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Kumudha Balakrishnan, M.Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

My research at MD Anderson is focused on identifying novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of leukemia, in particular for CLL, by understanding the metabolism, mechanism of action, and interactions with other therapies. The goal is to implement new agents in the clinic for the treatment of CLL.  Understanding the molecular pathways involved in the action of chemotherapeutic agents is important in designing new clinical protocols for use in the clinical setting. Multiple clinical trials have been initiated at MD Anderson based on encouraging preclinical data obtained by me and my colleagues.  Many chemotherapeutic agents display efficacy in preclinical studies. However, their activity varies to a greater extent in clinical settings. For CLL cells, bone marrow or lymph node microenvironments have greater influence on the evolution of the leukemic phenotype. Therefore, my interest is to understand the therapeutic response in presence of microenvironment and its association with clinical stage and prognosis.

Research Interests

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1901 East Road
Unit Number: 1950
Houston, TX 77054
Room Number: 4SCR3.1040
Phone: (713) 563-6975
Fax: (713) 794-4316
Email: kbalakr@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India, PHD, Clinical Biochemistry
1992 A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India, M.Phil, Biochemistry
1991 A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India, MS, Biochemistry
1989 University of Madras, Vaishnav College for Women, Chromepet, Chennai, India, BS, Chemistry

Postgraduate Training

7/2002-2/2007 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Dr. Varsha Gandhi

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Instructor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 3/2007-8/2010
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, H.R. D. Degree and PG College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, 6/1998-6/2000
Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Vinayaka Mission Dental College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India, 12/1992-12/1993

Other Appointments/Responsibilities

Senior Biochemist, Sharp Diagnostics, Chennai, India, 12/1993-10/1994

Honors and Awards

2012 Junior Research Faculty Citation of Excellence Winner, Division of Cancer Medicine
2005-2006 Shannon Timmins Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award

Professional Memberships

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Associate Member, 2002-present
American Society of Hematology
member, 2012-present
Faculty 1000
member, 2012-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Balakrishnan K, Aggarwal S, Wierda W, Gandhi V. Bax and Bak are required for apogossypolone, a BH3-mimetic, induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leuk Lymphoma. e-Pub 8/6/2012. PMID: 22866921.
2. Ponader S, Chen SS, Buggy JJ, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, O'Brien S, Chiorazzi N, Burger JA. The Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor PCI-32765 thwarts chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell survival and tissue homing in vitro and in vivo. Blood 119(5):1182-9, 2/2/2012. e-Pub 12/16/2011. PMID: 22180443.
3. Kuang Y, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Peng X. Hydrogen peroxide inducible DNA cross-linking agents: targeted anticancer prodrugs. J Am Chem Soc 133(48):19278-81, 12/7/2011. e-Pub 11/10/2011. PMCID: PMC3265938.
4. Balakrishnan K, Burger JA, Quiroga MP, Henneberg M, Ayres ML, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Influence of bone marrow stromal microenvironment on forodesine induced responses in CLL primary cells. Blood 116(7):1083-91, 8/19/2010. e-Pub 5/4/2010. PMCID: PMC2938131.
5. Balakrishnan K, Verma D, O'Brien S, Kilpatrick JM, Chen Y, Tyler BF, Bickel S, Bantia S, Keating MJ, Kantarjian H, Gandhi V, Ravandi F. Phase 2 and pharmacodynamic study of oral forodesine in patients with advanced, fludarabine-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 116(6):886-92, 8/12/2010. e-Pub 4/28/2010. PMCID: PMC2924226.
6. Dennison JB, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Preclinical activity of 8-chloroadenosine with mantle cell lymphoma: roles of energy depletion and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. Br J Haematol 147(3):297-307, 11/2009. e-Pub 8/2009. PMID: 19709085.
7. Kurtova AV, Balakrishnan K, Chen R, Ding W, Schnabl S, Quiroga MP, Sivina M, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Keating MJ, Shehata M, Jager U, Gandhi V, Kay NE, Plunkett W, Burger JA. Diverse marrow stromal cells protect CLL cells from spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis: development of a reliable and reproducible system to assess stromal cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. Blood, 9/2009. e-Pub 9/2009. PMID: 19762485.
8. Quiroga MP, Balakrishnan K, Kurtova AV, Sivina M, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V, Burger JA. B cell antigen receptor signaling enhances chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell migration and survival: specific targeting with a novel Syk inhibitor, R406. Blood 114(5):1029-37, 7/2009. e-Pub 6/2009. PMID: 19491390.
9. Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Gossypol, a BH3 mimetic, induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 112(5):1971-80, 9/2008. e-Pub 6/2008. PMCID: PMC2518898.
10. Balakrishnan K, Burger JA, Wierda W and Gandhi V. AT-101 induces apoptosis in CLL B-cells and overcomes stromal cell mediated Mcl-1 induction and drug resistance. Blood 113(1):149-53, 2008. e-Pub 9/2008. PMCID: PMC2614629.
11. Karp JE, Ricklis RM, Balakrishnan K, Briel J, Greer J, Gore SD, Smith BD, McDevitt MA, Carraway H, Levis MJ, Gandhi V. A phase 1 clinical-laboratory study of clofarabine followed by cyclophosphamide for adults with refractory acute leukemias. Blood 110(6):1762-9, 9/2007. e-Pub 6/2007. PMCID: PMC1976362.
12. Balakrishnan K, Nimmanapalli R, Keating MJ, Ravandi F, Gandhi V. Forodesine, an inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 108(7):2392-8, 5/2006. e-Pub 6/2006. PMCID: PMC1895565.
13. Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of cell death of chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes by RNA-directed agent, 8-NH2-adenosine. Clin Cancer Res 11(18):6745-52, 9/2005. PMID: 16166456.
14. Balakrishnan K, Stellrecht CM, Genini D, Ayres M, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Leoni LM, Gandhi V. Cell death of bioenergetically compromised and transcriptionally challenged CLL lymphocytes by chlorinated ATP. Blood 105(11):4455-62, 6/2005. e-Pub 2/2005. PMCID: PMC1895042.

Invited Articles
1. Gandhi V and Balakrishnan K. CCL2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia Lymphoma. In Press.
2. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Protein Kinases: Emerging therapeutic targets in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 21(4):409-23, 4/2012. e-Pub 3/2012. PMID: 22409342.
3. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. The micros in harmony: microRNA and microenvironment. Leuk Lymphoma 52(9):1626-9, 9/2011. e-Pub 7/11/2011. PMID: 21740342.
4. Chen LS, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Inflammation and survival pathways: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia as a model system. Biochem Pharmacol 80(12):1936-45, 12/15/2010. e-Pub 8/7/2010. PMID: 20696142.
5. Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K and Chen LS. MCL-1: The 1 in CLL. Blood 112(9):3538-40, 11/2008. e-Pub 8/2008. PMID: 18948586.
6. Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K. Forodesine- A T-Cell targeted therapeutic. Semin Oncol 34(6 Suppl 5):S8-12, 12/2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18086347.

Abstracts
1. Verma D, Balakrishnan K, O’Brien S, Thomas DA, Ferrajoli A, Wierda W, Verma A, Faderl S, Bickel S, Bantia S, Kantarjian H, Keating M, Gandhi V, Ravandi F. Phase II, single center study of oral Forodesine in patients with advanced, Fludarabine-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). American Soceity of Hematology, 8/2009.
2. Balakrishnan K, Burger J, Quiroga M, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of marrow stromal cells (MSC) rescuing chronic lympchocytic leukemia (CLL) lymphocytes from forodesine-induced apoptosis. Gordon Research Conference, 7/2009.
3. Dennison JB, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. 8-Chloro-adenosine reduces intracellular ATP and dATP levels promoting growth inhibition and death of mantle cell lymphoma cell lines. AACR (#1820), 4/2009.
4. Chen LS, Vethantham V, Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Manley JL, Gandhi V. Elevated expression and post-translational modification of poly(A) polymerase in CLL primary cells. AACR (#530), 4/2009.
5. Balakrishnan K, Burger J, Quiroga M, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of marrow stromal cells (MSC) rescuing chronic lympchocytic leukemia (CLL) lymphocytes from forodesine-induced apoptosis. AACR (#5516), 4/2009.
6. Phillip CJ, Balakrishnan K, Stellrecht C, Gandhi V. MP470, a small molecule MET inhibitor, induces apoptoisi in multiple myeloma cells. AACR (#3728), 4/2009.
7. Balakrishnan K, Burger J, Keating M, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. AT-101-induced apoptosis in CLL cells in independent of cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. AACR (#2345), 4/2008.
8. Balakrishnan K, Wierda W, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. BH3-mimetic gossypol induced AIF-mediated, caspase-independent apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Proc AACR (#4826), 2007.

Grant & Contract Support

Funding Source: Infinity Pharma
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2/1/2013 - 2/1/2014
 
Title: Targeting hedgehog pathway in CLL
Funding Source: SPORE
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 11/1/2012 - 11/1/2013
 
Title: “Biochemistry of Apoptosis in CLL”
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 5/1/2012 - 4/30/2017
 
Title: Restoration of Smac-Mediated Apoptosis in Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Funding Source: CLL Global Research Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2012 - 3/31/2014
 
Title: Targeting Nitric Oxide Production for CLL therapy
Funding Source: CTT
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Gandhi
Duration: 1/11/2012 - 1/11/2013
 
Title: Pathway in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) with IPI-926
Funding Source: SRA-Infinity Pharma.Inc
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 8/11/2011 - 8/12/2012
 
Title: "Pim Kinase Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy for AML"
Funding Source: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Role: Co-Investigator
Duration: 10/1/2010 - 9/30/2013

Last updated: 1/23/2013