Rozita Yarmand, PhD
Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders - Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
The research interest focuses on studying the oncogenic function of RET tyrosine kinase receptor, the molecular mechanism of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the role of RET missense mutations and gain of function in making cancer cells prone to metastases to bone, understanding how interactions between cancer and bone microenvironment conspire to cause skeletal lesions, studying the oncogenic role of histone demethylase NO66. Other areas of interest include understanding the oncogenic function of HRAS subcellular localization in adaptation to cellular stress and developing novel combination therapy for medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1995 | University of Paris XIII, Paris, FRA, PHD, Biomedical Engineering |
| 1990 | University of Paris VII, Paris, FRA, MS, Biochemistry |
| 1987 | University of Paris VII, Paris, FRA, BS, Biochemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 1999-2002 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 1995-1996 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Biology, French Institute of Health and Medical Research U353, Paris |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders - Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2009 - 2022
Instructor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2002 - 2004
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, University of Paris XIII, Paris, 1996 - 1999
Operation Manager of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Avicenne, Bobigny, 1996 - 1999
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Faculty Member, Faculty Opinions, London, 2019 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, 2019 - 2020
Member, Faculty Academic Review Committee, 2019 - Present
Member, Faculty Senate, 2017 - 2020
Member, Animal care and use committee, 2011 - 2015
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | Travel Award, Cancer and Bone Society |
| 2018 | The Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Research Award, Bone Disease Program of Texas |
| 2015 | NIH Thyroid Spore Development Research Program Award, Ohio State University/ The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2012 | Second place Junior Faculty poster award, Division of Internal Medicine, Research Retreat, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2010 | ThyCa Award, American Thyroid Association |
| 2006 | NIH Breast Cancer Spore Career Development Award, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1997 | Distinguished Scientist Award, "Banque de la vie, Recherche Cancer" Foundation |
| 1995 | Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Martine Midy Foundation |
| 1991 | The University of PARIS XIII scholarships |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liu H, He J, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Li Z, Liu R, Wang Z, Bach DH, Huang YH, Lin P, Guise TA, Gagel RF, Yang J. Osteocyte CIITA aggravates osteolytic bone lesions in myeloma. Nat Commun 13(1):3684, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35760800.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Busaidy N, McBeath E, Danysh B, Evans K, Moss T, Akcakanat A, Ng P, Knipper C, Golden J, Williams M, Multani A, Cabanillas M, Shaw K, Meric-Berstam, F, Shsa M, Ringel M, Hofmann M. RAC1 Alterations Induce Acquired Dabrafenib Resistance in Association with Anaplastic Transformation in a Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patient. Cancers 13(19), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Williams MD, Ma J, Grubbs EG, Gagel RF, Bagheri-Yarmand R. ATF4 Loss of Heterozygosity is Associated with Poor Overall Survival in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 11(6):3227-3239, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34249457.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Dadu R, Ye L, Shiny Jebaraj Y, Martinez JA, Ma J, Tarapore RS, Allen JE, Sherman SI, Williams MD, Gagel RF. ONC201 shows anti-cancer activity against medullary thyroid cancer via transcriptional inhibition of RET, VEGFR2, and IGFBP2. Mol Cancer Ther 20(4):665-675, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33536187.
- Sinha KM, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Lahiri S, Lu Y, Zhang M, Amra S, Rizvi Y, Wan X, Navone N, Ozpolat B, Logothetis C, Gagel RF, Huard J. Oncogenic and osteolytic functions of histone demethylase NO66 in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Oncogene 38(25):5038-5049, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30858546.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Sinha KM, Li L, Lu Y, Cote GJ, Sherman SI, Gagel RF. Combinations of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and ERAD Inhibitor Promote Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis through ATF4 and KLF9 in Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 17(3):751-760, 2019. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30552230.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Williams MD, Grubbs EG, Gagel RF. ATF4 targets RET for degradation and is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in medullary thyroid cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 102(3):933-941, 2017. PMID: 27935748.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Sinha KM, Gururaj AE, Ahmed Z, Rizvi YQ, Huang SC, Ladbury JE, Bogler O, Williams MD, Cote GJ, Gagel RF. A Novel Dual Kinase Function of the RET Proto-oncogene Negatively Regulates ATF4-Mediated Apoptosis. Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(18):11749-11761, 2015.
- Murray MM, Bui T, Smith M, Bagheri-Yarmand R,, Wingate H, Hunt KK, Keyomarsi K. Staurosporine is chemoprotective by inducing G1 arrest in a Chk1- and pRb-dependent manner. Carcinogenesis 34(10):2244-52, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23722650.
- Molli PR, Li DQ, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Pakala SB, Katayama H, Sen S, Iyer J, Chernoff J, Tsai MY, Nair SS, Kumar R. Arpc1b, a centrosomal protein, is both an activator and substrate of Aurora A. J Cell Biol 190(1):101-14, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20603326.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Nanos-Webb A, Biernacka A, Bui T, Keyomarsi K. Cyclin E deregulation impairs mitotic progression through premature activation of Cdc25C. Cancer Res 70(12):5085-95, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20530684.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Biernacka A, Hunt KK, Keyomarsi K. Low molecular weight cyclin E overexpression shortens mitosis, leading to chromosome missegregation and centrosome amplification. Cancer Res 70(12):5074-84, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20530685.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Balasenthil S, Gururaj AE, Talukder AH, Wang YH, Lee JH, Kim YS, Zhang X, Jones DM, Medeiros LJ, Stephens LC, Liu YJ, Lee N, Kim I, Kumar R. Metastasis-associated protein 1 transgenic mice: a new model of spontaneous B-cell lymphomas. Cancer Res 67(15):7062-7, 2007. PMID: 17671172.
- Balasenthil S, Gururaj AE, Talukder AH, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Arrington T, Haas BJ, Braisted JC, Kim I, Lee NH, Kumar R. Identification of Pax5 as a target of MTA1 in B-cell lymphomas. Cancer Res 67(15):7132-8, 2007. PMID: 17671180.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Mazumdar A, Sahin AA, Kumar R. LIM kinase 1 increases tumor metastasis of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator system. Int J Cancer 118(11):2703-10, 2006. PMID: 16381000.
- Vadlamudi RK, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Yang Z, Balasenthil s, Nguyen D, Sahin AA, Hollander PD. Overexpressed DLC1 as target for breast cancer cell shape and survival. Cancer Biol Ther 3(7):587-8, 2004. PMID: 15754445.
- Vadlamudi RK, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Yang Z, Balasenthil S, Nguyen D, Sahin AA, den Hollander P, Kumar R. Dynein light chain 1, a p21-activated kinase 1-interacting substrate, promotes cancerous phenotypes. Cancer Cell 5(6):575-85, 2004. PMID: 15193260.
- Vadlamudi RK, Li F, Barnes CJ, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Kumar R. p41-Arc subunit of human Arp2/3 complex is a p21-activated kinase-1-interacting substrate. EMBO Rep 5(2):154-60, 2004. PMID: 14749719.
- Yang Z, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Wang RA, Adam L, Papadimitrakopoulou VV, Clayman GL, El-Naggar A, Lotan R, Barnes CJ, Hong WK, Kumar R. The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa) suppresses c-Src and Pak1 pathways and invasiveness of human cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res 10(2):658-67, 2004. PMID: 14760089.
- Yang Z, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Balasenthil S, Hortobagyi G, Sahin AA, Barnes CJ, Kumar R. HER2 regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) expression and sensitivity of breast cancer cells to PPARgamma ligand therapy. Clin Cancer Res 9(8):3198-203, 2003. PMID: 12912973.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Vadlamudi RK, Kumar R. Activating transcription factor 4 overexpression inhibits proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelium resulting in impaired lactation and accelerated involution. J Biol Chem 278(19):17421-9, 2003. PMID: 12611881.
- Wang RA, Vadlamudi RK, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Beuvink I, Hynes NE, Kumar R. Essential functions of p21-activated kinase 1 in morphogenesis and differentiation of mammary glands. J Cell Biol 161(3):583-92, 2003. PMID: 12732616.
- Barnes CJ, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Mandal M, Yang Z, Clayman GL, Hong WK, Kumar R. Suppression of epidermal growth factor receptor, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Pak1 pathways and invasiveness of human cutaneous squamous cancer cells by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa). Mol Cancer Ther 2(4):345-51, 2003. PMID: 12700278.
- Talukder AH, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Williams RR, Ragoussis J, Kumar R, Raz A. Antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 antibody herceptin inhibits autocrine motility factor (AMF) expression and potentiates antitumor effects of AMF inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res 8(10):3285-9, 2002. PMID: 12374700.
- Kumar R, Wang RA, Mazumdar A, Talukder AH, Mandal M, Yang Z, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Sahin A, Hortobagyi G, Adam L, Barnes CJ, Vadlamudi RK. A naturally occurring MTA1 variant sequesters estrogen receptor-alpha in the cytoplasm. Nature 418(6898):654-7, 2002. PMID: 12167865.
- Hamma-Kourbali Y, Vassy R, Starzec A, Le Meuth-Metzinger V, Oudar O, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Perret G, Crepin M. Vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF(165)) activities are inhibited by carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran that competes for heparin binding to VEGF(165) and VEGF(165).KDR Complexes. J Biol Chem 276(43):39748-54, 2001. PMID: 11514538.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Mandal M, Taludker AH, Wang RA, Vadlamudi RK, Kung HJ, Kumar R. Etk/Bmx tyrosine kinase activates Pak1 and regulates tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells. J Biol Chem 276(31):29403-9, 2001. PMID: 11382770.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Hamma-Kourbali Y, Bissieres P, Morere JF, Crepin M. Carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran and tamoxifen combination inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis. Clin Cancer Res 7(6):1805-11, 2001. PMID: 11410523.
- Mandal M, Vadlamudi R, Nguyen D, Wang RA, Costa L, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Mendelsohn J, Kumar R. Growth factors regulate heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K expression and function. J Biol Chem 276(13):9699-704, 2001. PMID: 11121407.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Moretti JL, Baba K, Ozker K, Jozefonvicz J, Crepin M. Breast carcinoma cell uptake and biodistribution of technetium-99m-carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran. Anticancer Res 21(1A):373-8, 2001. PMID: 11299764.
- Mazumdar A, Wang RA, Mishra SK, Adam L, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Mandal M, Vadlamudi RK, Kumar R. Transcriptional repression of oestrogen receptor by metastasis-associated protein 1 corepressor. Nat Cell Biol 3(1):30-7, 2001. PMID: 11146623.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Vadlamudi RK, Wang RA, Mendelsohn J, Kumar R. Vascular endothelial growth factor up-regulation via p21-activated kinase-1 signaling regulates Heregulin-beta1-mediated angiogenesis. J Biol Chem 275(50):39451-7, 2000. PMID: 10967114.
- Bittoun P, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Chaubet F, Crepin M, Jozefonvicz J, Fermandjian S. Effects of the binding of a dextran derivative on fibroblast growth factor 2: secondary structure and receptor-binding studies. Biochem Pharmacol 57(12):1399-406, 1999. PMID: 10353261.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Kourbali Y, Rath AM, Vassy R, Martin A, Jozefonvicz J, Soria C, Lu H, Crepin M. Carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran blocks angiogenesis of MDA-MB435 breast carcinoma xenografted in fat pad and its lung metastases in nude mice. Cancer Res 59(3):507-10, 1999. PMID: 9973189.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Kourbali Y, Mabilat C, Morere JF, Martin A, Lu H, Soria C, Jozefonvicz J, Crepin M. The suppression of fibroblast growth factor 2/fibroblast growth factor 4-dependent tumour angiogenesis and growth by the anti-growth factor activity of dextran derivative (CMDB7). Br J Cancer 78(1):111-8, 1998. PMID: 9662260.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Kourbali Y, Morere JF, Jozefonvicz J, Crepin M. Inhibition of MCF-7ras tumor growth by carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran: blockage of the paracrine effect and receptor binding of transforming growth factor beta1 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB. Cell Growth Differ 9(6):497-504, 1998. PMID: 9663468.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Liu JF, Ledoux D, Morere JF, Crepin M. Inhibition of human breast epithelial HBL100 cell proliferation by a dextran derivative (CMDB7): interference with the FGF2 autocrine loop. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 239(2):424-8, 1997. PMID: 9344845.
- Liu J, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Xia Y, Crepin M. Modulations of breast fibroblast and carcinoma cell interactions by a dextran derivative (CMDB7). Anticancer Res 17(1A):253-8, 1997. PMID: 9066661.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Bittoun P, Champion J, Letourneur D, Jozefonvicz J, Fermandjian S, Crepin M. Carboxymethyl benzylamide dextrans inhibit breast cell growth. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 30A(12):822-4, 1994. PMID: 7534590.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Morere JF, Letourneur D, Jozefonvicz J, Israel L, Crepin M. Inhibitory effects of dextran derivatives in vitro on the growth characteristics of premalignant and malignant human mammary epithelial cell lines. Anticancer Res 12(5):1641-6, 1992. PMID: 1280032.
Invited Articles
- Dadu R, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Ringel MD, Grubbs EG, Zafereo M, Cote G, Gagel RF, Robinson BG, Shaw KR, Hu MI. Hereditary Endocrine Tumours: Current State-Of-The-Art and Research Opportunities: The state of science in medullary thyroid carcinoma: current challenges and unmet needs. Endocr Relat Cancer 27(8):T27-T39, 2020. PMID: 32580150.
- Kumar R, Wang RA, Bagheri-Yarmand R. Emerging roles of MTA family members in human cancers. Semin Oncol 30(5 Suppl 16):30-7, 2003. PMID: 14613024.
- Kumar R, Bagheri-Yarmand R. HER2 signaling in angiogenesis. Seminars in Oncology 28:27-32, 2001.
Abstracts
- Bagheri-Yarmand R. Busaidy NL, McBeath E, Danysh BP, Evans KW, Moss TJ, Akcakanat A, Ng PKS, Knippler CM, Golden JA, Williams MD, Multani AS, Cabanillas ME, Shaw KR, Meric-Bernstam F, Shah MH, Ringel MD, Hofmann MC. RAC1 alterations induces acquired dabrafenib resistance in association with anaplastic transformation in a papillary thyroid cancer patient. Thyroid, 2021.
- Bagheri-Yarmand R, Martinez L, Song JH, Pagnotti GM, Martinez JA, Kuo TT, Lin SH, Trivedi T, Mohammad KS, Guise TA. RET mutation in medullary thyroid cancer promotes osteoblastic bone metastases in mice. American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2021.
Book Chapters
- Cote G, Bagheri-Yarmand R, Hofmann MC, Gagel RF. Molecular mechanisms of disease: the RET proto-oncogene. In: Medullary thyroid cancer. Springer, 47-63, 2016.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Overcoming resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy through simultaneous targeting of the integrated stress response pathway |
| Funding Source: | Ohio State University / NIH / NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Role of RET tyrosine kinase receptor in MTC-induced bone metastasis and skeletal lesions |
| Funding Source: | The Rolanette & Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Metabolic Complications of Cancer and Cancer Treatment-Induced Bone Destruction |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting Oncogenic HRAS Pathway in Medullary Thyroid Carcinomas |
| Funding Source: | Philanthropic |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Novel Combination Therapies for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |