Jian-Min Yuan, MD, PhD

Dr. Yuan’s research focuses on the etiologic and protective roles of environmental exposures and genetic factors, and their interaction in the development of cancers. He is Principal Investigator (PI) of both the Shanghai Cohort Study and the Singapore Chinese Health Study ─ two population-based prospective cohort studies of more than 80,000 middle-aged men and women with available biospecimens collected at baseline and under surveillance for more than 25 years. He is also the current PI of the Pittsburgh Lung Screening Study that has collected repeated annual blood samples and biannual low-dose CT scans on a cohort of 3600 smokers at high risk for lung cancer.  The ultimate goal of Dr. Yuan’s research is to discover and validate biomarkers that can characterize individuals at high risk for cancer and early detection of cancer, and to identify natural agents for primary cancer prevention.  Dr. Yuan is passionate about teaching and training on graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. He is the Director of the Translational Research Training in Cancer Etiology and Prevention Program, a multi-disciplinary cross-college training program at University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and the Department of Epidemiology, and is PI  of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded T32 training grant.

1983 | Shanghai Medical University | MD, Medicine
1986 | Shanghai Medical University | MPH, Public Health/Epidemiology
1996 | University of Southern California | PhD, Epidemiology

• Environmental exposure and gene-environmental interaction in the etiology of cancer
• Biomarkers for cancer risk assessment and early detection
• Chemopreventive effect of dietary agents for primary prevention of cancer 

Principal Investigator

9/16/2014-08/31/2019
NIH/NCI  UM1CA182876
Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts in Singapore and Shanghai

6/14/2017-05/31/2022
NIH/NCI R01CA213123
Randomized Clinical Trial of Lung Cancer Chemoprevention with Sulforaphane in Former Smokers

07/01/2014-06/30/2019
NIH/NCI T32
Translational Research Training in Cancer Etiology and Prevention

Co-Principal Investigator (Subaward) and Project Leader

9/10/1997-7/31/2020
NIH/NCI P30CA047904
Cancer Center Support Grant

08/01/2016-07/31/2017
NIH/NCI P30CA047904-S
Administrative Supplement for Population Health Assessment in Cancer Center Catchment Areas

06/01/2001-08/31/2017
NIH/NCI P50CA090440
Special Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Lung Cancer 

09/21/16 – 08/20/2021
NIH/NCI P01CA138338
Mechanisms of Ethnic/Racial Differences in Lung Cancer Due to Cigarette Smoking

04/10/2015-03/31/2020
NIH/NCI R01CA186566
Genome-wide Association Study in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Co-Investigator

05/05/2015-04/30/2018
NIH/NCI R01CA196286
Validation of Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers in Large Prospective Cohorts

09/01/2016 - 08/31/2021
NIH/NCI U01CA214165
Ultrasensitive Detection of Tumor Specific DNA Methylation Changes for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer

Bibliography

Recent Publications

• Xu L, Qu YH, Chu XD, Wang R, Nelson HH, Gao YT, Yuan J-M. Urinary levels of N-nitroso compounds in relation to risk of gastric cancer: findings from the shanghai cohort study. PLoS ONE 10:e0117326, 2015. [4319940]


• Fowke JH, McLerran DF, Gupta PC, He J, Shu XO, Ramadas K, Tsugane S, Inoue M, Tamakoshi A, Koh WP, Nishino Y, Tsuji I, Ozasa K, Yuan J-M, Tanaka H, Ahn YO, Chen CJ, Sugawara Y, Yoo KY, Ahsan H, Pan WH, Pednekar M, Gu D, Xiang YB, Sauvaget C, Sawada N, Wang R, Kakizaki M, Tomata Y, Ohishi W, Butler LM, Oze I, Kim DH, You SL, Park SK, Parvez F, Chuang SY, Chen Y, Lee JE, Grant E, Rolland B, Thornquist M, Feng Z, Zheng W, Boffetta P, Sinha R, Kang D, Potter JD. Associations of Body Mass Index, Smoking, and Alcohol Consumption With Prostate Cancer Mortality in the Asia Cohort Consortium. Am J Epidemiol 182:381-389, 2015. [PMC4643758]


• Samavat H, Dostal AM, Wang R, Bedell S, Emory TH, Ursin G, Torkelson CJ, Gross MD, Le CT, Yu MC, Yang CS, Yee D, Wu AH, Yuan J-M, Kurzer MS. The Minnesota Green Tea Trial (MGTT), a randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of green tea extract on biomarkers of breast cancer risk: study rationale, design, methods, and participant characteristics. Cancer Causes Control 26:1405-1419, 2015. [4567901]


• Del Gobbo LC, Imamura F, Aslibekyan S, Marklund M, Virtanen JK, Wennberg M, Yakoob MY, Chiuve SE, Dela Cruz L, Frazier-Wood AC, Fretts AM, Guallar E, Matsumoto C, Prem K, Tanaka T, Wu JH, Zhou X, Helmer C, Ingelsson E, Yuan J-M, Barberger-Gateau P, Campos H, Chaves PH, Djousse L, Giles GG, Gomez-Aracena J, Hodge AM, Hu FB, Jansson JH, Johansson I, Khaw KT, Koh WP, Lemaitre RN, Lind L, Luben RN, Rimm EB, Riserus U, Samieri C, Franks PW, Siscovick DS, Stampfer M, Steffen LM, Steffen BT, Tsai MY, van Dam RM, Voutilainen S, Willett WC, Woodward M, Mozaffarian D, Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCe). omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biomarkers and Coronary Heart Disease: Pooling Project of 19 Cohort Studies. JAMA Intern Med 176:1155-1166, 2016. [PMC5183535]


• Hu N, Wang Z, Song X, Wei L, Kim BS, Freedman ND, Baek J, Burdette L, Chang J, Chung C, Dawsey SM, Ding T, Gao YT, Giffen C, Han Y, Hong M, Huang J, Kim HS, Koh WP, Liao LM, Mao YM, Qiao YL, Shu XO, Tan W, Wang C, Wu C, Wu MJ, Xiang YB, Yeager M, Yook JH, Yuan J-M, Zhang P, Zhao XK, Zheng W, Song K, Wang LD, Lin D, Chanock SJ, Goldstein AM, Taylor PR, Abnet CC. Genome-wide association study of gastric adenocarcinoma in Asia: a comparison of associations between cardia and non-cardia tumours. Gut 65:1611-1618, 2016.


• Huang JY, Butler LM, Midttun O, Koh WP, Ueland PM, Wang R, Jin A, Gao YT, Yuan J-M. Serum B6 vitamers (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid) and pancreatic cancer risk: two nested case-control studies in Asian populations. Cancer Causes Control 27:1447-1456, 2016. [PMC5161671]


• Huang JY, Butler LM, Wang R, Jin A, Koh WP, Yuan J-M. Dietary intake of one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients and pancreatic cancer risk: The Singapore Chinese Health Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 25:417-424, 2016. [PMC4767683]


• Koh WP, Dan YY, Goh GB, Jin A, Wang R, Yuan J-M. Dietary fatty acids and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Singapore Chinese health study. Liver Int 36:893-901, 2016. [PMC4824657]


• Malhotra J, Waterboer T, Pawlita M, Michel A, Cai Q, Zheng W, Gao YT, Lan Q, Rothman N, Langseth H, Grimsrud TK, Yuan J-M, Koh WP, Wang R, Arslan AA, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Boffetta P. Serum biomarkers of polyomavirus infection and risk of lung cancer in never smokers. Br J Cancer 115:1131-1139, 2016. [PMC5117783]


• Quan L, Chattopadhyay K, Nelson HH, Chan KK, Xiang YB, Zhang W, Wang R, Gao YT, Yuan J-M. Differential association for N-acetyltransferase 2 genotype and phenotype with bladder cancer risk in Chinese population. Oncotarget 7:40012-40024, 2016. [PMC5129988]


• Samavat H, Newman AR, Wang R, Yuan J-M, Wu AH, Kurzer MS. Effects of green tea catechin extract on serum lipids in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr 104:1671-1682, 2016. [PMC5118731]


• Setiawan VW, Wei PC, Hernandez BY, Lu SC, Monroe KR, Le Marchand L, Yuan J-M. Disparity in liver cancer incidence and chronic liver disease mortality by nativity in Hispanics: The Multiethnic Cohort. Cancer, 2016.


• Wang Z, Butler LM, Wu AH, Koh WP, Jin A, Wang R, Yuan J-M. Reproductive factors, hormone use and gastric cancer risk: The Singapore Chinese Health Study. Int J Cancer 138:2837-2845, 2016.


• Yan B, Yang LM, Hao LP, Yang C, Quan L, Wang LH, Wu Z, Li XP, Gao YT, Sun Q, Yuan J-M. Determinants of Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients in Shanghai, China. PLoS ONE 11:e0153714, 2016. [PMC4833339]


• Yershova K, Yuan J-M, Wang R, Valentin L, Watson C, Gao YT, Hecht SS, Stepanov I. Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarettes smoked by the participants of the Shanghai Cohort Study. Int J Cancer 139:1261-1269, 2016.


• Yuan J-M, Nelson HH, Butler LM, Carmella SG, Wang R, Kuriger-Laber JK, Adams-Haduch J, Hecht SS, Gao YT, Murphy SE. Genetic determinants of cytochrome P450 2A6 activity and biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure in relation to risk of lung cancer development in the Shanghai cohort study. Int J Cancer 138:2161-2171, 2016. [PMC5155585]


• Yuan J-M, Murphy SE, Stepanov I, Wang R, Carmella SG, Nelson HH, Hatsukami D, Hecht SS. 2-Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 Polymorphisms, and Detoxification of Volatile Organic Carcinogens and Toxicants in Tobacco Smoke. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 9:598-606, 2016. [PMC4930697]


• Yuan J-M, Stepanov I, Murphy SE, Wang R, Allen S, Jensen J, Strayer L, Adams-Haduch J, Upadhyaya P, Le C, Kurzer MS, Nelson HH, Yu MC, Hatsukami D, Hecht SS. Clinical Trial of 2-Phenethyl Isothiocyanate as an Inhibitor of Metabolic Activation of a Tobacco-Specific Lung Carcinogen in Cigarette Smokers. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 9:396-405, 2016. [PMC4854759]


• Carreras-Torres R, Johansson M, Haycock PC, Wade KH, Relton CL, Martin RM, Davey Smith G, Albanes D, Aldrich MC, Andrew A, Arnold SM, Bickeboller H, Bojesen SE, Brunnstrom H, Manjer J, Bruske I, Caporaso NE, Chen C, Christiani DC, Christian WJ, Doherty JA, Duell EJ, Field JK, Davies MPA, Marcus MW, Goodman GE, Grankvist K, Haugen A, Hong YC, Kiemeney LA, van der Heijden E, Kraft P, Johansson MB, Lam S, Landi MT, Lazarus P, Le Marchand L, Liu G, Melander O, Park SL, Rennert G, Risch A, Haura EB, Scelo G, Zaridze D, Mukeriya A, Savic M, Lissowska J, Swiatkowska B, Janout V, Holcatova I, Mates D, Schabath MB, Shen H, Tardon A, Teare MD, Woll P, Tsao MS, Wu X, Yuan J-M, Hung RJ, Amos CI, McKay J, Brennan P. Obesity, metabolic factors and risk of different histological types of lung cancer: A Mendelian randomization study. PLoS ONE 12:e0177875, 2017.


• Eaglehouse YL, Koh WP, Wang R, Aizhen J, Yuan J-M, Butler LM. Physical activity, sedentary time, and risk of colorectal cancer: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Eur J Cancer Prev, 2017.


• Ferris LK, Saul MI, Lin Y, Ding F, Weinstock MA, Geller AC, Yuan J-M, Neuren E, Maddukuri S, Solano FX, Kirkwood JM. A Large Skin Cancer Screening Quality Initiative: Description and First-Year Outcomes. JAMA Oncol, 2017.


• Wang Z, Dai J, Hu N, Miao X, Abnet CC, Yang M, Freedman ND, Chen J, Burdette L, Zhu X, Chung CC, Ren C, Dawsey SM, Wang M, Ding T, Du J, Gao YT, Zhong R, Giffen C, Pan W, Koh WP, Dai N, Liao LM, Yan C, Qiao YL, Jiang Y, Shu XO, Chen J, Wang C, Ma H, Su H, Zhang Z, Wang L, Wu C, Xiang YB, Hu Z, Yuan J-M, Xie L, Zheng W, Lin D, Chanock SJ, Shi Y, Goldstein AM, Jin G, Taylor PR, Shen H. Identification of new susceptibility loci for gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma: pooled results from two Chinese genome-wide association studies. Gut 66:581-587, 2017. [PMC4963301]


• Wang Z, Koh WP, Jin A, Wang R, Yuan J-M. Composite protective lifestyle factors and risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Br J Cancer 116:679-687, 2017.


• Yuan J-M, Nelson HH, Carmella SG, Wang R, Kuriger-Laber J, Jin A, Adams-Haduch J, Hecht SS, Koh WP, Murphy SE. CYP2A6 genetic polymorphisms and biomarkers of tobacco smoke constituents in relation to risk of lung cancer in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Carcinogenesis 38:411-418, 2017.