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Vinay K. Puduvalli, M.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

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

Bio Statement

Dr. Puduvalli is an Associate Professor and the Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Neuro-Oncology.  He is actively involved in patient care, clinical trials, basic and translational science laboratory interests. His clinical effort is directed towards developing novel therapies for patients with primary brain tumors and specifically malignant gliomas and he is the principal investigator of several clinical trials directed against these tumors. His clinical and laboratory research interests focus on the fields of epigenetics and apoptosis; in this context, he has been leading several clinical trials of epigenetic therapies.  His laboratory efforts are focused on: 1) understanding the role of epigenetics in brain tumor biology and translating these findings into new treatment options; 2) identifying means to accelerate tumor cell death by activating death pathways in brain tumors.

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1989 Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, India, MD, Medicine

Postgraduate Training

7/1996-6/1998 Fellowship, Neuro-Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Kurt Jaeckle, M.D.
7/1993-6/1996 Residency, Neurology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, James Grotta, M.D.
7/1992-6/1993 Internship, Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University, Amarillo, TX, Constantine Saadeh, M.D.
9/1991-6/1992 Doctoral student, Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, Louis Sordahl, Ph.D.
12/1990-7/1991 Clinical Fellowship, Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
11/1990-12/1990 Registrar in Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, MS Ramalah Medical College Hospitals, Bangalore, India
10/1989-4/1990 Senior Houseman, Surgery, Church of South India Hospital, Bangalore, India

Board Certifications

1/1999 American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 11/1999-9/2006
Instructor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1/1999-11/1999
Junior Faculty Associate, Department of Neuro-Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 7/1998-7/1999

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Director of Clinical Research, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2009-present
Director, Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program, Department of Neuro-Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 5/2000-1/2008

Honors and Awards

2008 NCI Triennial Audit Award, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
2007 Excellence in Protocol Research, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
2000 Physician Scientist Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1999 Research Support Grant, University Cancer Foundation (Kleburg) Biomedical
1997 Fellowship Research Award, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1996 Resident Recognition Award and Scholarship, American Academy of Neurology
1991 Teaching Assistantship, Dept of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, UTMB
1983 Endowment Scholarship, Kamal A. Baliga Memorial
1983 Scholarship, National Brihad Bharatiya Samaj

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Neurology
Member, 1/1993-present
American Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Member, 1/1997-present
American Association of Cancer Research
Member, 1/1997-present
Harris County Medical Society
Member, 1/1993-present
Society of Neuro Oncology
Member, 1/1997-present
Texas Medical Association
Member, 1/1993-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, Gilbert MR, Levin VA, Conrad CA, Liu VH, Hunter K, Meyers C, Hess KR, Alfred Yung WK. Two phase II trials of temozolomide with interferon-alpha2b (pegylated and non-pegylated) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Br J Cancer 101(4):615-20, 8/2009. PMID: 19672263.
2. Groves, MD, 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.
3. Sampath D, Calin GA, Puduvalli VK, Gopisetty G, Taccioli C, Liu CG, Ewald B, Liu C, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Specific activation of microRNA106b enables the p73 apoptotic response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by targeting the ubiquitin ligase Itch for degradation. Blood 113(16). e-Pub 12/18/2008. PMCID: PMC2670791.
4. de Groot JF, Gilbert MR, Aldape K, Hess KR, Hanna TA, Ictech S, Groves MD, Conrad C, Colman H, Puduvalli VK, Levin V, Yung WK. Phase II study of carboplatin and erlotinib (Tarceva, OSI-774) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. J Neurooncol 90(1):89-97, 10/2008. e-Pub 6/2008. PMID: 18581057.
5. Groves MD, Glantz MJ, Chamberlain MC, Baumgartner KE, Conrad CA, Hsu S, Wefel JS, Gilbert MR, Ictech S, Hunter KU, Forman AD, Puduvalli VK, Colman H, Hess KR, Yung WK.. A Multicenter Phase II Trial of Intrathecal Topotecan in Patients with Meningeal Malignancies. Neuro Oncol 10(2):208-215, 1215/15228517-2007-059, 4/2008. e-Pub 3/2008. PMCID: PMC2613823.
6. Puduvalli VK, Giglio P, Groves MD, Hess K, Gilbert MR, Mahankali S, Jackson E, Levin V, Conrad CA, Hsu S, Colman H, deGroot J, Ritterhouse MG, Ictech S, Yung WKA. Phase II trial of Irinotecan and Thalidomide in adults with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Neuro Oncol 10(2):216-222, DOI:10.1215/15228517-2007-060, 4/2008. e-Pub 2/2008. PMCID: PMC2613824.
7. Kyritsis AP, Puduvalli VK, Levin VA. Chemotherapy as first line treatment for oligodendroglioma. J Neurooncol 86(3)(3):361-362, 2/2008. e-Pub 8/21/2007. PMID: 17710374.
8. Kyritsis AP, Tachmazoglou F. Rao JS, Puduvalli VK. Temozolomide and resistant glioma cells. J Neurosurg 108(1):197, 1/2008. PMID: 18173334.
9. Kyritsis AP, Rao JS, Puduvalli VK. Radio-responsive TRAIL gene therapy for malignant gliomas. Cancer Gene Ther 14(12)(12):1002, 12/2007. e-Pub 8/17/2007. PMID: 17704752.
10. Kyritsis AP, Rao JS, Puduvalli VK. Prognostic factors in multifocal gliomas: in regard to Showalter et al. (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;69:820-824). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 69(4):1335; author reply 1335, 11/15/2007. PMID: 17967325.
11. Kyritis AP, Tachmazoglou F, Rao JS, Puduvalli VK. Bortezomib sensitizes human astrocytoma cells to tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand induced apoptosis. Clin Cancer Res 13(21)(21):6540-6541, 11/2007. PMID: 17975168.
12. Kyritsis AP, Rao JS, Puduvalli VK. Prognostic factors in multifocal gliomas: in regard to Showalter et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 69(4):820-824, 11/2007.
13. 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 9/22/2006. PMID: 17031561.
14. Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, conrad CA, Gilbert MR, Yung WK, Jaeckle K, Liu V, Hess KR, Aldape KD, Levin VA. Phase II trial of temozolomide plus marimastat for recurrent anaplastic gliomas: a relationship among efficacy, joint toxicity and anticonvulsant status. J Neurooncol 80(1)(1):83-90, 10/2006. e-Pub 4/25/2006. PMID: 16639492.
15. 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 D, 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):4899-907, 8/2006. PMID: 16914578.
16. Levin VA, Giglio P, Puduvalli VK, Jochec J, Groves MD, Yung WK, Hess K. Combination chemotherapy with 13-cis-retinoic acid and celecoxib in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. J Neurooncol 78(1)(1):85-90, 5/2006. e-Pub 11/29/2005. PMID: 16391896.
17. Puduvalli VK, Li JT, Chen L, McCutcheon IE. Induction of apoptosis in primary meningioma cultures by fenretinide. Cancer Res 65:1547-53, 2/2005. PMID: 15735044.
18. Puduvalli VK, Sampath D, Bruner JM, Nangia J, Xu R, Kyritsis AP. TRAIL-induced apoptosis in gliomas is enhanced by Akt-inhibition and is independent of JNK activation. Apoptosis 10:233-43, 2005. PMID: 15711939.
19. 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 22:4282-9, 11/2004. PMID: 15514370.
20. Tran HT, Blumenschein GR, Lu C, Meyers CA, Papadimitrakopoulou V, Fossella FV, Zinner R, Madden T, Smythe LG, Puduvalli VK, Munden R, Truong M, Herbst RS. Clinical and pharmacokinetic study of TNP-470, an angiogenesis inhibitor, in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 54(4)(4):308-314, 10/2004. e-Pub 6/2004. PMID: 15184994.
21. Wang LE, Bondy ML, Shen H, El-Zein R, Aldape K, Cao Y, Pudavalli V, Levin VA, Yung WK, Wei Q. Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes and risk of glioma. Cancer Res 64:5560-3, 8/2004. PMID: 15313891.
22. Puduvalli VK. Inhibition of angiogenesis as a therapeutic strategy against brain tumors. Cancer Treat Res 117:307-336, 1/2004. PMID: 15015567.
23. Tremont-Lukats IW, Bobustuc G, Lagos GK, Lolas K, Kyritsis AP, Puduvalli VK. Brain metastasis from prostate carcinoma: The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience. Cancer 98:363-8, 7/2003. PMID: 12872358.
24. Puduvalli VK, Hashmi M, McAllister LD, Levin VA, Hess KR, Prados M, Jaeckle KA, Yung WK, Buys SS, Bruner JM, Townsend JJ, Davis R, Sawaya R, Kyritsis AP. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas: prognostic factors for tumor recurrence and survival. Oncology 65:259-66, 2003. PMID: 14657600.
25. Herbst RS, Madden TL, Tran HT, Blumenschein GR, Jr, Meyers CA, Seabrooke LF, Khuri FR, Puduvalli VK, Allgood V, Fritsche HA, Jr, Hinton L, Newman RA, Crane EA, Fossella FV, Dordal M, Goodin T, Hong WK. Safety and pharmacokinetic effects of TNP-470, an angiogenesis inhibitor, combined with paclitaxel in patients with solid tumors: evidence for activity in non-small-cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 20:4440-7, 11/2002. PMID: 12431966.
26. 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 4:268-77, 10/2002. PMID: 12356357.
27. Groves MD, Puduvalli VK, Hess KR, Jaeckle KA, Peterson P, Yung WK, Levin VA. Phase II trial of temozolomide plus the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, marimastat, in recurrent and progressive glioblastoma multiforme. J Clin Oncol 20:1383-8, 3/2002. PMID: 11870183.
28. Puduvalli VK. Brain metastases: biology and the role of the brain microenvironment. Curr Oncol Rep 3:467-75, 11/2001. PMID: 11595114.
29. Puduvalli VK, Kyritsis AP, Hess KR, Bondy ML, Fuller GN, Kouraklis GP, Levin VA, Bruner JM. Patterns of expression of Rb and p16 in astrocytic gliomas, and correlation with survival. Int J Oncol 17(5):963-9, 11/2000. PMID: 11029499.
30. Puduvalli VK, Sawaya R. Antiangiogenesis -- therapeutic strategies and clinical implications for brain tumors. J Neurooncol 50:189-200, 10/2000. PMID: 11245279.
31. Saitoh Y, Goto T, Puduvalli VK, Murakami M, Kochi M, Levin VA, Kyritsis AP, Ushio Y. Induction of apoptosis by N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in glioma cells. Int J Oncol 15:499-504, 9/1999. PMID: 10427131.
32. Puduvalli VK, Saito Y, Xu R, Kouraklis GP, Levin VA, Kyritsis AP. Fenretinide activates caspases and induces apoptosis in gliomas. Clin Cancer Res 5:2230-5, 8/1999. PMID: 10473110.
33. Puduvalli VK, Yung AW. New frontiers in therapy of malignant gliomas. Forum (Genova) 8:261-9, 7/1998. PMID: 9755291.
34. Fueyo J, Gomez-Manzano C, Puduvalli VK, Martin-Duque P, Perez-Soler R, Levin VA, Yung WK, Kyritsis AP. Adenovirus-mediated p16 transfer to glioma cells induces G1 arrest and protects from paclitaxel and topotecan: implications for therapy. Int J Oncol 12:665-9, 3/1998. PMID: 9472109.
35. Puduvalli VK, Sella A, Austin SG, Forman AD. Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with interleukin-2 therapy. Cancer 77:1189-92, 3/1996. PMID: 8635142.

Book Chapters
1. Puduvalli, VK. Aberrations of the epigenome in gliomas: Novel targets for therapy. In: Glioblastoma: Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and current therapeutic strategies. Ed(s) S.K. Ray. Springer -Verlag: New York, NY. In Press.
2. Grunfeld J, Puduvalli V. Role of Brain Microenvironment in Brain Metastases. In: Integration/Interaction of Oncologic Growth, (Cancer Growth and Progression), 1. Ed(s) Gary Meadows. Springer: The Netherlands, 127-148, 2005. PMID: 140203413X.
3. Puduvalli V. Inhibition of angiogenesis as a therapeutic strategy against brain tumors. In: Angiogenesis in Brain Tumors (Cancer Treatment and Research). Springer: USA, 2004. PMID: 1402077041.
4. Puduvalli V, Armstrong T. Management of patients with brain metastasis. In: Palliative Care Consultations - Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumours,. Ed(s) Booth S, Bruera E, Oliver D. Oxford University Press: USA, 2004. PMID: 0198528078.
5. Puduvalli V. Neurogenetic syndromes associated with nervous system neoplasms. In: Atlas of Cancer. Ed(s) Maurie Markman. Lipincott Williams & Wilkins: USA, 607 – 616, 2002.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Targeting Gliomas through Histone Deacetylase Inhibition
Funding Source: NIH/NCI SPORE in Brain Cancer
Role: DRP Awardee
Principal Investigator: W.K.W. Yung, MD
Duration: 9/1/2008 - 8/31/2010
 
Title: Strategies to Enhance Effects of Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitors against Malignant Gliomas
Funding Source: UTMDACC Center for Targeted Therapy
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 12/1/2007 - 11/30/2009
 
Title: Phase I/II trial of irinotecan plus lenalidomide in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (CT).
Funding Source: Celgene Pharmaceuticals
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 9/26/2007 - 9/30/2010
 
Title: Phase I/II adaptive randomized trial of vorinostat, isotretinoin, carboplatin in adults with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
Funding Source: Commonwealth Foundation Grant - MDACC Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 5/1/2007 - 5/1/2010
 
Title: Efficacy and toxicity of TRAIL against gliomas
Funding Source: NIH/NCI 1RO1CA114422
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/5/2006 - 12/31/2010
 
Title: Early Therapeutics Development with Phase II Emphasis (PC-A)
Funding Source: NIH/NCI NO1-CM-62202
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: David Stewart
Duration: 1/1/2006 - 12/31/2009
 
Title: Oncolytic adenovector mediated TRAIL gene therapy for cancers
Funding Source: NIH/NCI 5RO1CA092487
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Bingliang Fang
Duration: 7/1/2001 - 1/31/2012

Last updated: 9/8/2009