About

Arnold Chin, MD, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Urology at UCLA, with additional memberships in the Institute of Urologic Oncology, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and the Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy program. His clinical interests include urologic oncology, specifically bladder, prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, as well as laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. His laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular pathways that influence tumor growth, metastasis, and response to immune-based therapies in urologic malignancies. His research has identified an alternatively spliced form of the transcription factor FOXP3 that activates bladder cancer stem cells and makes them more aggressive, with efforts underway to develop novel inhibitors of FOXP3. Additionally, his team studies the characteristics of tumor populations in micrometastatic lymph nodes to improve pathologic staging and therapeutic strategies for metastasis.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Cancer research
• Biology
• Pathology
• Oncology
• Cell biology

Selected publications

• Abstract 6514: Detection of bladder cancer in patients with microscopic hematuria using Oncuria-Detect, interim analysis of an international prospective study

  Cancer Research · 2026-04-03

  article

  Abstract Background- Microscopic hematuria occurs in up to 10% of the general population and initiates costly evaluation to ensure no bladder cancer exists. Oncuria-Detect is a 10-plex immunoassay that detects de novo bladder cancer by generating a protein biomarker signature from a single voided urine sample. This report details the interim analysis of our prospective study that compares the diagnostic performance of the multiplex Oncuria-Detect assay to that of the single-analyte (i.e., NMP22) BladderChek urine assay and urine cytology for identifying bladder cancer in patients with microscopic hematuria. Methods- From September 2018 through July 2025, 9 medical facilities in the US and Japan prospectively enrolled 292 eligible patients (∼30%) of the proposed 900 patients with microscopic hematuria into this study. The bladder cancer diagnostic reference standard was cystoscopy with biopsy. Pre-cystoscopy, patients provided a urine sample for analysis by Oncuria-Detect and BladderChek (analyzed in a blinded manner) as well as urine cytology. Results- Bladder cancer was diagnosed in 22 patients (7.5%). The Oncuria-Detect assay had the following performance characteristics 82.0% sensitivity, 37.8% specificity, 97.5% adjusted negative predictive value (NPV) compared to BladderChek (9.3% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity, 95.4% adjusted NPV) and cytology (44.8% sensitivity, 99.3% specificity, 97.2% adjusted NPV). Oncuria-Detect displayed better sensitivity than BladderChek and cytology for identifying early- and late-stage cancer. Conclusions- In this interim analysis of an international prospective trial, Oncuria-Detect performed favorably in the non-invasive evaluation of bladder cancer presence in patients presenting with microscopic hematuria. Citation Format: Sunao Tanaka, Yair Lotan, Makito Miyake, Edward M. Messing, Arnold I. Chin, Menghan Liu, Ian Pagano, Yingye Zheng, Charles Joel Rosser, Zhen Zhang, Hideki Furuya. Detection of bladder cancer in patients with microscopic hematuria using Oncuria-Detect, interim analysis of an international prospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 6514.

  PublisherDOI

• Abstract 6513: Detection of bladder cancer in patients with gross hematuria using Oncuria-Detect, a urine-based multiplex immunoassay

  Cancer Research · 2026-04-03

  article

  Abstract Background- Cystoscopy is standard of care in evaluating patients with gross hematuria for bladder cancer with hematuria being the primary sign of bladder cancer. Oncuria-Detect, a liquid biopsy to detect de novo bladder cancer from a single voided urine sample demonstrated favorable performance. Methods- To investigate whether Oncuria-Detect, a multiplex immunoassay that detects a urothelial cancer associated diagnostic signature composed of 10 proteins in voided urine could improve detection of urothelial cancer while evaluating participants with gross hematuria. From September 2016 through July 2025, 9 academic, private practice, and hospital facilities in the US and Japan prospectively enrolled 450 participants with gross hematuria into this urothelial cancer evaluation study. Diagnosis of urothelial cancer was based on cystoscopy (or ureteroscopy) with biopsy, which is accepted as the reference standard. Prior to the cystoscopic/ureteroscopic evaluation, participants provided a urine sample for analysis of Oncuria-Detect and BladderChek (analyzed in a blinded manner) as well as urine cytology. The performance of Oncuria-Detect was compared with BladderChek and urine cytology as an aid to detect de novo urothelial cancer with cystoscopy/ureteroscopy and histological evaluation. Results- Urothelial cancer was diagnosed in 97 participants (4 of whom had upper tract urothelial carcinoma and 93 with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder). The Oncuria-Detect assay was positive in 80 of 97 participants with cancer resulting in a sensitivity of 82.6% (95% CI, 74.9%-89.6%) with a specificity of 33.3% (95% CI, 28.7%-38.7%) and 88.4% adjusted negative predictive value (NPV) (95% CI, 83.8%-93.0%). BladderChek results were positive in 16 of 97 participants resulting in a sensitivity, 16.4% (95% CI, 10.0%-23.5%) with a specificity of 99.2% (95% CI, 98.0%-100.0%) and 82.6% adjusted NPV (95% CI, 81.5%-83.7%), whereas cytology test results were positive in 35 of 97 participants with a noted sensitivity of 35.7% (95% CI, 26.5%-46.1%) at a specificity of 99.7% (95% CI, 99.1%-100.0%) and 86.1% adjusted NPV (95% CI 84.4-88.1). Oncuria-Detect sensitivity remained high for low-grade 81.7% (95% CI, 67.2%-94.7%) vs. high grade 82.7% (95% CI, 74.2%-90.9%) and NMIBC 82.9% (95% CI, 74.4%-90.8%) vs. MIBC 79.8% (95% CI, 61.3%-94.7%). Conclusions- In this large prospective trial, Oncuria-Detect, had a substantially superior sensitivity compared to both BladderChek and urinary cytology in detecting de novo urothelial cancers, allowing it to effectively rule out approximately 30% of individuals presenting for gross hematuria evaluation. Citation Format: Sunao Tanaka, Yair Lotan, Makito Miyake, Edward M. Messing, Arnold I. Chin, Menghan Liu, Ian Pagano, Toru Sakatani, Yingye Zheng, Zhen Zhang, Charles Joel Rosser, Hideki Furuya. Detection of bladder cancer in patients with gross hematuria using Oncuria-Detect, a urine-based multiplex immunoassay [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 6513.

  PublisherDOI

• PD13-15 DETECTION OF BLADDER CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH MICROSCOPIC HEMATURIA USING ONCURIA-DETECT, INTERIM ANALYSIS OF AN INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTIVE STUDY

  The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27

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  PublisherDOI

• PD13-11 DETECTION OF BLADDER CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH GROSS HEMATURIA USING ONCURIA-DETECT, A URINE-BASED MULTIPLEX IMMUNOASSAY

  The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Multimodal targeting of metastatic renal cell carcinoma via CD70-directed allogeneic CAR-NKT cells

  Cell Reports Medicine · 2025-08-29 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access

  Li et al. generate allogeneic CD70-directed CAR-engineered NKT (AlloCAR70-NKT) cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using a clinically guided culture method. These cells exhibit multimodal targeting of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment, and alloreactive T cells, representing a promising approach for metastatic RCC therapy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 54Allogeneic HSPC-engineered CD70-directed CAR-NKT cells for renal cell carcinoma targeting tumor, microenvironment, and alloreactive T cells

  The Oncologist · 2025-10-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Background Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), originating from renal epithelium, is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer, accounting for over 90% of all cases. Although targeted therapies such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have improved clinical outcomes, approximately 33% of patients still progress to metastatic disease, with a 5-year survival of only 12%. These limitations highlight the urgent need for more effective and Innovative treatment options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapy targeting CD70 is emerging as an attractive approach for RCC. Clinical trials investigating CD70-directed CAR-T (CAR70-T) cell therapies in RCC are currently underway. Despite their therapeutic potential, current CAR70-T cell therapies face several key limitations. Clinical responses have been modest, likely due to the inherent challenges posed by solid tumors, including antigen heterogeneity and a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To overcome these limitations, the development of potent, off-the-shelf CAR70-based cell therapies that can address RCC tumor immune evasion and TME-associated suppression is critically needed. Methods To address these challenges, we employed our previously established hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) gene engineering technology and a clinically guided culture method to generate allogeneic CD70-directed CAR-engineered invariant natural killer T (AlloCAR70-NKT) cells for the treatment of RCC. Through the use of a comprehensive array of experimental models, including primary RCC patient samples, patient-derived tumor cell lines, in vitro functional assays, and both orthotopic and metastatic in vivo xenograft models, we comprehensively evaluated the AlloCAR70-NKT cells, including their manufacturing, in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy, mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, safety, and immunogenicity. Results In this study, we characterize primary RCC patient samples and identify a distinct opportunity to leverage CAR-NKT cells for therapeutic intervention. Utilizing a clinically guided culture method, we successfully generated AlloCAR70-NKT cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, with high purity, robust expansion, and no fratricide risk. These cells demonstrated multimodal targeting capabilities, including potent cytotoxicity against orthotopic and metastatic RCCs via both CAR- and NK receptor-mediated mechanisms, as well as selective engagement of the immunosuppressive TME through TCR recognition. Notably, host alloreactive T cells express elevated levels of CD70 and can be efficiently targeted by AlloCAR70-NKT cells, leading to enhanced in vivo persistence of therapeutic cells. Conclusions Taken together, our findings support the therapeutic potential of AlloCAR70-NKT cells as a next-generation, off-the-shelf immunotherapy with dual tumor- and TME-targeting functionality, and the added advantage of alloreactive T cell elimination, offering a compelling strategy for treating RCC.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Development and Validation of an Automated Method to Identify Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer Using Natural Language Processing

  UNC Libraries · 2025-09-18

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  INTRODUCTION: Measurement for quality improvement relies on accurate case identification and characterization. With electronic health records now widely deployed, natural language processing, the use of software to transform text into structured data, may enrich quality measurement. Accordingly we evaluated the application of natural language processing to radical cystectomy procedures for patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: From a sample of 497 procedures performed from March 2013 to October 2014 we identified radical cystectomy for primary bladder cancer using the approaches of 1) a natural language processing enhanced algorithm, 2) an administrative claims based algorithm and 3) manual chart review. We also characterized treatment with robotic surgery and continent urinary diversion. Using chart review as the reference standard we calculated the observed agreement (kappa statistic), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for natural language processing and administrative claims. RESULTS: We confirmed 84 radical cystectomies were performed for bladder cancer, with 50.0% robotic and 38.6% continent diversions. The natural language processing enhanced and claims based algorithms demonstrated 99.8% (κ=0.993, 95% CI 0.979-1.000) and 98.6% (κ=0.951, 95% CI 0.915-0.987) agreement with manual review, respectively. Both approaches accurately characterized robotic vs open surgery, with natural language processing enhanced algorithms showing 98.8% (κ=0.976, 95% CI 0.930-1.000) and claims based 90.5% (κ=0.810, 95% CI 0.686-0.933) agreement. For urinary diversion natural language processing enhanced algorithms correctly specified 96.4% of cases (κ=0.924, 95% CI 0.839-1.000) compared with 83.3% (κ=0.655, 95% CI 0.491-0.819). CONCLUSIONS: Natural language processing enhanced and claims based algorithms accurately identified radical cystectomy cases at our institution. However, natural language processing appears to better classify specific aspects of cystectomy surgery, highlighting a potential advantage of this emerging methodology.

  PublisherDOI

• Serotonin transporter inhibits antitumor immunity through regulating the intratumoral serotonin axis

  Cell · 2025-05-21 · 55 citations

  articleOpen access

  Identifying additional immune checkpoints hindering antitumor T cell responses is key to the development of next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Here, we report the induction of serotonin transporter (SERT), a regulator of serotonin levels and physiological functions in the brain and peripheral tissues, in tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells. Inhibition of SERT using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most widely prescribed antidepressants, significantly suppressed tumor growth and enhanced T cell antitumor immunity in various mouse syngeneic and human xenograft tumor models. Importantly, SSRI treatment exhibited significant therapeutic synergy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade, and clinical data correlation studies negatively associated intratumoral SERT expression with patient survival in a range of cancers. Mechanistically, SERT functions as a negative-feedback regulator inhibiting CD8 T cell reactivities by depleting intratumoral T cell-autocrine serotonin. These findings highlight the significance of the intratumoral serotonin axis and identify SERT as an immune checkpoint, positioning SSRIs as promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Stereotactic Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy After Radical Prostatectomy (SCIMITAR): 4-Year Outcomes of a Phase 2 Clinical Trial

  European Urology · 2025-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Supplementary Table 2 from Role of Forkhead Box P3 in IFNγ-Mediated PD-L1 Expression and Bladder Cancer Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

  2024-09-25

  supplementary-materialsOpen accessSenior author

  <p>FDRs and p-values of IFNgamma induced genes</p>

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Frequent coauthors

• Matteo Pellegrini

  65 shared

• Kris Prado

  54 shared

• Liang Wang

  43 shared

• Yiqian Gu

  43 shared

• Emily Chou

  42 shared

• Paul Zhang

  41 shared

• Hanwei Zhang

  41 shared

• Ann Ly

  41 shared

Education

• M.D.

  UCLA

• Ph.D.

  UCLA

Awards & honors

• Super Doctors® Southern California, 2022 - 2026
• Super Doctors® Southern California Rising Stars 2018
• STOP Cancer Research Career Development Award 2010
• American Association of Cancer Research Career Development A…