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Robert Z. Orlowski, PhD, MD

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Pharmacology, Phamacology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC

Bio Statement

Robert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Departments

of Lymphoma/Myeloma and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer

Medicine, at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston,

Texas. He is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.

Dr. Orlowski earned his doctoral degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry

from Yale University and his medical degree from the Yale University School

of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine

at Barnes Hospital at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.

Dr. Orlowski has published numerous book chapters, articles, and abstracts

on cancer therapy, with a focus on the molecular pathogenesis of oncologic

disease processes and the mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutics.

Research Interests

His clinical research efforts focus on the translation of promising laboratory based

findings into novel clinical trials for patients with hematologic

malignancies. He has published in, and is a reviewer for, several journals,

including Blood, Cancer Research, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and the

New England Journal of Medicine. He has received several awards, including

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar in Clinical Research and the

Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine.

Office Address

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma
Unit Number: 429
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: FC6.2042
Phone: 713-745-2806
Fax: 713-563-5067
Email: rorlowsk@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1991 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, MD, Medicine
1991 Yale University, New York, NY, PHD, Medicine
1983 Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY, BA, Chemistry

Postgraduate Training

7/1995-6/1998 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Adult Hematology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Dr. Chi V Dang
9/1994-6/1998 Posdoctoral Fellowship, Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD, Dr. Ross C Donehower
6/1991-6/1994 Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine, Washington University, St Louis School of Medicine, MO, Drs. William E Clutter, Daniel M Goodenberger

Board Certifications

1997 American Board of Internal Medicine
1994 American Board of Internal Medicine

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Associate Professor, Hematology/Oncology, Lenvel Lee Rothrock, Chapel Hill, NC, 11/2006-8/2007
Associate Professor, Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, The University of North Carolina and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 4/2005-11/2006
Assistant Professor, Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, The University of North Carolina and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 7/1998-3/2005

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Director, Section of Myeloma, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2007-present
Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 8/1998-8/2007
Member, Molecular Tharapeutics Program, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 8/1998-8/2007
Member, Clinical Research Program, The University of North carolina at Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 8/1998-8/2007

Other Appointments/Responsibilities

Member, Scientitic Advisory Board, N/A, 10/2007-present
Member, American Society of Hematology Scientific Committee on Neoplasia, N/A, 1/2006-1/2010
Member, Cancer and Leukemia Group B Leukemia Core Committee, N/A, 1/2005-1/2008

Institutional Committee Activities

Committee Member, American Society of Hematology Scholar Awards Committee, 10/2008-present
Committee Member, Institutional Review Grant (IRG) Committee, 8/2008-7/2011
Member, American Cancer Society Peer Review Committee on Cancer Drug Development, 6/2008-present
Committee Member, Protocol Review Committee, 1/2005-12/2007

Honors and Awards

2006 LLC Man of the Year, Leukemia and Lympohoma Society
2005 LLS Scholar In Clinical Research, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
2004 Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship, Academic Medicine
2004 Triangle Business Journal Health Care Innovator, Research Award
2003 Young Investigator Award, Clinical Hematology Research
2000 Lymphoma Fellowship Award, Lymphoma Research Foundation of America, Lymphoma Research Foundation of America
1998 Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology
1983 B.A. in Chemistry form Columbia University Magna Cum Laude, Columbia University
1982 Macy Research Scholarship, Macy
1981 United Hospital Fund Volunteer Service Award, United Hospital Fund
1980-1983 Columbia College Dean's List, Columbia College
1978 Westinghouse Talent Search Honorable Mention, Westinghouse

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Sonneveld P, Hajek R, nagler A, Spencer A, Blade J, Robak T, Zhuang SH, Harousseau J-L, Orlowski RZ. Combined treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and bortezomib is highly effective in patietns with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have been exposed to prior thalidomide/lenalidomide therapy. Cancer. In Press.
2. Sonneveld P, Hajek R, Nagler A, Spencer A, Blade J, Robak T, Zhuang SH, Harousseau J-L, Orlowski RZ. Proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapy: lessions from the first decade. Clin Cancer Res. In Press.
3. Palumbo A, Rajkumar SV, Dimopoulos M, Richardson P, San Miguel J, Barlogie B, harousseau J-L, Xonder J, Cavo M, Zangari M, Atttal M, Belch A, Kno S, Joshua D, Ludwig H, Vesole D, Blade J, Kyle R, Westin J, Weber D, Bringhen S, Niesvizky R, Waage A, von Lilienfeld-Taol M, Lonial S, Morgan G, Orlowski RZ, Shimizu K, Anderson, K, Boccadoro M, Durie B, Sonneveld P, Hussein M. Recommendations for the prevention of thalidomide- and lenalidomide- associated thrombosis in myeloma: International Myeloma Working Group consensus statement. Leukemia. In Press.
4. Kyle RA, Yee GC, Somerfield MR, Flynn PJ, Halabi S, Jagannath S, Orlowski RZ, Roodman DG, Twilde P, Anderson K. American Society of Clinical Oncology 2006 clinical practice guideline update on the role of bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma. J Clin Oncol 25:2464-2472, 2007. e-Pub 5/2007.
5. Voohees PM, Orlowski RZ. Emerging data on the use of antracyclines in combination with bortezomib in multiple myeloma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma 7(S4):S156-S162, 2007.
6. Biehn SE, Moore DT, Voorhees PM, Garcia RA, Lehman MJ, Dees EC, Orlowski RZ. Extended follow-up of outcome measures in multiple myeloma pateitns treated on a phase I study with bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Ann Hematol 86:211-216, 2007. e-Pub 12/2006.
7. Voorhees PM, Chen Q, Kuhn DJ, Kuhn DJ, Small GW, Hunsucker, SA, Strader JS, Corringham RE, Zaki MH, Nemeth JA, Orlowski RZ. Inhibition o finterleukin-6 signaling with CNTO 328 enhances the activity of bortezomib in pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res 13(21):6469-6478, 2007. PMID: 17975159.
8. Orlowski RZ, Nagler A, Sonneveld P, Blade J, Hajek R, Horvath N, San Miguel J, robak T, Dmoszynska A, Spencer A, Spicka I, Sutherland HJ, Suvorov AN, Zhuang SH, Parekh T, Xiu L, Yuan Z, Rachoff W, Harousseau J-L. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus bortezomib significantly improves time to progression of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma compared with bortezomib alone: Results from a randomized phase III study-DOXIL-MMY-3001. J Clin Oncol 25:3892-3901, 2007. e-Pub 8/2007.
9. Kuhn DJ, Chen Q, Voorhees PM, Strader JS, Shenk KD, Su CM, Demo SD, Bennett MK, Van Leeuwen FWB, Chanan-Khan AA, Orlowski RZ. Potent activity of carfilzomib, a novel, irreversible inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, against pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma. Blood 110(9):3281-3290, 2007. e-Pub 6/2007. PMCID: PMC2200918.
10. Ryan DP, O'Neil BH, Supko JG, Lima CM, Dees EC, Appleman LJ, Clark J, Fidias P, Orlowski RZ, Kashala O, Eder JP, Kusack JC, Jr. A phase I study of bortezomib plus irinotecan in patients with advacned solid tumors. Cancer 107:2688-2697, 2006. e-Pub 10/2006.
11. San Miguel J, Blade J, Boccadoro M, Cavenagh J, Glasmacher A, Jagannath S, Lonial S, Orlowski RZ, Sonneveld P Ludwig H. A practical update on the use of bortezomib in the management of multiple myeloma. Oncologist 11(1):51-61, 2006. PMID: 16401713.
12. Biehn Se, Rivera MP, Martinez AE, Khandani AH, Orlowski RZ. Bronchiolotis obliterans with organizing pneumonia after rituximab therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hematol Oncol 24:1-4, 2006. e-Pub 9/2006.
13. Voorhees PM, Orlowski RZ. Emerging role of novel combinations for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma 7:33-41, 2006.
14. Shi YY, Small GW, Orlowski RZ. Proteasome inhibitors induce a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent anto-apoptotic program involving MAPK phosphatase-1 and Akt in models of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 100:33-47, 2006. e-Pub 6/2006.
15. Orlowski RZ, Zeger EL. Targeting the proteasome as a therapeutic strategy against hematologic malignancies. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 15:117-130, 2006.
16. Dees EC, Orlowski RZ. Targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in breast cancer therapy. Future Oncol 2(1):121-135, 2006. PMID: 16556079.
17. Richardson PG, Briemberg H, Jagganath S, Wen P, Barlogie B, Berenson J, Singhal S, Siegel D, Irwin D, Schuster M, Srkalovic G, Alexanian R, Rajkumar SV, Limentani S, Alsina M, Orlowski RZ. The frequency, characteristics, and reversibility of peripheral neuropathy during treatment of advanced multiple myeloma with bortezomib. J Clin Oncol 24:3113-3120, 2006. e-Pub 6/2006.
18. Orlowski RZ. The proteasome inhibotor bortezomib. Nat Clin Pract Oncol 3:16-17, 2006.
19. Orlowski RZ. Treating multiple myeloma patients who are not candidates for stem cell transplantation. Hematology:331-340, 2006.
20. Jagannath S, Barlogie B, Berenson JR, Singhal S, Alexanian R, Srkalovic G, Orlowski RZ, Richardson PG, Anderson J, Nix D, Esseltine D-L, Anderson KC. Bortezomib in recurrent and/or refractory multiple myeloma: Initial clinical experience in patients with impaired renal function. Cancer 103. e-Pub 2/2005.
21. Ramaswamy B, Povoski S, Rhoades C, Allen J, Hauger M, Young D, Burak W, Farrar W, Yee L, Kendear K, Somasundaram S, Orlowski RZ, Shapiro CL. Phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel followed by epirubicin in stage II/III breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 93(1):67-74, 2005. PMID: 16184461.
22. Lonial S, Waller EK, Richardson PG, Jagannath S, Orlowski RZ, Giver C, Jaye DL, Francis D, Lehman M, Torre C, Barlogie B, Berenson JR, Singhal S, Schenkein DP, Esseltine D-L, Anderson J, Xiao H, Heffner LT, Anderson KC. Risk factors and kinetics of thrombocytompenia associated wth bortezomib for relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma. Blood 106:3777-3784, 2005.
23. Orlowski RZ. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway from bench to bedside. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program:220-225, 2005. PMID: 16304384.
24. Small GW, Somasundaram S, Edmund NA, Moore DT, Shi YY, Orlowski RZ. Evidence that motogen activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 induction by proteasome inhibitors plays an anti-apoptotic role. Mol Pharmacol 66:1478-1490, 2004.
25. Orlowski RZ, Voorhees PM, Garcia RA, Hall MD, Kudrick FJ, Allred T, Johri AR, Jones PE, Ivanova I, Van Deventer HW, Gabriel DA, Shea TC, Mitchell BS, Adams J, Esseltine D-L, Trehu, EG, Green m, Lehman MJ, Natoli S, Collins JM, Lindley CM, Dees EC. Phase I study of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. Blood 105:3058-3065, 2004.
26. Orlowski RZ, Mills SR, Hartley EE, Ye X, Piantadosi S, Ambinder RF, Gore SD, Miller CB. Use of oral valacyclovir as prophylaxis against herpes simplex virus reactivation during high dose chemotherapy for leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 45:2215-2219, 2004.
27. Small GW, Somasundaram S, Moore DT, Shi YY, Orlowski RZ. Repression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 by anthracyclines contributes to their antiapoptotic activation of p44/42 MAPK. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 307(3):861-869, 12/2003. e-Pub 10/2003. PMID: 14557375.
28. Richardson PG, Barlogie B, Berenseon J, Singhal S, Jagannath S, Irwin D, Rajkumar V, Srkalovic G, Alsina M, Alexanina R, Siegel D, Orlowski RZ, Kuter D, Limentani SA, Esseltine D-L, Kauffman M, Schenkein DP and Anderson KC. A phase 2 study of bortezomib in relapsed, refractory myeloma. N Engl J Med 348(26):2609-2617, 6/26/2003. e-Pub 10/2003. PMID: 12826635.
29. Voorhees PM, Dees EC, O'Neil B, Orlowski RZ. The proteasome as a target for cancer therapy. Clin Cancer Res 9(17):6316-6325, 2003. PMID: 14695130.
30. Orlowski RZ and Dees EC. Applying drugs that affect the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to the therapy of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 5. e-Pub 8/2002.
31. Orlowski RZ, Small GW and Shi YY. Evidence that inhbition of p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase signaling is a factor in proteasome inhibitor-mediated apoptosis. J Biol Chem 277. e-Pub 5/2002.
32. Somasundaram S, Edmund, NA, Moore DT, Small GW, Shi YY, Orlowski RZ. Dietary curcumin inhibits chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in models of human breast cancer. Cancer Res 62(13):3868-3875, 2002. PMID: 12097302.
33. Orlowski RZ and Baldwin AS. NF-kb as a therapeutic target in cancer. Tends Mol Med 8:385-389, 2002.
34. Orlowski RZ, Stinchcombe TE, Mitchell BS, Shea TC, Baldwin AS, Stahl S, Adams J, Esseltine D-L, Elliott PJ, Pien CS, Guerciolini R, Anderson JK, Depcik-Smith ND, Bhagat R, Lehman MJ, Novick SC, O'Connor OQ and Soignet SL. Phase I trial of the proteasome inhibotor PS-341 in patients with refractory hematologic malignancies. J Clin Oncol 20:4420-4427, 2002.
35. vanDeventer HW, Hall MD, Orlowski RZ, Mitchell BSA, Berkowitz LR, Hogan CM, Nunphy CH, Koehler JA and Shea TC. The clinical course of thrombocytopenia in patients treated with Imatinib mesylate for accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. Am J Hematol 71:184-190, 2002.
36. Lewsi BC, Prescott, JE, Campbell, SE, Shim H, Orlowski RZ. Tumor induction by the c-Myc proteolysis in vivo. Arch Biochem Biophys 400:151-161, 2002.

Abstracts
1. Orlowski RZ, Shi YY, Small GW. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 is a mediator of breast cancer chemoresistance. Cancer Res 88(1)(9):S31, 2004. PMID: 17483361.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Novel Strategies Targeting Intracellular Proteolysis
Funding Source: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 10/1/2006 - 9/30/2009
 
Title: Carolina Center for Nanotechnology Excellence, Project 2: "Smart" Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging
Funding Source: Carolina Center for Nantechnology
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Juliano, R
Duration: 9/1/2005 - 8/31/2010
 
Title: Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome and Heat Shock Pathways as Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies
Funding Source: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2005 - 6/30/2010
 
Title: The Immunoproteasome as a Target for Multiple Myeloma Therapy, No-cost extension
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2005 - 6/30/2006
 
Title: Dual Proteasome and MAPK Inhibition in Cancer Therapy, No-cost extension
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2004 - 3/31/2009
 
Title: Sensitization of Cancer Cells to Epirubicin-Mediated Apoptosis by Proteasome Inhibition, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Pharmacia Ellence Research Fund II
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 12/1/2001 - 11/30/2003
 
Title: Proteasome Inhibitor-Mediated Apoptosis and Sensitization to Chemotherapy, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/1/2001 - 8/31/2003
 
Title: SPORE in Breast Cancer, Project 7: Inhibition of Chemotherapy-Induced NF-kB, No-cost extension
Funding Source: NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Earp, ES
Duration: 8/1/2001 - 7/31/2006
 
Title: Spore in Breast Cancer, Project 8: A Novel Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer, No-cost extension
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Earp, ES
Duration: 8/1/2001 - 7/31/2006
 
Title: Proteasome as a Target for Breast Cancer Therapy, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Department of Defense (DOD)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/1/2000 - 6/30/2004
 
Title: Curcumin-Mediated Inhibition of Chemotherapy-Induced Apoptosis, No-cost extension
Funding Source: American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/1/2000 - 6/30/2002
 
Title: The Proteasome as a Target for Brest Cancer Therapy, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 12/31/1999 - 6/30/2000
 
Title: Proteasome Inhivitor-Mediated Apoptosis of c-Myc Overexpressing Lymphoma Cells, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Lymphoma Research Foundation of America
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 2/1/1999 - 2/1/2000
 
Title: Proteasome Inhibitor-Mediated Apoptosis of Transformed Cells, No-cost extension
Funding Source: Leukemia Society of America
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/1/1998 - 8/31/2001
 
Title: The Role of STI-571 and Arsenic in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, No-cost extension
Funding Source: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Role: Principal Investigator

Last updated: 8/6/2009