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Professor KWONG Yok Lam

YL Kwong

Chui Fook-Chuen Professor in Molecular Medicine
Chair of Haematology and Haematological Oncology

  • MD (HK), FRCP (Edin), FRCPath, FHKCP, FHKCPath, FHKAM (Medicine), FHKAM (Pathology)
email ylkwong@hku.hk
email 2255-5859
email HKU Scholar Hub
Biography
Professor Kwong is Chief of the Division of Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. He is specialized in haematology and haematopathology. His clinical work focuses on the management of haematological malignancies. His team has especial interests in the treatment of leukaemias and T-cell and natural killer cell malignancies. His research centres on the molecular pathogenetic pathways and novel treatment modalities in haematological neoplasms. Together with the clinical pharmacology team in his department, Professor Kwong has pioneered the development and use of oral arsenic trioxide in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia and other blood cancers. His research team is also actively involved in defining the molecular defects and optimal treatment protocols for T-cell and natural killer cell lymphomas, which are neoplasms prevalent in Asian populations.

Research Profile
  1. Leukemia
  2. Lymphoma
  3. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  4. Molecular genetics
  5. Cancer biology

Selected Publications
Selected publications in arsenic research
  1. Au WY, Kumana CR, Lee HK, Lin SY, Liu H, Yeung DY, Lau JS, Kwong YL. Oral arsenic trioxide-based maintenance regimens for first complete remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia: a 10-year follow-up study. Blood 2011;118(25):6535-43. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  2. Au WY, Tam S, Fong BM, Kwong YL. Determinants of cerebrospinal fluid arsenic concentration in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia on oral arsenic trioxide therapy. Blood 2008;112(9):3587-90. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  3. Leung J, Pang A, Yuen WH, Kwong YL, Tse EW. Relationship of expression of aquaglyceroporin 9 with arsenic uptake and sensitivity in leukemia cells. Blood 2007;109(2):740-6. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  4. Au WY, Tam S, Fong BM, Kwong YL. Elemental arsenic entered the cerebrospinal fluid during oral arsenic trioxide treatment of meningeal relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 2006;107(7):3012-3. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  5. Siu CW, Au WY, Yung C, Kumana CR, Lau CP, Kwong YL, Tse HF. Effects of oral arsenic trioxide therapy on QT intervals in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia: implications for long-term cardiac safety. Blood 2006;108(1):103-6. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  6. Au WY, Lie AK, Chim CS, Liang R, Ma SK, Chan CH, Mak YK, Chen YT, So CC, Yeung YM, Yip SF, Wong LG, Chan JC, Liu SY, Kwong YL. Arsenic trioxide in comparison with chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Ann Oncol 2003;14(5):752-7. (Impact factor: 7.384)
  7. Au WY, Kumana CR, Kou M, Mak R, Chan GC, Lam CW, Kwong YL. Oral arsenic trioxide in the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 2003;102(1):407-8. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  8. Kwong YL, Todd D. Delicious poison: arsenic trioxide for the treatment of leukemia. Blood 1997;89(9):3487-8. (Impact factor: 9.060)

Selected publications in NK/T-cell lymphoma research

  1. Kwong YL, Pang AW, Leung AY, Chim CS, Tse E. Quantification of circulating Epstein-Barr virus DNA in NK/T-cell lymphoma treated with the SMILE protocol: diagnostic and prognostic significance. Leukemia 2013 Jul 11. [Epub ahead of print] (Impact factor: 10.164)
  2. Kwong YL, Kim WS, Lim ST, Kim SJ, Tang T, Tse E, Leung AY, Chim CS. SMILE for natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: analysis of safety and efficacy from the Asia Lymphoma Study Group. Blood 2012;120(15):2973-80. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  3. Yamaguchi M, Kwong YL, Kim WS, Maeda Y, Hashimoto C, Suh C, Izutsu K, Ishida F, Isobe Y, Sueoka E, Suzumiya J, Kodama T, Kimura H, Hyo R, Nakamura S, Oshimi K, Suzuki R. Phase II study of SMILE chemotherapy for newly diagnosed stage IV, relapsed, or refractory extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type: the NK-Cell Tumor Study Group study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(33):4410-6. (Impact factor: 18.038)
  4. Chim CS, Ma SY, Au WY, Choy C, Lie AK, Liang R, Yau CC, Kwong YL. Primary nasal natural killer cell lymphoma: long-term treatment outcome and relationship with the International Prognostic Index. Blood 2004;103(1):216-21. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  5. Au WY, Pang A, Choy C, Chim CS, Kwong YL. Quantification of circulating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the diagnosis and monitoring of natural killer cell and EBV-positive lymphomas in immunocompetent patients. Blood 2004;104(1):243-9. (Impact factor: 9.060)

Selected publications in haematology research

  1. Leung AY, Suen CK, Lie AK, Liang RH, Yuen KY, Kwong YL. Quantification of polyoma BK viruria in hemorrhagic cystitis complicating bone marrow transplantation. Blood 2001;98(6):1971-8. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  2. Chim CS, Liang R, Tam CY, Kwong YL. Methylation of p15 and p16 genes in acute promyelocytic leukemia: potential diagnostic and prognostic significance. J Clin Oncol 2001;19(7):2033-40. (Impact factor: 18.038)
  3. Chim CS, Fung TK, Cheung WC, Liang R, Kwong YL. SOCS1 and SHP1 hypermethylation in multiple myeloma: implications for epigenetic activation of the Jak/STAT pathway. Blood 2004;103(12):4630-5. (Impact factor: 9.060)
  4. Leung AY, Chan MT, Yuen KY, Cheng VC, Chan KH, Wong CL, Liang R, Lie AK, Kwong YL. Ciprofloxacin decreased polyoma BK virus load in patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clin Infect Dis 2005;40(4):528-37. (Impact factor: 9.374)
  5. Au WY, Pang A, Chan EC, Chu KM, Shek TW, Kwong YL. Epstein-barr virus-related gastric adenocarcinoma: an early secondary cancer post hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Gastroenterology 2005;129(6):2058-63. (Impact factor: 12.821)
  6. Au WY, Ma SY, Chim CS, Choy C, Loong F, Lie AK, Lam CC, Leung AY, Tse E, Yau CC, Liang R, Kwong YL. Clinicopathologic features and treatment outcome of mature T-cell and natural killer-cell lymphomas diagnosed according to the World Health Organization classification scheme: a single center experience of 10 years. Ann Oncol 2005;16(2):206-14. (Impact factor: 7.384)
  7. Wong AS, Chan KH, Cheng VC, Yuen KY, Kwong YL, Leung AY. Relationship of pretransplantation polyoma BK virus serologic findings and BK viral reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clin Infect Dis 2007;44(6):830-7. (Impact factor: 9.374)
  8. Man CH, Fung TK, Ho C, Han HH, Chow HC, Ma AC, Choi WW, Lok S, Cheung AM, Eaves C, Kwong YL, Leung AY. Sorafenib treatment of FLT3-ITD(+) acute myeloid leukemia: favorable initial outcome and mechanisms of subsequent nonresponsiveness associated with the emergence of a D835 mutation. Blood 2012;119(22):5133-43. (Impact factor: 9.060)

Key Offices
  • Chief, Division of Haematology, Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
  • Director, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Queen Mary Hospital.

Patents
  1. Oral arsenic trioxide for treatment of leukaemia (US patent 7,521,071 B2)
  2. Oral arsenic trioxide for treatment of leukaemia (Japan patent 4786341)