Deepa Sampath, Ph.D.
Department of Hematopoietic Biology & Malignancy, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Epigenetic mechanisms play a critical role in the pathogenesis of leukemias and are rational targets for therapeutic modulation. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other indolent leukemias accumulate due to a persistence of cells with enhanced survival capacity. Resistance to apoptosis in these tumors is mediated by the selective repression of proapoptotic signaling pathways as well as the overexpression of survival promoting genes. Using CHIP assays, microarrays, gene expression assays and immunoblotting in primary tumor cells, research in my lab is focused on: 1) understanding the patterns of epigenetic silencing via methylation of DNA and histones, histone deacetylation and recruitment of polycomb repressor complexes to the gene promoters of microRNA and other genes in indolent leukemias, 2) Pharmacological re-expression with an aim to elucidating the physiological role of microRNA and other genes in regulating the apoptotic signaling in indolent leukemias. Our research projects provide the opportunity to study the epigenetic mechanisms that may contribute to the pathogenesis of indolent and aggressive leukemia and to translate these findings into novel therapeutic strategies against these diseases.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1995 | University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, PHD, Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics |
| 1988 | University of Madras, Chennai, IND, MS, Medical Genetics |
| 1986 | University of Madras, Chennai, IND, BS, Zoology |
Postgraduate Training
| 1998-2004 | Research Associate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1995-1998 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 2019 - 2020
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2015
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 2013 - 2019
Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2012
Instructor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2004 - 2007
Institutional Committee Activities
Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Faculty Senate, 2023 - 2025
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Sampath D, Liu C, Vasan K, Sulda M, Puduvalli VK, Wierda WG, Keating MJ. Histone deacetylases mediate the silencing of miR-15a and miR-16 and miR-29b in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 119(5):1162-72, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22096249.
- Xu J, Sampath D, Lang FF, Prabhu S, Rao G, Fuller GN, Liu Y, Puduvalli VK. Vorinostat modulates cell cycle regulatory proteins in glioma cells and human glioma slice cultures. J Neurooncol 105(2):241-51, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21598070.
- Zecevic A, Sampath D, Ewald B, Chen R, Wierda W, Plunkett W. Killing of chronic lymphocytic leukemia by the combination of fludarabine and oxaliplatin is dependent on the activity of XPF endonuclease. Clin Cancer Res 17(14):4731-41, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21632856.
- Fabbri M, Bottoni A, Shimizu M, Spizzo R, Nicoloso MS, Rossi S, Barbarotto E, Cimmino A, Adair B, Wojcik SE, Valeri N, Calore F, Sampath D, Fanini F, Vannini I, Musuraca G, Dell'Aquila M, Alder H, Davuluri RV, Rassenti LZ, Negrini M, Nakamura T, Amadori D, Kay NE, Rai KR, Keating MJ, Kipps TJ, Calin GA, Croce CM. Association of a microRNA/TP53 feedback circuitry with pathogenesis and outcome of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. JAMA 305(1):59-67, 2011. PMID: 21205967.
- Liu Y, Lang F, Xie X, Prabhu S, Xu J, Sampath D, Aldape K, Fuller G, Puduvalli VK. Efficacy of adenovirally expressed soluble TRAIL in human glioma organotypic slice culture and glioma xenografts. Cell Death Dis 2(N/A):e121, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21368892.
- Wierda WG, Castro JE, Aguillon R, Sampath D, Jalayer A, McMannis J, Prussak CE, Keating M, Kipps TJ. A phase I study of immune gene therapy for patients with CLL using a membrane-stable, humanized CD154. Leukemia 24(11):1893-900, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20882050.
- Rossi S, Shimizu M, Barbarotto E, Nicoloso MS, Dimitri F, Sampath D, Fabbri M, Lerner S, Barron LL, Rassenti LZ, Jiang L, Xiao L, Hu J, Secchiero P, Zauli G, Volinia S, Negrini M, Wierda W, Kipps TJ, Plunkett W, Coombes KR, Abruzzo LV, Keating MJ, Calin GA. microRNA fingerprinting of CLL patients with chromosome 17p deletion identify a miR-21 score that stratifies early survival. Blood 116(6):945-52, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20393129.
- 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):3744-53, 2009. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19096009.
- Ewald B, Sampath D, Plunkett W. ATM and the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex respondto nucleoside analogue-induces stalled replications forks and contribute to drug resistance. Cancer Res 68(19):7947-55, 2008. PMID: 18829552.
- Sampath D, Plunkett W. The role of DNA repair in chronic lymphocytic leukemia pathogenesis and chemotherapy resistance. Curr Oncol Rep 9(5):361-7, 2007. PMID: 17706164.
- Ewald B, Sampath D, Plunkett W. H2AX phosphorylation marks gemcitabine-induced stalled replication forks and their collapse upon S-phase checkpoint abrogation. Mol Cancer Ther 4(4):1239-1248, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17406032.
- Moufarij MA, Sampath D, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Fludarabine increases oxaliplatin cytotoxicity in normal and chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes by suppressing interstrand DNA crosslink removal. Blood 108(13):4187-4193, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16954499.
- Sampath D, Cortes J, Estrov Z, Du M, Shi Z, Andreeff M, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Pharmacodynamics of cytarabine alone and in combination with 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) in AML blasts in vitro and during a clinical trial. Blood 107(6):2517-2524, 2006. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 16293603.
- 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(1):233-243, 2005. PMID: 15711939.
- Sampath D, Shi Z, Plunkett W. Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 by the Chk1-Cdc25A pathway during the S-phase checkpoint activated by fludarabine: dysregulation by 7-hydroxystaurosporine. Mol Pharmacol 62(3):680-688, 2002. PMID: 12181445.
- Shi Z, Azuma A, Sampath D, Li YX, Huang P, Plunkett W. S-Phase arrest by nucleoside analogues and abrogation of survival without cell cycle progression by 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01). Cancer Research 61:1065-1072, 2001. PMID: 11221834.
- Sampath D, Plunkett W. The role of c-jun kinase in the apoptotic response to nucleoside analogue-induced DNA damage. Cancer Research 60:6408-6415, 2000. PMID: 11103806.
- Sampath D, Perez-Polo JR. Regulation of antioxidant enzyme expression by NGF. Neurochem Research 22:351-362, 1997. PMID: 9130244.
- Pan Z, Sampath D, Jackson G, Werrbach-Perez K, Perez-Polo R. NGF and oxidative stress in the nervous system. Adv in Exptl Med Biol 429:173-193, 1997.
- Sampath D, Holets V, Perez-Polo JR. Effect of a spinal cord photolesion injury on catalase. Int J Dev Neurosci 13:645-654, 1995. PMID: 8553900.
- Sampath D, Jackson GR, Werrbach-Perez K, Perez-Polo JR. Effects of nerve growth factor on glutathione peroxidase and catalase in PC12 cells. J Neurochem 62(6):2476-2479, 1994. PMID: 8189251.
- Jackson GR, Sampath D, Werrbach-Perez K, Perez-Polo JR. Effects of nerve growth factor on catalase and glutathione peroxidase in a hydrogen peroxide resistant pheochromocytoma subclone. Brain Research 634:69-76, 1994. PMID: 8156393.
- Jackson GR, Werrbach-Perez K, Pan Z, Sampath D, Perez-Polo JR. Neurotrophin regulation of energy homeostasis in the central nervous system. Dev Neurosci 16:285-290, 1994. PMID: 7768207.
Invited Articles
- Ewald B, Sampath D, Plunkett W. Nucleoside analogs: molecular mechanisms signaling cell death. Oncogene 27(50):6522-37, 2008. PMID: 18955977.
- Tili E, Michaille JJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W, Sampath D, Calin GA. miRNAs and their potential for use against cancer and other diseases. Future Oncol 3(5):521-37, 2007. PMID: 17927518.
- Sampath D, Rao VA, Plunkett W. Mechanisms of apoptosis induction by nucleoside analogs. Oncogene 22(56):9063-9074, 2003. PMID: 14663485.
- Sampath D, Plunkett W. Design of new anti-cancer therapies targeting cell cycle checkpoint pathways. Curr Opin Oncol 13(6):484-490, 2001. PMID: 11673689.
Editorials
- Sampath D, Calin GA. Coding and Non coding: The CLL mix. Blood 115(19):3858-9, 2010. PMID: 20466868.
- Sampath D, Calin GA. miRs-Fine tuning prognosis in CLL. Blood 113(21):5035-36, 2009. PMID: 19470431.
- Sampath D, Gandhi V. Dialing resistance up a Notch. Leuk Lymphoma 50(2):158, 2009. PMID: 19235014.
Abstracts
- Sampath D, Calin G, Pudavalli V, Gopisetty G, Taccioli C, Ewald B, Keating M, Plunkett W. Specific activation of microRNA 106b targets the ubiquitin ligase ITCH to enable the p73 apoptotic responce in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer therapeutics, 2008.
- Sampath D. Chromatin modulation to target CLL. US European Alliance, 2008.
- Sampath D, Calin G, Pudavalli V, Gopisetty G, Taccioli C, Ewald B, Keating M, Plunkett W. MicroRNA 106b targets the ubiquitin ligase ITCH to enable the p73 apoptotic responce in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 49, 2008.
- Sampath D, Pudavalli V, Atadja P, Keating M Plunkett W. Histone deacetylase inhibitors activate p73 apoptotic responce in chronic lymphocytic. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Reaserch 48:967, 2007.
- Sampath D, Du M, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Fludarabine resistance in CLL is associated with non functional p53. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 47:884, 2006.
- Ewald B, Sampath D, Plunkett W. Phosphorylation of H2AX in response to a gemcitabine-induced checkpoint: Increased phosphorylation subsequent to checkpoint abrogation. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 47:491, 2006.
- Sampath D, Du M, Keating M, Plunkett W. CLL response to DNA repair inhibition: Role for p53 and XIAP. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 46:780, 2005.
- Liu X, Sampath D, Tseng J, Matsuda A, Gesner T, Plunkett W. Abrogation of S-phase and G2 cell cycle checkpoints by small molecule inhibitors of the DNA damage kinase, Chk1. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 46:396, 2005.
- Puduvalli V, Xu J, Sampath D. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) induces G2 arrest and apoptosis in gliomas. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 46:424, 2005.
Book Chapters
- Sampath D. Role of microRNAs in leukemia. In: MicroRNA function in cancer. Springer, 97-118, 2013.
- Sampath D, Wierda W. Epigenetic regulation in CLL. In: Epigenetics of Leukemia. Springer: New York, 2011.
- Shi Z, Sampath D, Plunkett W. Therapeutic strategies that overcome resistance to nucleoside analogs: Dysregulating checkpoint response and survival pathways by UCN-01. In: Acute Leukemia IX, 97-109, 2001.
- Gandhi V, Estey EE, Seymour JF, Sampath D, Du M, Ayers M, Keating MJ, Plunkett W. Experimental Approaches and Novel Therapies. In: Modulation of Ara-C metabolism to improve AML response. Acute Leukemias VII, 577-583, 1997.
Letters to the Editor
- Sampath D and Plunkett W. Context dependent expression of miR-106b in CLL. Blood 113: 6499, 2009.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Characterization of Onalespib, A novel long acting Hsp90 inhibitor, as a chemo and radiosensitizer in Adults with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting NAMPT in Acute Myeloid Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | OSU Leukemia SPORE |
| Funding Source: | OSU |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | New therapies for high risk CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified April 29, 2024