Clinical Professor & Director
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Board Certified Gynecologic Oncologist
John A. Kerner Distinguished Professor in Gynecologic Oncology
Contact Information
| Mailing Address: |
Division of Gynecologic Oncology |
| Academic Phone: | 415-885-5761 / 415-885-7204 |
| Academic Fax: | 415-885-3586 |
| Department: | Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences |
Research/Clinical Interests
Dr. Lee-may Chen is board certified in gynecologic oncology. Her clinical focus and research centers on the systematic identification and management of individuals who are at a high risk of developing gynecologic cancer. Even before PARP inhibitors were identified to target homologous recombination deficiency in ovarian cancer, Dr. Chen has been championing genetic testing for all at risk populations, including patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer. Her research projects involving hereditary gynecologic cancer risk and treatment have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, among other influential medical journals.
She is a passionate educator, and highly involved in the academic development and training of fellows, residents and medical students at UCSF. She was elected to the UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators in 2008.
Since 2015, Dr Chen has served as Division Director, and is active in the UCSF ERAS Pathway Working Group, Gyn Perioperative Governance, Medical Center Credentialling, and the Cancer Center Quality Council, representing the Cancer Committee, which she serves as Chair. Dr. Chen represents UCSF on the NCCN Guideline panels for ovarian cancer as well as the genetic/familial high risk. Recently, Dr. Chen has also been appointed as the 2022-2024 SGO Liason to the ACOG Board of Directors.
Dr. Chen also speaks Mandarin Chinese.
Education/Training
| Year | Institution & Location | Degree | Field of Study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | B.S. | Biomedical Sciences & Chinese Studies |
| 1992 | University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor | M.D. | Medicine |
| 1996 | University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor | Internship & Residency |
Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| 1999 | University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine | Fellowship |
Gynecologic Oncology |
| 2006 |
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine |
Teaching Scholars Program | |
| 2010 |
Clinical & Translational Science Institute University of California, San Francisco |
Mentor Development Program |
Achievements & Recognition
| Year | Major Honors |
|---|---|
| 2003 | ACOG/CREOG National Faculty Award |
| 2016 |
UCSF Clinical & Translational Research Institute Resident Mentor of the Year |
| 2016 |
James F. Nolan Award, best scientific presentation by an active WAGO member |
| 2016 |
Outstanding Resident Teaching Award, UCSF Ob/Gyn Department |
| 2016 | Outstanding Faculty Award in Medical Student Teaching, UCSF Ob/Gyn Department |
| 2022 |
UCSF Exceptional Physician Award |
Selected Recent Publications
CB Powell, E Kenley, L Chen, B Crawford, J McLennan, C Zaloudek, M Komaromy, M Beattie, J Ziegler. Risk-Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA Mutation Carriers: Role of Serial Sectioning in the Detection of Occult Malignancy. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23: 127-132.
KH Lu, M Dinh, W Kohlmann, P Watson, J Green, S Syngal, P Bandipalliam, L Chen, B Allen, P Conrad, J Terdiman, C Sun, M Daniels, T Burke, DM Gershenson, H Lynch, P Lynch, RR Broaddus. Gynecologic Cancer as a “Sentinel Cancer” for Women with Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome. Obstet Gyncol 2005; 105: 569-574.
KM Schmeler, HT Lynch, L Chen, MF Munsell, PT Soliman, MB Clark, MS Daniels, KG White, SG Boyd-Rogers, PG Conrad, KY Yang, MM Rubin, CC Sun, BM Slomovitz, DM Gershenson, KH Lu. Prophylactic Surgery to Reduce the Risk of Gynecologic Cancers in the Lynch Syndrome. N Engl J Med 2006; 354: 261-269.
JT Rabban, A Mackey, CB Powell, B Crawford, CJ Zaloudek, L Chen. Correlation of Macroscopic and Microscopic Pathology in Risk Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy: Implications for Intraoperative Specimen Evaluation. Gynecol Oncol 2011; 121: 466-471.
CB Powell, L Chen, J McLennan, B Crawford, C Zaloudek, JT Rabban, DH Moore, J Ziegler. Risk-reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy [RRSO] in BRCA Mutation Carriers: Experience with a Consecutive Series of 111 Patients Using a Standardized Surgical-Pathological Protocol. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2011; 21: 946-851.
JS Chapman, CB Powell, J McLennan, B Crawford, J Mak, N Stewart, L Chen. Surveillance of Survivors: Follow-up after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA mutation carriers. Gynecol Oncol 2011; 122: 339-343.
KY Yang, AB Caughey, SE Little, MK Cheung, L Chen. A cost-effectiveness analysis of prophylactic surgery versus gynecologic surveillance for women from hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families. Fam Cancer 2011; 10: 535-543.
WT Lin, M Beattie, L Chen, K Oktay, SL Crawford, EB Gold, M Cedars, M Rosen. Comparison of age at natural menopause in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a non-clinic-based sample of women in northern California. Cancer 2013; 119 (9): 1652-1659.
CB Powell, EM Swisher, I Cass, J McLennan, B Norquist, RL Garcia, J Lester, BY Karlan, L Chen. Long term follow up of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with unsuspected neoplasia identified at risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Gynecol Oncol 2013; 129 (2): 364-371.
KH Lu, FD Loose, MD Yates, GM Nogueras-Gonzalez, MF Munsell, L Chen, H Lynch, T Cornelison, S Boyd-Rogers, M Rubin, MS Daniels, P Conrad, A Milbourne, DM Gershenson, RR Broaddus. Prospective, multicenter randomized intermediate biomarker study of oral contraceptive vs. depo-Provera for prevention of endometrial cancer in women with Lynch Syndrome. Cancer Prev Res 2013; 6 (8): 774-781.
Rabban, JT, SM Calkins, AN Karnezis, JP Grenert, A Blanco, B Crawford, and L Chen. Association of Tumor Morphology with Mismatch Repair Protein Status in Older Endometrial Cancer Patients: Implications for Universal versus Selective Screening Strategies for Lynch Syndrome. Am J Surg Pathol 2014; 38 (6): 793-800.
Rabban JT, K Garg, B Crawford, L Chen, C Zaloudek. Early detection of high grade tubal serous carcinoma in women at low risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome by systematic examination of fallopian tubes incidentally removed during benign surgery. Am J Surg Pathol 2014; 38 (6): 729-742.
Lancaster JM, Powell CB, Chen LM, Richardson DL; SGO Clinical Practice Committee. Society of Gynecologic Oncology statement on risk assessment for inherited gynecologic cancer predispositions. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Jan;136(1):3-7.
Chapman JS, Jacoby V, Chen LM. Managing symptoms and maximizing quality of life after preventive interventions for cancer risk reduction. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Feb;27(1):40-4..
Walker JL, Powell CB, Chen LM, Carter J, Bae Jump VL, Parker LP, Borowsky ME, Gibb RK. Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommendations for the prevention of ovarian cancer. Cancer 2015; 121 (13): 2108-2120.
RA Brooks, K Blansit, N Young-Lin, I Usach, L Chen, X Yu, DS Kapp, and JK Chan. The economic impact of surgical care for morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients: A nationwide study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 214 (4): 498.e1-6.
JS Chapman, E Roddy, S Ueda, R Brooks, L Chen, and L Chen. Enhanced Recovery Pathways for Improving Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Oncology Surgery. Obstet Gynecol 2016. 128 (1): 138-144.
PM Cirillo, ET Wang, MI Cedars, L Chen, and BA Cohn. Irregular menses predicts ovarian cancer: prospective evidence from the Child Health and Development Studies. International Journal of Cancer 2016; 139 (5): 1009-1017.
KM Kober, L Dunn, J Mastick, B Cooper, D Langford, M Melisko, A Venook, L Chen, M Hammer, BL Schmidt, J Levine, C Miaskowski, and BE Aouizerat. Gene expression profiling of evening fatigue in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Biol Res Nurs 2016; 18(4): 370-385.
LE Bischel, C Ritchie, KM Kober, SM Paul, BA Cooper, L Chen, JD Levine, M Hammer, F Wright, and C Miaskowski. Age differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2016; 23: 115-123.
GL Westhoff, KC Fuh, TA Longacre, JL McNally, IJ Hsu, DS Kapp, N Teng, and L Chen. Radiation therapy fo recurrent clear cell cancer of the ovary. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2016. 26(9): 1608-1614..
JS Chapman, E Roddy, A Panighetti, S Hwang, B Crawford, CB Powell, and L Chen. Comparing coordinated versus sequential salpingo-oophorectomy for BRCA1 & BRCA2 mutation carriers with breast cancer. Clinical Breast Cancer 2016. 16 (6): 494-499..
C Miaskowski, BA Cooper, B Aouizerat, M Melisko, L Chen, L Dunn, X Hu, KM Kober, J Mastick, JD Levine, M Hammer, F Wright, J Ames, E Furlong, P Fox, E Ream, R Maguire, and N Kearney. The symptom phenotype of oncology outpatients remains relatively stable from prior to through 1 week following chemotherapy. Eur J Cancer Cancer 2017; 26 (3). PMID: 26777053
CM Hay, C Lefkowits, M Crowley-Matoka, MA Bakitas, LH Clark, LR Duska, RR Urban, L Chen, SL Creasy, Y Schenker. Gynecologic oncologist views influencing referral to outpatient specialty palliative care. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2017; 27(3): 588-596.
C Miaskowski, J Mastick, SM Paul, K Topp, B Smoot, G Abrams, L Chen, KB Kober, YP Conley, M Chesney, K Bolla, G Mausisa, M Mazor, M Wong, M Schumacker, and JD Levine. Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors. J Pain Symptom Manage 2017; 54(2): 204-218.
S Mark, J Cataldo, A Dhruva, SM Paul, L Chen, MJ Hammer, JD Levine, F Wright, M Melisko, K Lee, YP Conley, and C Miaskowski. Modifiable and non-modifiable characteristics associated with sleep disturbance in oncology outpatients during chemotherapy. Support Cancer Cancer 2017; 25(8): 2485-2494.
S Raffi, C Gourley, R Kumar, E Geuna, JE Ang, T Rye, L Chen, R Shapira-Frommer, M Friedlander, U Matulonis, J De Greve, AM Oza, S Banerjee, LR Molife, ME Gore, SB Kaye, TA Yap. Baseline clinical predictors of antitumor respone to the PARP inhibitor olaparib in germline BRCA1/2 mutated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8(29): 47154-47160.
R Salani, M Frimer, N Khanna, RE Bristow, and L Chen. An update on post-treatment surveillance and diagnosis of recurrence in women with gynecologic malignancies: Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) recommendations. Gynecol Oncol 2017; 146 (1): 3-10.
R Kristeleit, GI Shapiro, HA Burris, AM Oza, PM LoRusso, M Patel, SM Domcheck, J Balmana, Y Drew, L Chen, T Safra, A Montes, H Giordano, L Maloney, S Goble, J Isaacson, J Xiao, J Borrow, L Rolfe, R Shapira-Frommer. A Phase I-II study of the oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor Rucaparib in patients with germline BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian carcinoma or other solid tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23(15): 4095-4106.
CH Chapman, K Maghsoudi, RD Littell, L Chen, I Hsu. Salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy for isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial cancer with no prior adjuvant therapy. Brachytherapy 2017; 16(6): 1152-1158.
A Oza, AV Tinker, A Oaknin, R Shapira-Frommerd, IA McNeishe, EM Swisher, I Ray-Coquard, K Bell-McGuinn, RL Coleman, DM O’Malley, A Leary, L Chen, D Provencher, L Ma, JD Brenton, GE Konecny, CM Castro, H Giordano, L Maloney, S Gobler, KK Lin, J Sun, M Raponi, L Rolfe, RS Kristeleit. Antitumor activity and safety of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in patients with high grade ovarian carcinoma and a germline or somatic BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: integrated analysis of data from Study 10 and ARIEL2. Gynecol Oncol 2017; 147(2): 267-75.
E Manrriquez, JS Chapman, J Mak, A Blanco, L Chen. Disparities in Genetics Assessment for Women with Ovarian Cancer: Can we do better? Gynecol Oncol 2018; 149(1): 84-88.
M Swanson, S Ueda, L Chen, M Huchko, C Nakisige, J Namugga. Evidence-Based Improvisation: Facing the challenges of cervical cancer care in Uganda. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2018; 24: 30-35.
C Liao, S Chow, L Chen, D Kapp, A Mann, and JK Chan. Trends in the incidence of serous fallopian tube , ovarian, and peritoneal cancer in the US. Gynecol Oncol 2018; 149(2): 318-323.
KM Hyland, G Dhaliwal, AN Goldberg, L Chen, K Land, M Wamsley. Peer Review of Teaching: Insights from a 10-year experience. Med Sci Educ 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-018-0611-9
R Sethi, J Mayadev, S Sethi, D Rash, L Chen, R Brooks, S Ueda, and IC Hsu. Patterns of recurrence in Node positive cervical cancer patients treated with contemporary chemoradiation and dose escalation: a multi-institutional study. Practical Radiation Oncology 2019; 9 (2): e180-e186.
CH Holschneider, DG Peterieit, C Chu, IJ Hsu, YJ Ioffe, AH Klopp, B Pothuri, L Chen, and C Yashar. Brachytherapy: A Critical Component of Primary Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 152 (3): 540-547.
P Jha, JT Rabban, L Chen, L Poder. Placenta Accreta Spectrum: Placental bulge as a sign of myometrial invasion on 3T MR imaging. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2019; 44 (7): 2572-2581.
TR Ahmad, L Chen, JS Chapman, L Chen. Medicaid and Medicare payer status are associated with worse surgical outcomes in gynecologic oncology. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 155 (1): 93-97.
M Atallah, B Cooper, RF Munoz, SM Paul, J Anguera, JD Levine, M Hammer, F Wright, L Chen, M Melisko, YP Conley, C Miaskowski, L Dunn. Psychological Symptoms and Stress are associated with decrements in Attentional Function in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs 2020; 43 (5): 402-410.
L Chen, S Blank, E Burton, K Glass, E Penick, and T Woodard. Reproductive Considerations in Women at Increased Risk for Hereditary Gynecologic Cancers on behalf of the Clinical Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Birmingham, AL and Chicago, IL.Gynecol Oncol 2019; 155(3): 508-514.
M Mazor, S Paul, M Chesney, L Chen, BJ Smoot, K Topp, Y Conley, J Levine, and C Miaskowski. Perceived Stress Is Associated With A Higher Symptom Burden In Cancer Survivors. Cancer 2019; 125 (24): 4509-4515.
R O’Cearbhaill, W Deng, L Chen, JA Lucci III; K Behbakht, NM Spirtos, CY Muller, BB Benigno, MA Powell, E Berry, KS Tewari, P Hanjani, HA Lankes, C Aghajanian, and PJ Sabbatini. A Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of a Polyvalent Vaccine-KLH Conjugate (NSC 748933 IND# 14384) + OPT-821 versus OPT-821 in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cancer Who Are in Second or Third Complete Remission: An NRG Oncology/GOG. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 155 (3): 393-399.
WE Pierson, PN Peters, MT Chang, L Chen, DA Quigley, A Ashworth, JS Chapman. An integrated molecular profile of endometrioid ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2020; 157 (1): 55-61.
A Sarin, E Lancaster, L Chen, S Porten, L Chen, J Lager, and E Wick. Using provider-focused education toolkits can aid enhanced recovery programs to further reduce patient exposure to opioids. Periop Med 2020; 9: 21
L McNally, Y Zhou, JF Robinson, G Zhao, L Chen, H Chen, MY Kim, M Kapidzic, M Gormley, R Hannibal, S Fisher. Upregulated cytotrophoblast DOCK4 contributes to over-invasion in placenta accreta spectrum. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2020; Jul 7;117(27):15852-15861.
P Peters, W Pierson, L Chen, J Chapman, and IJ Hsu. PET-detected asymptomatic recurrence is associated with improved survival in recurrent cervical cancer. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2021; 46 (1): 341-350
C Miaskowski, SM Paul, K Snowberg, M Abbott, H Borno, S Chang, L Chen, B Cohen, BA Cooper, MJ Hammer, SA Kenfield, A Laffan, JD Levine, R Pozzar, KK Tsai, EL Van Blarigan, K Van Loon. Oncology patients’ perceptions of and .experiences with COVID-19. Support Care Cancer 2020 Aug 18;1-10.
S Sinha, A Lazar, A Lam, E Anderson, L Chen, IJ Hsu, and EJ Yoshida. Adjuvant radiation followed by chemotherapy is associated with improved overall survival in endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2020 Oct;159(1):30-35.
A Levinson, AG Lee, C Zaloudek, MR Breese, J Van Ziffle, B Laguna, SG Leung, D Chen, L Chen, J Pfeil, A Shah, HJ Martell, I Behroozfard, AA Rao, SR Salama, EA Sweet Cordero, E Stieglitz. Complete response to PD-1 inhibition in an adolescent with relapsed clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix predicted by neoepitope burden and APOBEC signature. JCO Precis Oncol 2020 Nov 2;4:PO.20.00132. doi: 10.1200/PO.20.00132.
M Swanson, M Nakalembe, L Chen, S Ueda, J Namugga, C Nakisige, MJ Huchko. Surgical candidacy and treatment uptake among women with cervical cancer at public referral hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. Submitted to BMJ Open 2020 Dec 12;10(12):e039946.
GE Konecny, AM Oza, AV Tinker, A Oaknin, R Shapira-Frommer, I Ray-Coquard, C Aghajanian, RL Coleman, DM O’Malley, A Leary, L Chen, D Provencher, L Ma, JD Brenton, C Castro, M Green, A Simmons, J Belman, T Harding, K Lin, S Goble, A Simmons, J Beltman, T Harding, K Lin, S Goble, L Maloney, RS Kristeleit, IA McNeish, EM Swisher, JJ Xia. Population exposure-efficacy and exposure-safety analyses for rucaparib in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma from Study 10 and ARIEL2. Gynecol Oncol 2021 Jun; 161 (3): 668-675.
EM Swisher, TT Kwan, AM Oza, AV Tinker, I Ray-Coquard, A Oaknin, RL Coleman, C Aghajanian, GE Konecny, DM O’Malley, A Leary, D Provencher, S Welch, L Chen, AE Wahner Hendrickson, L Ma, P Ghatage, RS Kristeleit, O Dorigo, A Musafer, SH Kaufmannn, JA Elvin, DI Lin, SK Chambers, E Dominy, L Vo, S Goble, L Maloney, H Giordano, T Harding, A Dobrovic, CL Scott, KK Lin, IA McNeish. Molecular and clinical determinants of response and resistance to the PARP inhibitor rucaparib for recurrent ovarian cancer treatment in ARIEL2 (Parts 1 and 2). Nat Commun 2021 May3; 12(1): 2487.
C Miaskowski, SM Paul, K Snowberg, L Abbott, H Borno, S Chang, L Chen, B Cohen, BA Cooper, MJ Hammer, SA Kenfield, KM Kober, A Laffan, JD Levine, R Pozzar, K Rhoads, KK Tsai, EL Van Blarigan, K Van Loon. Loneliness and Symptom Burden in Oncology Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Support Care Cancer 2021 Apr; 29 (4): 1941-1950.
L McNally, JT Rabban, L Poder, S Chetty, S Ueda, L Chen. Differentiating complete hydatidiform mole and coexistent fetus and placental mesenchymal dysplasia: A series of 9 cases and review of the literature. Gynecol Oncol Rep 2021; 37: 100811. doi: 10.1016/j.gore.2021.100811.
A Craig, E Garcia, P Peters, L Chen, J Chapman. Maintenance of clinical equipoise in the primary treatment of advanced ovarian cancer: disparities exist in the “real world.” Future Oncol 2021; 17 (34): 4687-4696.
EM Swisher, RS Kristeleit, AM Oza, AV Tinker, I Ray-Coquard, A Oaknin, RL Coleman, HA Burris, C Aghajanian, DM O’Malley, A Leary, S Welch, D Provencher, GI Shapiro, L Chen, R Shapira-Frommer, SH Kaufmann, S Goble, L Maloney, T Kwan, KK Lin, IA McNeish. Characterization of patients with long-term responses to rucaparib treatment in recurrent ovarian cancer Accepted to Gynecol Oncol 2021; 163 (3): 490-497.
KN Moore, SK Chambers, EP Hamilton, L Chen, AM Oza, SA Ghamande, GE Konecny, SC Plaxe, DL Spitz, JJJ Geenen, TA Troso-Sandoval, HM Cragan, ER Imedio, S Kumar, GM Mugundu, Z Lai, J Chmielecki, SF Jones, DR Spigel, KA Cadoo. Adavosertib with Chemotherapy in Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal: An Open-Label, Four-Arm, Phase II Study. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28 (1): 36-44.
T Korenaga, E Yoshida, W Pierson, J Chang, A Ziogas, ML Swanson, JS Chapman, S Sinha, L Chen. Better late than never: brachytherapy is more important than timing in treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2022; 164 (2): 348-356.
AH Kay, N Marjon, R Guerra, EA Alvarez, JS Chapman, M Swanson, L Chen, L Chen, S Ueda. Surgeon-Placed Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks versus Thoracic Epidurals in Open Gynecologic Oncology Cases: a Case-Control Study. Accepted to Perioper Care Oper Room Manag.