Kumudha Balakrishnan, M.Sc., M. Phil., Ph.D.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

1. Jain N, Balakrishnan K, Ferrajoli A, O'Brien SM, Burger JA, Kadia TM, Cortes JE, Ayres ML, Tambaro FP, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Wierda WG. A Phase I-II Trial of Fludarabine, Bendamustine, and Rituximab (FBR) in Previously Treated Patients with CLL. Oncotarget 8(13):22104-22112, 2017. PMID: 27655665.
2. Wang Y, Fan H, Balakrishnan K, Lin Z, Cao S, Chen W, Fan Y, Guthrie Q, Sun H, Teske K, Gandhi V, Arnold L, Peng X. Hydrogen peroxide activated quinone methide precursors with enhanced DNA cross-linking capability and cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2017.
3. Modi P, Balakrishnan K, Yang Q, Wierda W, Keating M, Gandhi V. Idelalisib and bendamustine combination is synergistic and increases DNA damage response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget, 2017.
4. Vangapandu H, Havranek O, Ayres M, Kaipparettu BA, Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating M, Davis E, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. B cell receptor signaling regulates cellular metabolism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Molecular Cancer Research, 2017.
5. Patel V, Balakrishnan K, Bibikova E, Ayres M, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Comparison of acalabrutinib, a selective Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Clin Cancer Res. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28034907.
6. Balakrishnan K, Fu M, Onida F, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Reactivation of smac-mediated apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells: mechanistic studies of smac mimetic. Oncotarget 7(26):39458-39472, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27223062.
7. 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. PMID: 26658105.
8. Patel V, Balakrishnan K, Douglas M, Tibbitts T, Kutok J, Ayers M, Sarkar S, Guerrieri R, Wierda W, O’Brien S, Jain N, Stern H, Gandhi V. Duvelisib (IPI-145) treatment is associated with altered expression of apoptosis regulators and sensitization of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to venetoclax (ABT-199). Leukemia, 2016.
9. Balakrishnan K, Peluso M, Fu M, Rosin NY, Burger JA, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Faia K, O'Brien S, Kutok JL, Gandhi V. The phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and gamma inhibitor, IPI-145 (Duvelisib), overcomes signals from the PI3K/AKT/S6 pathway and promotes apoptosis in CLL. Leukemia 29(9):1811-22, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25917267.
10. Cervantes-Gomez F, Lamothe B, Woyach JA, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Pharmacological and Protein Profiling Suggests Venetoclax (ABT-199) as Optimal Partner with Ibrutinib in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 21(16):3705-15, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25829398.
11. Patel V, Balakrishnan K, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Expression of executioner procaspases and their activation by a procaspase-activating compound in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 125(7):1126-36, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25538042.
12. Balakrishnan K, Burger JA, Fu M, Doifode T, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Regulation of Mcl-1 expression in context to bone marrow stromal microenvironment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Neoplasia 16(12):1036-46, 2014. PMID: 25499217.
13. 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.
14. Chen W, Balakrishnan K, Kuang Y, Han Y, Fu M, Gandhi V, Peng X. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducible DNA cross-linking agents and their effect on cancer cells and normal lymphocytes. J Med Chem 57(11):4498-510, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24801734.
15. Sandoval MR, Balakrishnan K, Luthra R, Keating M, Gandhi V. DNA Repair Initiation Induces Expression of Ribonucleotide Reductase in Human Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. Leuk Lymphoma 55(4):876-83, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23772636.
16. Patel V, Chen LS, Wierda WG, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Impact of bone marrow stromal cells on Bcl-2 family members in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 55(4):899-910, 2014. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23837491.
17. Balakrishnan K, Ravandi F, Bantia S, Franklin A, Gandhi V. Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of Forodesine in Pediatric and Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 13(4):458-66, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23773454.
18. Balakrishnan K, Aggarwal S, Wierda W, Gandhi V. Bax and Bak are required for apogossypolone, a BH3-mimetic, induced apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leuk Lymphoma 54(5):1097-100, 2013. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22866921.
19. Phillip CJ, Zaman S, Shentu S, Balakrishnan K, Zhang J, Baladandayuthapani V, Taverna P, Redkar S, Wang M, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. Targeting MET kinase with the small-molecule inhibitor amuvatinib induces cytotoxicity in primary myeloma cells and cell lines. J Hematol Oncol 6:92, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24326130.
20. Ponader S, Chen SS, Buggy JJ, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, O'Brien S, Chiorazzi N, Burger JA. The Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor PCI-32765 thwarts chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell survival and tissue homing in vitro and in vivo. Blood 119(5):1182-9, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22180443.
21. Kuang Y, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Peng X. Hydrogen peroxide inducible DNA cross-linking agents: targeted anticancer prodrugs. J Am Chem Soc 133(48):19278-81, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22035519.
22. Balakrishnan K, Burger JA, Quiroga MP, Henneberg M, Ayres ML, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Influence of bone marrow stromal microenvironment on forodesine induced responses in CLL primary cells. Blood 116(7):1083-91, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20442367.
23. Balakrishnan K, Verma D, O'Brien S, Kilpatrick JM, Chen Y, Tyler BF, Bickel S, Bantia S, Keating MJ, Kantarjian H, Gandhi V, Ravandi F. Phase 2 and pharmacodynamic study of oral forodesine in patients with advanced, fludarabine-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 116(6):886-92, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20427701.
24. Dennison JB, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Preclinical activity of 8-chloroadenosine with mantle cell lymphoma: roles of energy depletion and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. Br J Haematol 147(3):297-307, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19709085.
25. Kurtova AV, Balakrishnan K, Chen R, Ding W, Schnabl S, Quiroga MP, Sivina M, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Keating MJ, Shehata M, Jäger U, Gandhi V, Kay NE, Plunkett W, Burger JA. Diverse marrow stromal cells protect CLL cells from spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis: development of a reliable and reproducible system to assess stromal cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance. Blood 114(20):4441-50, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19762485.
26. Quiroga MP, Balakrishnan K, Kurtova AV, Sivina M, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V, Burger JA. B cell antigen receptor signaling enhances chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell migration and survival: specific targeting with a novel Syk inhibitor, R406. Blood 114(5):1029-37, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19491390.
27. Balakrishnan K, Burger JA, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. AT-101 induces apoptosis in CLL B-cells and overcomes stromal cell mediated Mcl-1 induction and drug resistance. Blood 113(1):149-53, 2009. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18836097.
28. Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Gossypol, a BH3 mimetic, induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 112(5):1971-80, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18566329.
29. Karp JE, Ricklis RM, Balakrishnan K, Briel J, Greer J, Gore SD, Smith BD, McDevitt MA, Carraway H, Levis MJ, Gandhi V. A phase 1 clinical-laboratory study of clofarabine followed by cyclophosphamide for adults with refractory acute leukemias. Blood 110(6):1762-9, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17562873.
30. Balakrishnan K, Nimmanapalli R, Ravandi F, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Forodesine, an inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Blood 108(7):2392-8, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16778146.
31. Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of cell death of chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes by RNA-directed agent, 8-NH2-adenosine. Clin Cancer Res 11(18):6745-52, 2005. PMID: 16166456.
32. Balakrishnan K, Stellrecht CM, Genini D, Ayres M, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Leoni LM, Gandhi V. Cell death of bioenergetically compromised and transcriptionally challenged CLL lymphocytes by chlorinated ATP. Blood 105(11):4455-62, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15718423.

Invited Articles

1. Balakrishnan K, Bojja K, Decker W, Keating MJ. Hide and Seek: Game between CLL cells and BCR inhibitors. EMJ, 2017.
2. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Uncoupling Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Autophagy: A Potential Implication for CLL Therapy. Leuk Lymphoma 54(12):2581-3, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23656199.
3. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Bcl-2 antagonists: a proof of concept for CLL therapy. Invest New Drugs 31(5):1384-94, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23907405.
4. Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K. CCL2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a macro in microenvironment?. Leuk Lymphoma 53(10):1849-50, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22563818.
5. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Protein Kinases: Emerging therapeutic targets in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 21(4):409-23, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22409342.
6. Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. The micros in harmony: microRNA and microenvironment. Leuk Lymphoma 52(9):1626-9, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21740342.
7. Chen LS, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Inflammation and survival pathways: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia as a model system. Biochem Pharmacol 80(12):1936-45, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20696142.
8. Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K, Chen LS. MCL-1: The 1 in CLL. Blood 112(9):3538-40, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18948586.
9. Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K. Forodesine- A T-Cell targeted therapeutic. Semin Oncol 34(6 Suppl 5):S8-12, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18086347.

Abstracts

1. Balakrishnan K, Peluso M, Fu M, Rosin NY, Burger JA, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Faia K, O’Brien S, Kutok JL, McGovern K, Gandhi V.. Inhibition of PI3K-δ and -γ Isoforms by IPI-145 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Overcomes Signals from PI3K/AKT/S6 Pathway and Promotes Apoptosis. American Society of Hematology. e-Pub 2013.
2. Pierce DW, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Heise C, Nacht M, Aslanian S, Liu X, Hong S, Wu S, Zavodovskaya M, Marine J, Barnett E, Nava-Parada P, Mei J, Chopra R, Burger JA, Singh J.. The Covalent Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (Btk) Inhibitor CC-292 Blocks the Survival of CLL Cells In Vitro and Leads to Rapid-Onset Lymphocytosis in CLL Patients. American Society of Hematology, 2013.
3. Nacht M, Evans E, Ponader S, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, O’Brien S, Singh J, Pierce DW, Heise C, Barnett E, Marine J, Nava-Parada P, Mei J, Chopra R, Burger JA.. The Covalent Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor CC-292 Blocks the Survival of CLL Cells In Vitro and Leads to Rapid-Onset Lymphocytosis in CLL Patients. iWCLL. e-Pub 2013.
4. Veerati T, Gandhi V, Balakrishnan K. Targeting Nitric Oxide Production in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). King Foundation Program, 2013.
5. Balakrishnan K, Fu M, Onida F, Wierda W, Keating M and Gandhi V.. Role of smac-mimetic in restoring apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. American Association of Cancer Research. e-Pub 2013.
6. Patel V, Wierda WG, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Novel caspase-3 activator, L14R8, induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. American Association of Cancer Research. e-Pub 2013.
7. Sarkar A, Chen J, Balakrishnan K and Gandhi V. L14R8, a Pac-1 derivative induce casapase-3 mediated apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma. American Association of Cancer Research. e-Pub 2013.
8. Wierda W.G, Balakrishnan K, Ferrajoli A, Kadia T, Cortes JE, O'Brien S, Burger JA, Tambaro FP, Jalayer A, Lerner S, Keating MJ and Gandhi V.. A Phase I/II Trial of Fludarabine, Bendamustine, and Rituximab (FBR) Chemoimmunotherapy for previously Treated Patients with CLL. American Society of Hematology. e-Pub 2012.
9. Patel V, Chen LS, Wierda WG, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Impact of bone marrow microenvironment on 93 apoptotic pathway target mRNA expression in CLL cells. iwCLL. e-Pub 2012.
10. Chen J, Sarkar A, Balakrishnan K and Gandhi V.. Caspase activator L14R8 induces apoptosis in Mantle cell lymphoma cells. e-Pub 2012.
11. Patel V, Chen LS, Wierda WG, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V.. Impact of bone marrow microenvironment on 93 apoptotic pathway target mRNA expression in CLL cells. American Association of Cancer Research. e-Pub 2012.
12. Balakrishnan K, Fu M, Onida F, Wierda W, Keating M and Gandhi V.. Restoration of Smac-mediated apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. American Association of Cnacer Research. e-Pub 2012.
13. Wierda W.G, Balakrishnan K, Ferrajoli A, Kadia T, Cortes JE, O'Brien S, Burger JA, Tambaro FP, Jalayer A, Lerner S, Keating MJ and Gandhi V. A Phase I/II Trial of Fludarabine, Bendamustine, and Rituximab (FBR) Chemoimmunotherapy for previously Treated Patients with CLL. American Society of Hematology 118:3901. e-Pub 2011.