Skip to Content

'
Gheath Alatrash

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Tenure-track Physician-Scientist, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2002 University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, DO, Highest Honors, Osteopathic Medicine
2002 University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, PHD, Biomedical Sciences
1995 Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, BS, Magna Cum Laude, Biology

Postgraduate Training

7/2005-6/2008 Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology/Hematology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
9/2002-6/2005 Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine/Clinician-Scholar Pathway, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

Board Certifications

2009 Hematology
2008 Medical Oncology
2005 Internal Medicine

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Instructor, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008-2009
Clinical Specialist, Intensive Care Unit, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2005-2009

Honors and Awards

2008-2009 Barbara Rattay Foundation Advanced Scholar Fellow, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
2008 Basic-Science Research Achievement, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
2007-2008 Chief Fellow, Medical Oncology/Hematology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
2005 Outstanding Graduating Resident, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2002 Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence and Scholarly Achievement, University of North Texas Health Science Center
2002 Dean's List for Academic Excellence (Top 5% of medical class), University of North Texas Health Science Center
2002 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
2001 Community Hospital Foundation G. W. Tompson Scholarship, University of North Texas Health Science Center
2001 Graduate Faculty Award for Outstanding Graduate, University of North Texas Health Science Center
2000-2001 Outstanding Graduate Student, Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center
2000 Abbott Laboratories Research Achievement Awards, University of North Texas Health Science Center
1999 Abbott Laboratories Research Achievement Awards, University of North Texas Health Science Center
1998-1999 Medical Scientist Training Pathway Grant, University of North Texas Health Science Center
1996-2002 Psi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, University of North Texas Health Science Center

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Alatrash G, Kitson RP, Xue Y, Goldfarb RH. Cooperation of urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinases in NK cell invasion. In Vivo 14(5):565-70, 9/2000. PMID: 11125540.
2. Alatrash G, Kitson RP, Xue Y, Mazar AP, Kim MH, Goldfarb RH. uPA and uPAR contribute to NK cell invasion through the extracellular matrix. Anticancer Res 21(3B):1697-704, 5/2001. PMID: 11497249.
3. Alatrash G, Shetty S, Idell S, Xue Y, Kitson RP, Halady PK, Goldfarb RH. IL-2-mediated upregulation of uPA and uPAR in natural killer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 292(1):184-9, 3/2002. PMID: 11890690.
4. Alatrash G, Hutson TE, Molto L, Richmond A, Nemec C, Mekhail T, Elson P, Tannenbaum C, Olencki T, Finke J, Bukowski RM. Clinical and immunologic effects of subcutaneously administered IL-12 and IFN-a2b: Phase I trial of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma. J Clin Oncol 22(14):2891-900, 7/2004. PMID: 15254058.
5. Alatrash G, Majhail NS, Pile JC. Rhabdomyolysis following the ingestion of 'Foxy'. Mayo Clin Proc 81(4):550-1, 4/2006. PMID: 16610577.
6. Armistead PM, Wieder E, Akande O, Alatrash G, Quintanilla K, Liang S, Molldrem J. Cyclic neutropenia associated with T cell immunity to granulocyte proteases and a double de novo mutation in GFI1, a transcriptional regulator of ELANE. Br J Haematol 150(6):716-9, 9/2010. PMID: 20560965.
7. Molldrem JJ, Alatrash G. Immune Rage Against MAGE Unleashed. Blood 116(11):1824-5, 9/2010. PMID: 20847207.
8. Ma Q, Wang C, Jones D, Quintanilla KE, Li D, Wang Y, Wieder ED, Clise-Dwyer K, Alatrash G, Mj Y, Munsell MF, Lu S, Qazilbash MH, Molldrem JJ. Adoptive transfer of PR1-CTL associated with reduced leukemia burden in a mouse AML xenograft model. Cytotherapy 12(8):1056-62, 12/2010. PMID: 20735170.
9. Alatrash G, Molldrem JJ. Immunotherapy of AML. Cancer Treat Res 145:237-55, 2010. PMID: 20306255.
10. Kanodia S, Wieder E, Lu S, Talpaz M, Alatrash G, Clise-Dwyer K, Molldrem JJ. PR1-Specific T Cells Are Associated with Unmaintained Cytogenetic Remission of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia After Interferon Withdrawal. PLoS One 5(7):e11770, 2010. PMCID: PMC2909896.
11. Alatrash G, Molldrem JJ. Vaccines as consolidation therapy for myeloid leukemia. Expert Rev Hematol 4(1):37-50, 2/2011. PMCID: PMC3098525.
12. Sergeeva A, Alatrash G, He H, Ruisaard K, Lu S, Wygant J, McIntyre BW, Ma Q, Li D, St John L, Clise-Dwyer K, Molldrem JJ. An Anti-PR1/HLA-A2 T Cell Receptor-Like Antibody Mediates Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity Against Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progenitor Cells. Blood 117(16):4262-72, 4/2011. PMCID: PMC3087478.
13. Mittendorf EA, Alatrash G, Xiao H, Clifton GT, Murray JL, Peoples GE. Breast cancer vaccines: ongoing National Cancer Institute-registered clinical trials. Expert Rev Vaccines 10(6):755-74, 6/2011. PMID: 21692698.
14. Weng J, Cha SC, Matsueda S, Alatrash G, Popescu MS, Yi Q, Molldrem JJ, Wang M, Neelapu SS, Kwak LW. Targeting human B-cell malignancies through Ig light chain specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Clin Cancer Res 17(18):5945-52, 9/2011. PMCID: PMC3176952.
15. Alatrash G, de Lima M, Hamerschlak N, Pelosini M, Wang X, Xiao L, Kerbauy F, Chiattone A, Rondon G, Qazilbash MH, Giralt SA, de Padua Silva L, Hosing C, Kebriaei P, Zhang W, Nieto Y, Saliba RM, Champlin RE, Andersson BS. Myeloablative Reduced-Toxicity i.v. Busulfan-Fludarabine and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome in the Sixth Through Eighth Decades of Life. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 17(10):1490-6, 10/2011. PMID: 21338705.
16. Alatrash G, Pelosini M, Saliba RM, Koca E, Rondon G, Andersson BS, Chiattone A, Zhang W, Giralt SA, Cernosek AM, Kebriaei P, Alousi AM, Popat UR, Hosing C, Khouri IF, Champlin RE, de Lima MJ. Platelet Recovery Before Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Predicts Posttransplantation Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 17(12):1841-5, 12/2011. PMID: 21684343.
17. Armistead PM, Liang S, Li H, Lu S, Van Bergen CA, Alatrash G, St John L, Hunsucker SA, Sarantopoulos S, Falkenburg JH, Molldrem JJ. Common minor histocompatibility antigen discovery based upon patient clinical outcomes and genomic data. PLoS One 6(8):e23217, 2011. PMCID: PMC3153501.
18. Alatrash G, Ono Y, Sergeeva A, Sukhumalchandra P, Zhang M, St John LS, Yang TH, Ruisaard K, Armistead PM, Mittendorf EA, He H, Qiao N, Rodriguez-Cruz T, Liang S, Clise-Dwyer K, Wieder ED, Lizee G, Lu S, Molldrem JJ. The Role of Antigen Cross-presentation From Leukemia Blasts on Immunity to the Leukemia-associated Antigen PR1. J Immunother 35(4):309-20, 5/2012. PMCID: PMC3326226.
19. Mittendorf EA, Alatrash G, Qiao N, Wu Y, Sukhumalchandra P, St John LS, Philips AV, Xiao H, Zhang M, Ruisaard K, Clise-Dwyer K, Lu S, Molldrem JJ. Breast cancer cell uptake of the inflammatory mediator neutrophil elastase triggers an anti-cancer adaptive immune response. Cancer Res 72(13):3153-62, 7/1/2012. e-Pub 5/7/2012. PMCID: PMC3397251.
20. Ciurea SO, Mulanovich V, Saliba RM, Bayraktar UD, Jiang Y, Bassett R, Wang SA, Konopleva M, Fernandez-Vina M, Montes N, Bosque D, Chen J, Rondon G, Alatrash G, Alousi A, Bashir Q, Korbling M, Qazilbash M, Parmar S, Shpall E, Nieto Y, Hosing C, Kebriaei P, Khouri I, Popat U, de Lima M, Champlin RE. Improved Early Outcomes Using a T Cell Replete Graft Compared with T Cell Depleted Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 18(12):1835-44, 12/2012. e-Pub 7/2012. PMID: 22796535.
21. Alatrash G, Mittendorf EA, Sergeeva A, Sukhumalchandra P, Qiao N, Zhang M, St John LS, Ruisaard K, Haugen CE, Al-Atrache Z, Jakher H, Philips AV, Ding X, Chen JQ, Wu Y, Patenia RS, Bernatchez C, Vence LM, Radvanyi LG, Hwu P, Clise-Dwyer K, Ma Q, Lu S, Molldrem JJ. Broad Cross-Presentation of the Hematopoietically-Derived PR1 Antigen on Solid Tumors Leads to Susceptibility to PR1-Targeted Immunotherapy. J Immunol 189(11):5476-84, 12/1/2012. e-Pub 10/26/2012. PMCID: PMC3504175.
22. Zhang M, Sukhumalchandra P, Enyenihi AA, St John LS, Hunsucker SA, Mittendorf EA, Sergeeva A, Ruisaard K, Al-Atrache Z, Ropp PA, Jakher H, Rodriguez-Cruz T, Lizee G, Clise-Dwyer K, Lu S, Molldrem JJ, Glish GL, Armistead PM, Alatrash G. A Novel HLA-A*0201 Restricted Peptide Derived From Cathepsin G Is An Effective Immunotherapeutic Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 19(1):247-57, 1/1/2013. e-Pub 11/12/2012. PMCID: PMC3537920.
Other Articles
1. Alatrash G, Wierda W. Presenting: antigens, dendritic cells, and IDO. ASH Daily News, 2006.
2. Alatrash G, Kim ES. Treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: First-line therapy and future directions. Oncology Special Edition 9:35-40, 2006.
3. Wierda W, Schlette E, Alatrash G. Initial treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report. Biological Therapy of Lymphoma 8(4):6-9, 12/2005.

Abstracts
1. Alatrash G, Ono Y, Sergeeva A, Sukhumalchandra P, Zhang M, Quintanilla K, Armistead P, He H, Rodriguez-Cruz T, Clise-Dwyer K, Wieder E, Lizee G, Lu S, Molldrem J. Peripheral Tolerance to PR1 Is Maintained After Uptake of Soluble Proteinas-3 and Neutrophil Elastase. Blood (#4301), 12/2010.
2. Yang T, Alatrash G, Clise-Dwyer K, Quintanilla K, Lu S, Molldrem J. Proteinase 3 Mediates Enzyme-Independent Reversible Inhibition of CD4 and CD8 T Cell Proliferation by Blocking G1-S Transition. Blood (#2099), 12/2010.
3. Alatrash G, Mittendorf E, Sergeeva A, Sukhumalchandra P, Qiao N, Quintanilla K, Zhang M, Lu S, Clise-Dwyer K, Molldrem J. Soluble Inflammatory Mediators Proteinase-3 and Neutrophil Elastase Are Targeted by PR1-Specific Immunotherapy After Cellular Uptake and Cross Presentation of PR1 Peptide by Breast Cancer Cells. Blood (#2089), 12/2010.
4. Chiattone A, Saliba R, Andersson B, Giralt S, Sharma M, Rondon G, Kebriaei P, Hosing C, Popat U, Parmar S, Alatrash G, Bashir Q, Chen U, Yuen C, Chiattone, V, Champlin R, De Lima M. Treatment of AML Relapse After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Using Low-Dose Azacitidine (AZA). Blood (#3455), 12/2010.
5. Alatrash G, Andersson B, Pelosini M, Rondon G, Qazilbash M, Giralt S, de Padua Silva L, Hosing C, Kebriaei P, Zhang W, Saliba R, Champlin R, de Lima M. Allogenieic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for patients in the 6th and 7th decades of life with AML or MDS using myeloablative, reduced toxicity IV Busulfan/Fludarabine (BuFlu) conditioning regimen. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation 15(2):106 (#293), 2009.
6. Alatrash G, Pelosini M, Saliba R, Rondon G, Weiqing Z, Giralt S, Kebriaaei P, Alousi A, Khouri I, Champlin R, de Lima M. Post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcomes in patients with AML transplanted prior to achieving platelet recovery. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation 15(2):58 (#154), 2009.
7. Sergeeva A, Lu S, Wygant JN, Alatrash G, Quintanilla K, Molldrem JJ. Direct visualization of PR1/HLA-A2 on the membrane of HLA-A2+CD13+CD33+ myeloid leukemia blasts by a novel monoclonal antibody. Blood 112(11):884 (#2545), 11/2008.
8. Alatrash G, Andersson BS, Pelosini M, Rondon G, Qazilbash MH, Giralt S, de Padua Silva L, Hosing C, Kebriaei P, Zhang W Saliba R, Champlin RE, De Lima M. Myeloablative, reduced toxicity IV Busulfan/Fludarabine (BuFlu) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for patients in the 6th and 7th decades of life with AML or MDS. Blood 112(11):1031 (#2999), 11/2008.
9. Alatrash G, Pelosini M, Saliba RM, Rondon G, Zhang W, Giralt S, Kebriaei P, Alousi A, Khouri IF, Champlin RE, De Lima M. Platelet recovery prior to stem cell transplantation predicts for post-transplant outcomes in patients with AML. Blood 112(11):1031 (#3000), 11/2008.
10. Alatrash G, Vence L, Woodward W, Ueno N, Molldrem JJ. Leukemia-associated primary granule proteins (PGPs) elastase-2 and proteinase-3 are aberrantly expressed in solid tumors: a potential therapeutic target for PR1-directed immunotherapy. Blood 112(11) (#5440), 2008.
11. Alatrash G, Ono Y, Lu S, Sergeeva A, Sukhumalchandra P, Wang C, Wieder E, Molldrem JJ. Mistrafficking of primary granule proteins (PGPs) in leukemia simultaneously promotes PGP cross-priming and increases susceptibility to CTL killing. American Association for Cancer Research (#1034), 2008.
12. Alatrash G, Ono Y, Lu S, Sergeeva A, Wang C, Wieder E, Molldrem JJ. Aberrant subcellular localization of azurophil granule proteins in myeloid leukemia favors peptide antigen presentation on MHC-I and susceptibility to killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Blood 110(11) (#4900), 2007.
13. Armistead PM, Wieder E, Akande O, Alatrash G, Quintanilla K, Molldrem JJ. T-cell autoimmunity may contribute to neutropenia in a patient with cyclic neutropenia (CN) and double De-nova mutations in Gfi-1. Blood 110(11) (#3298), 2007.
14. Alatrash G, Keating MJ, O'Brien S, Wang X, Manshouri T, Faderl S, Ferrajoli A, Kantarjian HM, Lerner S, Wierda WG. Circulating CD52 and CD20 levels predict for progression and survival in patients with CLL treated with Fludarabine (F), Cyclophosphamide (C), and Rituximab (FCR). Blood 108(11) (#2330), 2006.
15. Alatrash G, Hutson TE, Nemec C, Mekhail T, Richmond A, Molto L, Elson P, Tannenbaum C, Finke J, Olencki T, Bukowski RM. Toxicity and immunologic effects of subcutaneously (SC) administered IL-12 and IFN-a2b in patients (Pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or malignant melanoma (MM). Journal of Clinical Oncology (#705), 2003.
16. Al-Atrash G, Kitson RP, Xue Y, Mazar AP, Kim MH, and Goldfarb RH. uPA and uPAR contribute to NK cell invation through the extracellular matrix: cooperation of uPA/uPAR matrix metalloproteinases in NK cell invasiveness, 2001.
17. Alatrash G, Kitson RP, Kim MH, Mazar AP, Goldfarb RH. Urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor in NK cells: Contribution to extacelluar matrix degradation and impact on NK cell accumulation into cancer metastases. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) 14(6):A1024, 4/2000.

Book Chapters
1. Alatrash G, de Lima M. Stem Cell Transplant for AML. In: Leukemias: Principles and Practice of Therapy. Ed(s) Faderl S, Kantarjian H. Blackwell Publishing, 2008.
2. Alatrash G, Bukowski R, Tannenbaum C, Finke J. Interleukins. In: Cancer Chemotherapy and Biotherapy: Principles and Practice. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Hematopoietic Antigens as Immunotherapy Targets on Solid Tumors
Funding Source: Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Molldrem
Duration: 12/1/2013 - 11/30/2015
 
Title: Cathepsin G Is A Novel Myeloid Leukemia Target
Funding Source: Leukemia Research Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2012 - 6/30/2013
 
Title: Leukemia SPORE: Cathepsin G in Anti-leukemia Immunity
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Project Leader
Duration: 5/1/2012 - 4/30/2013
 
Title: Cyclin E: A Novel Target for Immunotherapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Mittendorf
Duration: 10/1/2011 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Myeloma SPORE: Role of PR1 Cross Presentation in Anti-Myeloma Immunity
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 10/1/2011 - 8/31/2013
 
Title: Anti-PR1/HLA-A2 Immunity in Myeloid Leukemia
Funding Source: Gabrielle's Angel Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 10/1/2011 - 9/30/2012
 
Title: Breast SPORE: Development of Antibody-Targeted Peptide Vaccines as Novel Components of Combination Immunotherapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Mittendorf
Duration: 10/1/2011 - 8/31/2012
 
Title: Breast SPORE: Role of Cross Presentation in PR1 Immunity Against Breast Cancer
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2012
 
Title: Cross Presentation in Anti-leukemia Immunity
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2010 - 6/30/2012
 
Title: Anti-leukemia Immunity and Vaccine Development
Funding Source: University of MD Anderson Cancer Center Research Start-up funds
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 3/1/2010 - 3/1/2015
 
Title: Anti-leukemia Immunity Following PR1 Vaccine Therapy
Funding Source: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Young Investigator Award (YIA)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 11/1/2007 - 11/1/2008
 
Title: Anti-leukemia Immunity Following PR1 Vaccine Therapy
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Mentored Fellow
Duration: 2007 - 2009

Last updated: 1/23/2013