Margaret H.L. NG(吳香玲)

MB ChB; MD(CUHK); FRCPath (UK)margaretng@cuhk.edu.hk

Personal Profile:


Professor Margaret NG is a haematopathology specialist, who has worked in the Department of Anatomical & Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital as a member of the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong since 1988. As a graduate from the CUHK, she is one of the few who joined her alma mater shortly after graduation and has been staying there to contribute for 3 decades till now, as Professor and Director in Haematopathology Section and the Honorary Chief of Service for the Hospital Authority.

Never dreamt to be a pathologist. As a student, she found pathology as an extremely hard subject. Unlike other graduates, her career path after graduation is totally not straight forward as the first batch of CUHK medical graduates in those days despite a rather attractive academic record [Gold Medal in Medicine and The most Outstanding Medical Student 1986]. Haematopathology was not a prominent specialty then, and to most people almost non-existent. Given the chance to work in the Dept. of A & C Pathology (Department of Morbid Anatomy then) by the then founding chairman, Prof. CK Lee, she chose to start training in haematopathology, based on just one reason. She liked the teaching on haematology given by the academic paediatric team and her dissertation in paediatric clerkship was on immune/idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, for which she was awarded a Cow & Gate Price in Perinatology. That was so encouraging to young Margaret.

Correct or not, her choice brought her to a field with diversified nature of service operations. She always describes haematopathology as a pathology cocktail, with automated analyzers dealing with a lot of numerical data like chemical pathology, with morphology assessment on glass slides like cyto/histo-pathology, with cell culture for chromosomes and stem cells in biological studies like microbiology and with provision of stem cell and blood products like a pharmacy. As a small specialty, not many informed experiences from seniors in the field for references that could be exploited to fine steer one’s perspectives. It has been a total adventurous expedition

Margaret obtained MRCPath (UK) in 1993 and became FRCPath (UK) in 2002. FHKCPath and FHKAM(Path) were awarded in 1994 and 1995 respectively. In the course of Fellowship training, she was thankful to a few teachers in Hong Kong, Dr. C S Feng, the late Prof. David Todd, Prof. TK Chan, Dr. Albert Lei, Dr. Edmond Chui and in Oxford, Dr. Pauline Emmerson, Dr. Tim Littlewood, Dr. James S Wainscoat and Dr. Paul Giangrande, where in the latter she spent over 6 months learning in the clinics, wards, laboratory, transfusion center and haemophilia center. Both the local and overseas training have critically benefited her in her professional developments. Out of curiosity and thinking of equipping herself with better managerial skills, she started on a part time MBA program in 1991 and obtained MBA (Warrick, UK) in 1996.

She obtained her MD, CUHK in 2003 based on the theme-based research on cytogenetics and epigenetics on Chinese myeloma that led to the publication of a series of papers in British Journal of Haematology, Clinical Cancer Research, American Journal of Pathology, Human Pathology, Apoptosis, Leukemia & Lymphoma and Oncology Reports.

 

Haematopathology Section of Dept. of A & C Pathology at Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Clinical Service Academic Research Education

 

Publications

Selected Publications on Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Myeloma

• Ng MH, Chung YF, Lo KW, Wickham NWR, Lee JCK, Huang DP. Frequent hypermethylation of p16 and p15 genes in multiple myeloma. Blood 89(7):2500-2506, 1997

• Wong IH, Ng MH, Lee JC, Lo KW, Chung YF and Huang DP. Transcriptional silencing of the p16 gene in human derived myeloma cell lines by hypermethylation. Br J Haematol 103(1): 168-175, 1998

• Ng MH, Kan A, Chung YF, Wong IH, Lo KW, Wickham NW, Lei KI, Lee JC. A combined morphological and interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization study in multiple myeloma of Chinese patients. Am J Pathol 154(1): 15-22, 1999

• Ng MH, Kan A, Chung YF, Wong IH, Lo KW. The nature of the clonogenic cell in multiple myeloma. [Letter] Am J Pathol 155(3): 1005-1007, 1999

• Ng MH, Wong IH and Lo KW. DNA methylation changes and multiple myeloma. Leuk Lym 34(5-6):463-472, 1999

• Ng MH, To KW, Lo KW, Chan S, Tsang KS, Cheng SH, Ng HK. Frequent death associated protein kinase promoter hypermethylation in multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res, 7:1724-1729, 2001

• Ng MH, Wong N, Tsang KS, Cheng SH, Chung YF, Lo KW. Recurrent chromosomal rearrangements involving breakpoints 3p21 and 19q13 in Chinese IgD multiple myeloma detected by G-banding and multicolor spectral karyotyping: a review of IgD karyotype literature. Hum Path 32(9): 1016-1020, 2001

• Ng MH. Death associated protein kinase: From regulation of apoptosis to tumor suppressive functions and B cell malignancies. Apoptosis 7(3):261-270, 2002

• Ng MH, Wong N, Lau TT, Tsang KS, SH Cheng, Chan NPH, Tang SH, Lei KI, Leung Y. Chromosomal aberrations of multiple myeloma in Chinese patients at diagnosis: A study by combined G-banding and multicolor spectral karyotyping. Oncol Rep 10(3):587-591, 2003

• Ng MH, Lau KM, Wong WS, To KW, Cheng SH, Tsang KS, Chan NP, Kho BC, Tong JH, Lo KW, Lam CW, Chan JC. Alterations of Ras signaling in multiple myeloma of Chinese: Absent BRAF and rare Ras mutations but frequent inactivation of RASSF1A by transcriptional silencing or expression of a non-functional variant transcript. Br J Haematol 123:637-645, 2003.

• Cheng SH, Ng MH, Tsang KS, Lau KM, Chan JC, Liu HS, Chu RW, Poon CS, Ng HK. Establishment and characterization of a cytogenetically complex Chinese multiple myeloma-derived cell line (MM17) with homozygous p53 deletion and cyclin E overexpression. Int J Oncol 24(5):1141-1148, 2004.

• Cheng SH, Ng MH, Lau KM, Liu HS, Chan JC, ABY Hui, Lo KW, Jiang H, Hou J, Chu R, Wong WS, Chan NPH, Ng HK. 4q loss is potentially an important genetic event in MM tumorigenesis: identification of a tumor suppressor gene regulated by promoter methylation at 4q13.3, platelet factor 4. Blood 109(5):2089-99, 2007

• Liang P, Cheng SH, Cheng CK, Lau KM, Lin SY, Chow EY, Chan NP, Ip RK, Wong RS, Ng MH. Platelet factor 4 induces cell apoptosis by inhibition of STAT3 via up-regulation of SOCS3 expression in multiple myeloma. Haematologica. 98(2):288-95, 2013.

• Cheung CHY, Cheng CK, Lau KM, Ip RKL, Chan NCN, Tam THC, Wong RSM, Raghupathy R, Chan NPH, Ng MHL. Prevalence and Clinicopathologic Significance of BRAF V600E Mutation in Chinese Multiple Myeloma Patients. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 18(7):e315-e325, 2018.

Selected Publications on HLA studies:

• Ng MH, Lau KM, Cheng SH, Li L, Chan WY, Hui PK, Zee B, Leung CB, Sung JJY. Association of HLA genotypes (HLA-B703 and HLA-DRB1*0301) with genetic susceptibility and resistance to the development of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). J Infect Dis 190:515-518, 2004.

• Ng MH, Lau KM, Hawkins BR, Chik KW, Chan NPH, Wong WS, Tsang KS, Shing MMK, Li CK. HLA-B67 may be a male-specific HLA marker of susceptibility to relapsed childhood ALL in Hong Kong Chinese: A retrospective analysis on 53 transplant candidates (1989-2003). Ann Hematol 85(8):534-41, 2006

• Chen L, Fong SYY, Lam CW, Tang NLS, Ng MHL, Li AM, Ho CKW, Cheng SH, Lau KM, Wing YK. The Familial Risk and HLA Susceptibility among Narcolepsy Patients in Hong Kong Chinese. Sleep 30(7):851-858, 2007

• Wing YK, Chen L, Fong SYY, Ng MHL, Ho CKW, Cheng SH, Tang NLS and Li AM. Narcolepsy in Southern Chinese- Clinical Characteristics, HLA Typing and Seasonality of Birth. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 79(11):1262-7, 2008

• Cheng SH, Kwan P, Ng HK, Ng MH. New testing approach in HLA genotyping helps overcome barriers in effective clinical practice. Clin Chem. 55(8):1568-72, 2009

• Ng MH, Cheng SH, Lau KM, Leung GM, Khoo US, Zee BC, Sung JJ. Immunogenetics in SARS: a case-control study. Hong Kong Med J. 16(5 Suppl 4):29-33, 2010.

• Wing YK, Chen L, Lam SP, Li AM, Tang NL, Ng MH, Cheng SH, Ho CK, Mok V, Leung HW, Lau A, Chan MH, Chan HS, Chan PS. Familial aggregation of narcolepsy. Sleep Med. 12(10):947-51, 2011

• Chiu LS, Hu M, Ng MH, Yeung CK, Chan JC, Chang MM, Cheng SH, Li L, Tomlinson B. Association between HLA-B*58:01 allele and severe cutaneous adverse reactions with allopurinol in Han Chinese in Hong Kong. Br J Dermatol. 167(1):44-9, 2012

• Ng MH, Cheng SH, Lai PB, Ling KK, Lau KM, Cheng CK, Wong N, Zee BC, Lin CK. Association of polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen alleles with development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Hong Kong Chinese. Hong Kong Med J. 18 Suppl 6:37-40, 2012

• Cheung YK, Cheng SH, Chan EJ, Lo SV, Ng MH, Kwan P. HLA-B alleles associated with severe cutaneous reactions to antiepileptic drugs in Han Chinese. Epilepsia. 54(7):1307-14. 2013

Selected Publications on Leukaemia:

• Ng MH, Tsang SS, Ng HK, Sriskandavarman V, Feng CS. An unusual case of hairy cell leukemia: death due to leucostasis and intracerebral haemorrhage. Hum Pathol 22:1298-1302, 1991

• Wong IH, Ng MH, Huang DP, Lee JCK. Aberrant p15 promoter methylation in adult and childhood acute leukemias for nearly all the morphologic subtypes: potential prognostic implications. Blood 95:1942-1949, 2000

• Tsang KS, Li CK, Chik KW, Shing MMK, Tsoi WC, Ng MH, Lau TT, Leung Y, Yuen PMP. TEL/AML1 rearrangement and the prognostic significance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Hong Kong. Am J Hematol 68:91-98, 2001

• Chan NP, Ng MH, Cheng SH, Lee V, Tsang KS, Lau TT, Li CK. Hereditary proximal duplication of chromosome 1 (q11q22) in a Chinese patient with T-lymphobalstic lymphoma/leukemia: A family study by G-banding and comparative genomic hybridization. J Med Genet 39:e79, 2002

• Tsang KS, Lau TT, Wong AP, Leung Y, Chik KW, Shing MMK, Li CK, Ng MH. Report of a case of novel translocation involving 11q23 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 150:78-80, 2004.

• Chan NPH, Wong WS, Ng MHL, Tsang KS, Lau TT, Leung Y, Chik KW, Shing MMK, Li CK. Childhood acute myeloid leukemia with CBF-MYH11 rearrangement: A study of incidence, morphology, cytogenetics and clinical outcomes of Chinese in Hong Kong. Am J Hematol 76:300-303, 2004

• Wong WS, Cheng CK, Lau KM, Chan NPH, Shing MMK, Cheng SH, Chik KW, Li CK, Ng MHL. Clonal evolution of 8p11 stem cell syndrome in a 14-year-old Chinese boy: A review of literature of t(8;13) associated myeloproliferative diseases. Leuk Res. 31(2):235-8, 2007

• Wong RSM, Cheng CK, Chan NPH, Cheng SH, Wong WS, Lau KM, Cheng G, Ng MHL. JAK2 V617F mutation is associated with increased risk of thrombosis in Chinese patients with essential thrombocythaemia. Br. J Haematol. 141(6):902-4, 2008

• Cheng CK, Li L, Cheng SH, Lau KM, Chan NPH, Wong RSM, Shing MMK, Li CK, Ng MHL. Transcriptional repression of the RUNX3/AML2 gene by the t(8;21) and inv(16) fusion proteins in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 112(8); 3391-402, 2008

• Mejstříková E, Froňková E, Kalina T, Omelka M, Batinić D, Dubravčić K, Pospíšilová K, Vášková M, Luria D, Cheng SH, Ng M, Leung Y, Kappelmayer J, Kiss F, Izraeli S, Stark B, Schrappe M, Trka J, Starý J, Hrušák O. Detection of residual B precursor lymphoblastic leukemia by uniform gating flow cytometry. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 16;54(1):62-70, 2009

• Cheng CK, Li L, Cheng SH, Ng K, Chan NP, Ip RK, Wong RSM, Shing MM, Li CK, Ng MH. Secreted-frizzled related protein 1 is a transcriptional repression target of the t(8;21) fusion protein in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 15;118(25):6638-48, 2011

• Cheng CK, Kwan TK, Cheung CY, Ng K, Liang P, Cheng SH, Chan NP, Ip RK, Wong RS, Lee V, Li CK, Yip SF, Ng MH. A polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the NPM1 gene causes illegitimate regulation by microRNA-337-5p and correlates with adverse outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. 98(6):913-7, 2013

• Cheng SH, Lau KM, Li CK, Chan NP, Ip RK, Cheng CK, Lee V, Shing MM, Leung AW, Ha SY, Cheuk DK, Lee AC, Li CH, Luk CW, Ling SC, Hrusak O, Mejstrikova E, Leung Y, Ng MH. Minimal residual disease-based risk stratification in chinese childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia by flow cytometry and plasma DNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction. PLoS One. 25;8(7):e69467, 2013

• Mussai F, Egan S, Higginbotham-Jones J, Perry T, Beggs A, Odintsova E, Loke J, Pratt G, U KP, Lo A, Ng M, Kearns P, Cheng P, De Santo C. Arginine dependence of acute myeloid leukemia blast proliferation: a novel therapeutic target. Blood 9;125(15):2386-96, 2015

• Cheng CK, Chan NP, Wan TS, Lam LY, Cheung CH, Wong TH, Ip RK, Wong RS, Ng MH. Helicase-like transcription factor is a RUNX1 target whose downregulation promotes genomic instability and correlates with complex cytogenetic features in acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica. 101(4):448-5, 2016

• Cheng CK, Wang AZ, Wong THY, Wan TSK, Cheung JS, Raghupathy R, Chan NPH, Ng MHL. FNDC3B is another novel partner fused to RARA in the t(3;17)(q26;q21) variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 129(19):2705-2709, 2017.

• Cheng CK, Wong THY, Wan TSK, Wang AZ, Chan NPH, Chan NCN, Li CK, Ng MHL. • RUNX1 upregulation via disruption of long-range transcriptional control by a novel t(5;21)(q13;q22) translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. Mol Cancer. 17(1):133, 2018

• De Santo C, Booth S, Vardon A, Cousins A, Tubb V, Perry T, Noyvert B, Beggs A, Ng M, Halsey C, Kearns P, Cheng P, Mussai F. The arginine metabolome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia can be targeted by the pegylated-recombinant arginase I BCT-100. Int J Cancer. 142(7):1490-1502, 2018

 


Contact for Communication:

Email: margaretng@cuhk.edu.hk

Phone: 3505-2179 (Margaret’s Office)

Fax: 2637-6274 (Department of A & C Pathology)