SUMMARY
Arun Kanakkanthara, Ph.D., is an oncology researcher who investigates the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying therapy resistance and immune evasion in cancer, with a focus on ovarian cancer.
Dr. Kanakkanthara's research explores how cancer cells rewire energy metabolism and signaling pathways to survive therapeutic pressure and evade antitumor immune responses. By identifying the vulnerabilities created by these adaptations, Dr. Kanakkanthara develops biomarker-driven strategies and repurposes existing drugs to overcome resistance and enhance antitumor immunity.
Using an integrated approach that combines cell-based, tissue-based and molecular analyses with translational in vitro and in vivo models, his research aims to improve treatment response and advance personalized cancer therapy.
Focus areas
- Biomarker-driven therapeutic strategies. Using CRISPR-based functional genomics, this research aims to identify novel biomarker-driven therapeutic strategies. These strategies include the rational design of combination therapies to enhance PARP inhibitor efficacy in high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- Metabolic regulation of antitumor immune responses. Dr. Kanakkanthara investigates how tumor metabolic programs shape antitumor immunity in ovarian cancer. Specifically, his studies focus on how metabolic alterations in cancer cells influence immune cell function and create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. By defining the cross talk between tumor metabolism and immune responses, this work seeks to identify strategies that enhance immune-mediated tumor control.
- Metabolic rewiring and resistance to standard-of-care therapies. This research area examines how metabolic rewiring enables ovarian cancer cells to survive therapeutic stress and develop resistance to standard treatments, including chemotherapy and targeted agents. Dr. Kanakkanthara studies adaptive changes in mitochondrial function, energy metabolism and redox balance that support tumor persistence. By identifying metabolic dependencies associated with therapy resistance, these studies aim to uncover vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited to overcome resistance.
- Drug repurposing for ovarian cancer. Leveraging mechanistic insights, Dr. Kanakkanthara identifies oncology and nononcology drugs that are already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be repurposed for ovarian cancer treatment. This strategy accelerates clinical translation by focusing on agents with established safety profiles. Recent work demonstrates how repurposed drugs can be combined with standard therapies to overcome resistance. Ongoing studies expand this framework to identify novel treatment strategies.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Kanakkanthara studies ovarian cancer to find better ways to treat it. He looks at how cancer cells stay alive during treatment and how they hide from the body's immune system.
By learning how cancer cells survive, he can find their weak spots. These weak spots can be treated with new medicines or with medicines that are already available. He also studies which combinations of treatments work best and which patients are most likely to benefit from certain treatments.
Dr. Kanakkanthara's goal is to make cancer treatments work better and last longer, and to give patients care that is personalized just for them. This can improve how patients feel and help them live longer and healthier lives.
Professional highlights
- Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation grant, 2026-present.
- Mayo Clinic:
- Emerging leader, Novel Therapeutics and Therapeutic Modalities, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2024-present.
- Member, Education Committee, Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Track, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2022-present.
- Course director, Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Track, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2022-present.
- Wallace and Evelyn Simmers Career Development Award for Ovarian Cancer Research, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, 2019-2022.
- Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance grant, 2024-present.
- Merit Award (R37), National Cancer Institute, 2021-present.
- Liz Tilberis Research Prize for Outstanding Early Career Investigators, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, 2021-2024.
- Genentech Ovarian Cancer Young Investigator Career Development Award, Foundation for Women's Cancer, 2017-2019.
- Member, American Association for Cancer Research, 2011-present.