Clinically relevant disease models
Development and characterization of a novel human ocular adnexal sebaceous carcinoma cell line—a durable foundation for answering questions that cannot be addressed through clinical observation alone.
Andrew J. Rong, MD · Stanford Medicine
Bench to Bedside Research
Dr. Rong’s research begins with clinical problems that do not yet have adequate answers. His program focuses particularly on ocular adnexal sebaceous carcinoma—an uncommon and potentially aggressive cancer of the eyelids and tissues around the eye—while extending to orbital tumors, ocular surface reconstruction, lacrimal disease, and complex periocular reconstruction.
Translational research in ocular adnexal oncology, oculoplastic surgery, and complex reconstructive disease.
Research focus
Improving early detection to save the eye and orbit
A clinically guided research aim that links disease modeling, molecular discovery, therapeutic investigation, and clinical trials.
Tumor biology & biomarkers
Single-cell RNA profiling and biomarker discovery to better understand the tumor microenvironment and identify molecular signals that may help strengthen diagnosis.
Therapeutic strategy
Study of clinically relevant topical chemotherapy approaches, including mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil, in ocular adnexal sebaceous carcinoma.
Translation to patient care
Research that informs the full patient journey: detection, treatment selection, surveillance, and reconstruction after management of eyelid, lacrimal, and orbital tumors.
Why this work matters
Rare diseases need purposeful research infrastructure.
Rare ocular cancers are difficult to study because cases are uncommon, disease models are limited, and the biological questions are complex. Progress requires a coordinated approach: careful clinical observation, representative laboratory models, molecular expertise, and collaboration across pathology, oncology, surgery, and basic science.
Dr. Rong’s prior work has developed a foundation across cell-line development, topical chemotherapy testing, single-cell RNA profiling, and diagnostic biomarker research. Current work includes investigation of CALML5 as a diagnostic marker for ocular sebaceous carcinoma.
Selected contributions
Research with a clinical purpose.
Selected peer-reviewed work reflecting the program’s progression from disease models and therapeutic investigation to molecular characterization and clinical management.
2025
Single-Cell RNA Profiling of Ocular Adnexal Sebaceous Carcinoma Reveals a Complex Tumor Microenvironment and Identifies New Biomarkers
American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025;270:8–18. PMID: 39393421.
2025
Efficacy of Topical Chemotherapy in Ocular Adnexal Sebaceous Carcinoma
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2025. PMID: 40925608.
2022
Effects of Mitomycin-C and 5-Fluorouracil on Ocular Adnexal Sebaceous Carcinoma Cells
American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022;240:14–22. PMID: 34995523.
2021
Establishment and Characterization of a Novel Human Ocular Adnexal Sebaceous Carcinoma Cell Line
Translational Vision Science & Technology. 2021;10(6):34. PMID: 34043754.