This line of research aims at unfolding the pro-tumorigenic role of the NG2/CSPG4 transmembrane proteoglycan, such as to provide means for a better clinical trasfer of the potential of this cell surface component as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target. Our recent findings demonstrate that NG2 predicts metastasis formation and constitutes a novel independent prognostic factor in soft-tissue sarcomas, while vaccination of advanced melanoma patients with anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking NG2 has recently been demonstrated to cure >20% of the patients. Two of our recent studies show that NG2 promotes growth and metastasis formation by linking tumour cells to host collagen…

Prostate Cancer (PCa) now ranks second as the most common cancer in males in Western Countries, but PCa-specific death occurs only in about 15% of individuals diagnosed being affected by this tumour type. Only aggressive, metastatic PCa kills the patient. As a consequence, some people die of PCa, while many more eventually die with PCa, but for other reasons. PCa is a very elusive disease. At the moment, discrimination between indolent and aggressive PCa is an open issue, and the actual scenario raises questions regarding over-diagnosis and overtreatment of indolent disease. Radical prostatectomy bear disturbing complications, such as impotence and…

This line of research aims at clarifying the role of neoangiogenic pericytes in the control of tumour dissemination through the haematic circuit, with particular attention to the contribution that pericyte may make in the entrance of pro-metastatic cells into vascular circuits (intravasation) and their exit from the blood stream (extravasation). Recent data are raising the awareness that variations in pericyte maturation, coverage of neovascular structures and endothelial interplays may modulate the intravasation of disseminating cancer cells, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this process are still controversial and largely unknown. Our current observations that pericytes affect the migration…

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), the 7th tumor by diffusion worldwide, is of considerable public health significance and is associated with substantial mortality and morbidity. Despite that numerous prognostic/predictive markers have been proposed for the clinical monitoring of OSCC, based upon molecular comparisons between healthy and neoplastic tissues, up to now, none of these have clinical practice to predict therapeutic response. Moreover, they fail to define the molecular differences between discrete classes of OSCC patients with different degrees of aggressiveness. Therefore, this line of research aims at unveiling more accurate and stringent molecular markers to further classify patients and their…

Clusterin (CLU) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein with nearly ubiquitous tissue distribution and an active role in many biological processes including tissue differentiation, cell proliferation, DNA repair and cell death. CLU also plays important roles in many human neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. A general consensus concerning the function of CLU was reached recently. The consensus has a starting point the different CLU isoforms, products of the same gene through mechanisms which have not yet been clarified. CLU expression is dysregulated in many types of cancer, including colorectal, prostate and mammary carcinoma. Specific modulation of expression/localization of CLU isoforms has been associated…