
Jordan U. Gutterman, M.D.
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Gutterman
Dr. Jordan Gutterman is an Academic Hematologist in the Department of Leukemia at the University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Gutterman has been at the latter since July 1971.
His career has been a balance of both clinical research and laboratory research with the focus since 1971 of discovery and development of novel treatments of immunotherapy and study of the immunology of cancer.
Since 2000, Dr. Gutterman has expanded his research with discovery of novel plant compounds in desert plants. His lab has discovered a new family of natural products isolated from an Australian tree called Acacia Victoriae. The family of triterpenoid electrophiles called avicins are under development for treatment of cancer. The compounds regulate stress pathways critical for the developments of all cancers.
Dr. Gutterman has authored more than 350 articles. He was the first medical scientist to develop a drug ( interferon alpha) using recombinant DNA technology working with the nascent biotechnology industry as well as the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr Gutterman is a trustee of the Lasker Foundation and has been involved with the Lasker Awards since 1982.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
1964 | Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA, USA, MD, Medicine |
1960 | University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, BA, Liberal Arts with honors |
Postgraduate Training
1971-1971 | Advanced Senior Fellow, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
1968-1969 | Chief Resident in Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC |
1966-1968 | Hematology Fellowship, Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC |
1965-1966 | Junior Assistant Residency (Medicine), Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC |
1964-1965 | Internship (Medicine), Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC |
Board Certifications
1973 | American Board of Internal Medicine/Subspecialty |
1972 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
1972 | American College of Physicians |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Professor, Albert B. Alkek Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, 2000 - Present
Adjunct Professor, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 1996 - 2000
Virginia H. Cockrell Distinguished Professor of Immunology, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1987 - 1999
Professor, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1978 - 1981
Associate Professor, Department of Developmental Therapeutics, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1974 - 1978
Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental Therapeutics, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1972 - 1974
Faculty Associate, Department of Developmental Therapeutics, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1971 - 1972
Advanced Senior Fellow, Department of Developmental Therapeutics, The University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1971 - 1971
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Professor, Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1996 - 2018
Professor and Chairman, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1987 - 1996
Professor and Deputy Head, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1984 - 1986
Professor and Section Head, Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1981 - 1984
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Member, Institute of Medicine Committee on FDA Advisory Committees, N/A, 1991 - 1993
Executive Vice President, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, N/A, 1991 - 1995
Director, Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards Program, N/A, 1991 - Present
Member, FDA Advisory Committee on Biological Response Modifiers, N/A, 1990 - 1994
Member, Alliance for Aging Research Scientific Advisory Board, N/A, 1986 - 1989
Trustee, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, N/A, 1983 - Present
Member, Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis, N/A, 1980 - 1983
Member, Cancer Research Institute, N/A, 1979 - 1996
Member, National Cancer Institute, N/A, 1978 - 1981
Co-Chairman, American Cancer Society, N/A, 1978 - 1984
Member, Lasker Foundation, N/A, 1978 - 1989
Member, NCI Committee for the French-American Agreement for Therapeutic Cancer Research, N/A, 1977 - 1980
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Technology Review Committee, 2003 - Present
Member, CLL Initiative Committee, 2002 - Present
Chairman, Pharmacia Committee, 1999 - 2003
Consultantships
Consultant, Receptor BioLogix, Palo Alto, CA, 2006 - 2008
Consultant, Trellis Bioscience, Mountain View, CA, 2002 - 2007
Consultant, Burrill & Company, San Francisco, 2000 - 2006
Consultant, Cell Genesys, San Francisco, CA, 1997 - 2006
Military or Other Governmental Service
Chief Hematology, Brooke Army Hospital, U.S. Army, 1969 - 1971
Honors & Awards
2001 | List of Highly Cited Researchers , Institute for Scientific Information |
1994 | Distinguished Medical Alumnus, Duke University Medical Center |
1993 | Alpha Omega Alpha Visiting Professor, Medical College of Virginia |
1992 | Milstein Award, International Society for Interferon Research |
1990 | George Eastman Cartwright Visiting Professor of Medicine , University of Utah |
1981 | Senior Research Investigator, Clayton Foundation for Research |
1975 | Mellors Scholar Lecturer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute |
1974 | Development Award , National Institutes of Health Research Center |
1972 | Junior Faculty Award, American Cancer Society |
1964 | William Branch Porter Award, Outstanding Student in Medicine |
1962 | Alpha Omega Alpha |
1960 | Phi Beta Kappa |
1956 | Valedictorian, High School Class |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Blackstone NW, Gutterman JU. Can natural selection and druggable targets synergize? Of nutrient scarcity, cancer, and the evolution of cooperation. Bioessays 43(2):e2000160, 2021. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33165962.
- Garrido CM, Henkels KM, Rehl KM, Liang H, Zhou Y, Gutterman JU, Cho KJ. Avicin G is a potent sphingomyelinase inhibitor and blocks oncogenic K- and H-Ras signaling. Sci Rep 10(1):9120, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32499517.
- Tefferi A, Kantarjian H, Rajkumar SV, Baker LH, Abkowitz JL, Adamson JW, Advani RH, Allison J, Antman KH, Bast RC, Bennett JM, Benz EJ, Berliner N, Bertino J, Bhatia R, Bhatia S, Bhojwani D, Blanke CD, Bloomfield CD, Bosserman L, Broxmeyer HE, Byrd JC, Cabanillas F, Canellos GP, Chabner BA, Chanan-Khan A, Cheson B, Clarkson B, Cohn SL, Colon-Otero G, Cortes J, Coutre S, Cristofanilli M, Curran WJ, Daley GQ, DeAngelo DJ, Deeg HJ, Einhorn LH, Erba HP, Esteva FJ, Estey E, Fidler IJ, Foran J, Forman S, Freireich E, Fuchs C, George JN, Gertz MA, Giralt S, Golomb H, Greenberg P, Gutterman J, Handin RI, Hellman S, Hoff PM, Hoffman R, Hong WK, Horowitz M, Hortobagyi GN, Hudis C, Issa JP, Johnson BE, Kantoff PW, Kaushansky K, Khayat D, Khuri FR, Kipps TJ, Kripke M, Kyle RA, Larson RA, Lawrence TS, Levine R, Link MP, Lippman SM, Lonial S, Lyman GH, Markman M, Mendelsohn J, Meropol NJ, Messinger Y, Mulvey TM, O'Brien S, Perez-Soler R, Pollock R, Prchal J, Press O, Radich J, Rai K, Rosenberg SA, Rowe JM, Rugo H, Runowicz CD, Sandmaier BM, Saven A, Schafer AI, Schiffer C, Sekeres MA, Silver RT, Siu LL, Steensma DP, Stewart FM, Stock W, Stone R, Storb R, Strong LC, Tallman MS, Thompson M, Ueno NT, Van Etten RA, Vose JM, Wiernik PH, Winer EP, Younes A, Zelenetz AD, LeMaistre CA. In Support of a Patient-Driven Initiative and Petition to Lower the High Price of Cancer Drugs. Mayo Clin Proc 90(8):996-1000, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26211600.
- Zhang C, Li B, Gaikwad AS, Haridas V, Xu Z, Gutterman JU, Duvic M. Avicin D Selectively Induces Apoptosis and Downregulates p-STAT-3, bcl-2, and Survivin in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Cells. J Invest Dermatol 128(11):2728-35, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18496567.
- Haridas V, Li X, Mizumachi T, Higuchi M, Lemeshko VV, Colombini M, Gutterman JU. Avicins, a novel plant-derived metabolite lowers energy metabolism in tumor cells by targeting the outer mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondrion 7:234-240, 2007. PMID: 17317337.
- Gutterman JU, Lai HT, Yang P, Haridas V, Gaikwad A, Marcus S. Effects of the tumor inhibitory triterpenoid avicin G on cell integrity, cytokinesis, and protein ubiquitination in fission yeast. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:12771-6, 2005. PMID: 16118282.
- Gutterman JU, Choubey D. Retardation of cell proliferation after expression of p202 accompanies an increase in p21(WAF1/CIP1). Cell Growth Differ 10:93-100, 1999. PMID: 10074903.
- Gutterman JU. Recreating an environment for clinical discovery. Clin Cancer Res 3:2594-7, 1997. PMID: 9815663.
- Gutterman JU. Clinical investigators: the driving force behind drug discovery. Nat Biotechnol 15:598-9, 1997. PMID: 9219248.
- Gutterman JU. Cytokine therapeutics: lessons from interferon alpha. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91(4):1198-205, 1994. PMID: 8108387.
- Gutterman JU. Biologic therapy of human cancer. Cancer 70(4 Suppl):906-8, 1992. PMID: 1638462.
- Wetzler M, Kurzrock R, Taylor K, Spitzer G, Kantarjian H, Baiocchi G, Ku S, Gutterman JU, Talpaz M. Constitutive and induced expression of growth factors in normal and chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia Ph1 bone marrow stroma. Cancer Res 50(18):5801-5, 1990. PMID: 2203522.
- Talpaz M, Kantarjian H, Kurzrock R, Gutterman JU. Update on therapeutic options for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Semin Hematol 27(3 Suppl 4):31-6, 1990. PMID: 2197731.
- Hudson MM, Markowitz AB, Gutterman JU, Knowles RD, Snyder JS, Kleinerman ES. Effect of recombinant human interleukin 4 on human monocyte activity. Cancer Res 50(11):3154-8, 1990. PMID: 2334911.
- Logothetis CJ, Dexeus FH, Sella A, Amato RJ, Kilbourn RG, Finn L, Gutterman JU. Escalated therapy for refractory urothelial tumors: methotrexate-vinblastine-doxorubicin-cisplatin plus unglycosylated recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. J Natl Cancer Inst 82(8):667-72, 1990. PMID: 2181151.
- Zukiwski AA, David CL, Coan J, Wallace S, Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM. Increased incidence of hypersensitivity to iodine-containing radiographic contrast media after interleukin-2 administration. Cancer 65(7):1521-4, 1990. PMID: 2311064.
- Gutterman JU. Clinical and biological activity of the interferons in hematologic malignancies. Prog Clin Biol Res 288:337-48, 1989. PMID: 2470111.
- Gutterman JU. The role of interferons in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Semin Hematol 25(3 Suppl 3):3-8, 1988. PMID: 2459780.
- Gutterman JU, Fine S, Quesada J, Horning SJ, Levine JF, Alexanian R, Bernhardt L, Kramer M, Spiegel H, Colburn W, Trown P, Merigan T, Dziewanowski Z. Recombinant leukocyte A interferon: pharmacokinetics, single-dose tolerance, and biologic effects in cancer patients. Ann Intern Med 96(5):549-56, 1982. PMID: 6176159.
- Gutterman JU, Blumenschein GR, Alexanian R, Yap HY, Buzdar AU, Cabanillas F, Hortobagyi GN, Hersh EM, Rasmussen SL, Harmon M, Kramer M, Pestka S. Leukocyte interferon-induced tumor regression in human metastatic breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and malignant lymphoma. Ann Intern Med 93(3):399-406, 1980. PMID: 6159812.
- Gutterman JU, Richman SP, McBride CM, Burgess MA, Bartold SL, Kennedy A, Gehan EA, Mavligit G, Hersh EM. Immunotherapy for recurrent malignant melanoma: efficacy of BCG in prolonging the postoperative disease-free interval and survival. Recent Results Cancer Res 68:359-62, 1978. PMID: 752870.
- Gutterman JU. Cancer systemic active immunotherapy today--Prospects for tomorrow. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2:1-9, 1977.
- Gutterman JU, Cardenas JO, Blumenschein GR, Hortobagyi G, Burgess MA, Livingston RB, Mavligit GM, Freireich EJ, Gottlieb JA, Hersh EM. Chemoimmunotherapy of advanced breast cancer: prolongation of remission and survival with BCG. Br Med J 2(6046):1222-5, 1976. PMID: 791447.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Hersh EM. Chemoimmunotherapy of human solid tumors. Med Clin North Am 60(3):441-62, 1976. PMID: 1063907.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Reed R, Burgess MA, Gottlieb J, Hersh EM. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunotherapy in combination with DTIC (NSC-45388) for the treatment of malignant melanoma. Cancer Treat Rep 60(2):177-82, 1976. PMID: 769970.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Blumenshein G, Burgess MA, McBride CM, Hersh EM. Immunotherapy of human solid tumors with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin: prolongation of disease-free interval and survival in malignant melanoma, breast, and colorectal cancer. Ann N Y Acad Sci 277(00):135-59, 1976. PMID: 1069546.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Burgess MA, Cardenas JO, Blumenschein GR, Gottlieb JA, McBride CM, Hersh EM, McCredie KB, Bodey GP, Rodriguez V, Freireich EJ. Immunotherapy of breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and acute leukemia with BCG: Prolongation of disease free interval and survival. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1:99-107, 1976.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, Reed R, Richman S, McBride CE, Hersh EM. Immunology and immunotherapy of human-malignant melanoma: historic review and perspectives for the future. Semin Oncol 2(2):155-74, 1975. PMID: 790574.
- Gutterman JU, Hersh EM, Rodriguez V, McCredie KB, Mavligit G, Reed R, Burgess MA, Smith T, Gehan E, Bodey GP, Sr, Freireich EJ. Chemoimmunotherapy of adult acute leukaemia. Prolongation of remission in myeloblastic leukaemia with B.C.G. Lancet 2(7894):1405-9, 1974. PMID: 4140327.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Reed RC, Hersh EM. Immunochemotherapy of human cancer. Semin Oncol 1(4):409-23, 1974. PMID: 4620443.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, Gottlieb JA, Burgess MA, McBride CE, Einhorn L, Freireich EJ, Hersh EM. Chemoimmunotherapy of disseminated malignant melanoma with dimethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide and bacillus calmette--guerin. N Engl J Med 291(12):592-7, 1974. PMID: 4851001.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, Burgess MA, McCredie KB, Hunter C, Freireich EJ, Hersh EM. Immunodiagnosis of acute leukemia: detection of residual disease. J Natl Cancer Inst 53(2):389-92, 1974. PMID: 4526419.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, McBride C, Frei E, 3rd, Hersh EM. Immunoprophylaxis of malignant melanoma with systemic BCG: study of strain, dose, and schedule. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 39:205-12, 1973. PMID: 4595319.
- Gutterman J, Mavligit G, McBride C, Frei E, 3rd, Hersh EM. BCG stimulation of immune responsiveness in patients with malignant melanoma. Preliminary report. Cancer 32(2):321-7, 1973. PMID: 4722915.
- Gutterman JU, Hersh EM, Mavligit GM, Freireich EJ, Rossen RD, Butler WT, McCredie KB, Bodey GP, Sr, Rodriguez V. Cell-mediated and humoral immune response to acute leukemia cells and soluble leukemia antigen--relationship to immunocompetence and prognosis. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 37:153-65, 1973. PMID: 4576706.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, McBride C, Frei E, 3rd, Freireich EJ, Hersh EM. Active immunotherapy with B.C.G. for recurrent malignant melanoma. Lancet 1(7814):1208-12, 1973. PMID: 4122562.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, McCredie KB, Freireich EJ, Hersh EM. Auto-immunization with acute leukemia cells: demonstration of increased lymphocyte responsiveness. Int J Cancer 11(3):521-6, 1973. PMID: 4524745.
- Gutterman JU, Hersh EM, McCredie KB, Bodey GP, Sr, Rodriguez V, Freireich EJ. Lymphocyte blastogenesis to human leukemia cells and their relationship to serum factors, immunocompetence, and prognosis. Cancer Res 32(11):2524-9, 1972. PMID: 4507756.
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit G, McCredie KB, Bodey GP, Sr, Freireich EJ, Hersh EM. Antigen solubilized from human leukemia: lymphocyte stimulation. Science 177(54):1114-5, 1972. PMID: 4506296.
- Gutterman J, Rodriguez V. Combination chemotherapy of advanced lymphoma. Mil Med 137(7):255-60, 1972. PMID: 4624309.
- Gutterman JU, Rodriguez V, McClure JB. Staging of malignant lymphoma by laparotomy and splenectomy: review of the literature. Mil Med 137(7):251-4, 1972. PMID: 4624308.
- Gutterman J, Rodriguez V, McMullan G. Remission induction of acute leukemia developing in Burkitt's lymphoma. Cancer 29(3):626-9, 1972. PMID: 5060645.
- Gutterman J, Huang AT, Hochstein P. Studies on the mode of action of N-isopropyl-alpha-(2-methylhydrazino)-p-toluamide (MIH). Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 130(3):797-802, 1969. PMID: 5773670.
- Huang AT, Gutterman J, Hochstein P. Cytogenetic changes induced by 1-(N1-methylhydrazinomethyl)-N-isopropyl benzamide in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Experientia 25(2):203-4, 1969. PMID: 5786111.
- Miller DS, Mengel CE, Kremer WB, Gutterman JU, Senningan R. Intravascular hemolysis in a patient with valvular heart disease. Ann Intern Med 65:210-215, 1966.
Invited Articles
- Gutterman JU, Hunt N. Three catalytic lives linked by the Lasker Awards. Nat Med 14(10):1033-5, 2008. PMID: 18841143.
- DeBakey ME, Gutterman JU. The Lasker Awards at fifty. Jama 274(13):1061, 1995. PMID: 7563459.
Letters to the Editor
- Gutterman JU, Mavligit GM, Reed RC, Hersh EM. Letter: Treatment of malignant melanoma. Lancet 2: 1460, 1974.
Grant & Contract Support
Title: | The Study of Triterpenoids and Other Compounds from Desert Legume Plants |
Funding Source: | Clayton Foundation for Research |
Role: | Principal Investigator |
Title: | Identification of Potential Anti-Cancer Agents and Other Pharmaceuticals from Plants |
Funding Source: | Foundation for Research |
Role: | Principal Investigator |
Title: | Metabolic Engineering to Produce Avicins: Cloning Acacia victoriae Genes that Encode Triterpene Synthases and p450 Hydroxylases |
Funding Source: | Foundation for Research |
Role: | Principal Investigator |
Title: | Chemical biology of a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound: Modification of critical cysteine residues and redox regulation of G protein signaling by avicins |
Funding Source: | The Welch Foundation |
Role: | Principal Investigator |