Research areas and methodologies

The Oncology Research Unit is made up of a multidisciplinary team of oncologists and biologists who carry out Clinical and Translational Research activities

Clinical research

The “Clinical Trial Unit” deals with the activation and management of clinical trials in the oncology field, offering patients the possibility of receiving therapies with experimental drugs. There are currently approximately 30 exploratory phase II and randomized phase III trials underway in which patients mainly affected by breast, lung, renal tumors and soft tissue sarcomas are enrolled. 

Translational research

The Translational Oncology Laboratory carries out research activities mainly aimed at identifying new prognostic and predictive markers of response to anti-neoplastic treatments. The research areas of the Unit are:

  • Identification of new potential predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy efficacy (exosomal microRNAs, microbiota, circulating molecules and metabolites) in advanced solid tumors 
  • Identification of new potential therapeutic targets using integrated approaches in silico, vitro ed in vivo
  • Identification of new therapeutic strategies capable of enhancing the effect and/or reversing resistance to conventional treatments

Collaborations with other Research Centers

  • National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Lyon France
  • Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, La Sapienza University
  • Center for Osteoncology and Rare Tumors, IRCCS Romagna Scientific Institute for the Study and Treatment of Tumors (IRST), Meldola (FC)
  • IRCCS Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute
  • National Institute for the Study and Treatment of Tumors, Pascale IRCCS Foundation
  • Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa
  • National Cancer Institute, IRCCS Foundation, Milan
  • European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Brussels (Belgium)
  • Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration (SARC), Michigan (USA)
  • Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
  • University of Amsterdam
  • Medical University of Gdańsk

Patents

  • Statistical methods for the identification of regions of the genome highly representative of tumor mutational burden ((Publication Number WO/2020/201864; International Application No. PCT/IB2020/052314)

Inventors: P. Manca, A. Napolitano, F. Pantano, D. Santini, G. Tonini

  • Adipose tissue purification technique to obtain a high concentration of adipose stem cells (Italian patent) 

Inventors: P. Persichetti, GF Marangi, F. Segreto, F. Pantano, MC Tirindelli, C. Gregorj

LABORATORIES

“Translational Oncology Laboratory”