Melinda S. Yates, Ph.D.
Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Yates
Dr. Melinda Yates is a laboratory investigator focusing on pharmacology and translational biology in gynecologic cancers. Her research emphasis is on understanding mechanisms of uterine and ovarian cancer development and using this knowledge to develop cancer prevention strategies for women at increased risk of cancer. This research focuses on hereditary cancer syndromes (Lynch syndrome-associated uterine cancer and Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer Syndrome), as well as cancers related to obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Yates also seeks to translate laboratory insights on genetic changes associated with uterine cancer development into clinical advances such as improved chemotherapeutic regimens and understanding (or predicting) a patient’s response to therapy. Translational research in her laboratory spans across cell culture systems, genetically engineered mouse models, human tissue studies, and clinical trials. Dr. Yates is also a member of the faculty at The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston.
In the News
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine - Research, Division of Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2009 | Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA, PHD, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences |
| 2001 | Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, BS, Chemistry |
Honors & Awards
| 2020 | MD Anderson Faculty Educator of the Quarter 2020, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2014 | Roberta Detz Endometrial Cancer Research Award, Foundation for Women's Cancer |
| 2012 | Ann Schreiber Program of Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund |
| 2010 | NIH Loan Repayment Grant for Clinical Research |
| 2010 | Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention Research (NCI R25T) |
| 2008 | AACR Scholar-in-Training Travel Award |
| 2007 | AACR Scholar-in-Training Travel Award |
| 2007 | Predoctoral Fellowship in Pharmacology/Toxicology, PhRMA Foundation |
| 2006 | AACR Scholar-in-Training Travel Award |
| 2004 | Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences Training Grant Recipient, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- McGrail DJ, Garnett J, Yin J, Dai H, Shih DJH, Lam TNA, Li Y, Sun C, Li Y, Schmandt R, Wu JY, Hu L, Liang Y, Peng G, Jonasch E, Menter D, Yates MS, Kopetz S, Lu KH, Broaddus R, Mills GB, Sahni N, Lin SY. Proteome instability is a therapeutic vulnerability in mismatch repair deficient cancer. Cancer Cell 37(3):371-386.e12, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32109374.
- Soliman PT, Westin SN, Iglesias DA, Fellman BM, Yuan Y, Zhang Q, Yates MS, Broaddus RR, Slomovitz BM, Lu KH, Coleman RL. Everolimus, letrozole, and metformin in women with advanced or recurrent endometrioid endometrial cancer: A multi-center, single arm, phase II study. Clin Cancer Res 26(3):581-587, 2020. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31628143.
- Kwan SY, Au-Yeung CL, Yeung TL, Rynne-Vidal A, Wong KK, Risinger JI, Lin HK, Schmandt RE, Yates MS, Mok SC, Lu KH. Ubiquitin Carboxyl-Terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) promotes uterine serous cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Cancers 12(1), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31906456.
- Yates MS, Coletta AM, Zhang Q, Schmandt RE, Medepalli M, Nebgen D, Soletsky B, Milbourne A, Levy E, Fellman B, Urbauer D, Yuan Y, Broaddus RR, Basen-Engquist K, Lu K. Prospective randomized biomarker study of metformin and lifestyle intervention for prevention in obese women at increased risk for endometrial cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 11(8):477-490, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29716897.
- Du D, Ma W, Yates MS, Chen T, Lu KH, Lu Y, Weinstein JN, Broaddus RR, Mills GB, Liu Y. Predicting high-risk endometrioid carcinomas using proteins. Oncotarget 9(28):19704-19715, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29731976.
- Yates MS, Chang S, Lee HY, Faupel-Badger J, Cameron C. Bringing cancer prevention research competencies to the classroom. J Cancer Educ 33(1):109-115, 2018. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27325275.
- Pakish JB, Zhang Q, Chen Z, Liang H, Chisholm GB, Yuan Y, Mok SC, Broaddus RR, Lu KH, Yates MS. Immune microenvironment in microsatellite instable endometrial cancers: Hereditary or sporadic origin matters. Clin Cancer Res 23(15):4473-4481, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28264871.
- Ring KL, Yates MS, Schmandt R, Onstad M, Zhang Q, Celestino J, Kwan SY, Lu KH. Endometrial cancers with activating KRas mutations have activated estrogen signaling and paradoxical response to MEK inhibition. Int J Gynecol Cancer 27(5):854-862, 2017. PMID: 28498246.
- Iglesias DA, Zhang Q, Celestino J, Sun CC, Yates MS, Schmandt RE, Lu KH. Lean body weight and metformin are insufficient to prevent endometrial hyperplasia in mice harboring inactivating mutations in PTEN. Oncology 92(2):109-114, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27931017.
- Soliman PT, Zhang Q, Broaddus RR, Westin SN, Iglesias D, Munsell MF, Schmandt R, Yates M, Ramondetta L, Lu KH. Prospective evaluation of the molecular effects of metformin on the endometrium in women with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer: A window of opportunity study. Gynecol Oncol 143(3):466-471, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27745917.
- Daly MB, Dresher CW, Yates MS, Jeter JM, Karlan BY, Alberts DS, Lu KH. Salpingectomy as a means to reduce ovarian cancer risk. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 8(5):342-348, 2015. PMID: 25586903.
- Slomovitz BM, Jiang Y, Yates MS, Soliman PT, Johnston T, Nowakowski M, Levenback C, Zhang Q, Ring K, Munsell MF, Gershenson DM, Lu KH, Coleman RL. Phase II study of everolimus and letrozole in patients with recurrent endometrial carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 33(8):930-6, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25624430.
- Zhang Q, Schmandt R, Celestino J, McCampbell A, Yates MS, Urbauer DL, Broaddus RR, Loose DS, Shipley GL, Lu KH. CGRRF1 as a novel biomarker of tissue response to metformin in the context of obesity. Gynecol Oncol 133(1):83-9, 2014. PMID: 24680596.
- Iglesias DA, Yates MS, van der Hoeven D, Rodkey TL, Zhang Q, Co NN, Burzawa J, Chigurupati S, Celestino J, Bowser J, Broaddus R, Hancock JF, Schmandt R, Lu KH. Another surprise from metformin: novel mechanism of action via K-Ras influences endometrial cancer response to therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 12(12):2847-56, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24077915.
- Lu KH, Loose DS, Yates MS, Nogueras-Gonzalez GM, Munsell MF, Chen LM, Lynch H, Cornelison T, Boyd-Rogers S, Rubin M, Daniels MS, Conrad P, Milbourne A, Gershenson DM, Broaddus RR. Prospective multicenter randomized intermediate biomarker study of oral contraceptive versus depo-provera for prevention of endometrial cancer in women with Lynch syndrome. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 6(8):774-81, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23639481.
- Huang M, Djordjevic B, Yates MS, Urbauer D, Sun C, Burzawa J, Daniels M, Westin SN, Broaddus R, Lu K. Molecular pathogenesis of endometrial cancers in patients with Lynch syndrome. Cancer 119(16):3027-33, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23760948.
- Zhang Q, Celestino J, Schmandt R, McCampbell AS, Urbauer DL, Meyer LA, Burzawa JK, Huang M, Yates MS, Iglesias D, Broaddus RR, Lu KH. Chemopreventive effects of metformin on obesity-associated endometrial proliferation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 209(24):e1-e12, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23500454.
- Yates MS, Meyer LA, Deavers MT, Daniels MS, Keeler ER, Mok SC, Gershenson DM, Lu KH. Microscopic and early stage ovarian cancers in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: building a model for early BRCA-associated tumorigenesis. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 4(3):463-70, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21278312.
- Reddy NM, Suryanaraya V, Yates MS, Kleeberger SR, Hassoun PM, Yamamoto M, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Kensler TW, Reddy SP. The triterpenoid CDDO-Imidazolide confers potent protection against hyperoxic acute lung injury in mice. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180(9):867-74, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19679692.
- Shin S, Wakabayashi J, Yates MS, Wakabayashi N, Dolan PM, Aja S, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Yamamoto M, Kensler TW. Role of Nrf2 in prevention of high-fat diet-induced obesity by synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Imidazolide. Eur J Pharmacol 620(1-3):138-44, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19698707.
- Yates MS, Tran QT, Dolan PM, Osburn WO, Shin S, McCulloch CC, Silkworth JB, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Williams CR, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Sutter TR, Kensler TW. Genetic versus chemoprotective activation of Nrf2 signaling: overlapping yet distinct gene expression profiles between Keap1 knockout and triterpenoid treated mice. Carcinogenesis 30(6):1024-31, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19386581.
- Sussan TE, Rangasamy T, Blake DJ, Malhotra D, El-Haddad H, Bedja D, Yates MS, Kombairaju P, Yamamoto M, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Gabrielson KL, Champion HC, Tuder RM, Kensler TW, Biswal S. Targeting Nrf2 with the triterpenoid CDDO-imidazolide attenuates cigarette smoke-induced emphysema and cardiac dysfunction in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106(1):250-5, 2009. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19104057.
- Liby K, Yore MM, Roebuck BD, Baumgartner KJ, Honda T, Sundararajan C, Yoshizawa H, Gribble GW, Williams CR, Risingsong R, Royce DB, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Stephenson KK, Egner PA, Yates MS, Groopman JD, Kensler TW, Sporn MB. A novel acetylenic tricyclic bis-(cyano enone) potently induces phase 2 cytoprotective pathways and blocks liver carcinogenesis induced by aflatoxin. Cancer Res 68(16):6727-33, 2008. PMID: 18701497.
- Osburn WO, Yates MS, Dolan PD, Chen S, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Kensler TW. Genetic or pharmacologic amplification of Nrf2 signaling inhibits acute inflammatory liver injury in mice. Toxicol Sci 104(1):218-27, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18417483.
- Aggarwal S, Brennen WN, Kole TP, Schneider E, Topaloglu O, Yates M, Cotter RJ, Denmeade SR. Fibroblast activation protein peptide substrates identified from human collagen I derived gelatin cleavage sites. Biochemistry 47(3):1076-086, 2008. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 18095711.
- Wang GT, Mantei RA, Kawai M, Tedrow JS, Barnes DM, Wang J, Zhang Q, Lou P, Garcia LA, Bouska J, Yates M, Park C, Judge RA, Lesniewski R, Sheppard GS, Bell RL. Lead optimization of methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP2) inhibitors containing sulfonamides of 5,6-disubstituted anthranilic acids. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 17(10):2817-22, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17350258.
- Heyman HR, Frey RR, Bousquet PF, Cunha GA, Moskey MD, Ahmed AA, Soni NB, Marcotte PA, Pease LJ, Glaser KB, Yates M, Bouska JJ, Albert DH, Black-Schaefer CL, Dandliker PJ, Stewart KD, Rafferty P, Davidsen SK, Michaelides MR, Curtin ML. Thienopyridine urea inhibitors of KDR kinase. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 17(5):1246-9, 2007. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17188869.
- Yates MS, Tauchi M, Katsuoka F, Flanders KC, Liby KT, Honda T, Gribble GW, Johnson DA, Johnson JA, Burton NC, Guilarte TR, Yamamoto M, Sporn MB, Kensler TW. Pharmacodynamic characterization of chemopreventive triterpenoids as exceptionally potent inducers of Nrf2-regulated genes. Mol Cancer Ther 6(1):154-62, 2007. PMID: 17237276.
- Thimmulappa RK, Scollick C, Traore K, Yates M, Trush MA, Liby KT, Sporn MB, Yamamoto M, Kensler TW, Biswal S. Nrf2-dependent protection from LPS induced inflammatory response and mortality by CDDO-Imidazolide. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 351(4):883-9, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 17097057.
- Ji Z, Ahmed AA, Albert DH, Bouska JJ, Bousquet PF, Cunha GA, Glaser KB, Guo J, Li J, Marcotte PA, Moskey MD, Pease LJ, Stewart KD, Yates M, Davidsen SK, Michaelides MR. Isothiazolopyrimidines and isoxazolopyrimidines as novel multi-targeted inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 16(16):4326-30, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16735117.
- Yates MS, Kwak MK, Egner PA, Groopman JD, Bodreddigari S, Sutter TR, Baumgartner KJ, Roebuck BD, Liby KT, Yore MM, Honda T, Gribble GW, Sporn MB, Kensler TW. Potent protection against aflatoxin-induced tumorigenesis through induction of Nrf2-regulated pathways by the triterpenoid 1-[2-cyano-3-,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole. Cancer Res 66(4):2488-94, 2006. PMID: 16489057.
- Zhang ZY, Shum P, Yates M, Messersmith PB, Thompson DH. Formation of fibrinogen-based hydrogels using phototriggerable diplasmalogen liposomes. Bioconjug Chem 13(3):640-6, 2002. PMID: 12009956.
Invited Articles
- Lu KH, Yates MS, Mok SC. The monkey, the hen and the mouse: models to advance ovarian cancer chemoprevention. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2(9):773-5, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19737981.
- Yates MS, Kensler TW. Keap1 eye on the target: chemoprevention of liver cancer. Acta Pharmacol Sin 28(9):1331-1342, 2007. PMID: 17723167.
- Yates MS, Kensler TW. Chemopreventive promise of targeting the Nrf2 pathway. Drug News Perspect 2(2):109-17, 2007. PMID: 17440634.
Abstracts
- Yates MS, Timms K, Daniels M, Batte B, Ring K, Neff C, Potter J, Chau S, Chen J, Williams D, Perry M, Morris B, Gutin A, Amin Y, Munsell M, Schmeler K, Lanchbury JS, Lu KH. Next generation sequencing of BRCA1/2 in high grade ovarian tumors expands BRCA defects beyond germline mutations. Presentation in Highlighted Poster Discussion Session at European Society for Medical Oncology, Madrid, Spain, 2014.
- Ring KL, Celestino J, Yates MS, Zhang Q, Iglesias DA, Schmandt R, Lu KH.. Selective response of endometrial tumors to metformin and RAD001 based on PTEN and KRas status. Poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois,, 2013.
- Iglesias DA, Burzawa J, Zhang Q, Co NN, Celestino J, Yates MS, Schmandt R, Lu KH. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo evidence to support personalized biologic treatment of endometrial cancer with metformin and PI3K pathway inhibitors. Poster at The Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, 2012.
- Yates MS, Meyer LA, Deavers MT, Daniels MS, Urbauer D, Mok SC, Lu KH. Clinical outcomes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with early stage ovarian or fallopian tube cancer. Poster presentation at the Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, Prague, Czech Republic, 2010.
- Yates MS, Meyer LA, Deavers MT, Daniels MS, Keeler ER, Mok SC, Lu KH.. Microscopic and early stage ovarian cancers in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: building a model for early BRCA-associated tumorigenesis. Poster presentation at the Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, Prague, Czech Republic, 2010.
- Yates MS, Tran QT, Osburn WO, Dolan PM, Liby KT, McCulloch C, Silkworth JB, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Sporn MB, Sutter TR, Kensler TW. Genetic and pharmacologic activation of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling modulate overlapping yet distinct gene expression profile. Poster presentation at the Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Response to Food and Oxygen Conference, Sendai, Japan, 2009.
- Yates MS, Tran QT, Osburn WO, Dolan PM, Liby KT, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Sporn MB, Sutter TR, Kensler TW.. The synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im modulates pathways beyond Keap1-Nrf2 signaling at doses relevant to chemoprevention. Poster Presentation at NIH National Graduate Student Research Festival, Bethesda, Maryland, 2008.
- Yates MS, Tran QT, Osburn WO, Dolan PM, Liby KT, McCulloch C, Silkworth JB, Taguchi K, Yamamoto M, Sporn MB, Sutter TR, Kensler TW. Genetic and pharmacologic activation of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling modulate overlapping yet distinct gene expression profiles. Poster presentation AACR Chemical and Biological Aspects of Inflammation and Cancer, Ko Olina, Hawaii, 2008.
Book Chapters
- Yates MS and Kensler TW. Detoxication of Chemical Carcinogens and Chemoprevention. In: Chemical Carcinogenesis. Springer: New York, 2011.