Chandrani Chattopadhyay, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2007 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, US, Molecular Genetics and Head & Neck Cancer, Pre-Doctoral & Post Doctoral Fellow |
| 2002 | Bose Institute/Calcutta University, Calcutta, IN, Biochemistry, Ph.D |
| 1994 | Calcutta University, Calcutta, IN, Biochemistry, M.S |
| 1992 | Bethune College, Calcutta, IN, Chemistry, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2002-2007 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Genetics and Head & Neck Surgery Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2000-2002 | Predoctoral Fellow, Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 1997-2000 | Senior Research Fellow, Bose Institute, Calcutta |
| 1995-1997 | Research Fellow, Bose Institute, Calcutta |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2022 | DEA |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Instructor, Melanoma Medical Oncology - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2015
Other Professional Positions
Research Scientist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2011
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Melanoma Medical Oncology Safety Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2023
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Editorial Activities
Member, Editorial Board, Frontiers, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2013 | The Eye Cancer Foundation Fellowship, The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group |
| 1994 - 2000 | Fellow of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research |
| 1994 | Shanti Bhakta Memorial Award |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. DoD MRP Mid-Career Accelerator Award application 2023 Reviewer's comments and possible resolution. Melanoma Research Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Developing targeted therapy for metastatic uveal melanoma. Invited. Melanoma Weekly Lab Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Targeting succinate dehydrogenase A in metastatic uveal melanoma: effect on growth and metabolic profile. Invited. Melanoma SPORE Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Imipridones target mitochondrial metabolism to inhibit uveal melanoma growth. Invited. Melanoma Weekly Lab Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of metastatic uveal melanoma for therapeutic intervention. Invited. Melanoma SPORE Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Elevated endogenous SDHA drives pathological metabolism in highly metastatic uveal melanoma. Invited. American Association for Cancer Research. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2015. Developing targeted therapy for uveal melanoma. Invited. Institutional Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2011. Targeting c-Met in cutaneous and uveal melanoma. Invited. The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Program Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2009. Targeting c-Met in melanoma. Invited. Melanoma Medical Oncology Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2021. 2021 CURE OM Global Science Meeting,. Society for Melanoma Research 2021 Congress, US.
- 2020. Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities of metastatic uveal melanoma. Invited. El Paso, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2026. Resistance to ONC212 in uveal melanoma is mediated by mutations in CLPP. Invited. 2026 ARVO Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado, US.
- 2025. Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of uveal melanoma to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Poster. 13th American Association for Cancer Research 2025 - Japanese Cancer Association Joint Conference. Maui, Hawaii, US.
- 2024. Imipridones inhibit tumor growth and improve survival in an orthotopic liver metastasis mouse model of human uveal melanoma. Poster. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2024. Seattle, WA, US.
- 2023. Targeting metabolic vulnerability of uveal melanoma to control tumor growth and improve survival. Poster. Society for Melanoma Research Annual Meeting 2023. Philadelphia, PA, US.
- 2023. Targeting the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling in uveal melanoma inhibits cell survival, cell migration and reduces tumor growth. Poster. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2023. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2022. Imipridones target mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation effectors in uveal melanoma to control growth. Invited. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2022. Denver, CO, US.
- 2020. IRS-1 Targeting in uveal melanoma: apoptosis and tumor regression. Invited. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2020. Baltimore, MD, US.
- 2018. Combined inhibition of SDHA and MIF in uveal melanoma cells effectively reduces cell survival. Invited. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2018. Honolulu, HI, US.
- 2017. Monosomy 3 uveal melanoma cells have a unique metabolic phenotype distinct from disomy 3. Invited. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2017. Baltimore, MD, US.
- 2016. Altered mitochondrial activity in uveal melanoma cells with monosomy 3. Invited. Society of Melanoma Research Congress Annual Meeting 2016. Boston, MA, US.
- 2015. Targeting IGF-1R pathway in uveal melanoma: single and combination therapy approaches. Invited. Society for Melanoma Research Congress Annual Meeting 2015. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2009. N-Ras mutated human melanoma cells demonstrated increased sensitivity to c-Met inhibition. Invited. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2009. Denver, CO, US.
International Presentations
- 2021. Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities of metastatic uveal melanoma. Invited. Centre for Genetic Disorders (CGD). Varanasi, IN.
Formal Peers
- 2021. Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Invited. Varanasi, IN.
- 2020. Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Invited. El Paso, TX, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Identifying combination therapy strategies for diffuse midline glioma |
| Funding Source: | The Cure Starts Now |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00031058 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Identifying rational combination strategies with ONC201 and ONC206 to improve therapeutic response in diffuse midline glioma |
| Funding Source: | Childrens Brain Tumor Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00029586 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Overcoming metastasis and therapeutic resistance in melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Adelson Medical Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP27220 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Identify molecular signature of liver metastatic uveal melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Melanoma Research Alliance |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP24521 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2027 |
| Title: | ME240051 Identify organ-specific molecular and metabolic factors that affect metastatic uveal melanoma growth and response to therapy |
| Funding Source: | US Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP23758 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | ME230248 Determining the effect of organ-specific tumor microenvironment on metastatic uveal melanoma growth and response to therapy |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP20714 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2024 |
| Title: | Determine the mechanisms of resistance to metabolic inhibition of metastatic uveal melanoma in the liver |
| Funding Source: | MDACC IRG |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | ME220076 Development of combination therapy strategies for metastatic uveal melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP17712 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Determine the mechanisms of resistance to imipridone-mediated metabolic inhibition in metastatic uveal melanoma |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | P50CA221703-05 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | Tumor and microenvironment inflammatory pathways as targets for improvement of melanoma patient outcomes |
| Funding Source: | Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G Adelson Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP17003 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in uveal melanoma using a novel orthotopic mouse model for liver metastasis |
| Funding Source: | NIH NCATS Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences Preclinical Modeling Pilot Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Targeting succinate dehydrogenase a in metastatic uveal melanoma: effect on growth and metabolic profile |
| Funding Source: | Developmental Research Program (DRP) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | Melanoma SPORE DRP |
| Date: | 2021 - 2024 |
| Title: | The MD Anderson uveal melanoma program |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | MRP |
| Date: | 2019 - 2022 |
| Title: | Tumor and microenvironment oxidant pathways as targets for improvement of melanoma patient outcomes |
| Funding Source: | Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson. Medical Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 8AMFR 2019-2020 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2020 |
| Title: | Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of metastatic uveal melanoma for therapeutic intervention |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC Melanoma SPORE Developmental Research Project |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1 P50CA221703-01A1 |
| Date: | 2017 - 2019 |
| Title: | Aberrant ROS and RNS pathways: likely prognostic and predictive markers, and targets for overcoming resistance to therapy |
| Funding Source: | Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Title: | Targeting vulnerabilities in mitochondrial energy metabolism in metastatic uveal melanoma: effect on tumor growth and metabolic profile |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ali MM*, Alauddin M*, Mahmud I, Joon A, Momin AB, Cortez JR, Chen H, Tan L, Chan W, Anantha RW, Stolley DL, Shamsutdinova D, Evans K, Merric-Bernstam F, Herlyn M, Thomas M, Chen Y, Davies MA, Chattopadhyay C. The Imipridone ONC206 Inhibits Tumor Growth and Improves Survival in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 18(12), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42352430.
- Chattopadhyay C, Roszik J, Bhattacharya R, Alauddin M, Mahmud I, Yadugiri S, Ali MM, Khan FS, Prabhu VV, Lorenzi PL, Wei B, Burton E, Morey RR, Lazcano R, Davies MA, Patel SP, Grimm EA. Imipridones inhibit tumor growth and improve survival in an orthotopic liver metastasis mouse model of human uveal melanoma. Br J Cancer 131(11):1846-1857, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39394450.
- Chattopadhyay C, Bhattacharya R, Roszik J, Khan FS, Wells GA, Villanueva H, Qin Y, Bhattacharya R, Patel SP, Grimm EA. Targeting IRS-1/2 in Uveal Melanoma Inhibits In Vitro Cell Growth, Survival and Migration, and In Vivo Tumor Growth. Cancers (Basel) 14(24), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36551732.
- Mattei J, Ballhausen A, Bassett R, Shephard M, Chattopadhyay C, Hudgens C, Tetzlaff M, Woodman S, Sato T, Patel SP. A phase II study of the insulin-like growth factor type I receptor inhibitor IMC-A12 in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Melanoma Res 30(6):574-579, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32976223.
- Chattopadhyay C, Oba J, Roszik J, Marszalek JR, Chen K, Qi Y, Eterovic K, Robertson AG, Burks JK, McCannel TA, Grimm EA, Woodman SE. Elevated Endogenous SDHA Drives Pathological Metabolism in Highly Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 60(13):4187-4195, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31596927.
- Oba J, Esmaeli B, Ellerhorst JA, Lyons GR, Milton DR, Wang WL, Macedo MP, Lazar AJ, Grimm EA, Chattopadhyay C. Trends in hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and leptin expression levels in uveal melanoma patient serum and tumor tissues: correlation to disease progression. Melanoma Res 27(2):126-133, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28118269.
- Qin Y, Roszik J, Chattopadhyay C, Hashimoto Y, Liu C, Cooper ZA, Wargo JA, Hwu P, Ekmekcioglu S, Grimm EA. Hypoxia-driven mechanism of vemurafenib resistance in melanoma. Mol Cancer Ther 15(10):2442-2454, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27458138.
- Bailey P, Chang DK, Forget MA, Lucas FA, Alvarez HA, Haymaker C, Chattopadhyay C, Kim SH, Ekmekcioglu S, Grimm EA, Biankin AV, Hwu P, Maitra A, Roszik J. Exploiting the neoantigen landscape for immunotherapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 6:35848, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27762323.
- Yu X, Ambrosini G, Roszik J, Eterovic AK, Stempke-Hale K, Seftor EA, Chattopadhyay C, Grimm E, Carvajal RD, Hendrix MJ, Hodi FS, Schwartz GK, Woodman SE. Genetic analysis of the 'uveal melanoma' C918 cell line reveals atypical BRAF and common KRAS mutations and single tandem repeat profile identical to the cutaneous melanoma C8161 cell line. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 28(3):357-9, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25515650.
- Jayakumar A, Chattopadhyay C, Wu HK, Briggs K, Henderson Y, Kang Y, Ramdas L, Sharma S, Radjendirane V, Shellenberger TD, Clayman GL. LEKTI, A Physiological Inhibitor of Multiple Serine Proteinases, Blocks Migration and Invasion of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Cells. MOJ Proteomics Bioinform 1(3), 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Chattopadhyay C, Grimm EA, Woodman SE. Simultaneous inhibition of the HGF/MET and Erk1/2 pathways affect uveal melanoma cell growth and migration. PLoS One 9(2):e83957, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24551032.
- Chattopadhyay C, Ellerhorst JA, Ekmekcioglu S, Greene VR, Davies MA, Grimm EA. Association of activated c-Met with NRAS-mutated human melanomas: A possible avenue for targeting. Int J Cancer 131(2):E56-65, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22020736.
- Ekmekcioglu S, Chattopadhyay C, Akar U, Gabisi A, Newman RA, Grimm EA. Zyflamend mediates therapeutic induction of autophagy to apoptosis in melanoma cells. Nutr Cancer 63(6):940-9, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21745040.
- Chattopadhyay C, El-Naggar AK, Williams MD, Clayman GL. Small molecule c-MET inhibitor PHA665752: effect on cell growth and motility in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Head Neck 30(8):991-1000, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18327775.
- Ahn SH, Henderson Y, Kang Y, Chattopadhyay C, Holton P, Wang M, Briggs K, Clayman GL. An orthotopic model of papillary thyroid carcinoma in athymic nude mice. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 134(2):190-7, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18283163.
- Shellenberger TD, Mazumdar A, Henderson Y, Briggs K, Wang M, Chattopadhyay C, Jayakumar A, Frederick M, Clayman GL. Headpin: a serpin with endogenous and exogenous suppression of angiogenesis. Cancer Res 65(24):11501-9, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16357159.
- Chattopadhyay C, Hawke D, Kobayashi R, Maity SN. Human p32, interacts with B subunit of the CCAAT-binding factor, CBF/NF-Y, and inhibits CBF-mediated transcription activation in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res 32(12):3632-41, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15243141.
- Chattopadhyay C, Sau S, Mandal NC. Cloning and characterization of the promoters of temperate mycobacteriophage L1. J Biochem Mol Biol 36(6):586-92, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 14659078.
Review Articles
- Chattopadhyay C, Kim DW, Gombos DS, Oba J, Qin Y, Williams MD, Esmaeli B, Grimm EA, Wargo JA, Woodman SE, Patel SP. Uveal melanoma: From diagnosis to treatment and the science in between. Cancer 122(15):2299-312, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26991400.
Abstracts
- Chattopadhyay C. Resistance to ONC212 in uveal melanoma is mediated by mutations in CLPP. 2026 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Caudle AS, Poindexter N, Chattopadhyay C, Grimm EA. Different regulation of EGFR by IL-24 in human melanoma cells and melanocytes. 2009 AACR 100th Annual Meeting.
- Mandal PK, Liao WS, Gao F, Robertson FM, Thudi NK, Ekmekcioglu SE, Chattopadhyay C, Ren Z, Chen X, Lu Z, Bast JR RC, Ramesh R, McMurray SR JS. Potent, highly selective peptidomimetic prodrugs targeting the SH2 domain of Stat3 decrease vasculogenic mimicry, invasion, and anchorage independent growth of cancer cells. 2010 AACR 101 Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Ellerhorst JA, Ekmekcioglu S, Grimm EA. Preferential targeting of N-Ras mutant and other wild type B-Raf human melanoma cells with c-Met inhibitor: a preclinical promise. 2010 AACR 101 Annual Meeting.
- Woodman SE, Yu X, Chattopadhyay C, Williams M, Poindexter N, Gombos DS, Jager MJ, Grimm E, Esmaeli B. GNAQ/11 mutant dependent uveal melanoma sensitivity to MEK and PI3K inhibitors. 2011 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Poindexter NJ, Woodman SE, Esmaeli B, Grimm EA. Targeting c-Met/HGF pathway in uveal melanoma cells. 2011 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Woodman SE, Esmaeli B, Grimm EA. Targeting IGF-1R in uveal melanoma. 2012 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Grimm EA, Woodman SE. Simultaneous inhibition of the HGF/MET and Erk1/2 pathways affect uveal melanoma cell growth and migration. 2013 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Oba J, Esmaeli B, Fox PS, Ellerhorst J, Grimm EA. Analyses of the level of liver borne growth factors, IGF -1 and HGF in metastatic and non-metastatic and non-metastatic uveal melanoma patient serum: correlation with outcome. 2014 AACR Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Roszik J, Oba J, Woodman SE, Grimm EA. Elevated endogenous SDHA drives pathological metabolism in highly metastatic uveal melanoma. 2018 Metabolism and Cancer, AACR.
- Chattopadhyay C, Bhattacharya R, Roszik J, Villanueva H, Wells G, Grimm E. Targeting the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling in uveal melanoma inhibits cell survival, cell migration and reduces tumor growth. 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C, Roszik J, Bhattacharya R, Mahmud I, Ali MM, Grimm EA. Targeting metabolic vulnerability of uveal melanoma to control tumor growth and improve survival. 2023 SMR 20th International Congress Meeting.
- Ali M, Chattopadhyay C. Imipridones downregulate oxidative phosphorylation effectors to inhibit uveal melanoma cell survival and migration. 2023 MDACC Symposium.
- Ali MM, Alauddin Md, Chattopadhyay C. Metabolic targeting with imipridones inhibit uveal melanoma cell survival and migration. 2024 SoCal Metabolism Symposium, Second Annual.
- Chattopadhyay C. Imipridones inhibit tumor growth and improve survival in an orthotopic liver metastasis mouse model of human uveal melanoma. 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting.
- Chattopadhyay C. Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of uveal melanoma to develop & nbsp; novel therapeutic strategies. 13th AACR-JCA Joint Conference: From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation.
Patents
- Chattopadhyay C, Roszik J. Use of SDHA as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target in uveal melanoma, 2020. Patent Number: 11767564.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 11, 2026