Integrated Biology of Rare Tumors
Milano
Via Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milano MI
In patients with rare cancers, disease recurrence and development of resistance to treatment are unmet clinical needs. Through biological and translational studies, we aim to gain insights in the pathobiology and molecular characteristics of patients, to favor a personalized therapeutic approach for a better outcome.
Our projects involve the integration of data derived from: biological samples analysis, multiomics data processing, functional studies in preclinical in-vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models. Our projects focus on the following tumor types:
1. Thyroid cancer
i) contribution of senescence to tumor progression and resistance to therapy; ii) interaction between tumor cells and microenvironment, with particular interest in the neural component; iii) validation of the COPZ1 gene as a therapeutic target in preclinical models; iv) genomic and transcriptomic profiles of radioiodine-resistant tumors; v) medullary tumors molecular markers.
2. Ovarian carcinoma
i) characterization of the mechanisms driving the peritoneal diffusion with the identification of molecules with possible clinical impact; ii) definition of the role of choline kinase (lipid metabolism) in tumor biology and its possible use as a therapeutic target; iii) evaluation of the predictive efficacy of microRNAs in the response to antiangiogenic and PARP-inhibitors; iii) definition of prognostic subtypes by integrated molecular signatures.
3. Head and neck cancers
i) identification of molecular targets, biomarkers or combined prognostic/predictive models of treatment response; ii) definition of new molecular subtypes; iii) intratumoral interactions with the microenvironment and topological relationships at bulk, single cell and spatial levels; iv) disease monitoring through liquid biopsies.
4. Pediatric brain tumors
Identification of predictive biomarkers of response to treatment by both genomic epigenomic and metagenomic analysis using non-invasive approaches.
Progetti relativi ai tumori tiroidei
AIRC-IG2021-ID26107- PI Angela Greco_ Senescence in thyroid cancer progression and therapy resistance: preclinical studies and therapeutic implications
RF-2019-12369158 - PI Angela Greco - Dissect the effects of COPZ1 targeting: a promising strategy for different solid tumors
BANDO 5x1000 RICERCA SANITARIA
Linea3– PI Mara Mazzoni_ Dissecting the role of innervation in thyroid cancer
Linea 3, coPI Beatrice Mazzoleni “Cellular Senescence as Biomarker of cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy”
Progetti relativi al carcinoma ovarico
AIRC IG-26066 PI Marina Bagnoli. “Harnessing altered choline metabolism to hinder chemoresistance and aggressiveness of ovarian cancer“.
HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01- 101099663 DISRUPT Project “On-chip tomographic microscopy: a paraDIgm Shift for RevolUtionizing lab-on-a-chiP bioimaging technology” (PI: Universitat Politecnica de Valencia); Partner PI for INT: Delia Mezzanzanica
PNRR-MAD-12375663: “Overcoming PARPi resistance in ovarian cancer: from biology to clinical application” (PI Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano). Partner PI for INT: Delia Mezzanzanica.
PI dell’Unità INT del progetto di RF co-finanziato dall’industria CO-2019-12371055: “PARP inhibitors in first line ovarian cancer treatment: prediction of response and resistance”. (PI: Policlinico Gemelli).
BANDO 5x1000 RICERCA SANITARIA –
Linea 2 - PI Antonella Tomassetti. “CDH11 as new biomarker of metastases and master regulator of ovarian cancer cell plasticity during peritoneal dissemination”
LINEA1- PI Andrea Rizzo. “Role of chromatin organization in regulating ChrXq27.3 miRNAs’ cluster expression to refine its prognostic impact in assessing risk of relapse”
Progetti realtivi a carcinoma testa/collo e tumori cerebrali pediatrici e degli adulti
AIRC IG23573 PI Loris De Cecco. “Optimizing biomarkers of immunotherapy response in clinical studies summarizing head and neck cancer natural history “
PNRR BIOMATCH PNRR-MCNT1-2023-12377359 PI Loris De Cecco. “Matching primary tumor gene expression and blood analysis of HPV-negative squamous head and neck cancers (BIOMATCH - Head and Neck)”.
NET-2019-12371188 co-PI Loris De Cecco. All-Ages Malignant Glioma: Holistic Management In The Personalised Minimally-Invasive Medicine Era - From Lab To Rehab - GLI-HOPE
Associazione Bianca Garavaglia co-PI Loris De Cecco. “Shifting Pediatric Brain Tumor Diagnostics from Solid Tissue to Liquid-biopsies Approaches SOLID-2-LIQUID”.
BANDO 5x1000 RICERCA SANITARIA
Linea 3 Co-PI Armando Licata “The ecology of HPV-related cancers: bridging biology between head and neck cancer and cervical cancer to discover mechanisms of response in primarily chemo or chemoradiotherapy treated tumors”.
Progetti relativi al microbioma
BANDO 5x1000 RICERCA SANITARIA
Linea 3 PI Deborah Lenoci. “Evaluating the role of intratumor microbioma and diet exogenous miRNAS in the pathogenesis and outcome of endemic and non-endemic EBV-related NPC (microbe-NPC)”
Linea 3 co-PI Chiara Dossena. “An integrative metagenomics and epigenomics approach to disclose the biological underpinnings in pediatric brain tumors through non-invasive methods.”
LINEA 4 PI Armando Licata- coPI Chiara Dossena. “Interconnections between aging, epigenetics, and gut microbiota: implications for cancer therapy and outcome prediction (AEGIS)”.
- Mail: luigi.brasacchio@istitutotumori.mi.it
- Mail: daniele.palmerini@istitutotumori.mi.it
Access hours for medical representatives: by appointment only
Dott.ssa Mezzanzanica Delia
Head
Dott.ssa Tomassetti Antonella
Group Leader
Dott.ssa Greco Angela
Group Leader
Dr, PhD De Cecco Loris
Group Leader
Dott.ssa PhD Bagnoli Marina
Group Leader
Ricercatori Junior:
Deborah Lenoci, Marta Lucchetta, Tiziana Di Marco, Mara Mazzoni, Andrea Rizzo
Studenti di Dottorato e borsisti:
Eleonora Citeroni, Michele De Luca, Chiara Dossena, Marica Ficorilli, Valentina Furgiuele, Bahareh Gharehkhanisenejani, Armando Licata, Elena Lombardo, Beatrice Mazzoleni, Federica Morelli, Eleonora Muraro, Matilde Oriani, Davide Rizzo, Ilenia Rolli, Federico Rossignoli, Maria Pia Scarfone, Erica Torchia, Claudia Tottone, Debora Vergaro, Aurora Vitale, Marica Zoppi
Personale di supporto alla ricerca
Paola Alberti, Sonia Pagliardini, Marylù Pedò, Maria Teresa Radice, Maria Grazia Rizzetti
Assistenti amministrativi
Luigi Brasacchio
Daniele Palmerini
ANALISI DEL RUOLO DELL’INNERVAZIONE NEL CANCRO DELLA TIROIDE
ANALIZZARE GLI EFFETTI DEL TARGETING DI COPZ1: UNA STRATEGIA PROMETTENTE PER DIVERSI TUMORI SOLIDI
ANALIZZARE GLI EFFETTI DEL TARGETING DI COPZ1: UNA STRATEGIA PROMETTENTE PER DIVERSI TUMORI SOLIDI
ANALISI DEL RUOLO DELL’INNERVAZIONE NEL CANCRO DELLA TIROIDE
Studio dell’organizzazione della cromatina nella regolazione del cluster di miRNA nel locus ChrXq27.3. Migliorarne il valore prognostico nella valutazione del rischio di recidiva
SENESCENZA NELLA PROGRESSIONE E NELLA RESISTENZA ALLE TERAPIE DEL CANCRO DELLA TIROIDE: STUDI PRECLINICI E IMPLICAZIONI TERAPEUTICHE
SENESCENZA NELLA PROGRESSIONE E NELLA RESISTENZA ALLE TERAPIE DEL CANCRO DELLA TIROIDE: STUDI PRECLINICI E IMPLICAZIONI TERAPEUTICHE
Studio dell’organizzazione della cromatina nella regolazione del cluster di miRNA nel locus ChrXq27.3. Migliorarne il valore prognostico nella valutazione del rischio di recidiva
A multi-omics approach to disclose progression and underlying biology of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma- ID 29083 (MAPPING ACC)
Decodifica dell'eterogeneità dell'ecosistema tumorale primitivo e delle metastasi linfonodali regionali attraverso l’analisi spaziale dedotta dall’espressione genica: studio pilota nel carcinoma squamoso del cavo orale operabile (DECODE-OC)
Dissecting immunological effects of neoadjuvant therapies in primary high-risk soft tissue sarcomas
Dissecting immunological effects of neoadjuvant therapies in primary high-risk soft tissue sarcomas
EPIGENETICS IN SCLC TO EARLY DETECT TREATMENT RESISTANCE AND DISCOVERY NEW DRUGGABLE PATHWAYS
EPIGENETICS IN SCLC TO EARLY DETECT TREATMENT RESISTANCE AND DISCOVERY NEW DRUGGABLE PATHWAYS
KATY - Intelligenza artificiale per una medicina su misura
L’effetto del microbiota in radioterapia: efficacia clinica ed effetti collaterali
Matching primary tumor and blood gene expression analysis of HPV-negative squamous head and neck cancers (BIOMATCH - Head and Neck) - PNRR-MCNT1-2023-12377359
Microbioma dell’organo: identificazione della componente endogena (commensale) ‘non human’ con potenziale traslazionale, diagnostico, prognostico & terapeutico
Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in locally advanced sinonasal carcinoma (NeoPeSino) - Bando UNMET MEDICAL NEEDS
Microbioma dell’organo: identificazione della componente endogena (commensale) ‘non human’ con potenziale traslazionale, diagnostico, prognostico & terapeutico
RENE-MULTIOMICA - Approccio multi-omico per una classificazione avanzata dei pazienti e l’identificazione di nuovi bersagli terapeutici nel carcinoma renale metastatico a cellule chiare
SENESCENZA COME BIOMARCATORE DELLA FATIGUE CORRELATA AL CANCRO IN PAZIENTI CON CANCRO AL SENO SOTTOPOSTE A CHEMIOTERAPIA ADIUVANTE
SENESCENZA COME BIOMARCATORE DELLA FATIGUE CORRELATA AL CANCRO IN PAZIENTI CON CANCRO AL SENO SOTTOPOSTE A CHEMIOTERAPIA ADIUVANTE
Traslazione della diagnostica dei tumori cerebrali pediatrici dai tessuti solidi ad approcci basati su biopsie liquide
L’effetto del microbiota in radioterapia: efficacia clinica ed effetti collaterali
Traslazione della diagnostica dei tumori cerebrali pediatrici dai tessuti solidi ad approcci basati su biopsie liquide
Last update: 11/06/2025