Priyanka Sharma, Ph.D.
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2018 | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, IN, Biotechnology (Cancer molecular Research), Ph.D |
| 2009 | Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, IN, Bioinformatics, M.Tech |
| 2007 | Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, IN, Biotechnology, M.Sc |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-null | Post Doctoral Trainee, Molecular Hematology and Translational Research : Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2019-2020 | Post Doctoral Fellow, Leukemia: Cancer Biology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA |
| 2019-2019 | Post Doctoral Fellow, Gastro Intestinal Cancer : Molecular Markers and Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA |
| 2018-2019 | Postgraduate Fellow, Biomarker and experimental therapeutics research in Gastrointestinal Cancers, Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor Scott and White, Dallas, Texas |
Experience & Service
Editorial Activities
Review Editor, Frontiers in oncology, 2024
Review Editor, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Review Editor, Frontiers in oncology, 2022
Review Editor, Frontiers in oncology, 2021 - 2021
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. ERK1/2 Inhibition Suppresses Drp1 Dependent Mitochondrial Fission and Overcomes Resistance to Bcl-2 Inhibition in AML. Poster. MD Anderson Trainee Research Day competition. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Alters Mitochondrial Dynamics. Poster. MD Anderson Trainee Research Day - 2022. Houston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2016. Tumor suppressor role of miR-107 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Poster. 35th Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) 2016. 8th-10th April, 2016. New Delhi, Delhi, IN.
- 2015. Clinical significance of PUR-alpha in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Poster. 34th Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) 2015. Jaipur, Rajasthan, IN.
- 2013. Clinical significance of miR-144 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Poster. 32nd Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) & International Symposium on "Infection & Cancer”. New Delhi, Delhi, IN.
International Presentations
- 2024. ERK1/2 Inhibition Mediates Bax Dependent Proteolysis of OPA1 and Induces Mitochondrial Cristae Remodeling to Overcome Resistance to Venetoclax. Poster. Americal Society of Hematology - Annual Meeting 2024. Houston, US.
- 2023. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Venetoclax in AML By Inhibiting Drp1 Dependent Mitochondrial Fission. Conference. The American Society of Hematology - Annual Meeting 2023. Houston, US.
- 2023. ERK1/2 inhibition overcomes resistance to venetoclax in AML by altering mitochondrial metabolism. Poster. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023. Houston, US.
- 2023. Targeting ERK1/2 overcomes resistance to venetoclax by altering Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission and metabolism in AML. Poster. AACR Special Conference: Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Houston, US.
- 2022. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Venetoclax in AML By Altering Drp1-Dependent Mitochondrial Fission and Metabolism. Poster. American Society of Hematology - Annual Meeting - 2022. Houston, US.
- 2022. Inhibition of ERK1/2 Reverses Venetoclax-Induced Autophagy to Overcome Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Poster. American Society of Hematology - Annual meeting 2022. Houston, US.
- 2021. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Alters Mitochondrial Dynamics. Poster. American Society of Hematology - Annual meeting 2021. Houston, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting Drp1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission to Overcome Adaptive Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells (LSCs) |
| Funding Source: | Ladies Leukemia League 2026-2027 |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00028859 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Tyagi A, Siddiqui M, Eckstrom A, Kurth I, Takeda S, Sharma P, Borthakur G, Yuan B, Abbas HA, Anand V, Borgman J, Kornblau S, Maiti A, Battula VL. RGX-019-MMAE inhibits leukemia progression by targeting MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK) in acute myeloid leukemia. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 45(1):81, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41896977.
- Bhattacharya S, Piya S, Ma H, Sharma P, Zhang Q, Baran N, Ruvolo VR, McQueen T, Davis RE, Pourebrahim R, Konopleva M, Kantarjian H, Cosford NDP, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. Targeting Unc51-like Autophagy Activating Kinase 1 (ULK1) Overcomes Adaptive Drug Resistance in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Molecular Cancer Research 21((6)):548-563, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36787422.
- Sharma P, Kaushik V, Saraya A, Sharma R. Aberrant Expression of FGFRL1 in Esophageal Cancer and Its Regulation by miR-107. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (APJCP) 24((4)):1331-1341, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37116156.
- Piya S, Yang Y, Bhattacharya S, Sharma P, Ma H, Mu H, He H, Ruvolo V, Baran N, Davis RE, Jain AK, Konopleava M, Kantarjian H, Andreeff M, You MJ, Borthakur G. Targeting the NOTCH1-MYC-CD44 axis in leukemia-initiating cells in T-ALL. Leukemia 36((5)):1261-1273, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35173274.
- Shimura T, Sharma P, Sharma GG, Banwait JK, Goel A. Enhanced anti-cancer activity of andrographis with oligomeric proanthocyanidins through activation of metabolic and ferroptosis pathways in colorectal cancer. Scientific Reports 11(1):7548, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33824419.
- Sharma P, Shimura T, Banwait JK, Goel A. Andrographis-mediated chemosensitization through activation of ferroptosis and suppression of β-catenin/Wnt-signaling pathways in colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis 41(10):1385–1394, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32835374.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Serum-based six-miRNA signature as a potential marker for EC diagnosis: Comparison with TCGA miRNAseq dataset and identification of miRNA-mRNA target pairs by integrated analysis of TCGA miRNAseq and RNAseq datasets. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology 14(5):e289-e301, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29380534.
- Sharma P, Sharma R. miR-144 functions as an oncomiR in KYSE-410 human esophageal carcinoma cell line in vitro and targets PURA. Neoplasma 65(4):542-551, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29940778.
- Sharma P, Saini N, Sharma R. miR-107 functions as a tumor suppressor in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and targets Cdc42. Oncology Reports 37(5):3116-3127, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28393193.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Potential diagnostic implications of miR-144 overexpression in human oesophageal cancer. Indian Journal of Medical Research 143(Supplement):S91-S103, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27748283.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Gupta P, Sharma R. Decreased levels of circulating and tissue miR-107 in human esophageal cancer. Biomarkers 18((4)):322-30, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23627613.
Review Articles
- Sharma P, Borthakur G. Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities to overcome resistance to therapy in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Drug Resistance 6(3):567-589, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37842232.
- Sharma P, Sharma R. miRNA-mRNA crosstalk in esophageal cancer: From diagnosis to therapy. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 96(3):449-462, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26257289.
Abstracts
- Sharma P, Akiyama H, Zal M, Carter BZ, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. Drp1 knockdown impairs mitophagy and sensitizes AML cells to venetoclax by inducing apoptosis. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025 85(8):Suppl_1: Abstract nr 553, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- PhD PS, MDPhD NB, PhD QZ, MSc M, PhD JM, PhD MS, Carter PhD BZ, MD PhD MA, Gautam Borthakur MD. ERK1/2 Inhibition Mediates Bax Dependent Proteolysis of OPA1 and Induces Mitochondrial Cristae Remodeling to Overcome Resistance to Venetoclax. American Society of Hematology, Volume 144, Supplement 1(5 November 2024):Page 2759, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Sharma P, Ostermann LB, Piya S, Ke B, Baran N, Tyagi A, Muftuoglu M, Basyal M, Zhang Q, Munck J, Dao K, Sims M, Carter BZ, Battula VL, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Venetoclax in AML By Inhibiting Drp1 Dependent Mitochondrial Fission. American Society of Hematology - Annual Meeting 2023 142(Supplement 1):412-413, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Sharma P, Ostermann L, Piya S, Baran N, Tyagi A, Zal A, Hindley C, Dao K, Sims M, Zal T, Ruvolo V, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. Targeting ERK1/2 overcomes resistance to venetoclax by altering Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission and metabolism in AML. AACR Special Conference: Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome 4(3_Suppl):A43, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Sharma P, Ostermann L, Piya S, Baran N, Tyagi A, Hindley C, Dao K, Sims M, Battula V, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. ERK1/2 inhibition overcomes resistance to venetoclax in AML by altering mitochondrial metabolism. American Association for Cancer Research - Annual Meeting 2023 83(7_Supplement):3860, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Sharma P, Sharma P, Piya S, Baran N, Muftuoglu M, Basyal M, Ruvolo V, Hindley CJ, Dao K, Sims M, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. Inhibition of ERK1/2 Reverses Venetoclax-Induced Autophagy to Overcome Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. American Society of Hematology - 140(Supplement 1):3093–3094, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Sharma P, Piya S, Baran N, Zal A, Hindley CJ, Dao K, Sims M, Zal T, Ruvolo V, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Venetoclax in AML By Altering Drp1-Dependent Mitochondrial Fission and Metabolism. American Society of Hematology - Annual Meeting 2022 140(Supplement 1):8789–8790, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Sharma P, Piya S, Ma H, Baran N, Zal MA, Hindley CJ, Dao K, Sims M, Zal T, Ruvolo V, Andreeff M, Borthakur G. ERK1/2 Inhibition Overcomes Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Alters Mitochondrial Dynamics. ASH Annual Meeting 2021 138(Supplement 1):3338, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Sharma P, Shimura T, Banwait JK, Goel A. Andrographolide enhances sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil by targeting ferroptosis-related genes in colorectal cancer. American Association for Cancer Research - Annual Meeting 2020 80(16_Supplement):571, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Sharma P, Kandimalla R, Banwait JK, Sho M, Kodera Y, Goel A. Abstract 4883: A glycan gene signature that robustly predicts prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. American Association for Cancer Research 79(13_Supplement):4883, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Sharma P, Banwait JK, Bujanda L, Goel A. Identification and establishment of an 18-gene redox signature for recurrence prediction in colorectal cancer. American Association for Cancer Research - Annual Meeting 2019 79(13_Supplement):3148, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Evaluation of a miRNA-mRNA panel for esophageal cancer detection. American Association for Cancer Research - Noncoding RNAs and Cancer: Mechanisms to Medicines 76(6_Supplement):B43, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Sharma P, Saini N, Sharma R. Tumor suppressor role of miR-107 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. 35th Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR), 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Exploring diagnostic relevance of miRNA signature in esophageal cancer. Global Cancer Summit, International Collaborative Conference at IISC, Bengaluru, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Clinical significance of PUR-alpha in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. 34th Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) 2015, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Aberrant expression of PIM1 in esophageal cancer and In-silico prediction of its putative transcription-factors. Indraprastha International Conference on Biotechnology, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Sharma R. Clinical significance of miR-144 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. 32nd Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR) & International Symposium on "Infection & Cancer”, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Sharma P, Saraya A, Gupta P, Sharma R. Expression of differentially expressed miRNAs in human esophageal cancer patients: potential minimally invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. AACR Special Conference: New Horizons in Cancer Research: Biology to Prevention to Therapy, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified April 08, 2026