Aloke K Sarkar, Ph.D.
Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div
About Dr. Aloke K Sarkar
Autophagy is an evolutionally conserved cellular degradation process involving elimination of defective or superfluous organelles and to target them to autophagosomes which eventually regulate both cell survival and cell death. Selective exclusion of damaged mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy), in combination with mitochondrial biogenesis, regulates the changes in steady-state mitochondrial mass that are required to meet metabolic demand. I am particularly motivated to study mitochondria specific proteins that control the elimination of damaged and non-functional mitochondria in Leukemia. Recently we have identified a novel role for a DNA damage response pathway gene in regulating mitophagy in multiple cell types including B cell leukemia. Alternatively another area of my research interest is to identify new/novel cancer genes using insertional mutagenesis in genetically predisposed murine leukemia models. Using MoMuLV as many as 86 proviral integration sites were cloned that resulted in >35% acceleration in tumor induction when newborn transgenic mice are inoculated with the virus. I have identified several novel and yet undisclosed role of known genes in driving multiple human solid and liquid tumors including T and B cell leukemias. I am focused on identifying molecular targets of these genes in order to explore potential regulators that would help us designing strategy in future clinical trials.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Member, UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
My immediate research interest project multiple facets related to leukemia as follow:
1. Deciphering the role of Sox8 in leukemogenesis and other non-lymphoid cancers. Identification of potential Sox8 upstream targets in versatile human cancers including T and B cell leukemias.
2. Designing strategies to block regulators of Sox8 by using small molecule inhibitors that would also help us designing strategies for human clinical trials.
3. Elucidating role(s) of autophagy and to ascertain whether autophagy is clearly inevitable for cancer progression in special reference to human Leukemias.
4. Ongoing research related to identification of new/novel drug actions in leukemia. Special interest is related to identify major signaling targets.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1996 | Jadavpur University, Calcutta, IN, Biochemistry & Cancer Biology, Ph.D |
| 1987 | University of Calcutta, Calcutta, IN, Zoology & Genetics, M.S |
Postgraduate Training
| 2007-2011 | Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 2004-2007 | Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX |
| 2000-2004 | Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, University of Toronto, Toronto |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011 - 2020
Institutional Committee Activities
Examiner, Workshop, Conference, Meeting or Training Opportunity submissions, Faculty Academic Review Committee (Faculty ARC), 2019 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | 18th International Workshop on Ataxia-Telangiectasia and ATM- Barnhart Travel Award in Targeted Therapies 2019, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 - 2017 | Barnhart Travel Award in Targeted Therapies, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2004 - 2006 | SCCCB Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston |
| 2001 - 2003 | MRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Toronto, Canada |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2021. Targeting Cancer Cell Mitochondria for Therapeutic Discovery. Conference. Targeting Cancer Cell Mitochondria for Therapeutic Discovery. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Identification of new Cancer Genes in Leukemia and Lymphoma via Retroviral International Mutagenesis. Summer Seminar Series. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Kinase independent ATM-Parkin interaction drives mitochondrial autophagy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Conference. The 18th International Workshop on Ataxia-Telangiectasia and ATM 2019. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Mitochondrial Autophagy in Cancer. Summer Seminar Series. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2016. Hsp90-Tom70 interaction with ATM. Conference. Hsp90-Tom70 interaction with ATM. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2015. AKT-p21 complex in mantle cell lymphoma. Conference. AKT-p21 complex in mantle cell lymphoma. Philadelphia, PA, US.
- 2014. Role of ataxia telangiectasia in mitochondrial autophagy in mantle cell lymphoma. Conference. Role of ataxia telangiectasia in mitochondrial autophagy in mantle cell lymphoma. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2013. L14R8 and Csapase-3 activation in mantle cell lymphoma. Conference. L14R8 and Csapase-3 activation in mantle cell lymphoma. Washington, DC, US.
International Presentations
- 2021. Targeting Cancer Cell Mitochondria for Therapeutic Discovery,. Conference. 4th International Conference on Healthcare and Allied Sciences,. Kuala Lumpur,, MY.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Deciphering the Role of Sox8 in Triggering Aggressive T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in TPL2 Transgenic Mice and Pathogenesis in Humans |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | HT942524RCRPIDA |
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Targeting ATM-dependent and independent mitophagy-induced cancer cell death in Lymphoma/ Blood Cancers |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | HT942524RCRPIDA |
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Project #3 Development of MOS (TRACTION Collaboration) |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Role of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated in mitochondrial autophagy in Cancer Character Count |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP240105 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Overcoming Barriers of BTKi in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation: U.S./European Alliance |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Deciphering the role of Sox8 in triggering aggressive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in TPL2 transgenic mice and pathogenesis in humans |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | GRANT13724162 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Project 1: CLL Transformation |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Deciphering the role of new and novel cooperating oncogenes in TPL2 transgenic mice triggering aggressive T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Leukemia SPORE |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | MDACC SPORE |
| Date: | 2021 - 2023 |
| Title: | Deciphering the role of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated in mitochondrial autophagy in cancer |
| Funding Source: | MDACC IRG |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2019 - 2023 |
| Title: | Targeting McI-1 in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation: U.S./European Alliance |
| Role: | Instructor |
| Date: | 2018 - 2021 |
| Title: | Role of Ataxia telangiectasia mutated in mitochondrial autophagy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP180532 |
| Date: | 2013 - 2020 |
| Title: | Development of Ibrutinib for CLL - Flagship Project |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shot Program |
| Role: | Instructor |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Tantawy SI, Sarkar A, Hubner S, Tan Z, Wierda WG, Eldeib A, Zhang S, Kornblau S, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of MCL-1 Protein Stability Induced by MCL-1 Antagonists in B-Cell Malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 29(2):446-457, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36346691.
- Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Correction to: Activation of ATM kinase by ROS generated during ionophore-induced mitophagy in human T and B cell malignancies. Mol Cell Biochem 476(7):2887, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34021870.
- Sarkar A, Stellrecht CM, Vangapandu HV, Ayres M, Kaipparettu BA, Park JH, Balakrishnan K, Burks JK, Pandita TK, Hittelman WN, Neelapu SS, Gandhi V. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated interacts with Parkin and induces mitophagy independent of kinase activity. Evidence from mantle cell lymphoma. Haematologica 2020 Feb 6. pii: haematol.2019.234385. doi: 10.3324/haematol.201(2):495-512, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32029507.
- Yi X, Sarkar A, Kismali G, Aslan B, Ayres M, Iles LR, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Long JP, Bertilaccio MTS, Gandhi V. AMG-176, an Mcl-1 antagonist, shows preclinical efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2020 Jan 14. pii: clincanres.1397.2019. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.C(14):3856-3867, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31937611.
- Patel VM, Balakrishnan K, Douglas M, Tibbitts T, Xu EY, Kutok JL, Ayers M, Sarkar A, Guerrieri R, Wierda WG, O'Brien S, Jain N, Stern HM, Gandhi V. Duvelisib treatment is associated with altered expression of apoptotic regulators that helps in sensitization of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to venetoclax (ABT-199). Leukemia 31(9):1872-1881, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28017967.
- Sarkar A, Balakrishnan K, Chen J, Patel V, Neelapu SS, McMurray JS, Gandhi V. Molecular evidence of Zn chelation of the procaspase activating compound B-PAC-1 in B cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 7(3):3461-76, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26658105.
- Sarkar A, Zhang M, Liu SH, Sarkar S, Brunicardi FC, Berger DH, Belaguli NS. Serum response factor expression is enriched in pancreatic β cells and regulates insulin gene expression. FASEB J 25(8):2592-603, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21525490.
- Cui JW, Li YJ, Sarkar A, Brown J, Tan YH, Premyslova M, Michaud C, Iscove N, Wang GJ, Ben-David Y. Retroviral insertional activation of the Fli-3 locus in erythroleukemias encoding a cluster of microRNAs that convert Epo-induced differentiation to proliferation. Blood 110(Oct 1;110(7):2631-40. Epub 2007 Jun 22):2631-40, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17586726.
- Lee CR, Cervi D, Truong AH, Li YJ, Sarkar A, Ben-David Y. Friend virus-induced erythroleukemias: a unique and well-defined mouse model for the development of leukemia. Anticancer Res 23(3A):2159-66, 2003. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 12894591.
- Saha BK, Sarkar A, Basak R, Chatterjee M. 1alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes during chemical rat liver carcinogenesis. Cell Biol Int 25(3):227-37, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11352495.
- Sarkar A, Saha BK, Basak R, Mukhopadhyay I, Karmakar R, Chatterjee M. Anticlastogenic potential of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in murine lymphoma. Cancer Lett 150(1):1-13, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10755381.
- Bishayee A, Sarkar A, Chatterjee M. Further evidence for chemopreventive potential of beta-carotene against experimental carcinogenesis: diethylnitrosamine-initiated and phenobarbital-promoted hepatocarcinogenesis is prevented more effectively by beta-carotene than by retinoic acid. Nutr Cancer 37(1):89-98, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10965525.
- Sarkar A, Pradhan S, Mukhopadhyay I, Bose SK, Roy S, Chatterjee M. Inhibition of early DNA-damage and chromosomal aberrations by Trianthema portulacastrum L. In carbon tetrachloride-induced mouse liver damage. Cell Biol Int 23(10):703-8, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10736194.
- Sarkar A, Basak R, Bishayee A, Basak J, Chatterjee M. Beta-carotene inhibits rat liver chromosomal aberrations and DNA chain break after a single injection of diethylnitrosamine. Br J Cancer 76(7):855-61, 1997. e-Pub 1997. PMID: 9328143.
- Mukherjee B, Sarkar A, Chatterjee M. Biochemical basis of selenomethionine-mediated inhibition during 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat. Eur J Cancer Prev 5(6):455-63, 1996. e-Pub 1996. PMID: 9061276.
- Sarkar A, Bishayee A, Chatterjee M. Beta-carotene prevents lipid peroxidation and red blood cell membrane protein damage in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Cancer Biochem Biophys 15(2):111-25, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 8590436.
- Bishayee A, Sarkar A, Chatterjee M. Hepatoprotective activity of carrot (Daucus carota L.) against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in mouse liver. J Ethnopharmacol 47(2):69-74, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7500638.
- Sarkar A, Mukherjee B, Chatterjee M. Inhibition of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rat by dietary beta-carotene: changes in hepatic anti-oxidant defense enzyme levels. Int J Cancer 61(6):799-805, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7790114.
- Sarkar A, Mukherjee B, Chatterjee M. Inhibitory effect of beta-carotene on chronic 2-acetylaminofluorene induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rat: reflection in hepatic drug metabolism. Carcinogenesis 15(5):1055-60, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 8200068.
- Sarkar A, Mukherjee B, Rana M, Chatterjee M. Comparative patterns of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and their possible correlation with chromosomal aberrations in transplantable murine lymphoma: a time course study. Cancer Invest 12(5):477-83, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 7922703.
Review Articles
- Tantawy SI, Timofeeva N, Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Targeting MCL-1 Protein to Treat Cancer: Opportunities and Challenges. Front Oncol Co-corresponding author:1226289, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37601693.
Editorials
- Tantawy SI, Timofeeva N, Hernandez A, Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Decoding the mechanism behind MCL-1 inhibitors: A pathway to understanding MCL-1 protein stability. Oncotarget Co-corresponding author(1):653-655, 2023. PMID: 37343064.
Abstracts
- Sarkar A, Pandita TK, Gandhi V. Hsp90-Tom70 interaction facilitates ATM localization to mitochondria and induces mitochondrial autophagy. Cancer Research. Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Sarkar A, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. MK2206 disrupts cytoplasmic AKT-p21 complex in mantle cell lymphoma: Evidence of p21 coupled cell cycle arrest. Cancer Research. Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Sarkar A, Balakrishnan K, Ayres M, Neelapu SS, Gandhi V. Essential role of ataxia telangiectasia in mitochondrial autophagy in mantle cell lymphoma. Cancer Research. Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA, 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Sarkar A, Chen J, Neelapu SS, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. L14R8, a Pac derivative, induces casapase-3 mediated apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma. Cancer Research. Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445. AM2013-3347 Published April 2013, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Belaguli NS, Sarkar A, Zhang M, Rigi M, Berger DH. Regulation of Pdx-l and Insulin Gene Expression by Serum Response Factor. American Diabetes Association Abstract # 1632-P, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 25, 2025