Varsha Gandhi, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Waun Ki Hong Distinguished Chair in Translational Research, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Faculty Liaison, Division of Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Development in Education & Training, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Co-Leader, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Moon Shot, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Co-Chair, MDA Protect Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Faculty, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
1. Translational research in hematological malignancies
2. Development of single agent and combination therapies for leukemias
3. Transcription inhibitors
4. DNA- and RNA-directed nucleoside analogs, their mechanisms of action and development of resistance
5. Apoptosis modulators as therapeutics (BH3-mimetics, smac-mimetics)
6. Role of microenvironment in hematological malignancies
7. Pim kinase expression and targeting by small molecule inhibitors
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1981 | Delhi University, Delhi, IND, Ph.D, Biochemistry |
| 1973 | Kanpur University, Kanpur, IND, M.Sc, Botany |
| 1971 | Kanpur University, Kanpur, IND, B.Sc, Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Rebecca Meyer Brown & Joseph Mellinger Brown Chair in Basic Science Research, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2020
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Committee Member, The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education, Membership Committee, Houston, TX, 2014 - Present
Committee Member, The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education, Faculty Development Committee, Houston, TX, 2014 - Present
Co-organizer, Translational Cancer Research Conferences in India, Houston, TX, 2003 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards 2021, Nomination Advisory Committee, 2021 - Present
COI Mitigation Reviewer, Division of Cancer Medicine Grand Rounds, 2021 - Present
Member, Faculty Advisory Committee for Postdoctoral Fellows, The Office for Training and Mentoring of Scientists, 2021 - Present
Member, FY22 Moon Shots Operations: Platform Internal Advisory Board Reviewer, 2021 - Present
Committee Member, Tenure/Tenure Track Review Committee (TTRC), 2021 - Present
Committee Member, Search Committee, Program Director Academic Operations - Post Doc Office, 2021 - Present
Member, The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program Internal Advisory Board, 2021 - 2022
Chair, Promotion and Tenure Committee, 2020 - 2022
Committee Member, Search Committee, Vice President, Faculty Academic Affairs, 2020 - 2022
Basic Science Faculty Representative, MDA Protect Committee, 2019 - 2022
Member, Endowed Positions & Award Committee, 2019 - 2022
Co-leader, CLL Moon Shot, 2019 - Present
Co-leader, CLL Moon Shot Flagship Project 1: Drug Development, 2016 - Present
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee, 2015 - Present
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Executive Committee, 2013 - 2023
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Women Faculty & Fellows Initiatives Advisory Council, 2012 - Present
Therapeutics and Pharmacology Program, Executive Committee Chair, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2010 - Present
Committee Member, Faculty Mentoring Advisory Committee, 2007 - Present
Organizing Committee Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Grand Rounds, 2005 - Present
Endowed Positions
Waun Ki Hong Distinguished Chair in Translational Research, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2020 - Present
Rebecca Meyer Brown & Joseph Mellinger Brown Chair in Basic Science Research, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2020
Ruby E. Rutherford Distinguished Professorship, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 2011 - 2015
Ashbel Smith Professorship, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 2006 - 2011
Honors & Awards
| 2020 | Waun Ki Hong Distinguished Chair in Translational Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | MD Anderson Distinguished Educator, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Moon Shot, Co-Leader for Moon Shot |
| 2018 | Dr. John S. McMurray Lifetime TAP Achievement Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences |
| 2015 | The William Randolph Hearst Foundations Faculty Achievement Award in Education, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2015 | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Moon Shot, Co-Leader for Project 1 |
| 2015 | Rebecca Meyer Brown & Joseph Mellinger Brown Chair in Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2014 | Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| 2013 | Member, The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education |
| 2013 | Exceptional Leadership & Support as a Mentor, MD Anderson Alumni & Faculty Association |
| 2013 | Outstanding Women Scientist Award, American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research |
| 2012 | Executive Development Seminar for Interim and Aspiring Leaders, Association of American Medical Colleges |
| 2012 | The University of Texas System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award - Health, The University of Texas System |
| 2012 | Outstanding Service and Dedication as Program Director, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences |
| 2011 | Ruby E. Rutherford Distinguished Professorship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2011 | Distinguished Research Faculty Mentor Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2009 | Gerald P. Bodey Award for Excellence in Education, Division of Cancer Medicine Faculty Recognition & Award Program |
| 2009 | Faculty Leadership Academy, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2007 | Potu N. Rao Award for Excellence in Basic Science, Division of Cancer Medicine Faculty Recognition & Award Program |
| 2006 | Ashbel Smith Professorship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2005 | Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award, Postdoctoral Association Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2003 | Aventis Drug Development Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2000 | NIH-RAID-II Award, NIH/NCI |
| 1999 | E.N. Cobb Faculty Scholar Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1998 | NIH-RAID-I Award, NIH/NCI |
| 1976 | Senior Research Scholarship, University Grants Commission, University of Delhi, India |
| 1974 | Junior Research Scholarship, University Grants Commission, University of Delhi, India |
| 1973 | M.Sc. Gold Medal Winner, Kanpur University, India |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Tantawy SI, Timofeeva N, Hernandez A, Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Decoding the Mechanism behind MCL-1 Inhibitors: A Pathway to Understanding MCL-1 Protein Stability. Oncotarget 14(https://soundcloud.com/oncotarget/decoding-the-mechanism-behind-mcl-1-inhibitors-a-pathway-to-understanding-mcl-1-protein-stability, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUzVN5kwGS4):653-655, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37343064.
- Boddu PC, Senapati J, Ravandi-Kashani F, Jabbour EJ, Jain N, Ayres M, Chen Y, Keating MJ, Kantarjian HM, Gandhi V*, Kadia TM*[*Last authorship shared]. A phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, pharmacology, and feasibility of continuous infusion nelarabine in patients with relapsed and/or refractory lymphoid malignancies. Cancer 129(4):580-589, 2023. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36448227.
- Tantawy SI, Sarkar A, Hubner S, Tan Z, Wierda WG, Eldeib A, Zhang S, Kornblau S, Gandhi V. Mechanisms of MCL-1 protein stability induced by MCL-1 antagonists in B-cell malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 29(2):446-457, 2023. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36346691.
- Timofeeva N, Ayres ML, Baran N, Santiago-O'Farrill JM, Bildik G, Lu Z, Konopleva M, Gandhi V. Preclinical investigations of the efficacy of the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 alone and in combinations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Front Oncol 13:1161254, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37228498.
- Demarest JF, Kienle M, Boytz R, Ayres M, Kim EJ, Patten JJ, Chung D, Gandhi V, Davey RA, Sykes DB, Shohdy N, Pottage JC, Kumar VS. Brequinar and Dipyridamole in Combination Exhibits Synergistic Antiviral Activity Against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro: Rationale for a host-acting antiviral treatment strategy for COVID-19. Antiviral Res 206:105403, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36041646.
- Tettamanti S, Rotiroti MC, Giordano Attianese GMP, Arcangeli S, Zhang R, Banerjee P, Galletti G, McManus S, Mazza M, Nicolini F, Martinelli G, Ivan C, Veliz Rodriguez T, Barbaglio F, Scarfò L, Ponzoni M, Wierda W, Gandhi V, Keating M, Biondi A, Caligaris-Cappio F, Biagi E, Ghia P, Bertilaccio MTS. Lenalidomide enhances CD23.CAR T cell therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 63(7):1-14, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35259043.
- Aslan B, Kismali G, Iles LR, Manyam GC, Ayres ML, Chen LS, Gagea M, Bertilaccio MTS, Wierda WG*, Gandhi V [*These authors contributed equally]. Pirtobrutinib inhibits wild-type and mutant Bruton's tyrosine kinase-mediated signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Cancer J 12(5):80, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35595730.
- Hoang DH, Morales C, Rodriguez IR, Valerio M, Guo J, Chen MH, Wu X, Horne D, Gandhi V, Chen LS, Zhang B, Pullarkat V, Rosen ST, Marcucci G, Buettner R, Nguyen LXT. Synergy of Venetoclax and 8-Chloro-Adenosine in AML: The Interplay of rRNA Inhibition and Fatty Acid Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 14(6), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35326597.
- Galan-Cobo A, Stellrecht CM, Yilmaz E, Yang C, Qian Y, Qu X, Akhter I, Ayres ML, Fan Y, Tong P, Diao L, Ding J, Giri U, Gudikote J, Nilsson M, Wierda WG, Wang J, Skoulidis F, Minna JD, Gandhi V, Heymach JV [*Last authorship shared]. Enhanced vulnerability of LKB1-deficient NSCLC to disruption of ATP pools and redox homeostasis by 8-Cl-Ado. Mol Cancer Res 20(2):280-292, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34654720.
- Teakell S, Chen LS, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. The role of p53 and p21 on 8-chloro-adenosine-induced cellular response. Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids:1-16. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35227162.
- Aslan B, Hubner SE, Fox JA, Taverna P, Wierda WG, Kornblau SM, Gandhi V. Vecabrutinib inhibits B-cell receptor signal transduction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell types with wild-type or mutant Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Haematologica 107(1):292-297, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34498444.
- Yi X, Jain N, Iles LR, Ayres ML, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Targeting Mcl-1 by AMG-176 during ibrutinib and venetoclax therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Front Oncol 12:833714, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35273915.
- Jain N, Thompson P, Burger J, Ferrajoli A, Takahashi K, Estrov Z, Borthakur G, Bose P, Kadia T, Pemmaraju N, Sasaki K, Konopleva M, Jabbour E, Garg N, Wang X, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Patel K, Wang W, Jorgensen J, Wang S, Lopez W, Ayala A, Plunkett W, Gandhi V, Kantarjian H, O'Brien S, Keating M, Wierda WG. Ibrutinib, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and obinutuzumab (iFCG) regimen for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with mutated IGHV and without TP53 aberrations. Leukemia 35(12):3421-3429, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34007049.
- Jain N, Keating M, Thompson P, Ferrajoli A, Burger JA, Borthakur G, Takahashi K, Estrov Z, Sasaki K, Fowler N, Kadia T, Konopleva M, Alvarado Y, Yilmaz M, DiNardo C, Bose P, Ohanian M, Pemmaraju N, Jabbour E, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Patel K, Wang W, Jorgensen J, Wang SA, Garg N, Wang X, Wei C, Cruz N, Ayala A, Plunkett W, Kantarjian H, Gandhi V*, Wierda WG* [*Last authorship shared]. Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax for First-line Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Nonrandomized Phase 2 Trial. JAMA Oncol 7(8):1213-1219, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34110383.
- Aslan B, Kismali G, Chen LS, Iles LR, Mahendra M, Peoples M, Gagea M, Fowlkes NW, Zheng X, Wang J, Vellano CP, Marszalek JR, Bertilaccio MTS, Gandhi V. Development and characterization of prototypes for in vitro and in vivo mouse models of ibrutinib-resistant CLL. Blood Adv 5(16):3134-3146, 2021. PMID: 34424317.
- Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Correction to: Activation of ATM kinase by ROS generated during ionophore-induced mitophagy in human T and B cell malignancies. Mol Cell Biochem 476(7):2887, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34021870.
- Buettner R, Nguyen LXT, Morales C, Chen MH, Wu X, Chen LS, Hoang DH, Hernandez Vargas S, Pullarkat V, Gandhi V, Marcucci G, Rosen ST. Targeting the metabolic vulnerability of acute myeloid leukemia blasts with a combination of venetoclax and 8-chloro-adenosine. J Hematol Oncol 14(1):70, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33902674.
- Sarkar A, Stellrecht CM, Vangapandu HV, Ayres M, Kaipparettu BA, Park JH, Balakrishnan K, Burks JK, Pandita TK, Hittelman WN, Neelapu SS, Gandhi V. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated interacts with Parkin and induces mitophagy independent of kinase activity. Evidence from mantle cell lymphoma. Haematologica 106(2):495-512, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32029507.
- Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Activation of ATM kinase by ROS generated during ionophore-induced mitophagy in human T and B cell malignancies. Mol Cell Biochem 476(1):417-423, 2021. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32996079.
- Yi X, Sarkar A, Kismali G, Aslan B, Ayres M, Iles LR, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Long JP, Bertilaccio MTS, Gandhi V. AMG-176, an Mcl-1 antagonist, shows preclinical efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 26(14):3856-3867, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31937611.
- Chen LS, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Induction of apoptosis by MCL-1 inhibitors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leuk Lymphoma 60(12):1-4, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31161836.
- Banerjee P, Zhang R, Ivan C, Galletti G, Clise-Dwyer K, Barbaglio F, Scarfò L, Aracil M, Klein C, Wierda W, Plunkett W, Caligaris-Cappio F, Gandhi V, Keating MJ, Bertilaccio MTS. Trabectedin Reveals a Strategy of Immunomodulation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancer Immunol Res 7(12):2036-2051, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31530560.
- Galan-Cobo A, Sitthideatphaiboon P, Qu X, Poteete A, Pisegna MA, Tong P, Chen PH, Boroughs LK, Rodriguez MLM, Zhang W, Parlati F, Wang J, Gandhi V, Skoulidis F, DeBerardinis RJ, Minna JD, Heymach JV. LKB1 and KEAP1/NRF2 pathways cooperatively promote metabolic reprogramming with enhanced glutamine dependence in KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 79(13):3251-3267, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31040157.
- Jain N, Keating M, Thompson P, Ferrajoli A, Burger J, Borthakur G, Takahashi K, Estrov Z, Fowler N, Kadia T, Konopleva M, Alvarado Y, Yilmaz M, DiNardo C, Bose P, Ohanian M, Pemmaraju N, Jabbour E, Sasaki K, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Patel K, Jorgensen J, Garg N, Wang X, Sondermann K, Cruz N, Wei C, Ayala A, Plunkett W, Kantarjian H, Gandhi V*, Wierda W* [*Last authorship shared]. Ibrutinib and Venetoclax for First-Line Treatment of CLL. N Engl J Med 380(22):2095-2103, 2019. PMID: 31141631.
- Cervantes-Gomez F, Stellrecht CM, Ayres ML, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. PIM kinase inhibitor, AZD1208, inhibits protein translation and induces autophagy in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 10(29):2793-2809, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31073371.
- Buettner R, Nguyen LXT, Kumar B, Morales C, Liu C, Chen LS, Pemovska T, Synold TW, Palmer J, Thompson R, Li L, Hoang DH, Zhang B, Ghoda L, Kowolik C, Kontro M, Leitch C, Wennerberg K, Yu X, Chen CC, Horne D, Gandhi V, Pullarkat V, Marcucci G, Rosen ST. 8-Chloro-Adenosine Activity in FLT3-ITD Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Cell Physiol. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30770553.
- Chen LS*, Bose P*, Cruz ND, Jiang Y, Wu Q, Thompson PA, Feng S, Kroll MH, Qiao W, Huang X, Jain N, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V* [*These authors contributed equally]. A pilot study of lower doses of ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 132(21):2249-2259, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30254130.
- Chen W, Fan H, Balakrishnan K, Wang Y, Sun H, Fan Y, Gandhi V, Arnold LA, Peng X. Discovery and Optimization of Novel Hydrogen Peroxide Activated Aromatic Nitrogen Mustard Derivatives as Highly Potent Anticancer Agents. J Med Chem 61(20):9132-9145, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30247905.
- Elsayed AH, Cao X, Crews KR, Gandhi V, Plunkett W, Rubnitz JE, Ribeiro RC, Pounds SB, Lamba JK. Comprehensive Ara-C SNP score predicts leukemic cell intracellular ara-CTP levels in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients. Pharmacogenomics 19(14):1101-1110, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30088438.
- Vangapandu HV, Chen H, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Korkut A, Gandhi V. Proteomics profiling identifies induction of caveolin-1 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by bone marrow stromal cells. Leuk Lymphoma 59(6):1-12, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28971726.
- Cortes J, Tamura K, DeAngelo DJ, de Bono J, Lorente D, Minden M, Uy GL, Kantarjian H, Chen LS, Gandhi V, Godin R, Keating K, McEachern K, Vishwanathan K, Pease JE, Dean E. Phase I studies of AZD1208, a proviral integration Moloney virus kinase inhibitor in solid and haematological cancers. Br J Cancer 118(11):1425-1433, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29765150.
- Vangapandu HV, Alston B, Morse J, Ayres ML, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Marszalek JR, Gandhi V. Biological and Metabolic Effects of IACS-010759, an OxPhos Inhibitor, on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. Oncotarget 9(38):24980-24991, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29861847.
- Short NJ, Kantarjian H, Ravandi F, Huang X, Xiao L, Garcia-Manero G, Plunkett W, Gandhi V, Sasaki K, Pemmaraju N, Daver NG, Borthakur G, Jain N, Konopleva M, Estrov Z, Kadia TM, Wierda WG, DiNardo CD, Brandt M, O'Brien SM, Cortes JE, Jabbour E. A phase I/II randomized trial of clofarabine or fludarabine added to idarubicin and cytarabine for adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 59(4):813-820, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28718728.
- Patel VK, Lamothe B, Ayres ML, Gay J, Cheung JP, Balakrishnan K, Ivan C, Morse J, Nelson M, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Marszalek JR, Gandhi V. Pharmacodynamics and Proteomic Analysis of Acalabrutinib Therapy: Similarity of On-Target Effects to Ibrutinib and Rationale for Combination Therapy. Leukemia 32(4):920-930, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29099493.
- Abou Dalle I, Cortes JE, Pinnamaneni P, Lamothe B, Diaz Duque A, Randhawa J, Pemmaraju N, Jabbour E, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Estrov Z, Konopleva M, Ravandi F, Alvarado Y, Borthakur G, Gandhi V, Kantarjian HM. A Pilot Phase II Study of Erlotinib for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acta Haematol 140(1):30-39, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30071517.
- Vangapandu HV, Havranek O, Ayres ML, Kaipparettu BA, Balakrishnan K, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Davis RE, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. B-cell Receptor Signaling Regulates Metabolism in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Mol Cancer Res 15(12):1692-1703, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28835371.
- Jabbour E, Short NJ, Ravandi F, Huang X, Xiao L, Garcia-Manero G, Plunkett W, Gandhi V, Sasaki K, Pemmaraju N, Daver NG, Borthakur G, Jain N, Konopleva M, Estrov Z, Kadia TM, Wierda WG, DiNardo CD, Brandt M, O'Brien SM, Cortes JE, Kantarjian H. A randomized phase 2 study of idarubicin and cytarabine with clofarabine or fludarabine in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer 123(22):4430-4439, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28708931.
- Stellrecht CM, Chen LS, Ayres ML, Dennison JB, Shentu S, Chen Y, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Chlorinated adenosine analogue induces AMPK and autophagy in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells during therapy. Br J Haematol 179(2):266-271, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28737232.
- Vangapandu HV, Ayres ML, Bristow CA, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Balakrishnan K, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. The Stromal Microenvironment Modulates Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells. Neoplasia 19(10):762-771, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28863345.
- Patel VM, Balakrishnan K, Douglas M, Tibbitts T, Xu EY, Kutok JL, Ayers M, Sarkar A, Guerrieri R, Wierda WG, O'Brien S, Jain N, Stern HM, Gandhi V. Duvelisib treatment is associated with altered expression of apoptotic regulators that helps in sensitization of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells to venetoclax (ABT-199). Leukemia 31(9):1872-1881, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28017967.
- Bose P, Gandhi V, Konopleva M. Pathways and mechanisms of venetoclax resistance. Leuk Lymphoma 58(9):1-17, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28140720.
- Baljevic M, Zaman S, Baladandayuthapani V, Lin YH, de Partovi CM, Berkova Z, Amini B, Thomas SK, Shah JJ, Weber DM, Fu M, Cleeland CS, Wang XS, Stellrecht CM, Davis RE, Gandhi V*, Orlowski RZ* [*Last authorship shared]. Phase II study of the c-MET inhibitor tivantinib (ARQ 197) in patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Ann Hematol(6):977-985, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28337527.
- Wang Y, Fan H, Balakrishnan K, Lin Z, Cao S, Chen W, Fan Y, Guthrie QA, Sun H, Teske KA, Gandhi V, Arnold LA, Peng X. Hydrogen peroxide activated quinone methide precursors with enhanced DNA cross-linking capability and cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. Eur J Med Chem 133:197-207, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28388522.
- 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* [*Last authorship shared]. A Phase I-II Trial of Fludarabine, Bendamustine, and Rituximab (FBR) in Previously Treated Patients with CLL. Oncotarget(13):22104-22112, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27655665.
- Modi P, Balakrishnan K, Yang Q, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Idelalisib and bendamustine combination is synergistic and increases DNA damage response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 8(10):16259-16274, 2017. PMID: 28187444.
- Yang Q, Chen LS, Ha MJ, Do KA, Neelapu SS, Gandhi V. Idelalisib impacts cell growth through inhibiting translation regulatory mechanisms in mantle cell lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res 23(1):181-192, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27342398.
- Chen LS, Yang JY, Liang H, Cortes JE, Gandhi V. Protein profiling identifies mTOR pathway modulation and cytostatic effects of Pim kinase inhibitor, AZD1208, in acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 57(12):1-11, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27054578.
- Patel V, Balakrishnan K, Bibikova E, Ayres M, Keating MJ, Wierda W, 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.
- Mendes VI, Bartholomeusz GA, Ayres M, Gandhi V*, Salvador JA*. Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel A-ring cleaved ursolic acid derivatives in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Eur J Med Chem 123:317-31, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27484517.
- Mendes VI, Bartholomeusz GA, Ayres M, Gandhi V, Salvador JA. Corrigendum to "Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel A-ring cleaved ursolic acid derivatives in human non-small cell lung cancer cells" [Eur. J. Med. Chem. 123 (2016) 317-331]. Eur J Med Chem 124:1004-1005, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27783971.
- Phillip CJ, Zaman S, Shentu S, Balakrishnan K, Zhang J, Baladandayuthapani V, Taverna P, Redkar S, Wang M, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. Erratum to: Targeting MET kinase with the small-molecule inhibitor amuvatinib induces cytotoxicity in primary myeloma cells and cell lines. J Hematol Oncol 9(1):110, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27737688.
- Lamothe B, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Carfilzomib triggers cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by inducing proapoptotic and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses. Clin Cancer Res 22(18):4712-26, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27026200.
- Cervantes-Gomez F, Kumar Patel V, Bose P, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Decrease in total protein level of Bruton's tyrosine kinase during ibrutinib therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes. Leukemia 30(8):1803-4, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27198052.
- 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.
- Patel V, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Preclinical combination of TP-0903, an AXL inhibitor and B-PAC-1, a procaspase activating compound with ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 57(6):1-4, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26440741.
- 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. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26658105.
- Zaman S, Wang R, Gandhi V. Targeting executioner procaspase-3 with the procaspase-activating compound B-PAC-1 induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. Exp Hematol 43(11):951-962.e3, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26257207.
- 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, Overcomes Signals from the PI3K/AKT/S6 Pathway and Promotes Apoptosis in CLL. Leukemia 29(9):1811-22, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25917267.
- Cervantes-Gomez F, Lavergne B, Keating MJ, Wierda WG, Gandhi V. Combination of Pim kinase inhibitors and Bcl-2 antagonists in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Leuk Lymphoma:1-9. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26088877.
- Cervantes-Gomez F, Lamothe B, Woyach JA, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Balakrishnan K, Gandhi V. Pharmacological and protein profiling suggest ABT-199 as optimal partner with ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 21(16):3705-15, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25829398.
- Wang J, Yin H, Panandikar A, Gandhi V, Sen S. Elevated cyclin A associated kinase activity promotes sensitivity of metastatic human cancer cells to DNA antimetabolite drug. Int J Oncol 47(2):782-90, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26058363.
- Zaman S, Shentu S, Yang J, He J, Orlowski RZ, Stellrecht CM, Gandhi V. Targeting the pro-survival protein MET with tivantinib (ARQ 197) inhibits growth of multiple myeloma cells. Neoplasia 17(3):289-300, 2015. PMID: 25810013.
- 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.
- Lamothe B, Cervantes-Gomez F, Sivina M, Wierda WG, Keating MJ, Gandhi V. Proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib complements ibrutinib's action in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 125(2):407-10, 2015. PMID: 25573971.
- Kearney AY, Fan YH, Giri U, Saigal B, Gandhi V, Heymach JV, Zurita AJ. 8-Chloroadenosine Sensitivity in Renal Cell Carcinoma Is Associated with AMPK Activation and mTOR Pathway Inhibition. PLoS One 10(8):e0135962, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26313261.
- Pullarkat V, Chen, LS, Palmer J, Zhang J, Synold TW, Buettner R, Nguyen LXY, Marcucci G, Tsai N-C, Wang Y, O’Hearn J, Gandhi V*, and Rosen, ST*[*Last authorship shared]. A phase 1 trial of 8-chloro-adenosine in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia: an evaluation of safety and pharmacokinetics. Cancer.
- Sexauer AN, Alexe G, Gustafsson K, Zanetakos E, Milosevic J, Ayers M, Gandhi V, Pikman Y, Stegmaier K, Sykes DB. DHODH: A promising target in the treatment of T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Blood Advances.
Invited Articles
- Tantawy SI, Timofeeva N, Sarkar A, Gandhi V. Targeting MCL-1 protein to treat cancer: opportunities and challenges. Front Oncol 13:1226289, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37601693.
- Bose P, Gandhi V. Recent therapeutic advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. F1000Res 6:1924, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29152232.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Development of Ibrutinib for CLL - Flagship Project |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A Phase II Study of Venetoclax and Ibrutinib in Patients with CLL |
| Funding Source: | AbbVie Inc |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting the Monocyte/Macrophage Lineage as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Proteomics Profiling in Blood CLL Cells after Ibrutinib Therapy |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A phase 1b/2 study of SNS-062 in patients with B-cell malignancies |
| Funding Source: | Sunesis |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Understanding the Role of Mcl1 in MAPK driven Tumors in TNBC |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society (ACS) |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Combined BTK and BCL2 inhibition in CLL:A non-chemotherapy therapeutic approach |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Fellows Award |
| Role: | Mentor |
| Title: | Transcriptomics and proteomics in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting McI-1 in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation: U.S./European Alliance |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting Metabolic Rewiring in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A combination strategy to target pathophysiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeted combination therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia to eradicate disease |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Pharmacodynamic Investigations with Brequinar |
| Funding Source: | Clear Creek Bio, Inc |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | CCTG CL.4: Randomized Phase 3 Evaluation of Lower Dose (3-2-1 Strategy) vs. Full Dose of Ibrutinib for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) |
| Funding Source: | Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Repurposing Leflunomide to Delay Progression of Smoldering Multiple Myeloma in African Americans |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Other Significant Contributor |
| Title: | First-line Therapy with Ibrutinib, Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Obinutuzumab (GA-101) (iFCG) for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) with Mutated IGHV gene, 2015-0281 |
| Funding Source: | (iFCG) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Project 1: CLL Transformation |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Title: | Project 2: Curative Targeted Therapy of CLL |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Title: | Preclinical and clinical concepts to evaluate BTK degrader in combination |
| Funding Source: | AbbVie |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Overcoming Barriers of BTKi in CLL |
| Funding Source: | CLL Global Research Foundation: U.S./European Alliance |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Project 2: Developing synergistic therapies for progressive CLL and RT |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Title: | Project 3: Immune microenvironment in CLL progression and RT |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Moon Shots Program |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Title: | Translational and clinical research with pirtobrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Richter’s transformation (RT) |
| Funding Source: | LOXO/Lilly Oncology |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | A combination strategy to target pathophysiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |