Rita Mulherkar, Ph.D.
Professor
Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, India
Mulherkar Lab
Khanolkar Shodhika, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar
Navi Mumbai - 410 210
Maharashtra
E-mail: rmulherkar@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9322225645
Positions Held:
Position
Affiliation
Time Period
Scientific Officer H
Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, India
2009
Scientific Officer
Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre
2004-2009
Scientific Officer F
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer
1999-2004
Scientific Officer E
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer
1994-1999
Scientific Officer
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer
1989-1994
Scientific Officer C
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer
1983-1989
Scientific Officer
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer
1981-1983
Area of Specialization:
Oncology
Research Summary:
Genetic predisposition to tobacco-related head and neck cancers; association of low penetrance genes with environment in canc
Gene Therapy for Head and Neck cancers
Gene Therapy for Head and Neck cancers Genomics of cervical cancer: Search for Biomarkers
Publications:
1.
Das, P., Thomas, A., Mahantshetty, U., Shrivastava, S. K., Deodhar, K. and Mulherkar, R. HPV genotyping and site of viral integration in cervical cancers in Indian women. PloS One. 2012. 7, e41012. [PubMed]
1.
Noronha, V., Prabhash, K., Thavamani, A., Chougule, A., Purandare, N., Joshi, A., Sharma, R., Desai, S., Jambekar, N., Dutt, A. and Mulherkar, R. EGFR mutations in Indian lung cancer patients: clinical correlation and outcome to EGFR targeted therapy. PloS One. 2013. 8, e61561. [PubMed]
2.
Hussain, T., Kotnis, A., Sarin, R. and Mulherkar, R. Genetic susceptibility to multiple primary neoplasms in the upper aero-digestive tract: genotype score and phenotype correlation. Cancer Letters. 2013. 332, 46-54. [PubMed]
3.
Chandrashekhar, C., Pons, B., Muller, C. D., Tounsi, N., Mulherkar, R. and Zuber, G. Oligobenzylethylenimine enriches linear polyethylenimine with a pH-sensitive membrane-disruptive property and leads to enhanced gene delivery activity. Acta Biomaterialia. 2013. 9, 4985-4993. [PubMed]
4.
Hussain, T., Kotnis, A., Sarin, R. and Mulherkar, R. Establishment & characterization of lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with multiple primary neoplasms in the upper aero-digestive tract & healthy individuals. The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2012. 135, 820-829. [PubMed]
5.
Das, P., Thomas, A., Mahantshetty, U., Shrivastava, S. K., Deodhar, K. and Mulherkar, R. HPV genotyping and site of viral integration in cervical cancers in Indian women. PloS One. 2012. 7, e41012. [PubMed]
6.
Kotnis, A., Namkung, J., Kannan, S., Jayakrupakar, N., Park, T., Sarin, R. and Mulherkar, R. Multiple pathway-based genetic variations associated with tobacco related multiple primary neoplasms. PloS One. 2012. 7, e30013. [PubMed]
7.
Kothari, V. and Mulherkar, R. Inhibition of cyclin D1 by shRNA is associated with enhanced sensitivity to conventional therapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Anticancer Research. 2012. 32, 121-128. [PubMed]
8.
Srivastava, D., Joshi, G., Somasundaram, K. and Mulherkar, R. Mode of cell death associated with adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy in HNSCC tumor model. Anticancer Research. 2011. 31, 3851-3857. [PubMed]
9.
Date, A. A., Srivastava, D., Nagarsenker, M. S., Mulherkar, R., Panicker, L., Aswal, V., Hassan, P. A., Steiniger, F., Thamm, J. and Fahr, A. Lecithin-based novel cationic nanocarriers (LeciPlex) I: fabrication, characterization and evaluation. Nanomedicine. 2011. 6, 1309-1325. [PubMed]
10.
Shetty, O. A., Naresh, K. N., Banavali, S. D., Shet, T., Joshi, R., Qureshi, S., Mulherkar, R., Borges, A. and Desai, S. B. Evidence for the presence of high risk human papillomavirus in retinoblastoma tissue from nonfamilial retinoblastoma in developing countries. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2012. 58, 185-190. [PubMed]
11.
Ambade, A. V., Joshi, G. V. and Mulherkar, R. Effect of suicide gene therapy in combination with immunotherapy on antitumour immune response & tumour regression in a xenograft mouse model for head & neck squamous cell carcinoma. The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2010. 132, 415-422. [PubMed]
12.
Creusat, G., Rinaldi, A. S., Weiss, E., Elbaghdadi, R., Remy, J. S., Mulherkar, R. and Zuber, G. Proton sponge trick for pH-sensitive disassembly of polyethylenimine-based siRNA delivery systems. Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2010. 21, 994-1002. [PubMed]
13.
Budrukkar, A., Shahid, T., Murthy, V., Hussain, T., Mulherkar, R., Vundinti, B. R., Deshpande, M., Sengar, M., Laskar, S. G. and Agarwal, J. P. Squamous cell carcinoma of base of tongue in a patient with Fanconi's anemia treated with radiation therapy: case report and review of literature. Head & Neck. 2010. 32, 1422-1427. [PubMed]
14.
Kothari, V., Joshi, G., Nama, S., Somasundaram, K. and Mulherkar, R. HDAC inhibitor valproic acid enhances tumor cell kill in adenovirus-HSVtk mediated suicide gene therapy in HNSCC xenograft mouse model. International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer. 2010. 126, 733-742. [PubMed]
15.
Khan, Z., Tiwari, R. P., Mulherkar, R., Sah, N. K., Prasad, G. B., Shrivastava, B. R. and Bisen, P. S. Detection of survivin and p53 in human oral cancer: correlation with clinicopathologic findings. Head & Neck. 2009. 31, 1039-1048. [PubMed]
16.
Kotnis, A., Kannan, S., Sarin, R. and Mulherkar, R. Case-control study and meta-analysis of SULT1A1 Arg213His polymorphism for gene, ethnicity and environment interaction for cancer risk. British Journal of Cancer. 2008. 99, 1340-1347. [PubMed]
17.
Guinn, B. A. and Mulherkar, R. International progress in cancer gene therapy. Cancer Gene Therapy. 2008. 15, 765-775. [PubMed]
18.
Ambade, A. and Mulherkar, R. Adoptive T cell transfer augments IL-2 mediated tumour regression in a HNSCC xenograft nude mouse model. Cancer Letters. 2008. 272, 316-324. [PubMed]
19.
Uma, R. S., Naresh, K. N., D'Cruz, A. K., Mulherkar, R. and Borges, A. M. Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue is associated with down-regulation of epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP). Oral Oncology. 2007. 43, 27-32. [PubMed]
20.
Mulherkar R. Biotechnology and medicine: ethical concerns. Issues in Medical Ethics. 1997. 5, 110-111. [PubMed]
21.
D'cruz, A. K. and Mulherkar, R. Optimizing treatment in head and neck cancers -- are molecular markers the answer? The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2005. 122, 196-198. [PubMed]
22.
Kotnis, A., Sarin, R. and Mulherkar, R. Genotype, phenotype and cancer: role of low penetrance genes and environment in tumour susceptibility. Journal of Biosciences. 2005. 30, 93-102. [PubMed]
23.
Jhavar, S. G., Sarin, R., Chopra, S., Kotnis, A., Mulherkar, R., A'hern, R., Agarwal, J. P., Shrivastava, S. K. and Dinshaw, K. A. Females with paired occurrence of cancers in the UADT and genital region have a higher frequency of either Glutathione S-transferase M1/T1 null genotype. Journal of Carcinogenesis. 2005. 4, 6. [PubMed]
24.
Koppikar, P., deVilliers, E. M. and Mulherkar, R. Identification of human papillomaviruses in tumors of the oral cavity in an Indian community. International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer. 2005. 113, 946-950. [PubMed]
25.
Mulherkar R. The enigma of carcinogenesis - stroma or epithelial cells? Journal of Biosciences. 2004. 29, 133-134. [PubMed]
26.
Jhavar, S., Sarin, R., Mulherkar, R., Benner, A., Agarwal, J. P. and Dinshaw, K. Glutathione S-transferase M1 or T1 null genotype as a risk factor for developing multiple primary neoplasms in the upper aero-digestive tract, in Indian males using tobacco. Oral Oncology. 2004. 40, 84-91. [PubMed]
27.
Mulherkar, R., Kirtane, B. M., Ramchandani, A., Mansukhani, N. P., Kannan, S. and Naresh, K. N. Expression of enhancing factor/phospholipase A2 in skin results in abnormal epidermis and increased sensitivity to chemical carcinogenesis. Oncogene. 2003. 22, 1936-1944. [PubMed]
28.
Kirtane, B. M. and Mulherkar, R. Comparison of the activities of wild type and mutant enhancing factor/mouse secretory phospholipase A2 proteins. Journal of Biosciences. 2002. 27, 489-494. [PubMed]
29.
Pradhan, S. A., Mulherkar, R. and Pai, P. S. Human papilloma virus and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The National Medical Journal of India. 2001. 14, 284. [PubMed]
30.
Papanikolaou, A., Wang, Q. S., Mulherkar, R., Bolt, A. and Rosenberg, D. W. Expression analysis of the group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) in mice with differential susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis. Carcinogenesis. 2000. 21, 133-138. [PubMed]
31.
Kadam, S. and Mulherkar, R. Enhancing activity and phospholipase A2 activity: two independent activities present in the enhancing factor molecule. The Biochemical Journal. 1999. 340 ( Pt 1), 237-243. [PubMed]
32.
Cupillard, L., Mulherkar, R., Gomez, N., Kadam, S., Valentin, E., Lazdunski, M. and Lambeau, G. Both group IB and group IIA secreted phospholipases A2 are natural ligands of the mouse 180-kDa M-type receptor. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1999. 274, 7043-7051. [PubMed]
33.
Thomas, S. M., Naresh, K. N., Wagle, A. S. and Mulherkar, R. Preclinical studies on suicide gene therapy for head/neck cancer: a novel method for evaluation of treatment efficacy. Anticancer Research. 1998. 18, 4393-4398. [PubMed]
34.
Kadam, S., Deshpande, C., Coulier, F. and Mulherkar, R. Sequence analysis of full length cDNA for enhancing factor/phospholipase A2. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 1998. 36, 553-558. [PubMed]
35.
Mulherkar, R., Goud, A. P., Wagle, A. S., Naresh, K. N., Mahimkar, M. B., Thomas, S. M., Pradhan, S. A. and Deo, M. G. Establishment of a human squamous cell carcinoma cell line of the upper aero-digestive tract. Cancer Letters. 1997. 118, 115-121. [PubMed]
36.
Cormier, R. T., Hong, K. H., Halberg, R. B., Hawkins, T. L., Richardson, P., Mulherkar, R., Dove, W. F. and Lander, E. S. Secretory phospholipase Pla2g2a confers resistance to intestinal tumorigenesis. Nature Genetics. 1997. 17, 88-91. [PubMed]
37.
Mulherkar, R., Rao, R. S., Wagle, A. S., Patki, V. and Deo, M. G. Enhancing factor, a Paneth cell specific protein from mouse small intestines: predicted amino acid sequence from RT-PCR amplified cDNA and its expression. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1993. 197, 351-352. [PubMed]
38.
Mulherkar, R., Rao, R. S., Wagle, A. S., Patki, V. and Deo, M. G. Enhancing factor, a Paneth cell specific protein from mouse small intestines: predicted amino acid sequence from RT-PCR amplified cDNA and its expression. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1993. 195, 1254-1263. [PubMed]
39.
Mulherkar, R., Rao, R., Rao, L., Patki, V., Chauhan, V. S. and Deo, M. G. Enhancing factor protein from mouse small intestines belongs to the phospholipase A2 family. FEBS Letters. 1993. 317, 263-266. [PubMed]
40.
Narkar, A. A., Shah, D. H., Yadav, J., Swaroop, D. and Mulherkar, R. Monoclonal antibodies to human thyroglobulin: evaluation of immunoreactivity. Hybridoma. 1992. 11, 803-813. [PubMed]
41.
Mulherkar, R. and Coulier, F. Overexpression of human TRK proto-oncogene into mouse cells using an inducible vector system. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1991. 177, 90-96. [PubMed]
42.
Mulherkar, R., Desai, S. J., Rao, R. S., Wagle, A. S. and Deo, M. G. Expression of enhancing factor gene and its localization in mouse tissues. Histochemistry. 1991. 96, 367-370. [PubMed]
43.
Desai, S. J., Mulherkar, R., Wagle, A. S. and Deo, M. G. Ontogeny of enhancing factor in mouse intestines and skin. Histochemistry. 1991. 96, 371-374. [PubMed]
44.
Chirmule, N. B., Mulherkar, R. and Deo, M. G. Antigenic profile of ICRC bacilli with special reference to isolation of immunogenic subunit. International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology. 1988. 86, 19-27. [PubMed]
45.
Nerurkar, V. R., Seshadri, R., Mulherkar, R., Ishwad, C. S., Lalitha, V. S. and Naik, S. N. Receptors for epidermal growth factor and estradiol in canine mammary tumors. International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer. 1987. 40, 230-232. [PubMed]
46.
Mulherkar, R., Saraf, A., Wagle, A. and Deo, M. G. Purification of the enhancing factor from mouse intestines. FEBS Letters. 1986. 207, 142-144. [PubMed]
47.
Mulherkar, R. and Deo, M. G. Further studies on the enhancing factor and its possible mechanism of action. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 1986. 127, 183-188. [PubMed]
48.
Deo, M. G., Mulherkar, R. and Mane, S. M. Isolation of a polypeptide that enhances cellular binding of epidermal growth factor. Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics. 1983. 20, 228-231. [PubMed]
49.
Mulherkar, R., Sharma, A. and Talukder, G. Endomitotic replication in human fibroblast cultures. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 1979. 17, 846-847. [PubMed]
Book Chapters:
‘Suicide gene therapy: A promising strategy for cancer gene therapy’. Ujjwala Warawdekar and Rita Mulherkar in Cancer Gene Therapy, ISBN: 978 81-308-0410-1 Editor: Masatoshi Tagawa 2010
‘Gene Therapy’ Rita Mulherkar in 9th Edition of API Text book of Medicine, Editor-in-chief Y. P. Munjal
‘Treatment of Genetic Disorders – Traditional and Gene Therapy’ Rita Mulherkar, in 8th edition of API Text Book of Medicine, Editor: S. N. Shah 2007
‘Gene Therapy’ Rita Mulherkar in 7th Edition of API Text Book of Medicine, Ed: S. N. Shah 2002
'Techniques in Cancer Research - A Laboratory Manual' NISC publications, India, M. G. Deo, R. Seshadri, R. Mulherkar, R. Mukhopadhyaya, A.N.Bhisey, 1997
Grant Support:
Project Title
Role
Funding Agency
Sanction Number
Sanction Date
Gene Therapy for Head/Neck Cancer using Combination therapy: Immuno-Cytokine Therapy plus Pro-drug Activation Therapy
Principal Investigator
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
2005-2006
Genetic Predisposition to Multiple Primary Neoplasm (MPN) in the Upper Aero-Digestive Tract: Interaction of low penetrance Genes and Environment
Principal Investigator
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
2005-2007
Therapeutic angiogenesis in rabbit hind limb ischemia model using plasmid DNA carrying human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)
Principal Investigator
Indian Council of Medical Research
2005-2007
Development of individual cell electroporation and standardization of individual cell protocol
Principal Investigator
Biotech Consortium India Limited
1998-2006
Targeted delivery of RNAi using synthetic vectors for Gene Therapy of Head and Neck squamous cell carcinoma
Principal Investigator
Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research, New Delhi, India
Preclinical studies using AdV-HSVtk / GCV for Oro-Pharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and large-scale preparation of Clinical Grade Vector
Principal Investigator
Gene expression profiling of cervical cancers to delineate prognostic molecular markers
Principal Investigator
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
2005-2009
Expression profiling of genes involved in skin hyperplasia in transgenic mice (Tg-K14EF) expressing enhancing factor under a keratin-14 promoter
Principal Investigator
DNA repair capacity and somatic mutation rate in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with Multiple Primary Neoplasia with at least one cancer in upper aero-digestive tract
Principal Investigator
Education
::
Ph.D. in Zoology,
Calcutta University
Honors and Awards
::
1999, Prof. K.P.Bhargava Memorial Medal, INSA
::
1992, Dr.V.B.Kamat Award for best paper presentation by mid-level scientist at 10th Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research
::
Fellow, Maharashtra Academy of Sciences
::
Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, India
Member
::
Member, Working Group for Gene Therapy, ICMR, DBT
::
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Kasiak Research Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai
::
Member, Review Committee, National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (NIREH), Indian Council for Medical Research, Bhopal
::
Member, Research Area Panels (RAP) of the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
::
Member, Institute Committee-Stem Cell Research and Treatment (IC-SCRT), ACTREC, Navi Mumbai
::
Member, Cell Biology Based Therapeutic Drug Evaluation Committee, Drug Controller General of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), New Delhi
::
Member, DBT-IIT Partnership Programme, Department of Bio-Technology (DBT), Kanpur (2011-2013)
::
Chairperson, Institute Biosafety Committee (IBSC), ACTREC, Mumbai
::
Member, Institute Committee-Stem Cell Research and Treatment (IC-SCRT), Kasiak Research Private Ltd. Mumbai
::
Chairperson, Institute Ethics Committee - III, ACTREC, Navi Mumbai
::
Member, AACR Regional Advisory Committee on India, USA
::
Chairperson, Project Review Committee, NCD-Oncology, ICMR, New Delhi