Professor Patrick Tan assumed the role of Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) on 1st July 2023. Concurrently, he is the Executive Director of Precision Health Research Singapore (PRECISE) coordinating Singapore’s National Precision Medicine programme (www.npm.sg), Chief Scientific Officer at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Senior Scientific Advisor for Group Research at Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Senior Principal Investigator at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, and Professor (Adjunct) at Duke University, USA.
An internationally renowned cancer researcher, Prof Tan has been a faculty member of Duke-NUS’ Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Signature Research Programme since 2006. He leads discovery-driven science on the genomics of cancers prevalent in Asia and has managed the Duke-NUS Genome Biology Facility since 2009. He received his B.A. (summa cum laude) from Harvard University and MD PhD degree from Stanford University, where he received the Charles Yanofsky prize for most outstanding PhD thesis in physics, biology, and chemistry.
Other awards include the President’s Scholarship, Loke Cheng Kim scholarship, Young Scientist Award (A-STAR), Singapore Youth Award, Chen New Investigator Award (Human Genome Organization), President’s Science Award, Japanese Cancer Association International Award, and National University of Singapore (NUS) Research Recognition Award. In 2018, Prof Tan received as Team Leader the American Association for Cancer Research Team Science Award - the first time an Asian team has won the prestigious award. The team comprised colleagues from Duke-NUS, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Genome Institute of Singapore, as well as collaborators from Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof Tan (as ED GIS) led the establishment of the Stronghold Diagnostics Labs, one of Singapore’s largest COVID testing facilities, in partnership with A*STAR, the National University Health System and Temasek Holdings. For this and his other contributions, he was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver), Public Administration Medal (Bronze), Exemplary Public Servant award, and a Presidential Commendation (for Stronghold).
He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), the Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC), a Board Member of the International Gastric Cancer Association, Board of Editors for Science and Cancer Discovery, and on advisory committees for Qatar Precision Health Institute and Riyadh Biotech City.
As Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, Prof Tan will lead the School’s scientific efforts in regional and global strategic areas of importance, as well as identify new opportunities to improve clinical care.
Genomic and Epigenomic Heterogeneity of Stomach Cancer:
Our research focuses on (epi)genomic strategies to unlock the molecular and clinical diversity of gastric cancer (GC, aka stomach cancer), a leading cause of worldwide cancer mortality with high prevalence in many Asian countries. Understanding how individual gastric tumors vary in their molecular aberrations may allow us to refine therapies for different subgroups of patients.
Over the past 20 years, our research has yielded landmark discoveries on the molecular changes driving GC carcinogenesis, laying the foundations for personalized approaches to detection and therapy. These include one of the earliest transcriptional profiling studies of GC (Tay et al, 2003, Tan et al., 2011) leading to an international industry-sponsored multi-centre clinical trial (Yong et al., 2018), recurrent GC fusion genes (Tao et al., 2011), new tumor suppressor genes such as ARID1A (Zang et al., 2012), somatic copy number alterations identifying novel driver alterations (FGFR2, wild-type KRAS amplifications) and lineage-specific transcription factors (KLF5, GATA) (Deng et al., 2012, Chia et al., 2015) and epigenomic changes in GC (Zouridis et al., 2012). Our group is a member of the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium.
More recently, our group has identified higher-order chromatin topologies associated with specific GC molecular subtypes (Okabe et al., 2020), GC enhancers and super-enhancers (Ooi et al., 2016) and charted a comprehensive single-cell atlas of GC (Kumar et al., 2022). We uncovered alternate promoter usage in cancer, underlying tumor immune-editing and responses to immunotherapy pervasive across multiple cancer types (Qamra et al., 2017, Demircioğlu et al., 2019, Sundar et al., 2019). We have systematically analyzed pre-malignant intestinal metaplasia (IM), discovering new IM driver genes and genomic features associated with progression, including a role for microbiome-induced inflammation (Huang et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2023) Our discoveries have defined GC (epi)genomics from pre-cancer to cancer, with impact for our current understanding of tissue-specific carcinogenic mechanisms and enabling translation to personalized medicine and precision prevention.
Asian Molecular Diversity:
In collaboration with Prof Teh Bin Tean and A/Prof Steve Rozen, we have also studied other Asian-endemic cancers such as biliary tract cancers (Ong et al., 2012; Chan-on et al., 2013; Jusukul et al., 2017), breast tumors (Lim et al., 2014; Tan et al., 2015) and urogenital malignancies (Poon et al., 2013; Yao et al., 2017). One of our major discoveries was a mutational signature linked to exposure to aristolochic acid (a compound in certain Traditional Chinese Medicines) in urogenital and liver cancers from Asia that is now categorized as Signature 22 in the global compendium of cancer mutational signatures (https://cancer.sanger.ac.uk/signatures/sbs/sbs22/). Through the National Precision Medicine program, we are assembling PRECISE-SG100K, South East Asia’s most deeply phenotyped longitudinal cohort of 100,000 Singaporeans, comprising Chinese, Indian, and Malay ancestries (Wong et al., 2023).
Our group has also co-led the genomic sequencing of plants of significant cultural and social importance, such as Singapore’s national flower (Lim et al,, 2022) and durian (Teh et al., 2017). The publication of the durian genome drew world-wide media attention from diverse areas such as Nature, CNN, New York Times, BBC News, and Food and Wine magazine.
Selected Publications: (from >300 publications, Google Scholar H-index: 104; Citations : >34,000)
A complete list of our published work is available online at Google Scholar:
Spatiotemporal genomic profiling of intestinal metaplasia reveals clonal dynamics of gastric cancer progression.Huang KK, Ma H, Chong RHH, Uchihara T, Lian BSX,…,
Tan P; Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium.
(2023)Cancer Cell. Oct 20:S1535-6108(23)00360-4. [PMID: 37890493]
The Singapore National Precision Medicine Strategy.Wong E, Bertin N, Hebrard M, Tirado-Magallanes R, Bellis C,…,
Tan P.
(2023)Nat Genet. Feb;55(2):178-186. [PMID: 36658435]
Genome assembly and chemogenomic profiling of National Flower of Singapore Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim 'Agnes' reveals metabolic pathways regulating floral traits.Lim AH, Low ZJ, Shingate PN, Hong JH, Chong SC,….,
Tan P*, Teh BT*.
(2022)Commun Biol. Sep 15;5(1):967. [PMID: 36109650] (*Co-corresponding author)
Single-Cell Atlas of Lineage States, Tumor Microenvironment, and Subtype-Specific Expression Programs in Gastric Cancer.Kumar V, Ramnarayanan K, Sundar R, Padmanabhan N, Srivastava S,…,
Tan P.
(2022)Cancer Discov. Mar 1;12(3):670-691. [PMID: 34642171]
Cross-species chromatin interactions drive transcriptional rewiring in Epstein-Barr virus-positive gastric adenocarcinoma. Okabe A, Huang KK, Matsusaka K, Fukuyo M, Xing M,….,
Tan P*, Kaneda A*.
(2020)Nat Genet. Sep;52(9):919-930. [PMID: 32719515] (*Co-corresponding author)
A Pan-cancer Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Pervasive Regulation through Alternative Promoters.Demircioğlu D, Cukuroglu E, Kindermans M, Nandi T, Calabrese C,….,
Tan P*, Göke J*.
(2019)Cell. 2019 Sep 5;178(6):1465-1477. [PMID: 31491388] (*Co-senior author)
Epigenomic promoter alterations predict for benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic gastric cancer.Sundar R, Huang KK, Qamra A, Kim KM, Kim ST,….,
Tan P.
(2019)Ann Oncol. Mar 1;30(3):424-430. [PMID: 30624548]
Real-Time Tumor Gene Expression Profiling to Direct Gastric Cancer Chemotherapy: Proof-of-Concept "3G" Trial.Yong WP, Rha SY, Tan IB, Choo SP, Syn NL,….,
Tan P; Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium (SGCC).
(2018)Cancer Res. Nov 1;24(21):5272-5281. [PMID: 30045931]
Genomic and Epigenomic Profiling of High-Risk Intestinal Metaplasia Reveals Molecular Determinants of Progression to Gastric Cancer.Huang KK, Ramnarayanan K, Zhu F, Srivastava S, Xu C,...., T
an P.
(2018)Cancer Cell. Jan 8;33(1):137-150. [PMID: 29290541]
VHL Deficiency Drives Enhancer Activation of Oncogenes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.Yao X, Tan J, Lim KJ, Koh J, Ooi WF,….,
Tan P.
(2017)Cancer Discov. Nov;7(11):1284-1305. [PMID: 28893800]
The draft genome of tropical fruit durian (Durio zibethinus).
Teh BT, Lim K, Yong CH, Ng CCY, Rao SR,….,
Tan P.
(2017)Nat Genet. Nov;49(11):1633-1641. [PMID: 28991254]
Whole-Genome and Epigenomic Landscapes of Etiologically Distinct Subtypes of Cholangiocarcinoma.Jusakul A, Cutcutache I, Yong CH, Lim JQ, Huang MN,….,
Tan P.
(2017)Cancer Discov. Oct;7(10):1116-1135. [PMID: 28667006]
Epigenomic Promoter Alterations Amplify Gene Isoform and Immunogenic Diversity in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.Qamra A, Xing M, Padmanabhan N, Kwok JJT, Zhang S,….,
Tan P.
(2017)Cancer Discov. Jun;7(6):630-651. [PMID: 28320776]
Epigenomic profiling of primary gastric adenocarcinoma reveals super-enhancer heterogeneity.Ooi WF, Xing M, Xu C, Yao X, Ramlee MK,….,
Tan P.
(2016)Nat Commun. Sep 28;7:12983. [PMID: 27677335]
Genomic landscapes of breast fibroepithelial tumors.Tan J, Ong CK, Lim WK, Ng CC, Thike AA,….,
Tan P*, Tan PH*, Teh BT*.
(2015)Nat Genet. Nov;47(11):1341-5. [PMID: 26437033] (*Co-corresponding author)
Regulatory crosstalk between lineage-survival oncogenes KLF5, GATA4 and GATA6 cooperatively promotes gastric cancer development.Chia NY, Deng N, Das K, Huang D, Hu L,….,
Tan P.
(2015)Gut. May;64(5):707-19. [PMID: 25053715]
Exome sequencing identifies highly recurrent MED12 somatic mutations in breast fibroadenoma.Lim WK, Ong CK, Tan J, Thike AA, Ng CC,….,
Tan P*, Teh BT*.
(2014)Nat Genet. Aug;46(8):877-80. [PMID: 25038752] (*Co-corresponding author)
Exome sequencing identifies distinct mutational patterns in liver fluke-related and non-infection-related bile duct cancers.Chan-On W, Nairismägi ML, Ong CK, Lim WK, Dima S,….,
Tan P*, Teh BT*.
(2013)Nat Genet. Dec;45(12):1474-8. [PMID: 24185513] (*Co-corresponding author)
Genome-wide mutational signatures of aristolochic acid and its application as a screening tool.Poon SL, Pang ST, McPherson JR, Yu W, Huang KK,….,
Tan P*, Teh BT*.
(2013)Sci Transl Med. Aug 7;5(197):197. [PMID: 23926199] (*Co-corresponding author)
Methylation subtypes and large-scale epigenetic alterations in gastric cancer.Zouridis H, Deng N, Ivanova T, Zhu Y, Wong B,….,
Tan P.
(2012)Sci Transl Med. Oct 17;4(156). [PMID: 23076357]
Exome sequencing of gastric adenocarcinoma identifies recurrent somatic mutations in cell adhesion and chromatin remodeling genes.Zang ZJ, Cutcutache I, Poon SL, Zhang SL, McPherson JR,….,
Tan P.
(2012)Nat Genet. May;44(5):570-4. [PMID: 22484628]
A comprehensive survey of genomic alterations in gastric cancer reveals systematic patterns of molecular exclusivity and co-occurrence among distinct therapeutic targets.Deng N, Goh LK, Wang H, Das K, Tao J,….,
Tan P.
(2012)Gut. May;61(5):673-84. [PMID: 22315472]
Exome sequencing of liver fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma.Ong CK, Subimerb C, Pairojkul C, Wongkham S, Cutcutache I,….,
Tan P*, Teh BT*.
(2012)Nat Genet. May 6;44(6):690-3. [PMID: 22561520] (*Co-corresponding author)
Intrinsic subtypes of gastric cancer, based on gene expression pattern, predict survival and respond differently to chemotherapy.Tan IB, Ivanova T, Lim KH, Ong CW, Deng N,....,
Tan P. (2011)Gastroenterology. Aug;141(2):476-85. [PMID: 21684283]
CD44-SLC1A2 gene fusions in gastric cancer.Tao J, Deng NT, Ramnarayanan K, Huang B, Oh HK,….,
Tan P.
(2011)Sci Transl Med. Apr 6;3(77). [PMID: 21471434]
A combined comparative genomic hybridization and expression microarray analysis of gastric cancer reveals novel molecular subtypes.Tay ST, Leong SH, Yu K, Aggarwal A, Tan SY,….,
Tan P.
(2003) Cancer Res. Jun 15;63(12):3309-16. [PMID 12810664]
Reviews: Mapping the genomic diaspora of gastric cancer.Yeoh KG,
Tan P. (2022)Nat Rev Cancer. Feb;22(2):71-84. [PMID: 34702982]
Mapping genomic and epigenomic evolution in cancer ecosystems.Ushijima T, Clark SJ,
Tan P.
(2021)Science. Sep 24;373(6562):1474-1479. [PMID: 34554797]
How to stomach an epigenetic insult: the gastric cancer epigenome.
Padmanabhan N, Ushijima T,
Tan P.
(2017)Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. Aug;14(8):467-478. [PMID: 28513632]
Molecular classification of gastric cancer.Chia NY,
Tan P. (2016)Ann Oncol. May;27(5):763-9. [PMID: 26861606]