Murali Janakiram, M.D., M.S.

Murali Janakiram, M.D., M.S., is a strong believer in City of Hope’s approach to treating the whole person, personalizing care to address each patient’s individual needs. He finds great satisfaction in helping his patients and is excited about contributing to scientific advances that will define the future of cancer care.

I am passionate about the care of patients with myeloma and my goal is to bring cutting edge clinical trials and current therapies including – MRD to guide limited duration therapy, use of immunotherapy including Bispecific antibodies and CART cells to treat myeloma. A clinical trialist and investigator with over 50 peer-reviewed publications, reviews and book chapters, I develop risk-based approaches for the treatment of multiple myeloma. My research interests are two fold – how to sequence immunotherapy and how to prevent myeloma relapsing after immunotherapy. I am the Principal investigator of investigator initiated clinical trials to test these concepts. Apart from this I am also involved in research in understanding and improving side effects of immunotherapy in elderly patients with myeloma.

“Every person is different and I believe individualizing treatment according to physical and social circumstances will result in the best outcomes.”

• 2015-present, AIDS Malignancy Consortium Member
• 2016-present, ECOG Lymphoma/Myeloma Committee Member
• 2016-2018, Albert Einstein Experimental Therapeutics Committee Member
• 2019-present, BMT CTN Writing Committee member

• Sidana, S., Peres, L. C., Hashmi, H., Hosoya, H., Ferreri, C., Khouri, J., Dima, D., Atrash, S., Voorhees, P., Simmons, G., Sborov, D. W., Kalariya, N., Hovanky, V., Bharadwaj, S., Miklos, D., Wagner, C., Kocoglu, M. H., Kaur, G., Davis, J. A., Midha, S., … Hansen, D. K. (2023). Idecabtagene vicleucel chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with renal impairment. Haematologica, 10.3324/haematol.2023.283940. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2023.283940
• Bashir, Q., Braunstein, M., Buck, T., Chmielewski, C., Hartmann, B., Janakiram, M., McMahon, M. A., Romundstad, L., Steele, L., Usmani, S., Zwibel, K., & Kharfan-Dabaja, M. A. (2023). Overcoming Barriers to Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: Recommendations from a Multidisciplinary Roundtable Discussion. Transplantation and cellular therapy, S2666-6367(23)01510-5. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtct.2023.08.028
• Ferreri, C. J., Hildebrandt, M. A. T., Hashmi, H., Shune, L. O., McGuirk, J. P., Sborov, D. W., Wagner, C. B., Kocoglu, M. H., Rapoport, A., Atrash, S., Voorhees, P. M., Khouri, J., Dima, D., Afrough, A., Kaur, G., Anderson, L. D., Jr, Simmons, G., Davis, J. A., Kalariya, N., Peres, L. C., … Castaneda Puglianini, O. A. (2023). Real-world experience of patients with multiple myeloma receiving ide-cel after a prior BCMA-targeted therapy. Blood cancer journal, 13(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-023-00886-8
• Cichocki, F., Zhang, B., Wu, C. Y., Chiu, E., Day, A., O'Connor, R. S., Yackoubov, D., Simantov, R., McKenna, D. H., Cao, Q., Defor, T. E., Janakiram, M., Wangen, R., Cayci, Z., Snyder, N., Kumar, A., Grzywacz, B., Hwang, J., Geffen, Y., Miller, J. S., … Bachanova, V. (2023). Nicotinamide enhances natural killer cell function and yields remissions in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Science translational medicine, 15(705), eade3341. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.ade3341
• Cliff, E. R. S., Janakiram, M., & Kesselheim, A. S. (2023). Melflufen: post-hoc subgroup analyses and the US FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. The Lancet. Haematology, 10(5), e314–e317. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00056-X
• Cui, Z., Castagna, F., Hanif, W., Apple, S. J., Zhang, L., Tauras, J. M., Braunschweig, I., Kaur, G., Janakiram, M., Wang, Y., Fang, Y., Diaz, J. C., Hoyos, C., Marin, J., Pellikka, P. A., Romero, J. E., Garcia, M. J., Verma, A. K., Shah, N., & Slipczuk, L. (2023). Global Longitudinal Strain Is Associated with Mortality in Patients with Multiple Myeloma. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(7), 2595. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072595
• Bazarbachi, A. H., Reef, D., Narvel, H., Patel, R., Al Hamed, R., Vikash, S., Neupane, K., Atalla, E., Thakkar, A., Rahman, S., Shah, U., Adrianzen-Herrera, D., Quinn, R., Zareef, S., Rabinovich, E., De Castro, A., Joseph, F., Gillick, K., Mustafa, J., Khatun, F., … Sica, R. A. (2023). Outcome of Stem Cell Transplantation in HTLV-1-Associated North American Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Clinical hematology international, 5(2-3), 78–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44228-023-00032-y
• Epperla, N., Zhao, Q., Chowdhury, S. M., Shea, L., Moyo, T. K., Reddy, N., Sheets, J., Weiner, D. M., Geethakumari, P. R., Kandarpa, M., Bruno, X. J., Thomas, C., Churnetski, M. C., Hsu, A., Zurbriggen, L., Tan, X. C., Lindsey, K., Maakaron, J., Caimi, P. F., Torka, P., … Shouse, G. (2023). Postibrutinib relapse outcomes for patients with marginal zone lymphoma. Blood advances, 7(1), 88–91. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008634
• Epperla, N., Zhao, Q., Chowdhury, S. M., Shea, L., Moyo, T. K., Reddy, N., Sheets, J., Weiner, D. M., Geethakumari, P. R., Kandarpa, M., Bruno, X. J., Thomas, C., Churnetski, M. C., Hsu, A., Zurbriggen, L., Tan, C., Lindsey, K., Maakaron, J., Caimi, P. F., Torka, P., … Shouse, G. (2022). Predictive factors and outcomes for ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma: a multicenter cohort study. Journal of hematology & oncology, 15(1), 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-022-01316-1
• Madugula, K. K., Joseph, J., DeMarino, C., Ginwala, R., Teixeira, V., Khan, Z. K., Sales, D., Wilson, S., Kashanchi, F., Rushing, A. W., Lemasson, I., Harhaj, E. W., Janakiram, M., Ye, B. H., & Jain, P. (2022). Regulation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 antisense promoter by myocyte enhancer factor-2C in the context of adult T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. Haematologica, 107(12), 2928–2943. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2021.279542
• Sidana, S., Peres, L. C., Hashmi, H., Hosoya, H., Ferreri, C., Khouri, J., Dima, D., Atrash, S., Voorhees, P., Simmons, G., Sborov, D. W., Kalariya, N., Hovanky, V., Bharadwaj, S., Miklos, D., Wagner, C., Kocoglu, M. H., Kaur, G., Davis, J. A., Midha, S., … Hansen, D. K. (2023). Idecabtagene vicleucel chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with renal impairment. Haematologica, 10.3324/haematol.2023.283940. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2023.283940
• Bashir, Q., Braunstein, M., Buck, T., Chmielewski, C., Hartmann, B., Janakiram, M., McMahon, M. A., Romundstad, L., Steele, L., Usmani, S., Zwibel, K., & Kharfan-Dabaja, M. A. (2023). Overcoming Barriers to Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: Recommendations from a Multidisciplinary Roundtable Discussion. Transplantation and cellular therapy, S2666-6367(23)01510-5. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtct.2023.08.028
• Ferreri, C. J., Hildebrandt, M. A. T., Hashmi, H., Shune, L. O., McGuirk, J. P., Sborov, D. W., Wagner, C. B., Kocoglu, M. H., Rapoport, A., Atrash, S., Voorhees, P. M., Khouri, J., Dima, D., Afrough, A., Kaur, G., Anderson, L. D., Jr, Simmons, G., Davis, J. A., Kalariya, N., Peres, L. C., … Castaneda Puglianini, O. A. (2023). Real-world experience of patients with multiple myeloma receiving ide-cel after a prior BCMA-targeted therapy. Blood cancer journal, 13(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-023-00886-8
• Cichocki, F., Zhang, B., Wu, C. Y., Chiu, E., Day, A., O'Connor, R. S., Yackoubov, D., Simantov, R., McKenna, D. H., Cao, Q., Defor, T. E., Janakiram, M., Wangen, R., Cayci, Z., Snyder, N., Kumar, A., Grzywacz, B., Hwang, J., Geffen, Y., Miller, J. S., … Bachanova, V. (2023). Nicotinamide enhances natural killer cell function and yields remissions in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Science translational medicine, 15(705), eade3341. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.ade3341
• Cliff, E. R. S., Janakiram, M., & Kesselheim, A. S. (2023). Melflufen: post-hoc subgroup analyses and the US FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. The Lancet. Haematology, 10(5), e314–e317. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00056-X
• Cui, Z., Castagna, F., Hanif, W., Apple, S. J., Zhang, L., Tauras, J. M., Braunschweig, I., Kaur, G., Janakiram, M., Wang, Y., Fang, Y., Diaz, J. C., Hoyos, C., Marin, J., Pellikka, P. A., Romero, J. E., Garcia, M. J., Verma, A. K., Shah, N., & Slipczuk, L. (2023). Global Longitudinal Strain Is Associated with Mortality in Patients with Multiple Myeloma. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(7), 2595. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072595
• Bazarbachi, A. H., Reef, D., Narvel, H., Patel, R., Al Hamed, R., Vikash, S., Neupane, K., Atalla, E., Thakkar, A., Rahman, S., Shah, U., Adrianzen-Herrera, D., Quinn, R., Zareef, S., Rabinovich, E., De Castro, A., Joseph, F., Gillick, K., Mustafa, J., Khatun, F., … Sica, R. A. (2023). Outcome of Stem Cell Transplantation in HTLV-1-Associated North American Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Clinical hematology international, 5(2-3), 78–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44228-023-00032-y
• Epperla, N., Zhao, Q., Chowdhury, S. M., Shea, L., Moyo, T. K., Reddy, N., Sheets, J., Weiner, D. M., Geethakumari, P. R., Kandarpa, M., Bruno, X. J., Thomas, C., Churnetski, M. C., Hsu, A., Zurbriggen, L., Tan, X. C., Lindsey, K., Maakaron, J., Caimi, P. F., Torka, P., … Shouse, G. (2023). Postibrutinib relapse outcomes for patients with marginal zone lymphoma. Blood advances, 7(1), 88–91. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008634
• Epperla, N., Zhao, Q., Chowdhury, S. M., Shea, L., Moyo, T. K., Reddy, N., Sheets, J., Weiner, D. M., Geethakumari, P. R., Kandarpa, M., Bruno, X. J., Thomas, C., Churnetski, M. C., Hsu, A., Zurbriggen, L., Tan, C., Lindsey, K., Maakaron, J., Caimi, P. F., Torka, P., … Shouse, G. (2022). Predictive factors and outcomes for ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma: a multicenter cohort study. Journal of hematology & oncology, 15(1), 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-022-01316-1
• Madugula, K. K., Joseph, J., DeMarino, C., Ginwala, R., Teixeira, V., Khan, Z. K., Sales, D., Wilson, S., Kashanchi, F., Rushing, A. W., Lemasson, I., Harhaj, E. W., Janakiram, M., Ye, B. H., & Jain, P. (2022). Regulation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 antisense promoter by myocyte enhancer factor-2C in the context of adult T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. Haematologica, 107(12), 2928–2943. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2021.279542
• Kaur G, Mejia Saldarriaga M, Shah N, Catamero DD, Yue L, Ashai N, Goradia N, Heisler J, Xiao Z, Ghalib N, Aaron T, Cole D, Foreman R, Mantzaris I, Derman O, Bachier L, Sica RA, Kornblum N, Braunschweig I, Shastri A, Goel S, Verma A, Janakiram M. Multiple Myeloma in Hispanics: Incidence, Characteristics, Survival, Results of Discovery, and Validation Using Real-World and Connect MM Registry Data. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2020 Nov 21:S2152-2650(20)30636-4.
• Dhakal B, D'Souza A, Callander N, Chhabra S, Fraser R, Davila O, Anderson K, Assal A, Badawy SM, Berdeja J, Cerny J, Comenzo R, Chakraborty R, Peter Gale R, Kamble R, Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Krem M, Ganguly S, Janakiram M, Kansagra A, Munker R, Murthy H, Patel S, Kumar S, Shah N, Qazilbash M, Hari P. Novel prognostic scoring system for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol. 2020 Nov;191(3):442-452. PMID: 33094839
• El Jurdi N, Rogosheske J, DeFor T, Bejanyan N, Arora M, Bachanova V, Betts B, He F, Holtan S, Janakiram M, Larson S, Maakaron J, Rashidi A, Warlick E, Wagner JE, Young JH, Weisdorf D, Brunstein CG. Prophylactic Foscarnet for Human Herpesvirus 6: Effect on Hematopoietic Engraftment after Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020. PMID: 33053448
• Goyal A, O'Leary D, Goyal K, Patel K, Pearson D, Janakiram M., Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is associated with increased risk of lymphoma, melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Aug 18 PMID: 32822803
• Allred J, Bharucha K, Özütemiz C, He F, Janakiram M, Maakaron J, Carrier C, Grzywacz B, Bachanova V. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: case report and management recommendations. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2020 Aug 6. PMID: 32764581
• Allred J, Bharucha K, Özütemiz C, He F, Janakiram M, Maakaron J, Carrier C, Grzywacz B, Bachanova V. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: case report and management recommendations. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2020 Aug 6. PMID: 32764581
• Balasubramaniyam N, Yandrapalli S, Kolte D, Pemmasani G, Janakiram M, Frishman WH. Cardiovascular Complications and Their Association With Mortality in Patients With Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Am J Med. 2020 Jul 18. PMID: 32687814
• Bachanova V, Bishop MR, Dahi P, Dholaria B, Grupp SA, Hayes-Lattin B, Janakiram M, Maziarz RT, McGuirk JP, Nastoupil LJ, Oluwole OO, Perales MA, Porter DL, Riedell PA. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. CAR T-cell Consortium. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020 PMID: 32298807
• Abbasi A, Peeke S, Shah N, Mustafa J, Khatun F, Lombardo A, Abreu M, Elkind R, Fehn K, de Castro A, Wang Y, Derman O, Nelson R, Uehlinger J, Gritsman K, Sica RA, Kornblum N, Mantzaris I, Shastri A, Janakiram M, Goldfinger M, Verma A, Braunschweig I, Bachier-Rodriguez L. Axicabtagene ciloleucel CD19 CAR-T cell therapy results in high rates of systemic and neurologic remissions in ten patients with refractory large B cell lymphoma including two with HIV and viral hepatitis. J Hematol Oncol. 2020 Jan PMID: 31900191
• Adrianzen Herrera D, Pradhan K, Snyder R, Karanth S, Janakiram M, Mantzaris I, Braunschweig I, Budhathoki A, Shah UA, Verma AK, Murthy SB, Shastri A. Myelodysplastic syndromes and the risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults: A SEER-Medicare analysis. Leukemia. 2020 Jun PMID: 31844145
• Shah UA, Shah N, Qiao B, Acuna-Villaorduna A, Pradhan K, Adrianzen Herrera D, Sica RA, Shastri A, Mantzaris I, Derman O, Kornblum N, Braunschweig I, Ye BH, Verma A, Janakiram M. Epidemiology and survival trend of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the United States. Cancer. 2020 Feb PMID: 31769871
• Savani M, Gencturk M, Shanley R, Cayci Z, Wilke C, Warlick ED, He F, Janakiram M, Weisdorf DJ, Brunstein CG, Bachanova V. Surveillance Imaging after Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Predicts Survival in Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020 Feb PMID: 31669174
• Rauch DA, Conlon KC, Janakiram M, Brammer JE, Harding JC, Ye BH, Zang X, Ren X, Olson S, Cheng X, Miljkovic MD, Sundaramoorthi H, Joseph A, Skidmore ZL, Griffith O, Griffith M, Waldmann TA, Ratner L. Rapid Progression of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma as Tumor Infiltrating Treg Cells after PD-1 Blockade. Blood. 2019 Aug 29. PMID: 31467059
• Kaner JD, Thibaud S, Jasra S, Wang Y, Janakiram M, Sharma A, Sridharan A, Elias H, Polineni R, Assal A, Weiss L, Braunschweig I, Steidl U, Pradhan K, Shastri A, Chaitowitz M, Zingman B, Will B, Mantzaris I, Verma A. HIV portends a poor prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Lymphoma. 2019 Jul 8:1-7. PMID: 31282240
• Adrianzen Herrera D, Kornblum N, Derman O, Bachier-Rodriguez L, Sica RA, Shastri A, Janakiram M, Verma A, Braunschweig I, Mantzaris I. Outcomes of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Compared With Chemotherapy Consolidation Alone for Non-High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia in First Complete Remission in a Minority-Rich Inner-City Cohort With Limited Access to Allografts. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2019 Aug;19(8):516-521. PMID: 31227357
• Richardson PG, Oriol A, Beksac M, Liberati AM, Galli M, Schjesvold F, Lindsay J, Weisel K, White D, Facon T, San Miguel J, Sunami K, O'Gorman P, Sonneveld P, Robak P, Semochkin S, Schey S, Yu X, Doerr T, Bensmaine A, Biyukov T, Peluso T, Zaki M, Anderson K, Dimopoulos M. Pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma previously treated with lenalidomide (OPTIMISMM): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. OPTIMISMM trial investigators. Lancet Oncol. 2019 Jun;20(6):781-794. Epub 2019 May 13. PMID: 31097405

*collaborator, site PI of this clinical trial