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Prospective study on the role of cytidine deaminase activity in lung cancer patients treated with gemcitabine-platinum-based chemotherapy
published febbraio 10, 2018
posted in Presentations
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Prospective study on the role of cytidine deaminase activity in lung cancer patients treated with gemcitabine-platinum-based chemotherapy

Winter Meeting of the EORTC-PAMM 2018, Roma, Italy, 7-10 February 2018

Oral presentation by Dr. Carmelo Tibaldi: Prospective study on the role of cytidine deaminase activity in lung cancer patients treated with gemcitabine-platinum-based chemotherapy.
Tibaldi C, Camerini A, Tiseo M,  Mazzoni F, Barbieri F, Vittimberga I, Brighenti M, Boni L, Baldini E, Honeywell R, Chartoire M,  Peters GJ, Giovannetti E.

The results of this study have been published in British Journal of Cancer:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30405211

Moreover we wrote a commentary on CDA activity in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology:
www.bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bcp.13921

PDF file: Prospective study on the role of cytidine deaminase activity

Our News&Views paper on Nature Nanotechnologies
published dicembre 4, 2017
posted in News
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Our News&Views paper on Nature Nanotechnologies

Pisa/Amsterdam/Baltimore,
“A synthetic lethal bullet” by Christian Rolfo & Elisa Giovannetti has been published on Nature Nanotechnology continue reading →

Dr. Giovannetti at the EORTC ECI leadership programme
published novembre 16, 2017
posted in News
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Dr. Giovannetti at the EORTC ECI leadership programme

Brussels,
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has selected 34 young oncologists/researchers for the EORTC ECI leadership programme, focused on EORTC-specific themes, as well as specific leadership attributes, inspiring meeting with “thematic guests” and challenging tasks for shaping the future of EORTC. continue reading →

Optimizing immunotherapy: Rationale for a combination therapy approach
published settembre 11, 2017
posted in Presentations
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Optimizing immunotherapy: Rationale for a combination therapy approach

ESMO 2017: ESMO COLLOQUIUM

Optimizing immunotherapy: Rationale for a combination therapy approach
Invited Oral Presentation at the annual meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Madrid, September 2017

A review focusing on some of these studies has been published in Drug Resistance Updates: Molecular basis and rationale for combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1368764619300330

PDF file: ESMO 2017

Cancer Cell paper on “Swarm Intelligence-Enhanced Detection of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Using Tumor-Educated Platelets”
published agosto 14, 2017
posted in News
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Cancer Cell paper on “Swarm Intelligence-Enhanced Detection of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Using Tumor-Educated Platelets”

Amsterdam,
Important results of collaborative studies with the group of Prof. Wurdinger (Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA); Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA) have been published in Cancer Cell. continue reading →

Development of bioluminescent chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models for primary pancreatic cancer cells: a platform for drug testing
published giugno 27, 2017
posted in Presentations
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Development of bioluminescent chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models for primary pancreatic cancer cells: a platform for drug testing

European Pancreatic Club (EPC) Congress, Budapest, June 2017

The results of this study have been published in Scientific Reports:
www.nature.com/articles/srep44686

Pdf: Development of bioluminescent chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models

Photo group EPC Congress Budapest 2017

Photo with our collaborators, including Dr. Le Large and Dr. Meijer (VUmc, Amsterdam), Dr. Frampton and Dr. Mato Prado (Imperial College London)

 

Nele Van Der Steen obtained her PhD at the University of Antwerp
published giugno 15, 2017
posted in News
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Nele Van Der Steen obtained her PhD at the University of Antwerp

Antwerp,
Our “Amsterdam/Antwerp-shared” student Nele Van Der Steen has successfully discussed her PhD Thesis on “The labyrinth of cMET and EGFR signaling in non-small cell lung cancer” at the University of Antwerp. continue reading →

Cancer Pharmacology Lab under the spotlight at the 2017 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma
published marzo 29, 2017
posted in News
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Cancer Pharmacology Lab under the spotlight at the 2017 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma

Bethesda,
We were extremely pleased to participate to this important meeting where mesothelioma patients, scientists, caregivers, family members, bereaved, and medical professionals came together for conference sessions, socialization, award presentations, and advocacy. continue reading →

published dicembre 9, 2016
posted in Our videos
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Using RNA-sequencing to Detect Novel Splice Variants Related to Drug Resistance in In Vitro Cancer Models

Recent data showed that other than by well-known genetic (mutation, amplification) and epigenetic (DNA hypermethylation, histone post-translational modification) modifications, drug resistance mechanisms might also be regulated by splicing aberrations. This is a rapidly growing field of investigation that deserves future attention in order to plan more effective therapeutic approaches. The protocol described in this video is aimed at investigating the impact of aberrant splicing on drug resistance in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. To this goal, we analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of several in vitro models through RNA-seq and established a qRT-PCR based method to validate candidate genes. In particular, we evaluated the differential splicing of DDX5 and PKM transcripts. The aberrant splicing detected by the computational tool MATS was validated in leukemic cells, showing that different DDX5 splice variants are expressed in the parental vs. resistant cells. In these cells, we also observed a higher PKM2/PKM1 ratio, which was not detected in the Panc-1 gemcitabine-resistant counterpart compared to parental Panc-1 cells, suggesting a different mechanism of drug-resistance induced by gemcitabine exposure.

This video has been published as supplemental file to the article:

J Vis Exp. 2016 Dec 9;(118). doi: 10.3791/54714.
Using RNA-sequencing to Detect Novel Splice Variants Related to Drug Resistance in In Vitro Cancer Models
Sciarrillo R, Wojtuszkiewicz A, Kooi IE, Gómez VE, Boggi U, Jansen G, Kaspers GJ, Cloos J, Giovannetti E.

Link: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28060337

Phospho-AKT: a potential resistance marker to chemotherapy and therapy-target to restore sensitivity in pancreatic cancer
published ottobre 25, 2016
posted in Presentations
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Phospho-AKT: a potential resistance marker to chemotherapy and therapy-target to restore sensitivity in pancreatic cancer

AISP, Roma, October 2016
Presentation by Dr. Daniela Massihnia

The results of this study have been published in Journal of Hematology and Oncology:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5219723

Pdf: Phospho-AKT a potential resistance marker

The results of her studies have been published in the following review and scientific paper:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27610011
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30394883

Cancer Pharmacology Lab at AISP Congress - Roma 2017

Cancer Pharmacology Lab group photo, including Dr. Chiara Caparello won the award for the best oral presentation

published ottobre 6, 2016
posted in Our videos
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Rociletinib: what went wrong?

In this video, the wide-ranging aspects of the evolution of EGFR-TKIs were described, with a special focus on rociletinib. The influence of different oncogenic mutations on EGFR activity was also discussed. Resistance to the first (erlotinib, gefitinib)- and second (afatinib)-generation EGFR-TKIs provided the rationale behind the development of the third-generation inhibitors (rociletinib, osimertinib). On the basis of these data, a comparison of their efficacy on the different mutated EGFRs and the respective resistance mechanisms is further reported. Moreover, the evolution and results of the clinical trials of rociletinib (TIGER trials) are compared with the trials on osimertinib, another third-generation EGFR-TKI that now has been granted US Food and Drug Administration approval. The reasons behind the arrest in the further development of rociletinib are put in the perspective of future drug development.

This video has been published as supplemental file to the article:

Onco Targets Ther. 2016 Oct 6;9:6065-6074. eCollection 2016.
New developments in the management of non-small-cell lung cancer, focus on rociletinib: what went wrong?
Van Der Steen N, Caparello C, Rolfo C, Pauwels P, Peters GJ, Giovannetti E
Link: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27785053

Dr. Chiara Caparello awarded for her presentation at the AISP Congress 2016
published settembre 29, 2016
posted in News
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Dr. Chiara Caparello awarded for her presentation at the AISP Congress 2016

Roma,
Our collaborator Dr. Chiara Caparello has been awarded for the best presentation at the National Congress of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP). The results of Dr. Caparello studies have been published in the following review and scientific paper: continue reading →

published giugno 22, 2016
posted in Our videos
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Laser Micro-Dissection (LMD) & Genetic Analyses in New Preclinical Models to improve Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Leica Laser Microdissection and Applications
From Eye to Insight

In this Webinar, after a technical presentation by Dr. Tamara Straube, Dr. Giovannetti discuss the advantages of using LMD techniques for precise, contamination-free isolation of specific cell types in various applications, such as using pancreatic cancer tissue sections from patients and orthotopic xenografts. Thus, this webinar provides an overview of the scientific and practical considerations for obtaining highly pure material for molecular analysis in the field of pharmacological studies to overcome key mechanisms of resistance in pancreatic cancer.

published giugno 17, 2016
posted in Our videos
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Aula Abierta: Liquid Biopsies

Talking about liquid biopsies, and how this type of analysis can be used for.
– Leticia G. Leon

published giugno 17, 2016
posted in Our videos
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Aula Abierta: Discussing real options to work as a researcher in Spain

Talking about the real possibilities to work in Spain as a researcher. The discussion presented different points of view. I explained why I had to move to another country to keep working in research.
– Leticia G. Leon

published maggio 15, 2016
posted in Publications of the AIRC-Start Up Unit
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The MEK1/2 Inhibitor Pimasertib Enhances Gemcitabine Efficacy

LEON LG, Funel N, Peters GJ, Avan A, Vistoli F, Boggi U, GIOVANNETTI E.
Clin Cancer Res 2016 [Epub ahead of print]

continue reading →

published maggio 5, 2016
posted in Publications of the AIRC-Start Up Unit
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Recent developments in the use of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Santarpia M, GIOVANNETTI E, Rolfo C, Karachaliou N, González-Cao M, Altavilla G, Rosell R.
Expert Rev Respir Med. 2016 May 5. [Epub ahead of print]

continue reading →

Ricerca sul cancro, dall’università alle scuole: un progetto per avvicinare alla ricerca medico-scientifica gli studenti delle superiori
published aprile 30, 2016
posted in News
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Ricerca sul cancro, dall’università alle scuole: un progetto per avvicinare alla ricerca medico-scientifica gli studenti delle superiori

Il 28 aprile si è conclusa la prima fase di un progetto pilota che ha visto come protagonisti AIRC, il Liceo delle scienze applicate “Enrico Fermi” di Lucca ed il laboratorio “Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Airc Start-up Unit” dell’Università di Pisa. L’iniziativa è partita a novembre 2015, in occasione del mese della continue reading →

published aprile 27, 2016
posted in Publications of the AIRC-Start Up Unit
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Bioinformatic analysis reveals pancreatic cancer molecular subtypes specific to the tumor and the microenvironment

Le Large TY, Mato Prado M, Krell J, Bijlsma MF, Meijer LL, Kazemier G, Frampton AE, GIOVANNETTI E.
Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2016 [Epub ahead of print]

continue reading →

published aprile 12, 2016
posted in Publications of the AIRC-Start Up Unit
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Prospective Validation of microRNA Signatures for Detecting Pancreatic Malignant Transformation in Endoscopic-Ultrasound Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsies

Frampton AE, Krell J, Mato Prado M, Gall TMH, Abbassi-Ghadi N, Del Vecchio Blanco G, Funel N, GIOVANNETTI E, Castellano L, Habib NA, Vlavianos P, Stebbing J, Jiao LR.
Oncotarget 2016 Apr 12 [Epub ahead of print]

continue reading →