Rasoul Pourebrahim, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Rasoul Pourebrahim
Dr. Pourebrahim is dedicated to researching the genetic mechanisms involved in the progression of p53 mutant acute myeloid leukemia. His work primarily focuses on studying and analyzing the genetic events that underlie the development of this specific type of leukemia. In his research, he has successfully created unique preclinical models, including a p53 mutant leukemia mouse model. This innovative model provides a distinctive platform for investigating how mutations in the p53 gene contribute to therapy resistance.
A significant aspect of Dr. Pourebrahim's research involves exploring the role of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the development of drug resistance in p53 mutant leukemia. By examining the interplay between the mutations in p53 and the immunosuppressive microenvironment, he aims to gain valuable insights into the mechanisms that drive resistance to treatment.
Dr. Pourebrahim's ultimate goal is to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying therapy resistance. This understanding has the potential to revolutionize clinical practice by addressing de novo resistance to current anti-leukemic therapies. Moreover, his research may uncover novel therapeutic targets specific to p53 mutant leukemia. By identifying these targets, Dr. Pourebrahim aims to pave the way for the development of improved treatment strategies for individuals with p53 mutant leukemia.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | Katholic University of Leuven (KUL), Leuven, BEL, PHD, Genetics |
| 1997 | Isfahan Univeristy of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IRN, MD, Medicine |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2023
Clinical Research Scientist, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 2002 - 2005
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2017
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Pourebrahim R, Montoya RH, Akiyama H, Ostermann L, Khazaei S, Muftuoglu M, Baran N, Zhao R, Lesluyes T, Liu B, Khoury JD, Gagea M, Van Loo P, Andreeff M. Age-specific induction of mutant p53 drives clonal hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia in adult mice. Cell Rep Med 5(5):101558, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38733986.
- Chachad D, Patel LR, Recio CV, Pourebrahim R, Whitley EM, Wang W, Su X, Xu A, Lee DF, Lozano G. Unique Transcriptional Profiles Underlie Osteosarcomagenesis Driven by Different p53 Mutants. Cancer Res 83(14):2297-2311, 2023. PMID: 37205631.
- 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. Mol Cancer Res 21(6):548-563, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36787422.
- Senapati J, Muftuoglu M, Ishizawa J, Abbas HA, Loghavi S, Borthakur G, Yilmaz M, Issa GC, Dara SI, Basyal M, Li L, Naqvi K, Pourebrahim R, Jabbour EJ, Kornblau SM, Short NJ, Pemmaraju N, Garcia-Manero G, Ravandi F, Khoury J, Daver N, Kantarjian HM, Andreeff M, DiNardo CD. A Phase I study of Milademetan (DS3032b) in combination with low dose cytarabine with or without venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia: Clinical safety, efficacy, and correlative analysis. Blood Cancer J 13(101):101, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37386016.
- Pourebrahim R, Heinz Montoya R, Alaniz Z, Ostermann L, Lin PP, Liu B, Ayoub E, Burks JK, Andreeff M. Mdm2/p53 levels in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells are essential for maintaining the hematopoietic niche in response to DNA damage. Cell Death Dis 14(6):371, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37353528.
- Pourebrahim R, Montoya RH, Alaniz Z, Ostermann L, Lin PP, Liu B, Ayoub E, Burks JK, Andreeff M. Mdm2/p53 levels in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells is essential for maintaining the hematopoietic niche in response to DNA damage. Res Sq, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36909480.
- Kim K, Maiti A, Loghavi S, Pourebrahim R, Kadia TM, Rausch CR, Furudate K, Daver NG, Alvarado Y, Ohanian M, Sasaki K, Short NJ, Takahashi K, Yilmaz M, Tang G, Ravandi F, Kantarjian HM, DiNardo CD, Konopleva MY. Outcomes of TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia with decitabine and venetoclax. Cancer 127(20):3772-3781, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34255353.
- El Beaino M, Liu J, Wasylishen AR, Pourebrahim R, Migut A, Bessellieu BJ, Huang K, Lin PP. Loss of Stag2 cooperates with EWS-FLI1 to transform murine Mesenchymal stem cells. BMC Cancer 20(1):3, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31898537.
- Pourebrahim R, Zhang Y, Liu B, Gao R, Xiong S, Lin PP, McArthur MJ, Ostrowski MC, Lozano G. Integrative genome analysis of somatic p53 mutant osteosarcomas identifies Ets2-dependent regulation of small nucleolar RNAs by mutant p53 protein. Genes Dev 31(18):1847-1857, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29021240.
- Laskowski TJ, Van Caeneghem Y, Pourebrahim R, Ma C, Ni Z, Garate Z, Crane AM, Li XS, Liao W, Gonzalez-Garay M, Segovia JC, Paschon DE, Rebar EJ, Holmes MC, Kaufman D, Vandekerckhove B, Davis BR. Gene Correction of iPSCs from a Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Patient Normalizes the Lymphoid Developmental and Functional Defects. Stem Cell Reports 7(2):139-48, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27396937.
- Pourebrahim R, Houtmeyers R, Ghogomu S, Janssens S, Thelie A, Tran HT, Langenberg T, Vleminckx K, Bellefroid E, Cassiman JJ, Tejpar S. Transcription factor Zic2 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin protein signaling. J Biol Chem 286(43):37732-40, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21908606.
- Pourebrahim R, Van Dam K, Bauters M, De Wever I, Sciot R, Cassiman JJ, Tejpar S. ZIC1 gene expression is controlled by DNA and histone methylation in mesenchymal proliferations. FEBS Lett 581(26):5122-6, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17936758.
- Larijani B, Fakhrzadeh H, Hamidi A, Heshmat R, Pourebrahim R. Household cardiovascular health education. A school-based approach. Saudi Med J 28(4):643-5, 2007. PMID: 17457499.
- Hamidi A, Fakhrzadeh H, Moayyeri A, Pourebrahim R, Heshmat R, Noori M, Rezaeikhah Y, Larijani B. Obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors in Iranian children: a cross-sectional study. Pediatr Int 48(6):566-71, 2006. PMID: 17168975.
- Pourebrahim R, Fakhrzadeh H, Bandarian F, Tabatabaie O, Noori M, Djalilpour F, Zahedi F, Rahimi I, Heshmat R, Djavadi E, Ghotbi S, Larijani B. Household cardiovascular screening of high-risk families: a school-based study. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 13(2):229-35, 2006. PMID: 16575277.
- Fakhrzadeh H, Ghotbi S, Pourebrahim R, Nouri M, Heshmat R, Bandarian F, Shafaee A, Larijani B. Total plasma homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 status in healthy Iranian adults: the Tehran homocysteine survey (2003-2004)/a cross-sectional population based study. BMC Public Health 6:29, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16472406.
- Ebrahimpour P, Fakhrzadeh H, Pourebrahim R, Hamidi A, Larijani B. Metabolic syndrome and related insulin levels in obese children. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 4(3):172-8, 2006. PMID: 18370735.
- Fakhrzadeh H, Ebrahimpour P, Pourebrahim R, Heshmat R, Larijani B. Metabolic Syndrome and its Associated Risk Factors in Healthy Adults: A Population-Based Study in Iran. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 4(1):28-34, 2006. PMID: 18370767.
- Fakhrzadeh H, Ghotbi S, Pourebrahim R, Heshmat R, Nouri M, Shafaee A, Larijani B. Plasma homocysteine concentration and blood pressure in healthy Iranian adults: the Tehran Homocysteine Survey (2003-2004). J Hum Hypertens 19(11):869-76, 2005. PMID: 16049520.
- Larijani B, Fakhrzadeh H, Mohaghegh M, Pourebrahim R, Akhlaghi MR. Burden of coronary heart disease on the Iranian oil industry (1999-2000). East Mediterr Health J 9(5-6):904-10, 2003. PMID: 16450520.
Abstracts
- Pourebrahim R, Luong A, Ostermann L, Montoya RH, Alaniz Z, Ruvolo P, Kornblau S, Khouri J, Bueso-Ramos CE and Andreeff M.. p53 Mediated Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Expansion Supports Acute Myeloid Leukemia Development (Oral Presentation). Blood 134, 2019.
- Pourebrahim R, Ruvolo PP, Kornblau SM, Bueso-Ramos CE, Andreeff M. Genetic Dissection of p53 Driven Senescence of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blood 132(Sup 1), 2018.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | The role of Mdm2/p53 pathway in endosteal niche in normal hematopoiesis and leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Mike Hogg Fund |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting Minimal Residual Disease and Stem-like Cells in High Risk AML |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Moonshot Program |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Understanding the protective mechanism of the bone marrow microenvironment as a sanctuary for MRD |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC Leukemia SPORE Career Enhancement Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Understanding the Biology of TP53 Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | LADIES LEUKEMIA LEAGUE |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting VCAM1: A novel Therapeutic Strategy for TP53-Mutant AML |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC Institutional Research Grant |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 24, 2024