations in California. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(8):2248-2255.

Chang ET, Birmann BM, Kasperzyk JL, Conti DV, Kraft P, Ambinder RF, Zheng T, Mueller NE. Polymorphic variation in aspirin-related genes and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(3):976-986.

Chang ET, Lee VS, Canchola AJ, Dalvi TB, Clarke CA, Reynolds P, Purdie DM, Stram DO, West DW, Ziogas A, Bernstein L, Horn-Ross PL. Dietary patterns and risk of ovarian cancer in the California Teachers Study cohort. Nutr Cancer 2008;60(3):285-291.

Chang ET, Keegan THM, Gomez SL, Le GM, Clarke CA, So SK, Glaser SL. The burden of liver cancer in Asians and Pacific Islanders the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, 1990 through 2004. Cancer 2007;109(10):2100-2108.   

Chang ET, Lee VS, Canchola AJ, Clarke CA, Purdie DM, Reynolds P, Anton-Culver H, Bernstein L, Deapen D, Peel D, Pinder R, Ross RK,  Stram DO, West DW, Wright W, Ziogas A, Horn-Ross PL. Diet and risk of ovarian cancer in the California Teachers Study cohort. Am J Epidemiol 2007;165(7):802-813.   

All publications (68)

Education: