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Brock C Christensen, Ph.D.

Title(s):
Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine

Department(s):
Community and Family Medicine

Education:
Harvard University, Ph.D. 2008
University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.S. 2002

Programs:
Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine

Contact Information:

Dartmouth Medical School
7650 Remsen
Hanover NH 03755

Office: Remsen 611
Phone: 603-650-1674
Fax: 603-650-1129
Email: Brock.Clarke.Christensen@Dartmouth.edu


Professional Interests:

Dr. Christensen's research is focused on combining advances in molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics with the powerful techniques of modern epidemiology and statistics to characterize epigenetic states in human health and disease. His interests include understanding relationships between epigenetic states and exposures in the context of disease susceptibility, occurrence, and progression. By investigating complex interactions between the environment and somatic epigenetic alterations in target tissues, as well as epigenetic susceptibility traits in surrogate tissues, he hopes to develop their potential translational utility for diagnostic, prognostic, and/or treatment purposes.


Selected Publications:

 

Nelson HH, Almquist LM, LaRocca JL, Plaza SL, Lambert-Messerlian GM, Sugarbaker DJ, Bueno R, Godleski JJ, Marsit CJ, Christensen BC, Kelsey KT
The relationship between tumor MSLN methylation and serum mesothelin (SMRP) in mesothelioma.
Epigenetics 2011 Aug; 6(8):1029-34
PMID: 21775819

Christensen BC, Smith AA, Zheng S, Koestler DC, Houseman EA, Marsit CJ, Wiemels JL, Nelson HH, Karagas MR, Wrensch MR, Kelsey KT, Wiencke JK
DNA methylation, isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, and survival in glioma.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2011 Jan 19; 103(2):143-53
PMID: 21163902

Christensen BC, Kelsey KT, Zheng S, Houseman EA, Marsit CJ, Wrensch MR, Wiemels JL, Nelson HH, Karagas MR, Kushi LH, Kwan ML, Wiencke JK
Breast cancer DNA methylation profiles are associated with tumor size and alcohol and folate intake.
PLoS Genet 2010 Jul 29; 6(7):e1001043
PMID: 20686660

Christensen BC, Houseman EA, Poage GM, Godleski JJ, Bueno R, Sugarbaker DJ, Wiencke JK, Nelson HH, Marsit CJ, Kelsey KT
Integrated profiling reveals a global correlation between epigenetic and genetic alterations in mesothelioma.
Cancer Res 2010 Jul 15; 70(14):5686-94
PMID: 20587528

Christensen BC, Avissar-Whiting M, Ouellet LG, Butler RA, Nelson HH, McClean MD, Marsit CJ, Kelsey KT
Mature microRNA sequence polymorphism in MIR196A2 is associated with risk and prognosis of head and neck cancer.
Clin Cancer Res 2010 Jul 15; 16(14):3713-20
PMID: 20501619

Christensen BC, Houseman EA, Marsit CJ, Zheng S, Wrensch MR, Wiemels JL, Nelson HH, Karagas MR, Padbury JF, Bueno R, Sugarbaker DJ, Yeh RF, Wiencke JK, Kelsey KT
Aging and environmental exposures alter tissue-specific DNA methylation dependent upon CpG island context.
PLoS Genet 2009 Aug; 5(8):e1000602
PMID: 19680444

Christensen BC, Marsit CJ, Houseman EA, Godleski JJ, Longacker JL, Zheng S, Yeh RF, Wrensch MR, Wiemels JL, Karagas MR, Bueno R, Sugarbaker DJ, Nelson HH, Wiencke JK, Kelsey KT
Differentiation of lung adenocarcinoma, pleural mesothelioma, and nonmalignant pulmonary tissues using DNA methylation profiles.
Cancer Res 2009 Aug 1; 69(15):6315-21
PMID: 19638575

Christensen BC, Moyer BJ, Avissar M, Ouellet LG, Plaza SL, McClean MD, Marsit CJ, Kelsey KT
A let-7 microRNA-binding site polymorphism in the KRAS 3' UTR is associated with reduced survival in oral cancers.
Carcinogenesis 2009 Jun; 30(6):1003-7
PMID: 19380522

Avissar M, Christensen BC, Kelsey KT, Marsit CJ
MicroRNA expression ratio is predictive of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Clin Cancer Res 2009 Apr 15; 15(8):2850-5
PMID: 19351747

Christensen BC, Houseman EA, Godleski JJ, Marsit CJ, Longacker JL, Roelofs CR, Karagas MR, Wrensch MR, Yeh RF, Nelson HH, Wiemels JL, Zheng S, Wiencke JK, Bueno R, Sugarbaker DJ, Kelsey KT
Epigenetic profiles distinguish pleural mesothelioma from normal pleura and predict lung asbestos burden and clinical outcome.
Cancer Res 2009 Jan 1; 69(1):227-34
PMID: 19118007