Alessandra Ferrajoli, MD
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Ferrajoli
Dr. Ferrajoli is an academic hematologist/oncologist practicing in the Leukemia Department at the University of Texas, MD Anderson since 1998. Her main area of interest includes the treatment and biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its variants, and treatment of elderly patients with acute and chronic leukemia. In these fields Dr. Ferrajoli has authored and co-authored more than two hundred and fifty publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Ferrajoli serves on numerous journal editorial boards and grant proposal study sessions for several US and European Agencies. Dr. Ferrajoli is a member of professional societies such the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Hematology Association (EHA).
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Associate Medical Director, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1988 | School of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, ITA, MD, Medicine |
| 1982 | Liceo Scientifico, Macerata, ITA, BS, Pre-Medical |
Postgraduate Training
| 1998-2001 | Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology, Hematology/Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1995-1998 | Residency in Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX |
| 1991-1992 | Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1988-1993 | Residency in Internal Medicine, Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia |
Board Certifications
| 2001 | American Board of Medical Oncology |
| 1998 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2014
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Clinical Research Committee, 2011 - Present
Member, ICU Subcommittee, 2011 - Present
Member, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff (CCMS), 2010 - 2013
Member, M. D. Anderson Internal Review Board, 2005 - 2018
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | Faculty Achievement Award in Patient Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2017 | Chair, Paola Campese Award for Research on Leukemias, Italian Scientists and Scholars of North America Foundation |
| 2015 | Mentor, Teacher of the Year, Leukemia Fellowship Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2011 | Matilde of Canossa Award, Province of Reggio-Emilia, Italy |
| 2006 | Caring MD Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Department of Leukemia |
| 2005 | Patients Education Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2000 | American Society of Hematology Travel Award, American Society of Hematology |
| 1999 | Research Award for Clinical Trainee, The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1993 | Certificate in Internal Medicine, Italian Ministry of Health |
| 1993 | Italian Research Council Award, Italian Research Council |
| 1992 | American Society of Hematology Travel Award, American Society of Hematology |
| 1991 | Overseas Fellowship Award, Italian Association for Cancer Research |
| 1988 | Scholarship Award, Italian Ministry of Public Health |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Strati P, Ferrajoli A. Treating Older Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Personalized Approach. Drugs Aging 36(9):841-851, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31055788.
- Bose P, Swaminathan M, Pemmaraju N, Ferrajoli A, Jabbour EJ, Daver NG, DiNardo CD, Alvarado Y, Yilmaz M, Huynh-Lu J, Qiao W, Wang X, Matamoros A, Zhou L, Pierce S, Schroeder KD, Kantarjian HM, Verstovsek S. A phase 2 study of pracinostat combined with ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis. Leuk Lymphoma 60(7):1-8, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30632841.
- Hu B, Patel KP, Chen HC, Wang X, Wang F, Luthra R, Routbort MJ, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Medeiros LJ, Yin CC, Zuo Z, Ok CY, Loghavi S, Tang G, Tambaro FP, Thompson P, Burger J, Jain N, Ferrajoli A, Bose P, Estrov Z, Keating MJ, Wierda WG. Routine sequencing in CLL has prognostic implications and provides new insight into pathogenesis and targeted treatments. Br J Haematol 185(5):852-864, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30924136.
- Autore F, Strati P, Innocenti I, Corrente F, Trentin L, Cortelezzi A, Visco C, Coscia M, Cuneo A, Gozzetti A, Mauro FR, Frustaci AM, Gentile M, Morabito F, Molica S, Falcucci P, D'Arena G, Murru R, Vincelli D, Efremov DG, Ferretti A, Rigolin GM, Vitale C, Tisi MC, Reda G, Visentin A, Sica S, Foà R, Ferrajoli A, Laurenti L. Elevated Lactate Dehydrogenase Has Prognostic Relevance in Treatment-Naïve Patients Affected by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Trisomy 12. Cancers (Basel) 11(7), 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31248056.
- Sasaki K, Kantarjian HM, O'Brien S, Ravandi F, Konopleva M, Borthakur G, Garcia-Manero G, Wierda WG, Daver N, Ferrajoli A, Takahashi K, Jain P, Rios MB, Pierce SA, Jabbour EJ, Cortes JE. Incidence of second malignancies in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Int J Hematol 109(5):545-552, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30830579.
- Jain N, Keating M, Thompson P, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Borthakur G, Takahashi K, Estrov Z, Fowler N, Kadia T, Konopleva M, Alvarado Y, Yilmaz M, DiNardo C, Bose P, Ohanian M, Pemmaraju N, Jabbour E, Sasaki K, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Patel K, Jorgensen J, Garg N, Wang X, Sondermann K, Cruz N, Wei C, Ayala A, Plunkett W, Kantarjian H, Gandhi V, Wierda W. Ibrutinib and Venetoclax for First-Line Treatment of CLL. N Engl J Med 380(22):2095-2103, 2019. PMID: 31141631.
- Strati P, Gabutti C, Thompson PA, Kontoyiannis DP, Ferrajoli A. Cytomegalovirus reactivation can be a cause of DAT-negative hemolytic anemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 60(2):1-3, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29911929.
- Kanagal-Shamanna R, Jain P, Patel KP, Routbort M, Bueso-Ramos C, Alhalouli T, Khoury JD, Luthra R, Ferrajoli A, Keating M, Jain N, Burger J, Estrov Z, Wierda W, Kantarjian HM, Medeiros LJ. Targeted multigene deep sequencing of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant chronic lymphocytic leukemia with disease progression and Richter transformation. Cancer 125(4):559-574, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30508305.
- Vitale C, Ferrajoli A. Lenalidomide can be safely combined with chlorambucil and rituximab in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 104(1):9-12, 2019. PMID: 30598495.
- Lu H, Lok AS, Warneke CL, Ahmed S, Torres HA, Martinez F, Suarez-Almazor ME, Foreman JT, Ferrajoli A, Hwang JP. Passive transfer of anti-HBc after intravenous immunoglobulin administration in patients with cancer: a retrospective chart review. Lancet Haematol 5(10):e474-e478, 2018. PMID: 30290904.
- Muftuoglu M, Olson A, Marin D, Ahmed S, Mulanovich V, Tummala S, Chi TL, Ferrajoli A, Kaur I, Li L, Champlin R, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K. Allogeneic BK Virus-Specific T Cells for Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. N Engl J Med 379(15):1443-1451, 2018. PMID: 30304652.
- Kadia TM, Cortes J, Ravandi F, Jabbour E, Konopleva M, Benton CB, Burger J, Sasaki K, Borthakur G, DiNardo CD, Pemmaraju N, Daver N, Ferrajoli A, Wang X, Patel K, Jorgensen JL, Wang S, O'Brien S, Pierce S, Tuttle C, Estrov Z, Verstovsek S, Garcia-Manero G, Kantarjian H. Cladribine and low-dose cytarabine alternating with decitabine as front-line therapy for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: a phase 2 single-arm trial. Lancet Haematol 5(9):e411-e421, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30115541.
- Rozovski U, Harris DM, Li P, Liu Z, Jain P, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Thompson P, Jain N, Wierda W, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. STAT3 is constitutively acetylated on lysine 685 residues in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 9(72):33710-33718, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30263097.
- Falchi L, Ferrajoli A, Jacobs I, Nava-Parada P. An Evidence-based Review of Anti-CD20 Antibody-containing Regimens for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, or Follicular Lymphoma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 18(8):508-518.e14, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29934061.
- Naqvi K, Jabbour E, Skinner J, Yilmaz M, Ferrajoli A, Bose P, Thompson P, Alvarado Y, Jain N, Takahashi K, Burger J, Estrov Z, Borthakur G, Pemmaraju N, Paul S, Cortes J, Kantarjian HM. Early results of lower dose dasatinib (50?mg daily) as frontline therapy for newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia. Cancer 124(13):2740-2747, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29723397.
- Autore F, Strati P, Laurenti L, Ferrajoli A. Morphological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with trisomy 12: a comprehensive review. Haematologica 103(6):931-938, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29748447.
- Hwang JP, Ahmed S, Ariza-Heredia EJ, Duan Z, Zhao H, Schmeler KM, Ramondetta L, Parker SL, Suarez-Almazor ME, Ferrajoli A, Shih YT, Giordano SH, Chiao EY. Low Rate of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women with Hematologic Malignancies after Stem Cell Transplant. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 24(5):1094-1098, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29378304.
- Rausch CR, Paul S, Marx KR, Jabbour E, Pemmaraju N, Ferrajoli A, Kantarjian H. L-carnitine and Vitamin B Complex for the Treatment of Pegasparaginase-induced Hyperbilirubinemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 18(5):e191-e195, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29550108.
- Kondo K, Shaim H, Thompson PA, Burger JA, Keating M, Estrov Z, Harris D, Kim E, Ferrajoli A, Daher M, Basar R, Muftuoglu M, Imahashi N, Alsuliman A, Sobieski C, Gokdemir E, Wierda W, Jain N, Liu E, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K. Ibrutinib modulates the immunosuppressive CLL microenvironment through STAT3-mediated suppression of regulatory B-cell function and inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Leukemia 32(4):960-970, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28972595.
- Takahashi K, Hu B, Wang F, Yan Y, Kim E, Vitale C, Patel KP, Strati P, Gumbs C, Little L, Tippen S, Song X, Zhang J, Jain N, Thompson P, Garcia-Manero G, Kantarjian H, Estrov Z, Do KA, Keating M, Burger JA, Wierda WG, Futreal PA, Ferrajoli A. Clinical implications of cancer gene mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with lenalidomide. Blood 131(16):1820-1832, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29358183.
- Boddu P, Ferrajoli A. Prognostic Factors in the Era of Targeted Therapies in CLL. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 13(2):78-90, 2018. PMID: 29473123.
- Rozovski U, Harris DM, Li P, Liu Z, Jain P, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Thompson P, Jain N, Wierda W, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. STAT3-activated CD36 facilitates fatty acid uptake in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 9(30):21268-21280, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29765537.
- Sasaki K, Kantarjian H, O'Brien S, Ravandi F, Konopleva M, Borthakur G, Garcia-Manero G, Wierda W, Daver N, Ferrajoli A, Takahashi K, Jain P, Rios MB, Pierce S, Jabbour E, Cortes JE. Prediction for sustained deep molecular response of BCR-ABL1 levels in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. Cancer 124(6):1160-1168, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29266206.
- Tissino E, Benedetti D, Herman SEM, Ten Hacken E, Ahn IE, Chaffee KG, Rossi FM, Dal Bo M, Bulian P, Bomben R, Bayer E, Härzschel A, Gutjahr JC, Postorino M, Santinelli E, Ayed A, Zaja F, Chiarenza A, Pozzato G, Chigaev A, Sklar LA, Burger JA, Ferrajoli A, Shanafelt TD, Wiestner A, Del Poeta G, Hartmann TN, Gattei V, Zucchetto A. Functional and clinical relevance of VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) in ibrutinib-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Exp Med 215(2):681-697, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29301866.
- Kantarjian H, Ravandi F, Short NJ, Huang X, Jain N, Sasaki K, Daver N, Pemmaraju N, Khoury JD, Jorgensen J, Alvarado Y, Konopleva M, Garcia-Manero G, Kadia T, Yilmaz M, Bortakhur G, Burger J, Kornblau S, Wierda W, DiNardo C, Ferrajoli A, Jacob J, Garris R, O'Brien S, Jabbour E. Inotuzumab ozogamicin in combination with low-intensity chemotherapy for older patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a single-arm, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol 19(2):240-248, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29352703.
- Sivina M, Werner L, Rassenti L, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, O'Brien S, Neuberg D, Kipps T, Burger JA. Dynamic changes in CCL3 and CCL4 plasma concentrations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia managed with observation. Br J Haematol 180(4):597-600, 2018. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27766619.
- Jain P, Nogueras González GM, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Rozovski U, Sarwari N, Tam C, Wierda WG, Thompson PA, Jain N, Luthra R, Quesada A, Sanchez-Petitto G, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Kantarjian H, Cortes J, O'Brien S, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. The absolute percent deviation of IGHV mutation rather than a 98% cut-off predicts survival of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients treated with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Br J Haematol 180(1):33-40, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29164608.
- Hwang JP, Suarez-Almazor ME, Cantor SB, Barbo A, Lin HY, Ahmed S, Chavez-MacGregor M, Donato-Santana C, Eng C, Ferrajoli A, Fisch MJ, McLaughlin P, Simon GR, Rondon G, Shpall EJ, Lok AS. Impact of the timing of hepatitis B virus identification and anti-hepatitis B virus therapy initiation on the risk of adverse liver outcomes for patients receiving cancer therapy. Cancer 123(17):3367-3376, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28518219.
- Falchi L, Vitale C, Keating MJ, Lerner S, Wang X, Elhor Gbito KY, Strom S, Wierda WG, Ferrajoli A. Incidence and Prognostic Impact of Other Cancers in a Population of Long-Term Survivors of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Ann Oncol 27(6):1100-6, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26912560.
- Vitale C, Falchi L, Ten Hacken E, Gao H, Shaim H, Van Roosbroeck K, Calin G, O'Brien S, Faderl S, Wang X, Wierda WG, Rezvani K, Reuben JM, Burger JA, Keating MJ, Ferrajoli A. Ofatumumab and Lenalidomide for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Correlation Between Responses and Immune Characteristics. Clin Cancer Res 22(1):1078-0432, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26733610.
- Ravandi F, O'Brien SM, Cortes JE, Thomas DM, Garris R, Faderl S, Burger JA, Rytting ME, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Verstovsek S, Champlin R, Kebriaei P, McCue DA, Huang X, Jabbour E, Garcia-Manero G, Estrov Z, Kantarjian HM. Long-term follow-up of a phase 2 study of chemotherapy plus dasatinib for the initial treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer 121(23):4158-64, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26308885.
- Vitale C, Hinojosa C, Keating J M, Pemmaraju N, O’Brien S, Wierda G W, Thomas H D, Borthakur G, Ohanian M, Burger A J, Ferrajoli A. Ofatumumab as front – line treatment in elderly unfit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. BLOOD 124(21), 2014.
- Challagundla P, Jorgensen JL, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Gurevich I, Pierson DM, Ferrajoli A, Reyes SR, Medeiros LJ, Miranda RN. Utility of Quantitative Flow Cytometry Immunophenotypic Analysis of CD5 Expression in Small B-Cell Neoplasms. Arch Pathol Lab Med 138(7):903-9, 2014. PMID: 24978916.
- Faderl S, Balakrishnan K, Thomas DA, Ravandi F, Borthakur G, Burger J, Ferrajoli A, Cortes J, O'Brien S, Kadia T, Feliu J, Plunkett W, Gandhi V, Kantarjian HM. Phase I and extension study of clofarabine plus cyclophosphamide in patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 14(3):231-8, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24440659.
- Strati P, Keating MJ, O'Brien SM, Burger J, Ferrajoli A, Jain N, Tambaro FP, Estrov Z, Jorgensen J, Challagundla P, Faderl SH, Wierda WG. Eradication of bone marrow minimal residual disease may prompt early treatment discontinuation in CLL. Blood 123(24):3727-32, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24705492.
- Rozovski U, Wu JY, Harris DM, Liu Z, Li P, Hazan-Halevy I, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, O'Brien S, Jain N, Verstovsek S, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. Stimulation of the B-cell receptor activates the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 123(24):3797-802, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24778152.
- Falchi L, Keating MJ, Marom EM, Truong MT, Schlette EJ, Sargent RL, Trinh L, Wang X, Smith SC, Jain N, Estrov Z, O'Brien S, Wierda WG, Lerner S, Ferrajoli A. Correlation between FDG/PET, histology, characteristics, and survival in 332 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia. Blood 123(18):2783-90, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24615780.
- Strati P, Ferrajoli A, Lerner S, O'Brien S, Wierda W, Keating MJ, Faderl S. Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab plus granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor as frontline treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 55(4):828-33, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23808813.
- Ohanian M, Kantarjian HM, Quintas-Cardama A, Jabbour E, Abruzzo L, Verstovsek S, Borthakur G, Ravandi F, Garcia-Manero G, Champlin R, Pierce S, Alattar ML, Trinh LX, Luthra R, Ferrajoli A, Kadia T, O'Brien S, Cortes JE. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as Initial Therapy for Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Accelerated Phase. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 14(2):155-162.e1, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24332214.
- Bulian P, Shanafelt TD, Fegan C, Zucchetto A, Cro L, Nückel H, Baldini L, Kurtova AV, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Gaidano G, Del Poeta G, Pepper C, Rossi D, Gattei V. CD49d is the strongest flow cytometry-based predictor of overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 32(9):897-904, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24516016.
- Daver N, Vega-Ruiz A, Kantarjian HM, Estrov Z, Ferrajoli A, Kornblau S, Verstovsek S, Garcia-Manero G, Cortes JE. A phase II open-label study of the intravenous administration of homoharringtonine in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 22(5):605-11, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23701251.
- Ferrajoli A. Interfering with CD40 Ligation: A Sensitive Matter in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 53(11):2093-2094, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22563816.
- Coombs CC, Falchi L, Weinberg JB, Ferrajoli A, Lanasa MC. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in African Americans. Leuk Lymphoma 53(11):2326-9, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22646816.
- Faderl S, Ravandi F, Huang X, Wang X, Jabbour E, Garcia-Manero G, Kadia T, Ferrajoli A, Konopleva M, Borthakur G, Burger J, Feliu J, Kantarjian HM. Clofarabine plus low-dose cytarabine followed by clofarabine plus low-dose cytarabine alternating with decitabine in acute myeloid leukemia frontline therapy for older patients. Cancer 118(18):4471-7, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22282348.
- Coombs CC, Rassenti LZ, Falchi L, Slager SL, Strom SS, Ferrajoli A, Weinberg JB, Kipps TJ, Lanasa MC. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and inherited risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia among African Americans. Blood 120(8):1687-90, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22745306.
- Garg R, Wierda W, Ferrajoli A, Abruzzo L, Pierce S, Lerner S, Keating M, O'Brien S. The prognostic difference of monoallelic versus biallelic deletion of 13q in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer 118(14):3531-3537, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22139735.
- Eghtedar A, Verstovsek S, Estrov Z, Burger J, Cortes J, Bivins C, Faderl S, Ferrajoli A, Borthakur G, George S, Scherle PA, Newton RC, Kantarjian HM, Ravandi F. Phase II study of the JAK kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib in patients with refractory leukemias, including post myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Blood 119(20):4614-8, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22422826.
- Wendtner CM, Hillmen P, Mahadevan D, Bühler A, Uharek L, Coutré S, Frankfurt O, Bloor A, Bosch F, Furman RR, Kimby E, Gribben JG, Gobbi M, Dreisbach L, Hurd DD, Sekeres MA, Ferrajoli A, Shah S, Zhang J, Moutouh-de Parseval L, Hallek M, Heerema NA, Stilgenbauer S, Chanan-Khan AA. Final results of a multicenter phase 1 study of lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 53(3):417-423, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21879809.
- Tong WG, Estrov Z, Wang Y, O'Brien S, Faderl S, Harris DM, Van Pham Q, Hazan-Halevy I, Liu Z, Koch P, Kantarjian H, Keating MJ, Ferrajoli A. The synthetic heat shock protein 90 inhibitor EC141 induces degradation of Bcr-Abl p190 protein and apoptosis of Ph-Positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Invest New Drugs 29(6):1206-1212, 2011. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20533075.
- Badoux X, Bueso-Ramos C, Harris D, Li P, Liu Z, Burger J, O'Brien S, Ferrajoli A, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. Cross-talk between chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and bone marrow endothelial cells: role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Hum Pathol 42(12):1989-2000, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21733558.
- Wierda WG, O'Brien S, Wang X, Faderl S, Ferrajoli A, Do KA, Garcia-Manero G, Cortes J, Thomas D, Koller CA, Burger JA, Lerner S, Schlette E, Abruzzo L, Kantarjian HM, Keating MJ. Multivariable Model for Time to First Treatment in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. J Clin Oncol 29(31):4088-95, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21969505.
- Lee BN, Gao H, Cohen EN, Badoux X, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Faderl SH, Keating MJ, Ferrajoli A, Reuben JM. Treatment with lenalidomide modulates T-cell immunophenotype and cytokine production in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer 117(17):3999-4008, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21858802.
- Badoux XC, Keating MJ, Wen S, Lee BN, Sivina M, Reuben J, Wierda WG, O'Brien SM, Faderl S, Kornblau SM, Burger JA, Ferrajoli A. Lenalidomide as initial therapy of elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 118(13):3489-3498, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21725050.
- Badoux XC, Keating MJ, Wang X, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Burger J, Koller C, Lerner S, Kantarjian H, Wierda WG. Cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, rituximab and alemtuzumab (CFAR) as salvage therapy for heavily pre-treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 118(8):2085-2093, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21670470.
- Ferrajoli A, Keating MJ, O'Brien S, Cortes J, Thomas DA. Experience with rituximab immunotherapy as an early intervention in patients with Rai stage 0 to II chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer 117(14):3182-3186, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21246526.
- Ferrajoli A, Buzdar AU, Dejesus Y, Cheng L, Michaud LB, Rodriguez MA. Usage of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in cancer patients at an academic cancer center and experience with specific care management tools for anemia. Cancer 117(14):3268-3275, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21264831.
- Badoux XC, Keating MJ, Wang X, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Burger J, Koller C, Lerner S, Kantarjian H, Wierda WG. Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab chemoimmunotherapy is highly effective treatment for relapsed patients with CLL. Blood 117(11):3016-3024, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21245487.
- Badoux XC, Keating MJ, Wang X, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Burger J, Koller C, Lerner S, Kantarjian H, Wierda WG. Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab chemoimmunotherapy is highly effective treatment for relapsed patients with CLL. Blood 117(11):3016-3024, 2011.
- Ferrajoli A. Incorporating the use of GM-CSF in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 50(3):514-516, 2009. PMID: 19347738.
- Motta M, Wierda WG, Ferrajoli A. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: treatment options for patients with refractory disease. Cancer 115(17):3830-3841, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19536902.
- Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Lapushin R, O'Brien SM, Faderl S, Browning ML, Keating MJ.. Pilot experience with continuous infusion alemtuzumab in patients with fludarabine-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Eur J Haematol 80(4):296-298, 2008. PMID: 18182081.
- Ferrajoli A, Lee B-L, Schlette EJ, O'Brien SM, Gao H, Wen S, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Faderl S, Cohen EN, Li C, Reuben JM, Keating MJ. Lenalidomide induces complete and partial remissions in patients with relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 111(11):5291-5297, 2008. PMID: 18334676.
- Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Van Q, Koch P, Harris D, Liu Z, Hazan-Halevy I, Wang Y, Kantarjian HM, Priebe W, Estrov Z. WP1066 disrupts Janus kinase-2 and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Cancer Res 67(23):11291-11299, 2007. PMID: 18056455.
- Ferrajoli A, Faderl S, Ravandi F, Estrov Z. The JAK-STAT pathway: a therapeutic target in hematological malignancies. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 6(8):671-679, 2006. PMID: 17168672.
- Liberati AM, Schippa M, Portuesi MG, Grazia Proietti M, De Angelis V, Ferrajoli A, Cinieri S, Di Clemente F, Palmisano L, Berruto P. IFN-beta induced biochemical and immunological modifications in hairy cell leukemia patients. Haematologica 76(5):375-382, 1991. PMID: 1806440.
- Rytting ME, Thomas DA, O'Brien SM, Ravandi-Kashani F, Jabbour EJ, Franklin AR, Kadia TM, Pemmaraju N, Daver NG, Ferrajoli A, Garcia-Manero G, Konopleva MY, Cortes JE, Borthakur G, Garris R, Cardenas-Turanzas M, Schroeder K, Jorgensen JL, Kornblau SM, Kantarjian HM. Augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster therapy in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cancer. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25042398.
- Strati P, Keating MJ, O' Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Faderl S, Tambaro FP, Jain N, Wierda WG. Outcomes of first-line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia with 17p deletion. Haematologica. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24859876.
- Li P, Harris D, Liu Z, Rozovski U, Ferrajoli A, Wang Y, Bueso-Ramos C, Hazan-Halevy I, Grgurevic S, Wierda W, Burger J, O'Brien S, Faderl S, Keating M, Estrov Z. STAT3-Activated GM-CSFRalpha Translocates to the Nucleus and Protects CLL Cells from Apoptosis. Mol Cancer Res. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24836891.
- Thompson PA, Peterson CB, Strati P, Jorgensen J, Keating MJ, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Estrov Z, Jain N, Kadia TM, Borthakur G, DiNardo CD, Daver N, Jabbour E, Wierda WG. Serial minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring during first-line FCR treatment for CLL may direct individualized therapeutic strategies. Leukemia. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29769624.
- Rozovski U, Harris DM, Li P, Liu Z, Jain P, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Thompson P, Jain N, Wierda W, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. Ibrutinib inhibits free fatty acid metabolism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma:1-6. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29465264.
- Strati P, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Jain N, Thompson PA, O'Brien SM, Rezvani K, Kantarjian HM, Burger JA, Hinojosa CO, Keating MJ, Estrov Z. Sustained long-lasting responses after lenalidomide discontinuation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29479067.
- Hwang JP, Lok AS, Fisch MJ, Cantor SB, Barbo A, Lin HY, Foreman JT, Vierling JM, Torres HA, Granwehr BP, Miller E, Eng C, Simon GR, Ahmed S, Ferrajoli A, Romaguera J, Suarez-Almazor ME. Models to Predict Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients With Cancer Undergoing Systemic Anticancer Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Oncol:JCO2017756387. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29447061.
- Liu H, Miao Y, Ferrajoli A, Tang G, McDonnell T, Medeiros LJ, Hu S. Leukemic phase of Richter transformation: A mimic of acute myeloid leukemia that responded to Ibrutinib monotherapy. Am J Hematol. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32162729.
- Strati P, Wang F, Tambaro FP, Thompson PA, Burger JA, Jain N, Ferrajoli A, Bose P, Estrov Z, Keating MJ, Futreal A, Takahashi K, Wierda WG. The landscape of genetic mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and complex karyotype. Br J Haematol. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31344256.
- Hu B, Patel KP, Chen HC, Wang X, Luthra R, Routbort MJ, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Medeiros LJ, Yin CC, Zuo Z, Ok CY, Loghavi S, Tang G, Tambaro FP, Thompson P, Burger J, Jain N, Ferrajoli A, Bose P, Estrov Z, Keating M, Wierda WG. Association of gene mutations with time-to-first treatment in 384 treatment-naive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients. Br J Haematol. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31243771.
- Vitale C, Falchi L, Ciccone M, Burger J, Pemmaraju N, Borthakur G, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Ferrajoli A. Ofatumumab is safe and effective as front-line treatment in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and severe co-morbidities, including other malignancies. J Geriatr Oncol. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31005650.
- Swaminathan M, Borthakur G, Kadia TM, Ferrajoli A, Alvarado Y, Pemmaraju N, Bodden K, Yearby B, Konopleva M, Khoury J, Bueso-Ramos C, Garcia-Manero G, DiNardo CD. A phase 2 clinical trial of eltrombopag for treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes after hypomethylating-agent failure. Leuk Lymphoma:1-7. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30773968.
- Boddu P, Gibbons J, Burger J, Sivina M, Thakral B, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ferrajoli A. Co-occurrence of chronic myeloid leukemia with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a report of two cases. Leuk Lymphoma:1-4. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30632839.
- Burger JA, Sivina M, Jain N, Kim E, Kadia T, Estrov Z, Nogueras-Gonzalez GM, Huang X, Jorgensen J, Li J, Cheng M, Clow F, Ohanian M, Andreeff M, Mathew T, Thompson P, Kantarjian H, O'Brien S, Wierda WG, Ferrajoli A, Keating MJ. Randomized trial of ibrutinib versus ibrutinib plus rituximab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30530801.
- Van Roosbroeck K, Bayraktar R, Calin S, Bloehdorn J, Dragomir MP, Okubo K, Bertilaccio MTS, Zupo S, You MJ, Gaidano G, Rossi D, Chen SS, Chiorazzi N, Thompson P, Ferrajoli A, Bertoni F, Stilgenbauer S, Keating MJ, Calin GA. miRNAs involvement in the pathogenesis of Richter's syndrome. Haematologica. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30409799.
- Paul S, Jain N, Ferrajoli A, O'Brien S, Burger J, Keating M, Wierda W. A phase II trial of eltrombopag for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and thrombocytopenia. Br J Haematol. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30406944.
- Assi R, Garcia-Manero G, Ravandi F, Borthakur G, Daver NG, Jabbour E, Burger J, Estrov Z, Dinardo CD, Alvarado Y, Hendrickson S, Ferrajoli A, Wierda W, Cortes J, Kantarjian H, Kadia TM. Addition of eltrombopag to immunosuppressive therapy in patients with newly diagnosed aplastic anemia. Cancer. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30307606.
- Abou Dalle I, Cortes JE, Pinnamaneni P, Lamothe B, Diaz Duque A, Randhawa J, Pemmaraju N, Jabbour E, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Konopleva M, Ravandi F, Alvarado Y, Borthakur G, Gandhi V, Kantarjian HM. A Pilot Phase II Study of Erlotinib for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acta Haematol 140(1):30-39. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30071517.
Other Articles
- Ferrajoli A, O'Brien SM, Faderl S, Wierda WG, Reuben JM, Keating MJ Lenalidomide: An emerging option in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica Meeting Reports 3(3):103-105, 2009.
Abstracts
- Francesco Autore, Paolo Strati, Idanna Innocenti, Francesco Corrente, Livio Trentin, Agostino Cortelezzi, Marta Coscia, Alessandro Gozzetti, Massimo Gentile, Fortunato Morabito, Giovanni D'Arena, Roberta Murru, Donatella Iolanda Vincelli, Gianluigi Reda, Candida Vitale, Alessandra Ferrajoli and Luca Laurenti. LDH Levels Predict Progression-Free Survival in Treatment-NaÏVe Patients with Trisomy 12 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, 2016.
- Ferrajoli, A, O’Brien S, Williams ML, Faderl S, Kantarjian H, Keating MJ. Campath-1H in refractory hematological malignancies expressing CD-52. A phase II clinical trial of 68 patients. Blood 98:1541a, 2001.
- Thompson P, Wierda W, Ferrajoli A, Smith S , O'Brien S, Burger J, Estrov Z, Jain N, Kantarjian H, Keating M.. Complex Karyotype, Rather Than Del(17p), Is Associated with Inferior Outcomes in Relapsed or Refractory CLL Patients Treated with Ibrutinib-Based Regimens. 56th Annual ASH Meeting, 2014.
- Jain P, Trinh L, Wang X, Benjamini O, Lerner S, Burger J, Ferrajoli A, Estrov Z, Kantarjian H, O’Brien S, Wierda WG. Deletion 11q abnormality in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may not have adverse outcomes. XViw CLL 2013 Conference.
- Ferrajoli A. Lenalidomide-based Regimens in Salvage and Frontline Therapy of CLL.
- Rozovski U, Li P, Harris D, Liu Z, Ferrajoli A, Wang Y, Bueso-Ramos C, Hazan-Halevy I, Grgurevic S, Wierda WG. STAT3-activated GM-CSFRα translocates to the nucleus and protects CLL cells from apoptosis.XViw CLL 2013 Conference.
- Strati P, Wierda WG, Burger JA, Ferrajoli A, Lerner S, Keating MJ, O'Brien SM. Prolonged cytopenia related to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica.
- Strati P, Keating MK, Wierda WG, Badoux X, Calin S, Reuben J, O'Brien SM, Kornblau S, Kantarjian H, Lee BN, Ferrajoli A. Long-lasting responses to Lenalidomide as initial therapy of elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica.
- Bulian P, Shanafelt TD, Fegan C, Zucchetto A, Cro L, Nuckel H, Baldini L, Kurtova AV, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Gaidano G, Del Poeta G, Pepper C, Rossi D, Gattei V. CD49D has independent negative predictive power for overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results from multi-center pooled analysis. Haematologica.
- Strati P, Keating MK, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Jain N, Estrov Z, Jorgensen J, Faderl S, Wierda WG. Achieving bone marrow CLL minimal residual disease-free status with first-line FCR is associated with improved PFS and can be considered a primary treatment objective. Haematologica.
- Strati P, Keating MJ, O'Brien SM, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Faderl S, Jain N, Wierda WG. Outcomes of first-line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion (dell7p). Journal of Clinical Oncology.
- Falchi L, Keating MK, Wang X, Schlette EJ, Sargent RL, Marom EM, Truong M, Wierda WG, Ferrajoli A. Predictors of survival in patients with transformed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (TC). Journal of Clinical Oncology.
- Francesco Autore, Paolo Strati, Idanna Innocenti, Francesco Corrente , Livio Trentin, Agostino Cortelezzi, Marta Coscia, Alessandro Gozzetti, Massimo Gentile, Fortunato Morabito, Giovanni D'Arena, Roberta Murru, Donatella Iolanda Vincelli, Gianluigi Reda, Candida Vitale, Alessandra Ferrajoli and Luca Laurenti1*. Opposite Effects of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitor Therapy with Ibrutinib and FCR Chemo-Immunotherapy on the Normal B Lymphocyte Repertoire in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
- Jessica Hwang, Maria E. Suarez-Almazor, Scott B. Cantor, Andrea G. Barbo, Heather Y. Lin, Sairah Ahmed, Mariana Chavez-Mac Gregor, Christian Donato-Santana, Cathy Eng, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Michael Fisch, Peter McLaughlin, George R. Simon, Gabriela Rondon, Elizabeth J. Shpall, Anna S. F. Lok. Impact of the timing of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identification and anti-HBV therapy initiation on the risk of adverse liver outcomes in patients receiving cancer therapy. 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting (Oral presentation). Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | 2011-0520: Phase II Study of Ofatumumab as Front-line Treatment in Elderly, Unfit Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) |
| Funding Source: | NCCN - National Comprehensive Cancer Network |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Protein-coding and non-coding RNA biomarkers for early detection of CLL |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | 2009-0283: Combination of Lenalidomide and Ofatumumab in Patients with Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL/SLL) |
| Funding Source: | Celgene |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2007-0208: Lenalidomide and Rituximab in Patients with Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL-SLL) |
| Funding Source: | Genentech |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | miRNAs and non-coding RNAs drive tumor indolence and late aggressiveness |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | 2007-0213: Lenalidomide in Patients with B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Residual Disease in Chemotherapy |
| Funding Source: | Celgene |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2012-0968: A Multicenter, Phase 1B, Open-Label Study to Determine the Safety and Activity of CC-292 in Combination with Lenalidomide in Subjects with Relapsed and/or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Celgene Corporation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2013-0371: A Study of Immune-adjuvant Effect of Lenalidomide in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Hypogammaglobulinemia and Impaired Response to Vaccinations - RV-CL-CLL-PI-002544 |
| Funding Source: | Celgene Corporation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2005-0175: Lenalidomide (Revlimid) in Patients with Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Celgene Corporation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Clinical and Genomic Studies of Other Cancers in Patients with Chronic Lymphocyti Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Ladies Leukemia League |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated second malignancies in patients who receive allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
| Funding Source: | Duncan Family Institute |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | CLL Moonshot Pilot Project : Other Cancers and Cancer Prevention |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Title: | 2014-0115: Combination of Lenalidomide and Obinutuzumab (GA101) in patients with Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) |
| Funding Source: | Genentech, Inc, Celgene |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2015-0193: Phase 1/2 Study to Determine the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy of Single Agent CC-122 and the Combinations of CC-122 and Ibrutinib, and CC-122 and obinutuzumab in Subjects with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Celgene |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | 2015-0939: A Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label, 3 Arm Phase 3 Study of Obinutuzumab in Combination with Chlorambucil, Acalabrutinib in Combination with Obinutuzumab, and Acalabrutinib Monotherapy in Subjects with Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Acerta Pharma |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |