ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1647-5070
Current Organisations
University of Turin
,
Nanyang Technological University
,
Duke-NUS Medical School
,
Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS
,
IFOM ETS – The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology
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Publications
Exposure to the Tobacco Smoke Constituent 4-Aminobiphenyl Induces Chromosomal Instability in Human Cancer Cells
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 08-2007
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-4420
Abstract: The relationships between environmental factors and the genetic abnormalities that drive carcinogenesis are supported by experimental and epidemiologic evidence but their molecular basis has not been fully elucidated. At the genomic level, most human cancers display either chromosomal (CIN) or microsatellite (MIN) instability. The molecular mechanisms through which normal cells acquire these forms of instability are largely unknown. The arylamine 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) is a tobacco smoke constituent, an environmental contaminant, and a well-established carcinogen in humans. Among others, bladder, lung, colon, and breast cancers have been associated with 4-ABP. We have investigated the effects of 4-ABP and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) on genetically stable colorectal (HCT116) and bladder (RT112) cancer cells. Cells were treated with carcinogens to generate resistant clones that were then subjected to genetic analysis to assess whether they displayed either CIN or MIN. We found that 50% to 60% of cells treated with 4-ABP developed CIN but none developed MIN as confirmed by their ability to gain and lose chromosomes. In contrast, all MNNG-treated clones (12/12) developed MIN but none developed CIN as shown by the microsatellite assay. The mismatch repair protein expression analysis suggests that the acquired mechanism of MIN resistance in the HCT116 MNNG-treated cells is associated with the reduction or the complete loss of MLH1 expression. By providing a mechanistic link between exposure to a tobacco constituent and the development of CIN, our results contribute to a better understanding of the origins of genetic instability, one of the remaining unsolved problems in cancer research. [Cancer Res 2007 (15):7088–94]
Cavin-2 regulates the activity and stability of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) in angiogenesis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
Alterations in Vascular Gene Expression in Invasive Breast Carcinoma
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 11-2004
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-1976
Abstract: The molecular signature that defines tumor microvasculature will likely provide clues as to how vascular-dependent tumor proliferation is regulated. Using purified endothelial cells, we generated a database of gene expression changes accompanying vascular proliferation in invasive breast cancer. In contrast to normal mammary vasculature, invasive breast cancer vasculature expresses extracellular matrix and surface proteins characteristic of proliferating and migrating endothelial cells. We define and validate the up-regulated expression of VE-cadherin and osteonectin in breast tumor vasculature. In contrast to other tumor types, invasive breast cancer vasculature induced a high expression level of specific transcription factors, including SNAIL1 and HEYL, that may drive gene expression changes necessary for breast tumor neovascularization. We demonstrate the expression of HEYL in tumor endothelial cells and additionally establish the ability of HEYL to both induce proliferation and attenuate programmed cell death of primary endothelial cells in vitro. We also establish that an additional intracellular protein and previously defined metastasis-associated gene, PRL3, appears to be expressed predominately in the vasculature of invasive breast cancers and is able to enhance the migration of endothelial cells in vitro. Together, our results provide unique insights into vascular regulation in breast tumors and suggest specific roles for genes in driving tumor angiogenesis.
Author Correction: Epithelial TGFβ engages growth-factor signalling to circumvent apoptosis and drive intestinal tumourigenesis with aggressive features
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-01-2023
PIK3CA mutations associated with gene signature of low mTORC1 signaling and better outcomes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 17-05-2010
Abstract: PIK3CA mutations are reported to be present in approximately 25% of breast cancer (BC), particularly the estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) and HER2-overexpressing (HER2+) subtypes, making them one of the most common genetic aberrations in BC. In experimental models, these mutations have been shown to activate AKT and induce oncogenic transformation, and hence these lesions have been hypothesized to render tumors highly sensitive to therapeutic PI3K/mTOR inhibition. By analyzing gene expression and protein data from nearly 1,800 human BCs, we report that a PIK3CA mutation–associated gene signature ( PIK3CA -GS) derived from exon 20 (kinase domain) mutations was able to predict PIK3CA mutation status in two independent datasets, strongly suggesting a characteristic set of gene expression–induced changes. However, in ER+/HER2− BC despite pathway activation, PIK3CA mutations were associated with a phenotype of relatively low mTORC1 signaling and a good prognosis with tamoxifen monotherapy. The relationship between clinical outcome and the PIK3CA -GS was also assessed. Although the PIK3CA -GS was not associated with prognosis in ER− and HER2+ BC, it could identify better clinical outcomes in ER+/HER2− disease. In ER+ BC cell lines, PIK3CA mutations were also associated with sensitivity to tamoxifen. These findings could have important implications for the treatment of PIK3CA -mutant BCs and the development of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors.
Epithelial TGFβ engages growth-factor signalling to circumvent apoptosis and drive intestinal tumourigenesis with aggressive features
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-12-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-022-35134-3
Abstract: The pro-tumourigenic role of epithelial TGFβ signalling in colorectal cancer (CRC) is controversial. Here, we identify a cohort of born to be bad early-stage (T1) colorectal tumours, with aggressive features and a propensity to disseminate early, that are characterised by high epithelial cell-intrinsic TGFβ signalling. In the presence of concurrent Apc and Kras mutations, activation of epithelial TGFβ signalling r antly accelerates tumourigenesis and share transcriptional signatures with those of the born to be bad T1 human tumours and predicts recurrence in stage II CRC. Mechanistically, epithelial TGFβ signalling induces a growth-promoting EGFR-signalling module that synergises with mutant APC and KRAS to drive MAPK signalling that re-sensitise tumour cells to MEK and/or EGFR inhibitors. Together, we identify epithelial TGFβ signalling both as a determinant of early dissemination and a potential therapeutic vulnerability of CRC’s with born to be bad traits.
Hypoxia deactivates epigenetic feedbacks via enzyme-derived clicking proteolysis-targeting chimeras
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 14-12-2022
Abstract: Epigenetic mediation through bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins have progressively translated protein imbalance into effective cancer treatment. Perturbation of druggable BET proteins through proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) has recently contributed to the discovery of effective therapeutics. Unfortunately, precise and microenvironment-activatable BET protein degradation content with promising tumor selectivity and pharmacological suitability remains elusive. Here, we present an enzyme-derived clicking PROTACs (ENCTACs) capable of orthogonally cross-linking two disparate small-molecule warhead ligands that recognize BET bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) protein and E3 ligase within tumors only upon hypoxia-induced activation of nitroreductase enzyme. This localized formation of heterobifunctional degraders promotes specific down-regulation of BRD4, which subsequently alters expression of epigenetic targets and, therefore, allows precise modulation of hypoxic signaling in live cells, zebrafish, and living mice with solid tumors. Our activation-feedback system demonstrates compelling superiorities and may enable the PROTAC technology with more flexible practicality and druggable potency for precision medicine in the near future.
Related Organisations
The University Of Manchester Faculty Of Biology Medicine And Health
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Newcastle University
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
European Association For Cancer Research
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
University College London
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Johns Hopkins University Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Location: United States of America
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Alberto BARDELLI.