Jia Ruan, PhD, MD

Overview

Lymphoproliferative Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenic Therapy

My long term research goal is to develop a translational research program in lymphoproliferative diseases, with particular interest in studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lymphoproliferative angiogenesis, and development of novel anti-angiogenic therapeutics in both pre-clinical and clinical trial settings. The potential importance of lymphoproliferative angiogenesis arises from the association of disease progression with increased angiogenic activity. We have shown that the vascular composition of human lymphoproliferative subtypes reflects differential recruitment and assembly of either hemangiogenic myelomonocytic cells or mesenchymal smooth muscle cells. We are currently investigating the mechanisms leading to the recruitment and assembly of these peri-vascular accessory cells. In collaboration with Dr. Katherine A. Hajjar, Chairman of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Cornell, we are in the process of studying the potential mechanism of action of a cell surface fibrinolytic receptor, annexin 2, in directing lymphoproliferative neovascular formation in experimental lymphoma models as well as human patients. In parallel, we are actively involved in the development of novel therapeutics targeting tumor angiogenesis in lymphoma patients in the clinical trial setting. Currently, we have two phase II trials opening at Weill Cornell which evaluate anti-angiogenic agents in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). One combines metronomic oral chemo-regimen PEPC (prednisone, etoposide, procarbazine and cyclophosphamide) with thalidomide and rituximab for patients with relapsed disease. The other combines a monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A, bevacizumab, with standard CHOP-rituximab chemo-immunotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed and untreated mantle cell lymphoma. New agents and their combination with standard treatment are expected to be evaluated in MCL and other NHL subtypes to improve clinical outcome.

Highlights

1
Blood · 2023
JRJia Ruan ZCZhengming Chen ASAndrea Sboner KVKoen Van Besien EMErin Mulvey+5 more →
PMID: 36796016PMCID: PMC10356559DOIFirst author76 citations
2
Blood advances · 2023
JRJia Ruan
PMID: 37327113PMCID: PMC10561000DOIFirst author33 citations
3
Blood advances · 2023
CKCaitlin K Gribbin PJPaul J Christos RRRichard R Furman JRJia Ruan
PMID: 37682791PMCID: PMC10641095DOISenior author11 citations

Publications

109

Funding

3 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Completed grants (3)

Co-I
Longitudinal functional genomics in mantle cell lymphoma therapy and drug resistance
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society · 2018–2023
LLS 180078-01
Sub-PI
MAP Kinase Signaling in Lymphoma: A Novel Therapeutic Paradigm
National Cancer Institute · 2012–2015 · via Tufts University· 2 renewals
R01CA164311-04
PI
Annexin 2 in Lymphoproliferative Angiogenesis
NHLBI · 2008–2013 · via NIH RePORTER
K08HL091517-05

Clinical research

Active

6 studies

PI
Compassionate Use of Valemetostat for Treatment of Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATL) in Patient T-P
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
PI
A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-Label Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of ITK Inhibitor Soquelitinib Versus Physician's Choice Standard of Care Treatment (Selected Single Agent) in Participants With Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Not Otherwise Specified, Follicular Helper T-cell Lymphomas, or Systemic Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma
PHASE3 · Corvus Pharmaceuticals INC · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2026)
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified; Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma; Follicular T-Cell Lymphoma; Nodal Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma With TFH Phenotype; Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Lymphoma, T-Cell
NCT06561048
PI
A Randomized Phase 3 Trial of Continuous vs. Intermittent Maintenance Therapy With Zanubrutinib as Upfront Treatment in Older Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma
PHASE3 · Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
NCT05976763
PI
Retrospective cohort study of novel biologic agent exposure and outcomes including survival and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
PI
20-534: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Outcomes for Rare Subtypes of T-Cell Lymphoma
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
PI
Clinical Outcomes of TP53-altered Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treated with Modern Therapy: A Multi-center Retrospective Analysis
Duke University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)

Completed & closed trials (10)

PI
Single-arm, Phase 2 Study of Valemetostat Tosylate Monotherapy in Subjects With Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (VALENTINE-PTCL01)
PHASE2 · Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2026)
Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma; Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma
NCT04703192
PI
A Phase 1b/2 Study of Hu5F9-G4 (Magrolimab) in Combination With Mogamulizumab in Relapsed/Refractory Treated T-Cell Lymphoma
PHASE1; PHASE2 · National Cancer Institute · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2025)
Mycosis Fungoides; Recurrent Mycosis Fungoides; Recurrent Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome; Recurrent Sezary Syndrome; Refractory Mycosis Fungoides; Refractory Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome; Refractory Sezary Syndrome; Sezary Syndrome; Stage IB Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8; Stage II Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8; Stage III Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8; Stage IV Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8
NCT04541017
PI
A Phase I Study With an Expansion Cohort of Duvelisib and Nivolumab in Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS)
PHASE1 · National Cancer Institute · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
Stage IIB Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8; Stage III Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8; Stage IV Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome AJCC v8
NCT04652960
PI
A Phase 1 Multiple Ascending Dose Study of DS-3201b in Subjects With Lymphomas
PHASE1 · Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2024)
Lymphoma, Malignant; Non-hodgkin Lymphoma
NCT02732275
PI
A Multicentre, Phase II, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Acalabrutinib in Combination With Venetoclax and Rituximab in Participants With Treatment Naïve Mantle Cell Lymphoma (TrAVeRse)
PHASE2 · AstraZeneca, PLC · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2024)
Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)
NCT05951959
PI
A Randomized Phase II Study of CHO(E)P vs CC-486-CHO(E)P vs Duvelisib-CHO(E)P in Previously Untreated CD30 Negative Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas
PHASE2 · Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma; Enteropathy-Associated T-Cell Lymphoma; Follicular T-Cell Lymphoma; Mature T-Cell and NK-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Monomorphic Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphoma; Nodal Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma With TFH Phenotype; Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified
NCT04803201
PI
A Phase 1 Study of Lenalidomide in Combination With EPOCH Chemotherapy for HTLV-Associated Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma (ATLL)
PHASE1 · National Cancer Institute · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2024)
Acute Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Chronic Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; HTLV-1 Infection
NCT04301076
PI
A Phase 2 Front-Line PET/CT-2 Response-Adapted Brentuximab Vedotin and Nivolumab Incorporated and Radiation-Free Management of Early Stage Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL)
PHASE2 · City of Hope National Medical Center · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2023)
Ann Arbor Stage I Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage I Mixed Cellularity Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage I Nodular Sclerosis Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IA Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IB Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IIA Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IIB Hodgkin Lymphoma; Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Lymphocyte-Rich Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage I Lymphocyte-Depleted Classic HL; Ann Arbor Stage II Lymphocyte-Depleted Classic HL; Ann Arbor Stage II Mixed Cellularity Classic HL; Ann Arbor Stage II Nodular Sclerosis Classic HL
NCT03712202
PI
A Phase III, Randomized Study of Nivolumab (Opdivo) Plus AVD or Brentuximab Vedotin (Adcetris) Plus AVD in Patients (Age >/= 12 Years) With Newly Diagnosed Advanced Stage Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
PHASE3 · Southwest Oncology Group · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)
Ann Arbor Stage III Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Lymphocyte-Depleted Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Mixed Cellularity Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Nodular Sclerosis Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Lymphocyte-Depleted Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Mixed Cellularity Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Nodular Sclerosis Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma; Lymphocyte-Rich Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
NCT03907488
PI
Phase II Multicenter Study of Ruxolitinib in Relapsed or Refractory T or NK Cell Lymphoma
PHASE2 · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)
Lymphoma
NCT02974647

News mentions

2 View all WCM news ↗

Collaboration Key to Tackling Rare Blood Cancers
April 9, 2026
We sat down with Dr. Jia Ruan to learn more about her clinical research and how she thinks it will help lymphoma patients.
Adding Epigenetic Drug to Standard Chemotherapy Was Effective in Pilot Study for T-cell Lymphoma
May 4, 2023
Nearly 90 percent of patients with an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma had their cancer go into remission in a small phase 2 clinical trial testing a treatment aimed at making chemotherapy more effective, according to Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.

Mentoring

2 All publications with mentees →

External relationships

Speaker/Lecturer

Roche Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Other

AstraZeneca