Skip to main content
menu

Chawnshang Chang, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 275-9994

Fax: (585) 756-4133

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Dr. Chang is an internationally-recognized expert in the role of androgen receptor in prostate cancer and other organs and diseases. Androgens (steroid hormones) control the development and function of male reproductive tissues, and also influence other organs and tissues, such as skin, skeletal muscle, bone marrow, hair follicles, and brain. Androgen regulates gene expression through the androgen receptor.

In 1988, Dr. Chang became the first scientist to clone the complete human and rat androgen receptors. (Science, 1988; PNAS, 1988). He then applied recombinant techniques to overexpress a large quantity of androgen receptor (AR) and used it to produce the first monoclonal antibody to the androgen receptor (Endo., 1989). The successful cloning of the androgen receptor and the generation of the first androgen receptor monoclonal antibody were groundbreaking. Dr. Chang has continued his research in this field; has had more than 200 papers published on the roles of AR, TR2 and TR4; and has served as a mentor to numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.

Professional Background

Dr. Chawnshang Chang grew up in Taiwan, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the National Taiwan University in 1978. Like many students before him, he made the trip across the Pacific Ocean to enter graduate school in the U.S., and earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Chicago in 1985. As Professor Shutsung Liao's student, he cloned and characterized two androgen target genes. The first was Glutathione S-transferase, which represented the first isolated androgen-repressed gene (JBC, 1987) and the second was Spermine-binding protein, the first isolated androgen early-response gene (JBC, 1987). With this solid training in cloning techniques and the encouragement from his mentor, Dr. Liao, he remained as a post doctorate fellow in Dr. Liao's lab to investigate what was the biggest challenge in the field of Andrology; the cloning of the androgen receptor. In 1988, Chawnshang succeeded in becoming the first scientist to clone the complete human and rat androgen receptors. (Science, 1988; PNAS, 1988). He then applied recombinant techniques to overexpress a large quantity of androgen receptor (AR) and used it to produce the first monoclonal antibody to the androgen receptor (Endo., 1989). The successful cloning of the androgen receptor and the generation of the first androgen receptor monoclonal antibody was not only truly groundbreaking, but also represented one of the most important contributions in the field of Andrology. Over the next 20 years, he continued his research and had more than 200 papers published on the fields of AR, TR2 and TR4. Want to know more about his achievement? Please go to the web site of his lab (http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ChangARLab/chang.html) for details.

Credentials

Education

1978
BS | National Taiwan University
Agriculture Chemistry

1985
PhD | University of Chicago
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Awards

2003
The Milheim Award for Excellence in Cancer Research from Milheim Foundation

2002
Dr. Chien-Tien Hsu Memorial Lecture/Award at 2002 Annual Meeting of OBGYN

2001
Dr. S.T.Huang-Chan memorial Lecture/Award, University of Hong Kong.

2001
Who's Who in America

2001
President Award for Outstanding Andrology Research, The highest honor from The Chinese Andrology Association for the studies of Androgens and Androgen Receptor.

2000
President Award for Outstanding Andrology Research, The highest honor from The Taiwanese Andrology Association for the studies of Androgens and Androgen Receptor.

1999
Davey Memorial Award for Outstanding Cancer Research, University of Rochester.

1999
President Award for Outstanding Urology Research, The highest honor from The Urology Association of Taiwan for the Contribution in Androgen Receptor and Prostate Cancer.

1998
Jiepimg Wu Award, for Outstanding Achievement in Urology (The highest honor for Chinese-Urology Researcher). Beijing, China.

1998
George Hoyt Whipple Lecture, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

1998
Scholar of the Year, The highest honor from The Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association for Outstanding Contribution in Sex hormones and Osteoporosis.

1996
Award with Honorary Fellow from The Japan Society of Andrology (The 2nd Non-Japanese ever awarded such honor)

1995 - 1997
Blowity-Ridgeway Award in Andrology from Blowity-Ridgeway Foundation

1992
Tokyo Society of Medical Science and University of Tokyo Lecturer

1991 - 1997
CapCure Award (6 times) for Excellence in Prostate Cancer Research

1991 - 1994
American Cancer Society Junior Professorship in Cancer Research

1990
Outstanding Young Investigator Award from Cancer Research Foundation

1989
Andrew Melon Award for Outstanding Young Faculty in USA from Andrew Melon Foundation

1988
The Ayerst Award for Outstanding Young Endocrinologist from the Endocrine Society

VIEW ALL expand_more

Patents

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 309419
Issue Date: May 08, 2013
Country: Mexico
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 2,482,002
Issue Date: Jul 17, 2012
Country: Canada
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 2009215207
Issue Date: Jul 05, 2012
Country: Australia
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 8,198,323
Issue Date: Jun 12, 2012
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Li Lin, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Ching-Yuan Su, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 2008243284
Issue Date: Dec 22, 2011
Country: Australia
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: HK1078846
Issue Date: Mar 07, 2011
Country: Hong Kong
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Li Lin, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Ching-Yuan Su, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 1025226
Issue Date: Dec 22, 2010
Country: Korea, Republic of
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: ZL03808650.6
Issue Date: Oct 13, 2010
Country: China, People's Republic of
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: KP984512
Issue Date: Sep 24, 2010
Country: Korea, Republic of
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Europe
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: BE1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Belgium
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: IE1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Ireland
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: IT1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Italy
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: ES1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Spain
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: SE1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Sweden
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: CH1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Switzerland/Liechtenstein
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: FR1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: France
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: DE1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Germany
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: NL1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Netherlands
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: GB1494993
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: United Kingdom
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: DK03718072.6
Issue Date: May 05, 2010
Country: Denmark
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 7,709,535
Issue Date: May 04, 2010
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Li Lin, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Ching-Yuan Su, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 131444
Issue Date: May 30, 2008
Country: Singapore
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Li Lin, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Ching-Yuan Su, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: NZ 535773
Issue Date: May 10, 2007
Country: New Zealand
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 106864
Issue Date: Oct 31, 2006
Country: Singapore
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Novel Curcumin Analogs and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 5108198
Issue Date: Oct 12, 2012
Country: Japan
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Methods for Treating Prostate Cancer
Patent #: 9,463,242
Issue Date: Oct 11, 2016
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

Patent Title: Methods and Compositions Related to TR4 Ligand
Patent #: 8,524,455
Issue Date: Sep 03, 2013
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

Patent Title: Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 7,355,081
Issue Date: Apr 08, 2008
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Curcumin Analogues and Uses Thereof
Patent #: 6,790,979
Issue Date: Sep 14, 2004
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Junko Ishida, Hideji Itokawa, Kuo-Hsiung Lee, Hironori Ohtsu, Charles Shih, Hui-Kang Wang

Patent Title: Creation of Female Mice without Androgen Receptor and Creation
Patent #: 531,223
Issue Date: Dec 14, 2006
Country: New Zealand
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang, Shu-Yuan Yeh

Patent Title: Androgen Receptor Coactivators
Patent #: 2004203835
Issue Date: Mar 27, 2008
Country: Australia
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

Patent Title: Androgen Receptor Coactivators
Patent #: 7,052,908
Issue Date: May 30, 2006
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

Patent Title: Androgen Receptor Coactivators
Patent #: 771,564
Issue Date: Jul 08, 2004
Country: Australia
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

Patent Title: Androgen Receptor Coactivators
Patent #: 6,699,714
Issue Date: Mar 02, 2004
Country: United States
Invented By: Chawnshang Chang

VIEW ALL expand_more

Publications

Journal Articles

10/13/2015
Chen Y, Sun Y, Rao Q, Xu H, Li L, Chang C. "Androgen receptor (AR) suppresses miRNA-145 to promote renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression independent of VHL status." Oncotarget.. 2015 Oct 13; 6(31):31203-15.

9/22/2015
Ou Z, Wang Y, Liu L, Li L, Yeh S, Qi L, Chang C. "Tumor microenvironment B cells increase bladder cancer metastasis via modulation of the IL-8/androgen receptor (AR)/MMPs signals." Oncotarget.. 2015 Sep 22; 6(28):26065-78.

5/20/2015
Xie H, Li L, Zhu G, Dang Q, Ma Z, He D, Chang L, Song W, Chang HC, Krolewski JJ, Nastiuk KL, Yeh S, Chang C. "Infiltrated pre-adipocytes increase prostate cancer metastasis via modulation of the miR-301a/androgen receptor (AR)/TGF-?1/Smad/MMP9 signals." Oncotarget.. 2015 May 20; 6(14):12326-39.

Books & Chapters

2005
Book Title: Prostate Cancer: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches
Author List: Chang, et al
Published By: World Scientific 2005

2005
Chapter Title: "Study of androgen receptor roles in prostate cancer using mice lacking functional prostate androgen receptor"
Book Title: Prostate Cancer: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches.
Author List: Wu C, Yeh S, Xu Q, Yang Z, Chang P, Yu Y, and Chang C
Edited By: (Chang C ed).
Published By: World Scientific. USA. 2005

2005
Chapter Title: "Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer: clinical and experimental evidence."
Book Title: Prostate Cancer: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches.
Author List: Miyamoto, H.; and Chang, C
Edited By: (Chang C ed).
Published By: World Scientific. USA. 2005

VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS