Cancer Genetics Laboratory

The research interests of the Tumor Genetics Unit include various aspects of cancer biology, genetics and epigenetics, with particular attention to aggressive solid tumors and, in dedicated research areas, endocrine tumors and tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and ovary.
Specifically, our projects aim at: clarifying the molecular mechanisms (both genetic and epigenetic) that regulate cancer development and progression; identifying new specific therapeutic targets that can improve the clinical management of patients with aggressive disease (precision medicine); identifying genetic markers aimed at early cancer diagnosis; test the efficacy of new promising  single drugs or drug combinations against aggressive tumors.

The research activity makes use of various clinically relevant in vivo and in vitro experimental models of the various tumors of interest (for example xenograft models, 3D organoids of primary tumor cells and cell lines) implementing multidisciplinary approaches that include cellular and molecular biology techniques and transcriptome analysis. Bioinformatic analyses of genomic and epigenomic data from existing datasets on tumors of interest complete our experimental approaches and guide the selection of therapeutic targets to study.

Referent: Prof. Natalia S. Pellegata

Co-workers: Dr. Francesco Ascione (PhD Student), Dr. Fabio Luca Guzzi (PhD Student), Dr. Marta Catania (Post-Doc), Dr. Paola Canale (Volunteer Research Assistant)

Referent: Prof. Rossella Tricarico

Co-workers: Dr. Federico Manai (Post-doc), Dr. Simone Giorgio De Micco (Fellow), Dr. Paola Monachella (Volunteer Research Assistant)