Academic Degrees and Training

• Associate Professor: Mayo Clinic (2007-2008)

• Assistant Professor: Mayo Clinic (1998-2006)

• Senior Associate Scientist: Indiana University Medical Center (1994-1997)

• Postdoctoral Research Associate: Pennsylvania State University (1989-1993)

• Ph.D. Immunology, University of London, UK (1989)

• M.Sc. Immunology, University of London, UK (1984)

• B.S. Honors in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Bombay University, India (1983)

Courses

• Tumor Immunology (BIOL 6000/8000 DO1/CO1)

Research Interests

The laboratory is funded by the NIH to study the role of inflammation and MUC1 in pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. Novel strategies to target these molecules within the tumor microenvironment are also being explored. This includes understanding the immune-tolerant and chemo resistant tumor microenvironment. The laboratory is also looking at the role of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis in the recruitment and homing of tumor cells to the bone to form bone metastasis during breast cancer development.

Current Lab Members

Dr. Jorge Schettini-Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy-Postdoctoral Research Associate

Mahnaz Manouchehrabadi-Graduate Student

Teresa Tinder-Senior Technologist

Funding

Source: National Institute of Health RO1 CA118944-01A1 (Mukherjee)

Role: Principal Investigator

Title: Role of MUC1 in Pancreatic Cancer

Dates: 07/01/06 – 06/30/11

Source: Department of Defense BC063396 Concept Award (Mukherjee)

Role: Principal Investigator

Title: Study the Influence of Arthritis on Breast Cancer-associated Bone Metastasis

Date: 10/01/2007 – 09/30/2009

Source: National Institute of Health 1P50CA116201-01 (Ingle)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator on Project 3

Title: Project 3 - Immunization with MUC1-glycopeptides in Breast Cancer

Dates: 07/01/05 – 06/30/10

Source: DOD BCRP #DAMD17-01-1-0318 (Gendler)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Title: Strategies in Breast Cancer: Clinical Trials

Dates: 08/15/2001 – 08/13/2009

Selected Publications

1.       Teresa L. Tinder, Durai B. Subramani, Gargi D. Basu, Judy M. Bradley, Jorge Schettini, Arefayene Million, Todd Skaar, and Pinku Mukherjee (2008). MUC1 Enhances Tumor Progression and Contributes Toward Immunosuppression in a Mouse Model of Spontaneous Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. J Immunology, 181: 3116 – 3125

2.       Pinku Mukherjee,  Gargi D. Basu, Teresa L. Tinder, Durai B. Subramani,  Judy M. Bradley,  Million Arefayene,  Todd Skaar,  and Giovanni De Petris (2008) Progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is significantly impeded with a combination of vaccine and COX-2 inhibition, Journal of Immunology (in press).

3.       Basu, G.D., Liang, W., Tinder, T., Stephan, D., Wegener, L.T., Conley, C.R., and Mukherjee, P. (2007) A novel role for cyclooxygenase-2 in regulating vascular channel formation by human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research. 8: 69-75 (Breast Cancer Net News Release, Article highlighted as highly accessed)

4.       Mukherjee, P, Pathangey, L.B, Bradley, J.B, Tinder, T.L, Basu, G.B, Akporiaye, E.T, and Gendler, S.J. (2007). MUC1-specific immune therapy generates a strong anti-tumor response in a MUC1-tolerant colon cancer model. Vaccine. 25: 1607-1618

5.       Basu, G.D., Tinder, T.L., Bradley, J.M., Tu, T., Hattrup, C.L., Pockaj, B.A., and Mukherjee, P. (2006) Cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor enhances the efficacy of a breast cancer vaccine: role of Indoleamine 2,3, Dioxygenase. J Immunology. 177:2391-2402.

6.       Basu, G.D., Pathangey, L.B., Tinder, T.L., Gendler, S.J., and Mukherjee, P. (2005) Mechanisms underlying to growth inhibitory effects of COX-2 inhibitor in human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research 7:R422-R435. (Breast Cancer Net News Release).

7.       Theodore H. Lindsay, Beth M. Jonas, Molly A. Sevcik, Kazufumi Kubota, Kyle G. Halvorson, Joseph R. Ghilardi, Micheal A. Kuskowski, Edward B. Stelow, Pinku Mukherjee, Sandra J. Gendler, Gilbert Y. Wong, Patrick W. Mantyh (2005) Pancreatic cancer pain and its correlation with changes in tumor vasculature, macrophage infiltration, neuronal innervation, body weight and disease progression. Pain, 119:233-246 (Cover).

8.       Mukherjee, P., Tinder, T.L., Basu, G.D., Pathangey, L.B., Chen, L. and Gendler, S.J. (2004) Therapeutic efficacy of MUC1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD137 co-stimulation in a spontaneous breast cancer model. Breast Disease, 20:53-63. (Breast Cancer Net News Release).

9.       Mukherjee, P., Tinder, T.L., Basu, G.D., and Gendler, S.J. (2004) MUC1 (CD227) interacts with Ick tyrosine kinase in Jurkat lymphoma cells and normal T cells. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 77:90-99.

10.   Basu, G.D., Pathangey, L.B., Tinder, T.L., LaGioia, M. Gendler, S.J., and Mukherjee, P. (2004) Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells in an in vivo model of spontaneous metastatic breast cancer.  Molecular Cancer Research, 2:532-642. (Cover) (American Association for Cancer Research Press Release).