Dongjiang Chen

Dongjiang Chen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on innovative treatments for brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), with emphasis on immunotherapy, tumor treating fields (TTFields), and drug resistance mechanisms. He investigates the interplay between cancer stem cells, immune modulation, and novel therapeutic combinations.

Key research areas include:

• Development of TTFields as a therapeutic adjuvant for GBM
• Machine learning-driven reprogramming of cancer cells into antigen-presenting cells
• Preclinical models of brain tumors to advance immunotherapy
• Molecular pathways regulating glioma stem cell self-renewal and treatment resistance

Recent work has explored:

• STING pathway activation via TTFields for immunogenic cell death
• EP3-ZNF488 axis mechanisms in GBM stem cells
• Microfluidic technologies for isolating disseminated tumor cells

He has contributed to phase 2 clinical trials combining TTFields with checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., pembrolizumab) in newly diagnosed GBM patients.