Meet the people who make up STEM Faculty.
Degrees
2006 MD (cum laude), University of Pisa
2010, PhD (cum laude), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Training
2008-2009 Guest Scientist, Cancer Stem Cell Section, National Cancer Institute at Fredercik, USA
2012-2015 Post Doctoral Fellow, BC Cancer Agency (Canada).
Awards:
2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award
2015 Multi Institutional Prostate Cancer Meeting \Poster Award
2014 Prostate Cancer Foundation BC post-doctoral Award
2013 Michael Smith Foundation Trainee Award
Editorial Board Memberships:
Epigenomics (co-Editor In Chief); Frontiers in Oncology
Cancer Epigenetics. We have explored the role of epigenetic effectors as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human neoplasms.
1) We have demonstrated that an EZH2 (Polycomb) inhibitor effectively kills prostate cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Based on this and similar results, EZH2-targeting drugs are being investigated in clinical trials. (Crea et al. Mol Cancer 2011; Crea et al, Crit Rev Hemat Oncol. 2012 )
2) We have identified and functionally characterized an EZH2 genetic variant that accurately predicts prognosis in colorectal cancer patients (Crea et al. Ann Oncol 2012; Fornaro et al. Ann Oncol 2012; Fornaro et al BMC Cancer 2015).
3) We are working with the company Volition to develop personalised treatments based on circulating epigenetic signatures (Salani et al, Epigenomics 2022)
Non-coding RNAs (NC-RNAs). NC-RNAs represent a vast and largely unexplored area of the human transcriptome (Crea et al. Cancer and Met Rev 2014). We have studied the role of micro-RNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in prostate cancer progression. In particular, we have identified LINC00261 as a driver of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (Mather et al Mol Oncol 2021). We are currently developing therapeutic strategies to target oncogenic lncRNAs.
The epigenetic/non-coding interactome. Based on our results and on other studies, we have proposed a new paradigm of cancer progression. We show evidence supporting the idea that an epigenetic/non-coding interactome drives key features of cancer progression, including drug resistance and metastatic spreading (Crea et al. Trends Mol Med 2015).
Full list of Publications: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=nFGqiygAAAAJ&hl=en
Internal Collaborators: Prof. Nacho Romero (non-coding RNAs and metastatic tropism; lncRNAs in ageing); Dr. Martin Bootman (calcium-dependent prostate cancer progression), Dr Jon Golding (cancer radio-resistance).
OU modules
I exploit my research experience in cancer biology, epigenetics and non-coding RNAs to enrich the OU students' learning journey and to make sure that we teach the latest and most important developments in these fields. We are also working on new assets that develop the students' analytic skills and their understanding of human diseases.
SK299 (Human Biology)
S294 (Cell Biology)
S211 (Paramedic Practice).
S317 (from Genes to Species)
S290 (investigating Human Health and Disease)
Post-graduate students' and PDRA supervision: Marta Banchi (visiting), Kayleigh Orchard (former PDRA), Francesca Salani (PhD student) Auma Kalu (PhD student); Ella Waters (PhD student); Priyadarsini.Gangadharannambiar (PhD student), Sameer Ayaz (PhD student); Maryam Latarani (MPhil student; PhD student); David Roig-Carles (PDRA); Stephen Chandler (PhD student, co-supervisor since 10/16; previously on Work Experience Placement); Perla Pucci (PhD student, primary supervisor); Eduardo Frias (PhD student, co-supervisor); Ester Pascual-Baixauli (Visiting Student); Roberto Silvestri (Visiting Student); Najara Juan Larrea (Erasmus+ MSc); Tyra Antoine, Roger Silva and Holly Jackson (Visiting research students). Rebecca Mather (PRDA).
In collaboration with the BC Cancer Agency, we are currently developing new therapeutic and diagnostic tools for prostate cancer. These new technologies are based on the discovery and characterization of previously unknown long non-coding RNAs.
Prof Yong-Jie Lu (Barts Cancer Centre)
Dr Helen Fillmore (Portsmouth University)
Prof Chris Jones (Institute of Cancer Research)
Prof Yuzhuo Wang, BC Cancer Agency (Canada)
Prof Guido Bocci (University of Pisa, Italy)
Prof Gianluca Masi (Univrirt of Pisa, Italy)
Dr Benedetto Grimaldi (IIT, Genova, Italy)
Dr Mario P Colombo and Dr Elena Jachetti (Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Italy)
Prof Shusuke Akamatsu (Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan)
Dr Abhijit Parolia (University of Michigan, USA)
