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Charles A. Conrad, M.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Conrad divides his time between active patient care within the clinic and laboratory investigations and has participated in numerous clinical trials evaluating agents for primary brain tumor therapy.  His focus has been to identify similarities of tumor biology and clinical progression in an attempt to develop new treatment agents that may be effective against primary brain tumors.  His primary areas of concern are to improve treatment strategies for patients with high-grade glial neoplasms and both his clinic and research efforts are directed towards these areas. He has four primary areas of focus within his laboratory concerning: (1) the development of oncolytic adenoviral therapies in conjunction with Dr. Juan Fueyo, Associate Professor in the Department of Neuro-Oncology; (2) evaluating the effectiveness of using newer signal transduction inhibitors in mouse brain tumor models; (3) novel in-house drug development with collaborations with researchers in the Department in Experimental Therapeutics, and  (4) developing an understanding of the biology of galactins in gliomagenesis and progression.

 

 

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1988 University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, MD, Medicine
1984 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, BS, Microbiology

Postgraduate Training

7/1992-6/1994 Clinical Fellow, Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
7/1989-6/1992 Resident, Neurology, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
7/1988-6/1989 Intern, Internal Medicine, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX

Board Certifications

6/1995 American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Associate Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2000-8/2008
Faculty Associate, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas, M.D., Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 7/1994-8/1995

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Director of Clinical Operations, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2009-present

Honors and Awards

2007-2008 Best Doctors, The Best Doctors in America
2005-2006 Multi-Year Appointment Award, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1993-1994 Fellowship Award, American Cancer Society
1992-1993 Fellowship Award, American Cancer Society

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Neurology
Member, 1/1994-present
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Member, 1/1994-present
American Medical Association
Member, 1/1994-present
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Member, 1/1994-present
Harris County Medical Society
Member, 1/1994-present
North American Brain Tumor Consortium
Member, 4/2000-present
Society for Neuro-Oncology
Member, 1/1995-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. deGroot, JF, Fuller G, Kumar A, Eterovic K, Ji Y, Conrad CA. Glioblastoma treatment with Bevacizumab: Radiographic and pathologic correlation in humans and animals. Neuro-Oncology. In Press.
2. Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, Gilbert MR, Levin VA, Conrad CA, Liu VH, Hunter K, Meyers C, Hess KR, Yung WKA. Two phase II trials of temozolomide with interferon-alpha2b (pegylated and non-pegylated) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Br J Cancer 101(4):615-620, 8/2009. PMID: 19672263.
3. He H, Nilsson CL, Emmett MR, Ji Y, Marshall AG, Kroes RA, Moskal JR, Colman H, Lang FF, Conrad CA. Polar lipid remodeling and increased sulfatide expression are associated with the glioma therapeutic candidates, wild type p53 elevation and the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, Irinotecan. Glycoconj J. e-Pub 6/2009. PMID: 19557511.
4. Hess KR, Puduvalli V, Colman H, Conrad CA, Gilbert MR, Weinberg J, Cristofanilli M, Yung WKA, Liu TJ. Biomarkers of disease: Cerebrospinal fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell derived factor (SDF)-1 levels in patients with neoplastic meningitis (NM) due to breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. J Neurooncol, 3/2009. e-Pub 3/2009. PMID: 19267183.
5. Jiang H, White EJ, Conrad C, Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J. Autophagy pathways in glioblastoma. Methods Enzymol 453:273-86, 2009. PMID: 19216911.
6. Gomez-Manzano C, Holash J, Fueyo J, Xu J, Conrad CA, Aldape KD, de Groot JF, Bekele BN, Yung WK. VEGF trap induces antiglioma effect at different stages of disease. Neuro Oncol 10(6):940-5, 12/2008. e-Pub 8/2008. PMID: 18708344.
7. Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, Chang SM, Conrad CA, Gilbert MR, Tremont-Lukats IW, Liu TJ, Peterson P, Schiff D, Cloughesy TF, Wen PY, Greenberg H, Abrey LE, Deangelis LM, Hess KR, Lamborn KR, Prados MD, Yung WK. A North American brain tumor consortium (NABTC 99-04) phase II trial of temozolomide plus thalidomide for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. J Neurooncol 81(3):271-7, 2/2007. e-Pub 9/2006. PMID: 17031561.
8. Wen PY, Yung WK, Lamborn KR, Dahia PL, Wang Y, Peng B, Abrey LE, Raizer J, Cloughesy TF, Fink K, Gilbert M, Chang S, Junck L. Schiff E, Lieberman F, Fine HA, Mehta M, robins HI, DeAngelis LM, Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, Levin V, conrad C, Maher EA, Aldape K, Hayes M, Letvak L, Egorin MJ, Capdeville R, Kaplan R, Murgo AJ, Stiles C, Prados MD. Phase I/II study of Imatinib mesylate for recurrent malignant gliomas: North American Brain Tumor consortium Study 99-08. Clin Cancer Res 12(16):4899-4907, 8/2006. PMID: 16914578.
9. Guo W, Zhu H, Zhang L, Davis J, Teraishi F, Roth JA, Stephens C, Fueyo J, Jiang H, Conrad C, Fang B. Combination effect of oncolytic adenovirotherapy and TRAIL gene therapy in syngeneic murine breast cancer models. Cancer Gene Ther 13(1):82-90, 2006. PMCID: PMC1343537.
10. Jiang H, Alemany R, Gomez-Manzano C, Medrano DR, Lemoine MG, Olson MV, Alonso MM, Lee OH, Conrad CC, Yung WK, Fueyo J. Downmodulation of E1A protein expression as a novel strategy to design cancer-selective adenoviruses. Neoplasia 7(8):723-9, 8/2005. PMCID: PMC1501891.
11. Chang SM, Wen P, Cloughesy T, Greenberg H, Schieff D, conrad C, Fink K Robins HI, deAngelis L, Raizer J, Hess K. Aldape K, Lamborn KR, Kuhn J. Dancey J, Prados MD. Phase II study of CCI-779 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Invest New Drugs 23(4):357-361, 8/2005. PMID: 16012795.
12. Conrad C, Miller CR, Ji Y, Gomez-Manzano C, Bharara S, McMurray JS, Lang FF, Wong F, Sawaya R, Yung WK, Fueyo J. Delta24-hyCD adenovirus suppresses glioma growth in vivo by combining oncolysis and chemosensitization. Cancer Gene Ther 12(3):284-94, 3/2005. PMID: 15650766.
13. Goudar RK, Shi Q, Hjelmeland MD, Keir ST, McLendon RE, Wikstrand CJ, Reese ED, Conrad CA, Traxler P, Lane HA, Reardon DA, Cavenee WK, Wang XF, Bigner DD, Friedman HS, Rich JN. Combination therapy of inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (AEE788) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (RAD001) offers improved glioblastoma tumor growth inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther 4(1):101-12, 2005. PMID: 15657358.
14. Jiang H, Gomez-Manzano C, Alemany R, Medrano D, Alonso M, Bekele BN, Lin E, Conrad CC, Yung WK, Fueyo J. Comparative effect of oncolytic adenoviruses with E1A-55 kDa or E1B-55 kDa deletions in malignant gliomas. Neoplasia 7(1):48-56, 2005. PMCID: PMC1490320.
15. Heimberger AB, Wang E, McGary EC, Hess KR, Henry VK, Shono T, Cohen Z, Gumin J, Sawaya R, Conrad CA, Lang FF. Mechanisms of action of rapamycin in gliomas. Neuro Oncol 7(1):1-11, 2005. PMCID: PMC1871627.
16. Chang SM, Kuhn J, Wen P, Greenberg H, Schiff D, Conrad C, Fink K, Robins HI, Cloughesy T, De Angelis L, Razier J, Hess K, Dancey J, Prados MD. Phase I/pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779 in patients with recurrent malignant glioma on enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs. Invest New Drugs 22(4):427-35, 11/2004. PMID: 15292713.
17. Puduvalli VK, Yung WK, Hess KR, Kuhn JG, Groves MD, Levin VA, Zwiebel J, Chang SM, Cloughesy TF, Junck L, Wen P, Lieberman F, Conrad CA, Gilbert MR, Meyers CA, Liu V, Mehta MP, Nicholas MK, Prados M. Phase II study of fenretinide (NSC 374551) in adults with recurrent malignant gliomas: A North American Brain Tumor Consortium study. J Clin Oncol 22(21):4282-9, 11/2004. PMID: 15514370.
18. Gomez-Manzano C, Balague C, Alemany R, Lemoine MG, Mitlianga P, Jiang H, Khan A, Alonso M, Lang FF, Conrad CA, Liu TJ, Bekele BN, Yung WK, Fueyo J. A novel E1A-E1B mutant adenovirus induces glioma regression in vivo. Oncogene 23(10):1821-8, 3/2004. PMID: 15014451.
19. Cerrato JA, Khan T, Koul D, Lang FF, Conrad CA, Yung WK, Liu TJ. Differential activation of the Fas/CD95 pathway by Ad-p53 in human gliomas. Int J Oncol 24(2):409-17, 2/2004. PMID: 14719118.
20. Colman H, Sai K. Wang S, Popoff S, Aldape KD., Lang FF, Conrad CA, Madden T. Yung A, Priebe W. Effect of a small molecule inhibitor of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway on self-renewal of glioblastoma stem cells. J Clin Oncol 26(May 20 Supplement), 5/2003.
21. Jiang H, Conrad C, Fueyo J, Gomez-Manzano C, Liu TJ. Oncolytic adenoviruses for malignant glioma therapy. Front Biosci 8:d577-88, 5/2003. PMID: 12700119.
22. Fueyo J, Alemany R, Gomez-Manzano C, Fuller GN, Khan A, Conrad CA, Liu TJ, Jiang H, Lemoine MG, Suzuki K, Sawaya R, Curiel DT, Yung WK, Lang FF. Preclinical characterization of the antiglioma activity of a tropism-enhanced adenovirus targeted to the retinoblastoma pathway. J Natl Cancer Inst 95(9):652-60, 5/2003. PMID: 12734316.
23. Chen Y, Ji YJ, Conrad C. Expression of ssDNA in mammalian cells. Biotechniques 34(1):167-71, 2003. PMID: 12545555.
24. Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J, Jiang H, Glass TL, Lee HY, Hu M, Liu JL, Jasti SL, Liu TJ, Conrad CA, Yung WK. Mechanisms underlying PTEN regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis. Ann Neurol 53(1):109-17, 2003. PMID: 12509854.
25. Lang FF, Gilbert MR, Puduvalli VK, Weinberg J, Levin VA, Yung WK, Sawaya R, Fuller GN, Conrad CA. Toward better early-phase brain tumor clinical trials: a reappraisal of current methods and proposals for future strategies. Neuro Oncol 4(4):268-77, 10/2002. PMCID: PMC1920662.
26. Conrad CA. Chemotherapy for metastatic tumors to the central nervous system. Curr Oncol Rep 3(6):490-4, 11/2001. PMID: 11595117.
27. Fueyo, J, Gomez-Manzano C, Fuller NG, Khan A, Lemoine MG, Lang FF, Conrad C, Yung WKA. Treatment of gliomas xenografts with D24 oncolytic adenovirus: A pathological study. Neurology 56:A407, 2001.
28. Conrad, CA, Steck PA. Protein tyrosine phosphatases in signal transduction. Cancer Bulletin 47 45:125-130, 1995.
29. Conrad CA, Stearns GW, 3rd, Prater WE, Rheiner JA, Johnson JR. Characterization of a glpK transducing phage. Mol Gen Genet 193(2):376-8, 1984. PMID: 6319974.

Invited Articles
1. Conrad CA, Milosavljevic VP, Yung WK. Advances in chemotherapy for brain tumors. Neurol Clin 13(4):795-812, 11/1995. PMID: 8583997.

Book Chapters
1. Hong J, White EJ, Conrad C, Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J. Autophagy Pathways in Glioblastoma. In: Methods in Enzymology. 453. Ed(s) Daniel J. Klionsky. Elsevier Inc. Academic Press: Burlington, 273-286, 2009. PMID: 978-0-12-274936-9.
2. Conrad CA, Heimberger AB. Innovative Treatment Strategies for High Grade Glioma. In: Tumors of the Brain and Spine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Series, 1. Ed(s) F Demonte, MR Gilbert, A Mahajan, IE McCutcheon. Springer: Houston, Texas, 171-187, 2007. PMID: 13:978-0387-29201-4.
3. Conrad CA, Yung WKA. Systemic chemotherapy for metastatic tumors of the central nervous system. In: Brain Tumors, 1. Ed(s) Francis Ali-Osman (ed). Humana Press: USA, 267-278, 2005.
4. Conrad CA, Pro B, Prabbu S, McCutcheon IE, Demonte F. Primary Brain Tumors. In: Atlas of Cancer, 1. Ed(s) Maurie Markman. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,: Philadelphia, PA, 561-593, 2002. PMID: 0-7817-4280-3.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: SPORE in Brain Cancer - Project 4: Modulation of cognitive function and outcomes in glioblastoma patients
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Program Leader
Principal Investigator: W.K. Alfred Yung, M.D.
Duration: 9/1/2008 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: SPORE in Brain Cancer - Core E - Animal Core
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Director
Principal Investigator: W.K.Alfred Yung, M.D.
Duration: 9/1/2008 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Targeted Treatment and Imaging of Glioma
Funding Source: Center for Targeted Therapy
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Oliver Bogler, Ph.D.
Duration: 12/1/2007 - 11/30/2009
 
Title: Stat3 Drug Development for High Grade Gliomas
Funding Source: UTMDACC Development Office Gifts
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 11/13/2007 - 11/20/2012
 
Title: Project 4: Development of glycolytic inhibitors for patients with recurrent ependymomas
Funding Source: Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network (CERN)
Role: Project Leader
Principal Investigator: Mark Gilbert
Duration: 7/20/2007 - 7/19/2012
 
Title: Image Localization for Pathologic Correlation of Delta-24-RGD
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 6/1/2007 - 5/31/2010
 
Title: Early Therapeutics Development with Phase II Emphasis (PC-A)
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: David Stewart
Duration: 1/1/2006 - 12/31/2009

Last updated: 9/23/2009