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Anas Younes, M.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Director, Clinical and Translational Research Program, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard - Unit 429
Unit Number: 429
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713/745-4256
Fax: 713/794-5656
Email: ayounes@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1983 The University of Damascus School of Medicine, Damascus, Syria, MD, Medicine

Postgraduate Training

7/1989-6/1992 Fellow, Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
7/1986-6/1989 Residency in Internal Medicine, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
7/1985-6/1986 Residency in Pathology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH
7/1984-6/1985 Guest Researcher, Endocrine and Reproductive Research Branch (ERRB), NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Dr. Kevin Catt

Board Certifications

2012 American Board of Medical Oncology
9/1989 American Board of Internal Medicine

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Faculty Member, Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 1998-2009
Associate Professor, Division of Cancer Medicine, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1997-2003
Assistant Professor, Division of Cancer Medicine, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1992-1997

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Team Leader, Hodgkin Lymphoma & T-Cell Lymphoma Program, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004-present
Team Leader, Lymphoma and Myeloma Drug Development Program, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2003-present

Other Appointments/Responsibilities

IAB Member, MD Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck SPORE, Houston, TX, 1/2010-present
Member, National Cancer Institute/Lymphoma Steering Committee, Bethesda, MD, 12/2009-present
Member (Scientific Advisory Board), Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY, 3/2009-present
Member, EAB, Rochester/Tuscon Lymphoma SPORE, Rochester, NY, 2009-present
Member, NCI Subcommittee, H Study Section, Bethesda, MD, 2009
EAB Member, Metabolism Branch, NCI, Bethesda, MD, 2009
Member, Lymphoma Committe, Southwest Oncology Group, San Antonio, TX, 10/2008-present
Member, SAB, International Symposium on Hodgkin Lymphoma, Cologne, Germany, 2007-present
Member (Adhoc), NCI SEP Study Section, Bethesda, MD, 2007-present

Institutional Committee Activities

Member, Clinical Faculty Review Committee, 9/2009-2/2010
Member, MDACC SWOG Executive Committee, 2009-present
Member, Clinical Faculty Review Committee, 9/2008-8/2011
Chairman, Council of Committee Chairs, 9/2008-8/2006
Co-director, AYA Program, 2007-present
Member, Phase II Committee, 2007-present
Chairman, MD Anderson Bylaws Committee, 2006-present
Member, MDACC Bylaws Working Group, 1/2004-1/2006
Chairman, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECMS), 9/2003-8/2006
Member, MDACC Quality Council, 1/2003-present
Member (alternate), Clinical Research Review Committee, 1/2003-1/2004
Member (alternate), Institution Review Board (IRB), 1/2003-1/2004
Member, Fellowship Supervisory Committee, 2003-2005
Vice Chair, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECMS), 1/2002-8/2003
Member, MD Anderson Faculty Achievement Award Selection Committee, 1/2002
Member, Medical Oncology Fellowship Selection Committee, 2002-2007
Member, Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) Steering Committee, 1/2001-1/2004
Member, Research Funding Oversight Committee, Institutional Research Grant Program, 1/2000-present
Member, Order Set Project, 1/2000
Member, Advisory Committee of the Grants & Contracts Database, 1/1999-present
Alternate Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, 1/1999-1/2002
Chairman, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, 1/1998-1/2002
Chairman, Medication Use Task Force, 1/1998-1/1999
Member, Quality Improvement Subcommittee, 1/1997
Member, MD Anderson Presidential Search Committee, 1/1996
Member, Physician Advisor for Utilization Review, 1/1994-1/1998
Member, Institution Review Board (IRB), 1/1992-1/1994
Member, Medical Records Subcommittee, 1/1991-1/1994

Honors and Awards

1996-1999 Clinical Oncology Career Development Award, American Cancer Society
1996-1999 Faculty Excellence Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center
1991-1992 Clinical Scholars Award for Biomedical Research, Sloan-Kettering Institute
1991-1992 Dana Research Fellow, Sloan-Kettering Institute

Professional Memberships

American Association for Cancer Research - #9997
Member, 4/1992-present
American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, FL
Member, 4/1992-present
American Society of Hematology, Washington, DC
Member, 4/2009-present
Harris County Medical Society, Houston, TX
Member, 1/2008-present
Southwest Oncology Group, Chicago, IL
Member, 1/2006-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Younes A, Kim S, Romaguera J, Copeland A, Farial Sde C, Kwak LW, Fayad L, Hagemeister F, Fanale M, Neelapu S, Lambert JM, Morariu-Zamfir R, Payrard S, Gordon LI. Phase I Multidose-Escalation Study of the Anti-CD19 Maytansinoid Immunoconjugate SAR3419 Administered by Intravenous Infusion Every 3 Weeks to Patients With Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 30(22):2776-82, 8/1/2012. e-Pub 7/2/2012. PMID: 22753910.
2. Buglio D, Palakurthi S, Byth K, Vega F, Toader D, Saeh J, Neelapu SS, Younes A. Essential role of TAK1 in regulating mantle cell lymphoma survival. Blood 120(2):347-55, 7/12/2012. e-Pub 5/30/2012. PMID: 22649101.
3. Wang M, Fayad L, Wagner-Bartak N, Zhang L, Hagemeister F, Neelapu SS, Samaniego F, McLaughlin P, Fanale M, Younes A, Cabanillas F, Fowler N, Newberry KJ, Sun L, Young KH, Champlin R, Kwak L, Feng L, Badillo M, Bejarano M, Hartig K, Chen W, Chen Y, Byrne C, Bell N, Zeldis J, Romaguera J. Lenalidomide in combination with rituximab for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle-cell lymphoma: a phase 1/2 clinical trial. Lancet Oncol 13(7):716-23, 7/2012. e-Pub 6/6/2012. PMID: 22677155.
4. Younes A, Sureda A, Ben-Yehuda D, Zinzani PL, Ong TC, Prince HM, Harrison SJ, Kirschbaum M, Johnston P, Gallagher J, Le Corre C, Shen A, Engert A. Panobinostat in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma After Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation: Results of a Phase II Study. J Clin Oncol 30(18):2197-203, 6/20/2012. e-Pub 4/30/2012. PMID: 22547596.
5. Younes A, Gopal AK, Smith SE, Ansell SM, Rosenblatt JD, Savage KJ, Ramchandren R, Bartlett NL, Cheson BD, de Vos S, Forero-Torres A, Moskowitz CH, Connors JM, Engert A, Larsen EK, Kennedy DA, Sievers EL, Chen R. Results of a Pivotal Phase II Study of Brentuximab Vedotin for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 30(18):2183-9, 6/20/2012. e-Pub 3/26/2012. PMID: 22454421.
6. Monroy CM, Cortes AC, Lopez M, Rourke E, Etzel CJ, Younes A, Strom SS, El-Zein R. Hodgkin lymphoma risk: Role of genetic polymorphisms and gene-gene interactions in DNA repair pathways. Mol Carcinog 50(11):825-34, 11/2011. e-Pub 3/3/2011. PMCID: PMC3131460.
7. Buglio D, Khaskhely NM, Voo KS, Martinez-Valdez H, Liu YJ, Younes A. HDAC11 plays an essential role in regulating OX40 ligand expression in Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood 117(10):2910-7, 3/10/2011. e-Pub 1/14/2011. PMCID: PMC3062301.
8. Monroy CM, Cortes AC, Lopez MS, D'Amelio AM, Etzel CJ, Younes A, Strom SS, El-Zein RA. Hodgkin disease risk: Role of genetic polymorphisms and gene-gene interactions in inflammation pathway genes. Mol Carcinog 50(1):36-46, 1/2011. e-Pub 11/2010. PMID: 21061265.
9. Younes A, Bartlett NL, Leonard JP, Kennedy DA, Lynch CM, Sievers EL, Forero-Torres A. Brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) for relapsed CD30-positive lymphomas. N Engl J Med 363(19):1812-21, 11/4/2010. PMID: 21047225.
10. Smith SM, van Besien K, Karrison T, Dancey J, McLaughlin P, Younes A, Smith S, Stiff P, Lester E, Modi S, Doyle LA, Vokes EE, Pro B. Temsirolimus has activity in non-mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes: The University of Chicago phase II consortium. J Clin Oncol 28(31):4740-6, 11/2010. e-Pub 9/2010. PMID: 20837940.
11. Buglio D, Mamidipudi V, Khaskhely NM, Brady H, Heise C, Besterman J, Martell RE, MacBeth K, Younes A. The class-I HDAC inhibitor MGCD0103 induces apoptosis in Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines and synergizes with proteasome inhibitors by an HDAC6-independent mechanism. Br J Haematol 151(4):387-96, 11/2010. e-Pub 9/29/2010. PMID: 20880107.
12. Gloghini A, Buglio D, Khaskhely NM, Georgakis G, Orlowski RZ, Neelapu SS, Carbone A, Younes A. Expression of histone deacetylases in lymphoma: implication for the development of selective inhibitors. Br J Haematol 147(4):515-25, 11/2009. e-Pub 9/2009. PMID: 19775297.
13. Wang M, Oki Y, Pro B, Romaguera JE, Rodriguez MA, Samaniego F, McLaughlin P, Hagemeister F, Neelapu S, Copeland A, Samuels BI, Loyer EM, Ji Y, Younes A. Phase II Study of Yttrium-90-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 27(27):5213-5218, 11/2009. e-Pub 9/2009. PMID: 19770379.
14. Advani R, Forero-Torres A, Furman RR, Rosenblatt JD, Younes A, Ren H, Harrop K, Whiting N, Drachman JG. Phase I study of the humanized anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody dacetuzumab in refractory or recurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 27(26):4371-7, 9/2009. e-Pub 7/2009. PMID: 19636010.
15. Forero-Torres AR, Furman RR, Rosenblatt JD, Younes A, Ren H, Harrop K, Whiting N, and Drachman JG. Phase I Study of the Humanized Anti-CD40 Monoclonal Antibody Dacetuzumab in Refractory or Recurrent Non-Hodgkni's Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 1(21):3017, 7/2009.
16. Luqman M, Klabunde S, Lin K, Georgakis GV, Cherukuri A, Holash J, Goldbeck C, Xu X, Kadel EE, Lee SH, Aukerman SL, Jallal B, Aziz N, Weng WK, Wierda W, O'Brien S, Younes A. The antileukemia activity of a human anti-CD40 antagonist antibody, HCD122, on human chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 112(3):711-20, 8/2008. e-Pub 5/2008. PMCID: PMC2481542.
17. Buglio D, Georgakis GV, Hanabuchi S, Arima K, Khaskhely NM, Liu Y, and Younes A. Vorinostat inhibits STAT6-mediated TH2 cytokine and TARC production and induces cell death in Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines. Blood 112(4):1424 - 1433, 8/2008. e-Pub 6/2008. PMCID: PMC2515130.
18. Suh G, Younes A. Prognosis and outcomes of lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma. Nat Clin Pract Oncol 5(7):368-9, 7/2008. e-Pub 6/2008. PMID: 18542117.
19. Younes A. Therapeutic activity of mTOR inhibitors in mantle cell lymphoma: clues but no clear answers. Autophagy 4(5):707-9, 7/2008. e-Pub 5/2008. PMID: 18469512.
20. Coiffier B, Altman A, Pui CH, Younes A, Cairo MS. Guidelines for the Management of Pediatric and Adult Tumor Lysis Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review. J Clin Oncol 26(16):2767-78, 6/2008. PMID: 18509186.
21. Leonard JP, Gregory SA, Maloney DG, Vose JM, Younes A, Zelenetz AD. Optimizing the treatment of patients with rituximab-pretreated recurrent indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 6(6):437-45, 6/2008. PMID: 18567989.
22. Yazbeck VY, Buglio D, Georgakis GV, Li Y, Iwado E, Romaguera JE, Kondo S, Younes A. Temsirolimus downregulates p21 without altering cyclin D1 expression and induces autophagy and synergizes with vorinostat in mantle cell lymphoma. Exp Hematol 36(4):443-50, 4/2008. PMID: 18343280.
23. Bartlett, NL, Younes A, Carabasi MH, Forero A, Rosenblatt JD, Leonard JP, Bernstein SH, Bociek RG, Lorenz JM, Hart BW, and Barton J. A Phase I Multidose Study of SGN-30 Immunotherapy in Patients with Refractory or Recurrent CD30+ Hematologic Malignancies. Blood 111:1854, 2/2008.
24. Oki Y, Pro B, Fayad LE, Romaguera J, Samaniego F, Hagemeister F, Neelapu S, McLaughlin P, Goy A, Younes A. Phase 2 study of gemcitabine in combination with rituximab in patients with recurrent or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer 112(4):831-6, 2/2008. PMID: 18085611.
25. Georgakis GV, Li Y, Rassidakis GZ, Medeiros LJ, Younes A. The HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG synergizes with doxorubicin and U0126 in anaplastic large cell lymphoma irrespective of ALK expression. Exp Hematol 34(12):1670-9, 12/2006. PMID: 17157164.
26. Georgakis GV, Li Y, Younes A. The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor 17-AAG induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma cell lines by depleting cyclin D1, Akt, Bid and activating caspase 9. Br J Haematol 135(1):68-71, 10/2006. e-Pub 8/2006. PMID: 16925576.

Invited Articles
1. Oki Y, Copeland A, Younes A. Clinical development of panobinostat in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. Expert Rev Hematol 4(3):245-52, 6/2011. PMID: 21668391.
2. C Potts B, X Albitar M, C Anderson K, Baritaki S, Berkers C, Bonavida B, Chandra J, Chauhan D, C Cusack J, Fenical W, M Ghobrial I, Groll M, R Jensen P, S Lam K, K Lloyd G, McBride W, J McConkey D, P Miller C, T C Neuteboom S, Oki Y, Ovaa H, Pajonk F, G Richardson P, M Roccaro A, M Sloss C, A Spear M, Valashi E, Younes A, Palladino MA. Marizomib, a proteasome inhibitor for all seasons: preclinical profile and a framework for clinical trials. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 11(3):254-84, 3/2011. PMID: 21247382.
3. Younes A. Beyond chemotherapy: new agents for targeted treatment of lymphoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 8(2):85-96, 2/2011. e-Pub 12/2010. PMCID: PMC3192435.
4. Derenzini E, Younes A. Predicting treatment outcome in classical Hodgkin lymphoma: genomic advances. Genome Med 3(4):26, 2011. e-Pub 4/2011. PMCID: PMC3129642.
5. Jona A, Younes A. Novel treatment strategies for patients with relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood Rev 24(6):233-8, 11/2010. e-Pub 9/2010. PMID: 20828898.
6. Copeland A and Younes A. Brentuximab Vedotin (SGN-35) for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and Anaplastic large cell lymphoma. 2010.
7. Oki Y, Younes A. Current role of gemcitabine in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma 49(5):883-9, 5/2008. PMID: 18452104.
8. Fanale MA, Younes A. Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cancer Treat Res 142:367-81, 2008. PMID: 18283795.
9. Fanale MA, Younes A. Monoclonal Antibodies in the Treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Drugs 67:333, 2007.
10. Younes A and Aggarwall BB. Clinical implications of the tumor necrosis factor family in benign and malignant hematologic disorders. Cancer 98:458-467, 2003.
11. Younes A and Kadin ME. Emerging applications of the tumor necrosis factor family of ligands and receptors in cancer therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology 21:3526-3534, 2003.
12. Fiumara P, Younes A. CD40 ligand (CD154) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (Apo-2L) in haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol 113:265-274, 2001.
13. King KM and Younes A. Rituximab: review and clinical applications focusing on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 1:177-186, 2001.
14. King K, Younes A. Ifosfamide and paclitaxel-based therapy of relapsed and refractory lymphoma. Seminars Oncol 27:14-22, 2000.
15. Lopez-Guillermo A, Cabanillas F, McLaughlin P, Smith T, Hagemeister F, Rodriguez MA, Romaguera JE, Younes A, Sarris AH, Preti HA, Pugh W, Lee MS. Molecular response assessed by PCR is the most important factor predicting failure-free survival in indolent follicular lymphoma: update of the MDACC series. Ann Oncol 11:137-140, 2000.
16. McLaughlin P, Hagemeister FB, Rodriguez MA, Sarris AH, Pate O, Younes A, Lee MS, Dang NH, Romaguera JE, Preti AH, McAda N, and Cabanillas F. Safety of Fludarabine, Mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone combined with rituximab in the treatment of stage IV indolent lymphoma. Seminars Oncol 27:37-41, 2000.
17. Younes A, Carbone A. CD30/CD30 ligand and CD40/CD40 ligand in maligant lymphoma. Int J Biol Markers 14:135-143, 1999.
18. Younes A. Paclitaxel-based treatment of lymphoma. Semin Oncol 26:123-128, 1999.
19. Younes A. The dynamics of life and death of maligant lymphocytes. Curr Op Oncol 11:364-369, 1999.
20. Younes A, Zhao S, Zhang X, Snell V, Clodi K, Kliche KO, Thomas E, Cabanillas F, Andreeff, M. CD30 ligand and CD40 ligand expression in lymph nodes involved with Hodgkin's disease. Annal Oncol 8(Suppl 2):S97 - S100, 1997.
21. Shade R, Younes A. In vitro and vivo biologic effects of IL-3 in follicular low-grade lymphooma. Leukemia & Lymphoma 26:17-25, 1997.
22. Younes A, Ayoub JP, Sarris A, North L, Pate O, McLaughlin P, Rodriguez MA, Romaguera J, Hagemeister F, Bachier C, Preti A and Cabanillas F. Paclitaxel (Taxol) for the treatment of lymphoma. Annal Oncol 8(Suppl 1):S129-S131, 1997. PMID: 9187446.
23. Clodi K, Younes A. Reed-Sternberg Cells and the TNF Family of Receptors/Ligands. Leukemia & Lymphoma 27:195-205, 1997.
24. Seymour JF, Younes A. Important chromosomal translocations in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: A review. Diag Oncol 4:12-17, 1994.
25. Kemeny N, Younes A. Alfa-2A Interferon and 5FU for advanced colorectal carcinoma. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Experience. Semin Oncol 19:171-175, 4/1992.

Editorials
1. Fowler N, Younes A. There will be blood: targeting tumor vasculature. Blood 113(10):2121-2, 3/2009. PMID: 19264922.
2. Wang M Younes A. Testicular Lymphoma: A mysterious link between the testis and the brain. Clin Lymphoma 3(3):173-174, 2002. PMID: 12521395.

Abstracts
1. R. W. Chen, A. K. Gopal, S. E. Smith, S. M. Ansell, J. D. Rosenblatt, K. J. Savage, J. M. Connors, A. Engert, E. K. Larsen, D. A. Kennedy, E. L. Sievers and A. Younes. Results from a pivotal phase II study of brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). ASCO Metting Abstracts 29(15):8031, 2011.

Book Chapters
1. Engret A, Younes A. Lymphocyte-Predoiminant Hodgkin Lymphoma. In: Hematologiv Malignancies: Hodgkin Lymphoma. Ed(s) A Engret, SJ Horning. Springer: New York, 229, 2011. ISBN: 978-3-642-12779-3.
2. Younes A, Engret A. New Agents for Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma. In: Hematologic Malignancies: Hodgkin Lymphoma. Ed(s) A Engret, SJ Horning. Springer: New York, 283, 2011. ISBN: 978-3-642-12779-3.

Last updated: 9/20/2012