ANNUAL REPORT EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 359 STAFF 361

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2 PREFACE ANNUAL REPORT MARIO NEGRI INSTITUTE, MILAN DEPARTMENTS Department of Oncology.. 7 Department of Environmental Health Sciences Department of Neuroscience.. 73 Department of Cardiovascular Research Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology Department of Epidemiology Department of Public Health LABORATORIES AND CENTERS Laboratory of Regulatory Policies Centre of Computer Science Engineering. 259 Italian Cochrane Center The Catullo and Daniela Borgomainerio Center 271 Library NEGRI BERGAMO LABORATORIES DEPARTMENTS Department of Molecular Medicine Department of Biomedical Engineering. 399 Laboratory of Biology and Therapy of Metastasis ALDO and CELE DACCO CENTER DEPARTMENT Department of Renal Medicine. 319 LABORATORIES AND CENTERS Rare Diseases Documentation and Research International Relations Office of rare Diseases T he Transplant Research Center. 357 EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 359 STAFF 361 All the staff of the Institute is listed on its website PUBLICATIONS A comprehensive list of the Institute s publications is available on the website Section Publications 1

3 Edited by Isabella Bordogna printed May

4 PREFACE This booklet provides a brief description of the research and training work done at the Mario Negri Institutes in Milan and Bergamo. It is divided by departments, and in some cases by single laboratories. Details of the results are provided in the text itself, so here we shall just draw a few general remarks. This is our first year in the new Milan Headquarters: during this time we devoted most of our efforts improving the new available technologies. Particularly, we have carried out translational research following the mouse clinic patterns. Nuclear magnetic resonance, micro cat scanner, ultrasound, Doppler, photon microscope are some of the methodologies used to do research on human diseases in mice, following the techniques utilized in medical clinic. This will allow to transfer data in more effective ways, to study more in depth and to use a lower number of animals in experimental research. Imaging will play an important role, thanks to the installation of electronic microscopy, of contrast, time- lapse microscopy and atomic force microscopy. New important technologies will also allow us to develop our proteomics research. The tendency nowadays is towards widespread use of molecular biology techniques, especially for studying the mechanism of action of drugs. In vitro studies are an essential basis for thorough investigations although a significant number of in vivo experiments are still needed as this is the only mean we have of validating in vitro findings and establishing models that resemble human diseases as closely as possible. This has led to a substantial increase in the use of transgenic animals. The Institute is still concentrating on its traditional research lines: oncology, neurosciences, cardiovascular and renal diseases, organ transplants with strong cell biology and molecular biochemistry connotations. Significant work has been carried out on the environment and health as a whole. Experimental, clinical and epidemiological research on rare diseases and orphan drugs is growing all the time. The Mario Negri Institute strives to develop a multifaceted approach to all these research themes, ranging from basic research, to pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, controlled clinical trials, epidemiological analysis and whenever possible the epidemiology of services. So far we have published more than articles on peer reviewed scientific journals. If research is to continue young scientists must be continually trained. Working in the laboratory not only gives them an outlet for their ideas, but enables them to obtain worthwhile qualifications by taking part in the Institute s training schemes, which are recognised by the Lombardy Region in Italy, or by working for a Ph.D. awarded by the Open University, UK. Training courses are also available on biomedical statistics, for general practitioners, family pediatricians, and clinical trial nurses. A vital part of the Institute s work involves providing information, at all levels. This is done, in particular, through the Rare Diseases Information Center, the Center for Information on Medicinal Drugs and the Website ( We also provide information to medical doctors, nurses, patients associations and lay people, through the media and through a recently developed website: Because research is going through a very difficult time it is vital to be supported by the Government, by private and public bodies as well as by foundations and private citizens. Silvio Garattini Director 3

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6 Mario Negri INSTITUTE FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH Milan ANNUAL REPORT 2009 departments and laboratories 5

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8 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY STAFF Chief Maurizio D INCALCI, M.D. Oncological Studies Office and Documentation Scientific Documentalist Stefania FILIPPESCHI, Chemist Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology Head Biophysics Unit Head Flow Citometry Unit Head Cancer Clinical Pharmacology Unit Head Maurizio D INCALCI, M.D. Paolo UBEZIO, Phys.D. Eugenio ERBA, Biochem.D Massimo ZUCCHETTI, Chem.Pharm.D. Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology Head DNA Repair Unit Head Massimo BROGGINI, Ph.D. Giovanna DAMIA, M.D. Laboratory of Biology and Therapy of Metastasis Head Tumor Angiogenesis Unit Head Unit located in Bergamo Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Unit Head Raffaella GIAVAZZI, Biol.Sci.D., Ph.D. Giulia TARABOLETTI, Biol.Sci.D. Maria Rosa BANI, Biol.Sci.D., Ph.D. 7

9 Laboratory for the development of new pharmacological strategies Head Valter TORRI, M.D. Laboratory of Clinical Trials Head Irene FLORIANI, Dr.Sci.Biol., Dr.Stat., Ph.D. Laboratory of Translational and Outcome Research in Oncology Head Gynecology Oncology Unit Head Giovanni APOLONE, M.D. Roldano FOSSATI, M.D. CERP: Center for the Evaluation and Research on Pain Head Giovanni APOLONE, M.D. Oscar CORLI, M.D. Laboratory of Medical Research and Consumer Involvement Head Paola MOSCONI, Biol.Sci.D. 8

10 CURRICULA Maurizio D'Incalci obtained his Medical Degree cum Laude from the University of Milan in After specializing in Pharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute of Milan and in Oncology at the University of Genoa, he worked in the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, USA. Since 1986 he has been chief of the Laboratory of Cancer Chemotherapy at the Mario Negri Institute and since 1996 he has become chief of the Department of Oncology at the Mario Negri Institute. He has been President of the Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanisms Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). From 1994 to 1997 he was Chairman of the New Drug Development Coordinating Committee and from 1997 to 2000 he was chairman of the Research Division of the EORTC. He has been member of the Board of the EORTC from April 2000 to From 1997 he is the Preclinical Coordinator of the Southern Europe New Drug Organization (SENDO) and since 2006 the Chairman of the New Agents Committee (NAC). From 2006 he is president of the Scientific Committee of the Mario Negri Gynecologic Oncology group (MaNGO). From 2007 he is member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC). He is on the editorial board of many international cancer-related scientific journals and since September 2000 he is Editor for Experimental Oncology of the European Journal of Cancer. Dr D'Incalci is author of more than 440 papers on cancer chemotherapy published in peer reviewed international journals, and of several chapters in books on cancer chemotherapy. Selected publications Frapolli R, Zucchetti M, Sessa C, Marsoni S, Vigano' L, Locatelli A, Rulli E, Compagnoni A, Bello E, Pisano C, Carminati P, D'Incalci M. Clinical pharmacokinetics of the new oral camptothecin gimatecan: The inter-patient variability is related to α(1)-acid glycoprotein plasma levels. Eur J Cancer 2009 E-pub. Forni C, Minuzzo M, Virdis E, Tamborini E, Simone M, Tavecchio M, Erba E, Grosso F, Gronchi A, Aman P, Casali P, D'Incalci M, Pilotti S, Mantovani R. Trabectedin (ET-743) promotes differentiation in myxoid liposarcoma tumors. Mol Cancer Ther, 8 : (2009). Marchini S, Mariani P, Chiorino G, Marrazzo E, Bonomi R, Fruscio R, Clivio L, Garbi A, Torri V, Cinquini M, Dell'Anna T, Apolone G, Broggini M, D'Incalci M. Analysis of gene expression in early-stage ovarian cancer Clin Cancer Res, 14 : (2008). Grosso F., Jones R.L. Demetri G.D., Judson I.R., Blay J.Y., Le Cesne A., Sanfilippo R., Casieri P., Collini P., Dileo P., Spreafico C., Stacchiotti S., Tamborini E., Tercero J.C., Jimeno J., D Incalci M., Gronchi A., Fletcher J.A., Pilotti S., Casali P.G. Efficacy of Trabectedin (ET-743) in advanced pre-treated myxoid liposarcomas. Lancet Oncology, 2007; 8: Salvati E., Leonetti C., Rizzo A., Scarsella M., Mottolese M., Galati R., Sperduti I., Stevens M., D Incalci M., Blasco M., Chiorino G., Horard B., Gilson E., Zupi G., Biroccio A. Telomere damage promotes antitumoral activity of the G- quadruplex ligand RHPS4. J. Clin. Invest., 2007; 117: Tavecchio M., Natoli C., Ubezio P., Erba E., D Incalci M. Dynamics of cell cycle phase perturbations by Trabectedin (ET-743) in nucleotide excision repair (NER)-deficient and NER-proficient cells, unravelled by a novel mathematical simulation approach. Cell proliferation, 2007; 40: Giovanni Apolone, got his Medical degree in 1982 (Pavia, Italy) and his post-doctoral specializations in Internal Medicine in 1987 (Pavia, Italy) and Pharmacological Research (1992). He is Head of the Laboratory of Translational and Outcome Research. He is also Vice-President of the Ethics Committee of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan (Italy) and listed as National Expert at the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal products (EMEA) in London (UK). His main fields of interest are: Methodological, ethical and regulatory aspects of clinical research, with special emphasis on oncology and the cancer pain. Health care evaluation with special emphasis on oncology; Development and validation of case-mix and patient-reported outcome measures; Education and health promotion research and programs. He is author or co-author of more than 270 publications, mostòy in International peer-reviewed Journals. Mean Impact Factor, computed on peer-reviewed papers: 3.2. H-index (from ISI-Web of knowledge, March 2010): 30. Number of citations: Average citation per item: Number of papers with >50 citations: 19. 9

11 Selected publications Corli O, Apolone G, Pizzuto M, Cesaris L et al. Illness awareness in terminal cancer patients: an Italian study. Palliative Medicine, 23: 354-9, 2009 Riva E, Tettamanti M, Mosconi M, Apolone, G et al. Association of Mild Anemia with Hospitalization and Mortality in the Elderly The Health and Anemia Population-Based Study. Haematologica, 94 (1): 22-28, 2009 Apolone G, Corli O, Negri E, Mangano S, Montanari M, Greco MT. Effects of transdermal buprenorphine on patientsreported outcomes in cancer patients. Results from the Cancer Pain Outcome Research (CPOR) Study Group. Clinical J Of Pain, 25: , 2009 Apolone G, Corli O, et al. Pattern and quality of care of cancer pain management. Results from the Cancer Pain Outcome Research Study Group (CPOR SG). Br J Cancer, 100: , Apolone G, on behalf of the 2008 Erice Group. The 2008 Erice Statement toward a more humanistic oncology. J Amb care Manage 32: ,2009. De Andrea S, Corli O, Moschetti I, Apolone G. Managing severe cancer pain. The role of TDS buprenorphine: a systematic review. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk management, 5:1-12, Gallus S, Tramacere I, La Vecchia C, Colombo P, Zuccaro P, Paleari L, Cesario A, Russo P, Apolone G. Use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in Italy. Arch Intern Med 169: , Massimo Broggini followed the faculty of Science of the University of Milan, got the specialization in Biochemistry at Mario Negri Institute, and the PhD degree at the Open University, London,UK. He worked in the laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology of the National Cancer Institute of Bethesda, Md, in From 1991 he is the head of the Molecular Pharmacology Unit of the Mario Negri Institute and from 1999 he his the head of the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology of the same Institute. His main fields of interest are the study of the mechanism of action of new anticancer agents, the search of altered proteins and genes in human cancer and the study of oncosuppressor genes. He is member of the "Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanisms Group" of the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and of the American Association for Cancer Research. He is in the Editorial board of the European Journal of Cancer. He is author of more than 100 articles published in international journals. Principali pubblicazioni Zangrossi S, Marabese M, Broggini M, Giordano R, D'Erasmo M, Montelatici E, Intini D, Neri A, Pesce M, Rebulla P, Lazzari L. Oct-4 expression in adult human differentiated cells challenges its role as a pure stem cell marker. Stem Cells. 2007;25(7): Marrazzo E, Marchini S, Previdi S, Broggini M. Questioning the oncogenic role of DeltaNp73alpha in different cell lines expressing p53 or not. Cancer Biol Ther. 2006;5(7): Polato F, Codegoni A, Fruscio R, Perego P, Mangioni C, Saha S, Bardelli A, Broggini M. PRL-3 phosphatase is implicated in ovarian cancer growth. Clin Cancer Res : Maffucci T, Piccolo E, Cumashi A, Iezzi M, Riley AM, Saiardi A, Godage HY,Rossi C, Broggini M, Iacobelli S, Potter BV, Innocenti P, Falasca M. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway by inositol pentakisphosphate results in antiangiogenic and antitumor effects. Cancer Res. 2005;65: Marabese M, Marchini S, Sabatino MA, Polato F, Vikhanskaya F, Marrazzo E, Riccardi E, Scanziani E, Broggini M. Effects of inducible overexpression of DNp73alpha on cancer cell growth and response to treatment in vitro and in vivo. Cell Death Differ. 2005;12: Sabatino MA, Colombo T, Geroni C, Marchini S, Broggini M. Enhancement of in vivo antitumor activity of classical anticancer agents by combination with the new, glutathione-interacting DNA minor groove-binder, brostallicin. Clin Cancer Res. 2003;9: Irene Floriani got her degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Milan in 1988, her degree in Biostatistics and Experimental Statistics at the University of Milan in 2003 and her phd in Life Sciences at Open University of London (UK) in After ten-year experience in pharmaceutical industry, in 2002 she became Head of the Biometry and Data Management Unit of the Laboratory of Clinical Research in Oncology and since 2006 she is Head of Laboratory of Clinical Trials. She is also member as bio-statistician of three Italian Ethics Committees. Her main fields of interest are: statistical aspects of methodology of clinical research with focus on Controlled Clinical Trials in Oncology; Systematic Overview of the medical literature and Methodological aspects of diagnostic test evaluation. Selected publications Loupakis F, Ruzzo A, Cremolini C, Vincenzi B, Salvatore L, Santini D, Masi G, Stasi I, Canestrari E, Rulli E, Floriani I, Bencardino K, Galluccio N, Catalano V, Tonini G, Magnani M, Fontanini G, Basolo F, Falcone A, Graziano F. KRAS codon 61, 146 and BRAF mutations predict resistance to cetuximab plus irinotecan in KRAS codon 12 and 13 wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer :

12 Signorelli M, Lissoni AA, Cormio G, Katsaros D, Pellegrino A, Selvaggi L, Ghezzi F, Scambia G, Zola P, Grassi R, Milani R, Giannice R, Caspani G, Mangioni C, Floriani I, Rulli E, and Fossati R. Modified radical hysterectomy versus extrafascial hysterectomy in the treatment of stage I endometrial cancer: results from the ILIADE randomized study. Ann Surg Oncol : Floriani I, Santini D, Torri V, Cremolini C, Falcone A, Loupakis F. Do we need biopsies of metastases for colorectal cancer patients? Br J Cancer : Garattini S, Torri V, Floriani I. Cetuximab for metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med : 96 Loupakis F, Pollina L, Stasi I, Ruzzo A, Scartozzi M, Santini D, Masi G, Graziano F, Cremolini C, Rulli E, Canestrari E, Funel N, Schiavon G, Petrini I, Magnani M, Tonini G, Campani D, Floriani I, Cascinu S, Falcone A. PTEN expression and KRAS mutations on primary tumors and metastases in the prediction of benefit from cetuximab plus irinotecan for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol : Ferrari D, Fiore J, Codecà C, Di Maria G, Bozzoni S, Bordin V, Caldiera S, Luciani A, Zonato S, Floriani I, Foa P. A phase II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. Anticancer Drugs : Lissoni AA, Colombo N, Pellegrino A, Parma G, Zola P, Katsaros D, Chiari S, Buda A, Landoni F, Peiretti M, Dell'anna T, Fruscio R, Signorelli M, Grassi R, Floriani I, Fossati R, Torri V, Rulli E. A phase II, randomized trial of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy comparing a three-drug combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) versus paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: the Snap- 02 Italian Collaborative Study. Ann Oncol : Graziano F, Ruzzo A, Canestrari E, Loupakis F, Santini D, Rulli E, Humar B, Galluccio N, Bisonni R, Floriani I, Maltese P, Falcone A, Tonini G, Catalano V, Fontana A, Giustini L, Masi G, Vincenzi B, Alessandroni P, Magnani M.Variations in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene impact on survival of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Pharmacogenomics J : Mandalà M, Barni S, Floriani I, Isa L, Fornarini G, Marangolo M, Mosconi S, Corsi D, Rulli E, Frontini L, Cortesi E, Zaniboni A, Aglietta M, Labianca R. Incidence and clinical implications of venous thromboembolism in advanced colorectal cancer patients: The 'GISCAD-alternating schedule' study findings. Eur J Cancer : Raffaella Giavazzi got her Biological Sciences degree (1979) at the University of Milan, and her Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute of Milan (1984), followed by a specialization in pharmacology (1994) at the University of Milan. From 1981 to 1983 she was a Fellow in the Cancer Metastasis and Treatment Laboratory, NCI-FCRDC, Frederick, MD., and from 1983 to 1985 Assistant Professor at the Department of Cell Biology of M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumour Institute, University of Texas System Cancer Centre in Houston (TX). Raffaella Giavazzi s research interests are in the field of tumour biology and pharmacology. Specifically, she is studying aspects related to the metastatic process and angiogenesis. She is involved in the preclinical evaluation of new therapeutic strategies against cancer focusing on the angiogenesis inhibitors and combination therapies. From 1986 to 1993 she was Head of the Cancer Metastasis Treatment Unit and since 1993 she has been the Head of the Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis at Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research. She is also adjutant Professor in Oncology, Medical School-University of Brescia, member of the Teaching Committee for the PhD course in Physiology-Pharmacology-Molecular and Cellular Tossicology-University of Siena, member of the Executive Committee at SENDO (South Europe New Drug Development Organization) and member of the Executive Committee of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR). She was consulting scientist for the NCI-Drug Therapeutics Program, USA ( ); She is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), International Metastases Research Society, EORTC-Screening and Pharmacology Group, European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), Italian Cancer Society (SIC) of which she was President ( ). She is on the Editorial Board of international scientific journals such as the European Journal of Cancer, Journal of Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, and The International Journal of Biological Markers. She has published approximately 200 articles on peer reviewed scientific journals. Selected publications Rösli C., Borgia B., Schliemann C., Gunther M., Wunderli-Allenspach H., Giavazzi R., Neri D. Comparative analysis of the membrane protome of closely related metastatic and non-metastatic tumor cells. Cancer Research, 69(13): , Cesca M., Frapolli R., Berndt A., Scarlato V., Richter P., Kosmehl H., D Inclaci M., Ryan A.J., Giavazzi R. The effects of vandetanib on paclitaxel tumor distribution and antitumor activity in a xenograft model of human ovarian carcinoma. Neoplasia, 11(11): , Bonezzi K., Taraboletti G., Borsotti P., Bellina F., Rossi R., Giavazzi R. Vascular disrupting activity of tubulin-binding 1,5-Diaryl-1H-imidazoles. Journal of Medical Chemistry, 52: ,

13 Borgia B., Rösli C., Fugmann T., Schliemann C., Cesca M., Neri D., Giavazzi R. A proteomic approach for the identification of vascular markers of liver metastasis. Cancer Research, 70(1):309-18, Ghilardi C., Chiorino G., Dossi R., Nagy Z., Giavazzi R., Bani M.R. Identification of novel vascular markers through gene expression profiling of tumor-derived endothelium. BMC Genomics, 30(9), 201, Giavazzi R., Bani M.R.,Taraboletti G.: Tumor host interaction in the optimization of paclitaxel-based combination therapies with vascular targeting compounds. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 26:481 88, 2007 Paola Mosconi got her Biological Science degree (Milan 1982) and the specialisation in Pharmacological Research (Milan 1984). Her main areas of interest are: development of strategies to involve patients-consumer associations in the health debate, and research projects; assessment of the quality of life, translation and cultural adaptation of questionnaires for quality of life; studies to evaluate the type of information on diseases and treatments received by patients, mainly cancer patients; set-up of websites targeted on consumers/patients ; studies to evaluate the consumers level of satisfaction with the health services and care. Paola Mosconi has participated as a teacher, or coordinator, to the realization of training course on Methodological aspects of clinical research or Evaluation of quality of life for health care professionals and representatives of voluntary associations. Selected publications Mosconi P, Donati S, Colombo C, Mele A, Liberati A, Satolli R. The Consensus Conference WorkingGroup. Informing women about hormone replacement therapy: the Consensus conference statement. BMC Woman Health Journal 2009; 9:14 doi: / Donati S, Cotichini R, Mosconi P, Satolli R, Colombo C, Liberati A, Mele A Menopause: knowledge, attitude and practice among Italian women.maturitas 2009; 20; 63(3): Mosconi P, Colombo C, Satolli R, Liberati A. PartecipaSalute, an Italian project to involve lay people, patients associations and scientific-medical representatives on the health debate. Health Expectations 10: , O Connel D, Mosconi P. An active role for patients in clinical research? Drug Development Research 67 (3): , Mosconi P, Colombo Cinzia, La Bianca R, Apolone G. Oncologists' opinions about research ethics committees in Italy: an update, Eur J Cancer Prev 2006; 15: Mosconi P, Poli P, Giolo A, Apolone G. How health consumers feel about clinical research: a questionnaire survey. European Journal of Public Health 15: , Mosconi P, Buchanan M, Kyriakides S, Fernandez-Marcos A, Horvatin J, O'Connell D, Zernik N, on behalf of EUROPA DONNA. EUROPA DONNA: has strength in its heterogeneity. European J Cancer 40: , Valter Torri got his Medical degree in 1985 and the specialization in medical Oncology in 1989 at the University of Milano. Education: 1985: MD Degree with full honors cum Laude, University of Milano; 1988 Post-Doctoral Degree in Pharmacological Research, Mario Negri Institute, Milano; 1989 Post-Doctoral Degree in Medical Oncology, University of Milano; Research Fellow at the Biometric Research Branch of Cancer Treatment Evaluation Program, NCI, Bethesda, MD (USA) Areas of Interest: Statistical aspects of clinical research methodology with focus on Controlled Clinical Trials in Oncology; Systematic Overview of the medical literature; Methodological aspects of diagnostic test evaluation. Present Position: Head of Laboratory of Clinical Research In Oncology, Oncology Department, Mario Negri Institute, Milano. Chronology of Professional Appointments: : Clinical research Fellow in Internal Medicine at the University Hospital, University of Milan; : Research assistant at the Clinical Trial Unit of the Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milano; : Research fellow at the Biometric Research Branch of Cancer Treatment Evaluation Program, NCI, Bethesda, MD (USA); 1994: Head of Biometric Unit of the Laboratory of Cancer Clinical Epidemiology, Oncology Department, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milano, Italy; 1995 Vice Director of the Italian Cochrane Center; 2001: Head of Laboratory of Clinical Research In Oncology, Oncology Department, Mario Negri Institute, Milano. 2006: Head of Laboratory for the development of new pharmacological strategies, Oncology Department, Mario Negri Institute, Milano. Member of Consiglio Direttivo Nazionale dell Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica 12

14 Selected publications Laghi L, Bianchi P, Miranda E, Balladore E, Pacetti V, Grizzi F, Allavena P, Torri V, Repici A, Santoro A, Mantovani A, Roncalli M, Malesci A. CD3+ cells at the invasive margin of deeply invading (pt3-t4) colorectal cancer and risk of post-surgical metastasis: a longitudinal study. Lancet Oncol. 2009; 10 (9): Garassino MC, Borgonovo K, Rossi A, Mancuso A, Martelli O, Tinazzi A, Di Cosimo S, La Verde N, Sburlati P, Bianchi C, Farina G, Torri V. Biological and clinical features in predicting efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Anticancer Res. 2009; 29 (7): Marchini S, Mariani P, Chiorino G, Marrazzo E, Bonomi R, Fruscio R, Clivio L, Garbi A, Torri V, Cinquini M, Dell'Anna T, Apolone G, Broggini M, D'Incalci M. Analysis of gene expression in early-stage ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res Dec 1;14(23): Benedetti Panici P, Basile S, Maneschi F, Alberto Lissoni A, Signorelli M,Scambia G, Angioli R, Tateo S, Mangili G, Katsaros D, Garozzo G, Campagnutta E,Donadello N, Greggi S, Melpignano M, Raspagliesi F, Ragni N, Cormio G, Grassi R, Franchi M, Giannarelli D, Fossati R, Torri V, Amoroso M, Crocè C, Mangioni C. Systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy vs. no lymphadenectomy in early-stage endometrial carcinoma: randomized clinical trial. J Natl Cancer Inst Dec 3;100(23): Mitry E, Fields AL, Bleiberg H, Labianca R, Portier G, Tu D, Nitti D, Torri V,Elias D, O'Callaghan C, Langer B, Martignoni G, Bouché O, Lazorthes F, Van Cutsem E, Bedenne L, Moore MJ, Rougier P. Adjuvant chemotherapy after potentially curative resection of metastases from colorectal cancer: a pooled analysis of two randomized trials. J Clin Oncol Oct 20;26(30): Cascinu S, Labianca R, Barone C, Santoro A, Carnaghi C, Cassano A, Beretta GD, Catalano V, Bertetto O, Barni S, Frontini L, Aitini E, Rota S, Torri V, FlorianiI; Italian Group for the Study of Digestive Tract Cancer, Adjuvant treatment of high-risk, radically resected gastric cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cisplatin, and epidoxorubicin in a randomised controlled trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007;99(8): Graziano F, Kawakami K, Ruzzo A, Watanabe G, Santini D, Pizzagalli F, Bisonni R, Mari D, Floriani I, Catalano V, Silva R, Tonini G, Torri V, Giustini L, Magnani M Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C/T gene polymorphism, gastric cancer susceptibility and genomic DNA hypomethylation in an at-risk Italian population. Int J Cancer : Torri V: Clinical trials and data management In: Oxford textbook of oncology, 2nd. ed. Vol. 1. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford; 2002 : Maria Rosa Bani got her Biological Sciences degree at the University of Milan in 1998 attaining the Italian Government Qualification to practice as Biologist in She obtained the specialization in Pharmacological Research from the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Lombardia in 1991 and the specialization in Biomedical Research from the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Abruzzo in In 2005 she was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Discipline of Life Sciences of the Open University Research School (UK). From 1991 to 1995 she was a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Cancer Research Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto (Canada); from 2000 to 2001 she was Guest Scientist at the Advance Technology Centre, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health (USA). At the MarioNegri Institute for Pharmacological Research she was a Fellow Research Scientist in the Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Bergamo from 1996 to 2002 and she became a Staff Research Scientist in In April 2004 she became Head of the Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Unit. She is the Scientific Manager of STROMA(since 2004) and ADAMANT(since2008), two Integrated Projects within the 6 th and 7 th Framework Programs of the European Commission. She is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) and the Italian Cancer Society (SIC). Maria Rosa Bani research interests are in the field of cancer biology and molecular therapeutics. She is co-author of 34 peer reviewed publications, 2 book chapters and 65 proceedings of which 15 selected for oral presentation at international meetings. Selected publications Ghilardi C., Chiorino G., Dossi R., Nagy Z., Giavazzi R., Bani M.R. Identification of novel vascular markers through gene expression profiling of tumor-derived endothelium. BMC Genomics, 30(9), 201, Giavazzi R., Bani M.R.,Taraboletti G.: Tumor host interaction in the optimization of paclitaxel-based combination therapies with vascular targeting compounds. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 26:481 88, Naumova E., Ubezio P., Garofalo A., Borsotti P., Cassis L., Riccardi E., Scanziani E., Eccles S.A., Bani M.R. & Giavazzi R. The vascular targeting property of paclitaxel is enhanced by SU6668, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, causing apoptosis of endothelial cells and inhibition of angiogenesis. Clinical Cancer Research 12: , Bani M.R., Nicoletti M.I., Alkharouf N.W., Ghilardi C., Petersen D., Erba E., Sausville E.A., Liu E.T. and Giavazzi R. Gene expression correlating with response to paclitaxel in ovarian carcinoma xenografts. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 3: ,

15 Vikhanskaya F.*, Bani M.R.*., Borsotti P., Ghilardi C., Ceruti R., Ghisleni G., Marabese M., Giavazzi R., Broggini M. & Taraboletti G. p73 overexpression increases VEGF and reduces thrombospondin-1 production: implication for tumor angiogenesis. Oncogene 20 : , Taraboletti G., Sonzogni L., Vergani V., Hosseini G., Ceruti R., Ghilardi C., Bastone A., Toschi E., Borsotti P., Scanziani E., Giavazzi R., Pepper M.S., Stetler-Stevenson W.G. & Bani M.R. Post-transcriptional stimulation of endothelial cell matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 1 by endothelioma cells. Experimental Cell Research 258 : , Giovanna Damia obtained her Medical Degree cum Laude from the University of Milan in After specializing in Pharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute of Milan and in Oncology at the University of Milan, she worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, USA. She worked as a research fellow in the Laboratory of Cancer Chemotherapy at the Mario Negri Institute and since April 2003 she has become chief of the DNA Repair Unit at the Mario Negri Institute. From 1992 to1995 she has been consultant of the General Secretariat of the Progetto Finalizzato CNR "Applicazioni Cliniche della Ricerca Oncologica". Since September 2005 she is Deputy Editor for Experimental Oncology of the European Journal of Cancer. Her main fields of interest are: mechanism of action of anticancer drugs, cell cycle checkpoints and natural compounds. Selected publications Simone M, Erba E, Damia G, Vikhanskaya F, Di Francesco A M, Riccardi R, Baldeyrou B, Bailly C, Cuevas C, Sousa-Faro J M F, D'Incalci M. Variolin B and its derivate deoxy-variolin B: New marine natural compounds with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor activity. Eur J Cancer 2005; 41: Carrassa L, Broggini M, Erba E, Damia G. Chk1, but not Chk2, is involved in the cellular response to DNA damaging agents. Differential activity in cells expressing or not p53. Cell Cycle 2004; 3: Damia G, Broggini M. Improving the selectivity of cancer treatment by interfering with cell response pathways. Eur J Cancer 2004; 40: Damia G, Broggini M. Cell cycle checkpoint proteins and cellular response to treatment by anticancer agents. Cell Cycle 2004; 3: Carrassa L, Broggini M, Vikhanskaya F, Damia G. Characterization of the 5' flanking region of the human chk1 gene. Identification of E2F1 functional sites. Cell Cycle 2003; 2: Damia G, Sanchez Y, Erba E, Broggini M. DNA damage induces p53-dependent down-regulation of hchk1. J Biol Chem 2001; 276: Eugenio Erba has obtained his Biological and Biochemmistry Analysis Degree at the University of Urbino. He worked as a research fellow in the Laboratory of Cancer Chemotherapy at the Mario Negri Institute and since 1984 he is head of the Flow Cytometry Unit in the Department of Oncology at the Mario Negri Institute of Milan. He has worked as a visiting fellow in the Department of Istochemistry and Cytochemistry of the University of Leiden, The Netherlands in Since 1997 he is Teacher of Post-Graduate Studies in Cytometry at the University of Milan and Co-ordinator and Teacher of Post- Graduate Studies in Cytometry for the Italian Cytometry Group. He has been President of the Italian Cytometry Group from 1999 to Since 2001 he is member of the Executive Board of the Italian Cytometry Group. Scientific areas of interest: studies on the mechanism of action of different compounds with provided antitumoral activity evaluating the mechanism of cell death and cell cycle phase perturbations induced on different human cancer cell lines by using flow cytometry. Co-ordinator of working-group in a quality control study on flow cytometric DNA content analysis in human tumors. Selected publications C. Forni, M Minuzzo, E. Virdis, E. Tamburini, M. Simone, M. Tavecchio, E. Erba, F. Grosso, A. Gronchi, P.Aman, P. Casali, M. D Incalci, S. Pilotti, R. Mantovani. Trabectedin (ET-743) promotes differentiation in myxoid liposarcoma tumors. Mol. Ca. Ther. 8(2), , 2009 E. Marrazzo, S. Marchini, M. Tavecchio, T. Alberio, S. Previdi, E. Erba, V. Rotter, M. Broggini The expression of the ΔNp73β isoform of p73 leads to tetraploidy. Eur J Ca 45, , 2009 C. Valli, G. Paroni, A. Di Francesco, R. Riccardi, M. Tavecchio, E. Erba, A. Boldetti, M. Giannì, M. Fratelli, C. Pisano, L. Merlini, A. Antoccia, C. Cenciarelli, M. Terao, E. Garattini. Atypical retinoids ST1926 and CD437 are S-phase specific agents causing DNA double-strand breaks: significance for the cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity. Mol. Ca. Ther. 7(9), , 2008 L. Roncoroni, L. Elli, E. Delfini, E. Erba, E. Dogliotti, C. Terrai, L. Doneda, MG. Grimoldi, MT. Bardella. Resveratrol inhibits cell growth in a human cholangiocarcinoma cell line. Liver Int. 28(10), , 2008 M.Tavecchio, M. Simone, E.Erba, I. Chiolo, G. Liberi, M. Foiani, M. D Incalci, G. Damia. Role of homologous recombination in trabectedin-induced DNA damage. Eur. J. Ca 44: (2008) Paulis M., Bensi M., Orioli D., Mondello C., Mazzini G., D Incalci M., Falcioni C., Radaelli E., Erba E., Raimondi E., De Carli L. Transfer of a Human Chromosomal Vector from a Hamster Cell Line to a Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Line. Stem Cell, 25: (2007) 14

16 Tavecchio M., Natoli C., Ubezio P., Erba E., D Incalci M. Dynamics of cell cycle perturbations by trabectedin (ET-743) in nucleotide excision repair (NER) deficient and NER-proficient cells, unravelled by a novel mathematical simulation approach. Cell Prolif., 40: (2007) Tognon G., Bernasconi S., Celli N., Faircloth G.T. Cuevas C., Jimeno J., Erba E., D Incalci M. Induction of resistance to Aplidin in a human ovarian cancer cell line related to MDR expression. Cancer Biology and Therapy, 4(12): (2005). Roldano Fossati got his Medical Degree cum Laude from the University of Milan in 1980, his Post- Doctoral Degree in Endocrinolgy cum Laude from the University of Verona in 1983 and his Post- Doctoral Degree in Medical Statistics from the University of Milan in He has been consultant at the Mario Negri Institute since 1983 and, at present, he is head of the Gynecology and Oncology Unit of the Laboratory of Translational and Outcome Research. Areas of Interest: Statistical and methodologic aspects of clinical research with focus on Controlled Clinical Trials in Oncology; Systematic Overview of the medical literature. Selected publications P. Benedetti Panici, A. Maggioni, N. Hacker, F. Landoni, S. Ackermann, E. Campagnutta, K. Tamussino, R. Winter, A. Pellegrino, S. Greggi, R. Angioli, N. Manci, G. Scambia, T. Dell'Anna, R. Fossati, I. Floriani, R.S. Rossi, R. Grassi, G. Favalli, F. Raspagliesi, D. Giannarelli, L. Martella, C. Mangioni. Systematic Aortic and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy versus Resection of Bulky Nodes Only in Optimally Debulked Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial J Natl Cancer Inst 97:1-6;2005 Buda A, Fossati R, Colombo N, Fei F, Floriani I, Gueli Alletti D, Katsaros D, Landoni F, Lissoni A, Calzoni C, Sartori E, Scollo P, Torri V, Zola P, Mangioni C. Randomized trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comparing paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin with ifosfamide and cisplatin followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: The SNAP01 (Studio Neo-Adjuvante Por. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23: Maggioni A, Benedetti Panici P, Dell'anna T, Landoni F, Lissoni A, Pellegrino A, Rossi RS, Chiari S, Campagnutta E, Greggi S, Angioli R, Manci N, Calcagno M, Scambia G, Fossati R, Floriani I, Torri V, Grassi R, Mangioni C.Randomised study of systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer macroscopically confined to the pelvis. Br J Cancer Sep 18;95(6): Maggi R, Lissoni A, Spina F, Melpignano M, Zola P, Favalli G, Colombo A, Fossati R. Adjuvant chemotherapy vs radiotherapy in high-risk endometrial carcinoma: results of a randomised trial. Br J Cancer Aug 7;95(3): Fruscio R, Colombo N, Lissoni AA, Garbi A, Fossati R, Ieda' N, Torri V, Mangioni C.A phase II randomised clinical trial comparing cisplatin, paclitaxel and ifosfamide with cisplatin, paclitaxel and epirubicin in newly diagnosed advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: long-term survival analysis. Br J Cancer Feb 5. Andrea Alberto Lissoni, Nicoletta Colombo, Antonio Pellegrino, Gabriella Parma, Paolo Zola, Dionyssios Katsaros, Stefania Chiari, Alessandro Buda, Fabio Landoni, Michele Peiretti, Tiziana Dell Anna, Robert Fruscio, Mauro Signorelli, Roberto Grassi, Irene Floriani, Roldano Fossati, Valter Torri, Eliana Rulli. A phase II, randomized trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comparing a three-drug combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin (TIP) versus paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: the Snap- 02 Italian Collaborative Study. Annals of Oncology, 20: ;2009 Signorelli M, Lissoni AA, Cormio G, Katsaros D, Pellegrino A, Selvaggi L, Ghezzi F, Scambia G, Zola P, Grassi R, Milani R, Giannice R, Caspani G, Mangioni C, Floriani I, Rulli E, Fossati R. Modified Radical Hysterectomy Versus Extrafascial Hysterectomy in the Treatment of Stage I Endometrial Cancer: Results From the ILIADE Randomized Study. Ann Surg Oncol Oct 16 Giulia Taraboletti got her degree cum laude in Biological Sciences at the University of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) in 1983, and the specialization in Pharmacological Research at the Mario Negri Institute, Milano, Italy in From 1986 to 1988 she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, and from research scientist at Mario Negri Institute in Bergamo, Italy. Since 1995 she is Head of the Unit of Tumor Angiogenesis, at Mario Negri Institute, in Bergamo. Research interests include tumor angiogenesis, endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis (thrombospondin-1) and preclinical studies of antiangiogenic and vascular disrupting compounds, including tubulin-targeting agents. She is member of Metatasis Research Society (MRS), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), and the Italian Society of Oncology (SIC). She is on the editorial board of European Journal of Cancer. Selected publications Bonezzi K., Taraboletti G., Borsotti P., Bellina F., Rossi R., Giavazzi R. Vascular disrupting activity of tubulin-binding 1,5-diaryl-1H-imidazoles. J Med Chem 52, , Margosio B, Rusnati M, Bonezzi K, Cordes B-lA, Annis DS, Urbinati C, Giavazzi R, Presta M, Ribatti D, Mosher DF, and Taraboletti G. Fibroblast growth factor-2 binding to the thrombospondin-1 type III repeats, a novel antiangiogenic domain. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 40: ,

17 Giavazzi R., Bani M.R.,Taraboletti G. Tumor host interaction in the optimization of paclitaxel-based combination therapies with vascular targeting compounds. Cancer Metastasis Rev, 26:481 88, Martinelli M., Bonezzi K., Riccardi E., Kuhn E., Frapolli R., Zucchetti M., Ryan A.J., Taraboletti G., Giavazzi R. Sequence dependent antitumour efficacy of the vascular disrupting agent ZD6126 in combination with paclitaxel. Br J Cancer 97:888-94, Margosio B., Marchetti D., Vergani V., Giavazzi R., Rusnati M., Presta M., and Taraboletti G. Thrombospondin-1 as a scavenger for matrix-associated fibroblast growth factor-2. Blood 102: , Taraboletti G. Micheletti G, Rieppi M, Poli M, Turatto M, Rossi C, Borsotti P, Roccabianca P, Scanziani E, Nicoletti MI, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Riva A, and Giavazzi R. Antiangiogenic and antitumor activity of IDN 5390, a new taxane derivative. Clin Cancer Res. 8: , 2002 Paolo Ubezio got his B.Sc. degree in Physics at the University of Milan, in 1982, and the specialisation in Pharmacological Research Specialist" at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Main activities are: i) Computer simulation of tumor proliferation during/after treatments using models based on the cell cycle; ii) Development of new methods and data analysis tools in flow cytometry and in time-lapse imaging of living cells; iii) Optimization of anticancer drug scheduling. Since 1991 is Head of the Unit of Biophysics at the Mario Negri Institute Selected publications Ubezio, P.; Lupi, M., Branduardi, D.; Cappella, P., Cavallini, E., Colombo, V., Matera, G., Natoli, C., Tomasoni, D., D Incalci, M. (2009) Quantitative assessment of the complex dynamics of G1, S and G2M checkpoint activities. Cancer Res. 69: Valentini, G., D Andrea, C., Ferrari, R., Pifferi, A., Cubeddu, R., Martinelli, M., Natoli, C., Ubezio, P. and Giavazzi R. (2008) In-vivo measurement of vascular modulation in experimental tumors using a fluorescent contrast agent. Photochem. Photobiol. 84: Ubezio, P. and Cameron, D. (2008) Cell killing and resistance in pre-operative breast cancer chemotherapy. BMC Cancer 8:201. Basse, B., Ubezio, P. (2007) A generalised age and phase structured model of human tumour cell populations both umperturbed and exposed to a range of cancer therapies. Bull. Math. Biol. 69: Lupi, M., Matera, G., Natoli, C., Colombo, V., Ubezio, P. (2007) The Contribution of p53 in the Dynamics of Cell Cycle Response to DNA Damage Interpreted by a Mathematical Model. Cell Cycle 6: Lupi, M., Matera, G., Branduardi, D., D'Incalci M. and Ubezio, P. (2004) Cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of topotecan decoded by a novel mathematical simulation approach. Cancer Res. 64: Massimo Zucchetti obtained his Chem. Pharm. Degree from the University of Milan in After specializing in Pharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute of Milan (1988), he worked in the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology of Department of Oncology at San Giovanni Hospital, Bellinzona, Switzerland ( ). Since 1996 he has been chief of the Cancer Clinical Pharmacology Unit at the Mario Negri Institute. He is member of the Pharmacology and Molecular Mechanisms Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) from 1988 up to date. His main field of interest are: - Clinical pharmacology, phase I and Phase II studies - Analysis of drugs, development of new analytical method, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in humans in GCP and GLP conditions - Pharmacokinetic, toxicokinetic and metabolic studies in animals - Pharmacokinetic drug interaction Dr Zucchetti is author of more than 90 papers on pre-clinical and clinical cancer chemotherapy published in peer reviewed international journals. Selected publications Frapolli R., Zucchetti M., Sessa C., Marsoni SA., Viganò L., Locatelli A., Rulli E., Compagnoni A., Bello E., Pisano C., Carminati P., D Incalci M. Clinical pharmacokinetics of the new oral camptothecin gimatecan: the intra-patients variability is related to α1-acid glycoprotein plasma levels. Eur J Cancer 2010; 46: Sala F., Zucchetti M., Bagnati R., D Incalci M., Pace S., Capocasa F., Marangon E. Development and validation of a HPLC-MS/MS m,ethod for the determination of ST1926, a novel oral antitumor agent, adamantyl retinoid derivative, in human plasma of patients partecipatig in a phase I study. J Chromatogr B: Anal. Tecnol. Biomed. Life Sci. 2009; 31: Gambacorti-Passerini CB, Tornaghi L, Marangon E, Franceschino A, Pogliani EM, D'Incalci M, Zucchetti M.. Imatinib concentrations in human milk Blood Feb 15;109(4):1790. Marangon E, Sala F, Caffo O, Galligioni E, D'Incalci M, Zucchetti M. Simultaneous determination of gemcitabine and its main metabolite, dfdu, in plasma of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom Feb;43(2):

18 Frapolli R., Marangon E., Zaffaroni M., Colombo T., Falcioni C., Bagnati R., Simone M., D Incalci M., Manzotti C., Fontana G., Morazzoni P., Zucchetti M. Pharmacokinetics and metabolism in mice of IDN 5390 (13-(N-Boc-3-ibutylisoserinoyl)-C-7,8-seco-10-deacetylbaccatin III), a new oral C-seco-taxane derivative with antiangiogenic property effective on paclitaxel-resistant tumors. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 34(12): (2006). Rizzari C., Citterio M., Zucchetti M., Conter V., Chiesa R., Colombini A., Malguzzi S., D Incalci M. Pharmacological study on pegylated asparaginase used in front-line treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hematologica, 91: (2006). ACTIVITIES The Oncology Department comprises three preclinical experimental laboratories (Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Biology and Therapy of Metastasis) and four laboratories dealing with clinical research and clinical trials (Laboratory for the Development of New Pharmacological Strategies, Laboratory of Clinical Trials, Laboratory of Translational and Outcome Research in Oncology and Laboratory for Medical Research and Consumer Involvement). The Oncology department hosts the coordination center of two networks of hospitals that carry on clinical research in gynecologic cancer (MaNGO: Mario Negri Gynecologic Oncology) and in cancer pain (CPOR-SG: Cancer Pain Outcome Research Study Group) and a center for cancer pain assessment and research (CERP:Center for the Evaluation and Research on Pain). In some cases research projects are carried out by single laboratories or research units, in other cases by collaborations between different laboratories of the Oncology Department or other departments, or other groups outside the Institute (see National and International Collaborations). Preclinical laboratories focus on the discovery and development of new antitumor and antimetastatic drugs and their new combinations; on tumor biology, not only to acquire new scientific knowledge, but particularly as a base for more selective therapeutic approaches and to identify and evaluate experimental models for discovering and studying new drugs or treatments. Clinical new drug development involves close participation in the activity of SENDO (South Europe New Drug Development Organization) and studies driven by the Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, the Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and the Laboratory of Biology and Therapy of Metastasis. The Laboratory for the Development of New Pharmacological Strategies, the Laboratory of Clinical Trials, the Laboratory of Translational and Outcome Research in Oncology and the Laboratory for Medical Research and Consumer Involvement are involved in the evaluation of the effects of new therapeutic modalities in phase I/II and in phase III comparative and effectiveness outcome studies. Outcome Research implies organizing trials to clarify the results of certain health care practices and interventions in clinical practice. Observational (surveys) and outcome research (effectiveness) studies are carried out, in collaboration with regional and national health authorities and other scientific associations. At the preclinical and clinical level there are studies of various human tumors, with particular emphasis on ovarian tumors and more recently on soft tissue sarcomas. MAIN FINDINGS At nanomolar concentrations, Trabectedin affects the regulatory mechanisms of the transcription. Nucleotide excision repair deficient cells that are hypersensitive to UV rays and to other DNA damaging drugs are resistant to Trabectedin. The selective activity of Trabectedin against human myxoid liposarcoma appears related to the drug ability to modulate the transcription of genes involved in adipocytic differentiation. 17

19 Trabectedin modulates the transcription of genes involved in pro-inflammatory mechanisms that are potentially relevant for tumor growth and progression. New sarcoma experimental models have been obtained. They will be useful to investigate new drugs for these diseases. Use of mathematical models of tumor growth and anticancer treatment to interpret experimental data and to manage the complexity of underlying biological phenomena. A new method enabling to perform dynamical measures of cell cycle checkpoint activities in response to anticancer treatments. Gene profiling analysis shows specific molecular signatures according to the histotype and prognosis of stage I ovarian carcinoma. The expression of a truncated form of p63 (DNp63) increases with the increased malignancy of ovarian cancer. Patients expressing high levels of DNp63 have a worst prognosis. DNp63 represents therefore a new potential target for selective therapies in this malignancy. CHK1 downregulation by specific inhibitors or sirna, increases the antitumor activity of 5- fluorouracil in vivo. This effect is particularly evident in p53 deficient tumors indicating that this combination increases the selectivity of this anticancer agent. An anthracycline derivative, Nemorubicin, has a peculiar mechanism of action and is active against tumors resistant to drugs such as cisplatin. A mechanism of resistance against this drug has been identified, which involves the abrogation of the expression of a nucleotide excision repair gene. Overexpression of a truncated form of p73 (DNp73beta) in human cancer cells leads to growth arrest and formation of tetraploid cells, suggesting a role of this isoform in mitosis. A new mechanism of p73 activation mediated by the protease HtrA2 has been identified. After apoptotic stimuli this protease cleaves p73 in the C-terminal region increasing its apoptotic potential. Inositol pentaphosphate analogues interfere with the PI3-kinase-induced phosphorylation of akt and possess antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo, particularly when combined with other anticancer agents. Human umbilical cord-derived stem cells express checkpoints proteins only in specific differentiation stages. It is likely that this is related to the different susceptibility of the cells. Inhibition of PLC gamma, through sirna technology, reduces the in vivo growth of tumors and reduces the formation of metastasis. Identification of gene transcripts preferentially expressed by tumor associated endothelial cells. Demonstration that the corresponding proteins localize within the tumor stroma. VEGF released by cancer cells modulates the gene expression of the tumor microenvironment (stroma). Identification of transcripts. Soluble human VEGFC levels in serum and ascites correlate with tumor progression and metastatic capability in human ovarian carcinoma models. 18

20 A new antiangiogenic domain of thrombospondin-1 (an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis) that binds the angiogenic factor FGF-2 has been identified and characterized. Non peptidic small molecules, mimetic of this domain have been designed as potential inhibitors of angiogenesis. New antineoplastic compounds directed against the tumor vasculature (vascular disrupting agents) have been identified. Proteins for which expression is selectively associated with liver metastasis have been identified in preclinical models of advanced cancer. The expression of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) correlates with the malignant phenotype of human melanomas and is accountable for their motility and invasive features The response to chemotherapy was a good surrogate endpoint of survival in patients with locally advanced cervix carcinoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy with the regimen vindesin, mitomycin C and cisplatin (MVP) did not improve survival of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients compared with surgery alone. The website of the project PartecipaSalute ( has a very innovative character in comparison with the other health Italian sites because it introduces and develops information in a very active way with specific instruments. A randomized phase III trial has shown that pelvic systematic lymphadenectomy in early endometrial cancer does not improve overall survival. As pelvic systematic lymphadenectomy is not devoid of side effects, this trial will spare patients with early endometrial cancer important early and late surgical morbidities. A twin trial in ovarian carcinoma, published in 2005, came to similar conclusions. Results from a systematic review of literature and from a prospective epidemiologic study suggest that an important proportion of patients with cancer pain (up to 43%) receive an analgesic treatments that is not appropriate with the intensity of pain Results from a survey carried out on a national level on a sample of 1801 patients with cancer pain confirm that in Italy a relevant part of cancer patients does not receive an appropriate information about their prognosis: physicians reported that according to their knowledge only 31% received information about their prognosis. An independent survey carried out in a Northern Italian Region confirmed this finding: among 550 patienst treated at home for cancer pain with palliative care, only 58% were classified to be fully aware of ther prognosis. An observational longitudinal study carried out in 110 Italian centers and involving about 1800 patients with metastatic cancer and pain have documented that that in terms of analgesics effectiveness, that each drugs prescribed by investigators (morphine, fentanyl, buprenorphine and oxycodone) were able to reduce the intensity of pain of about 2 points on a 11-eleven point numerical rating scale (p<0.001). The application of specific pe-planned algorithm identified about 30% cases who were classified as non-responders. Preliminary analyses documented some differences between drugs in terms of size of the analgesic effect, dosages required and side effects reported. A randomized trial of patients with high risk (stage IcG3, IIG3 with myometrial invasion >50%, and III) endometrial carcinoma showed the substantial equivalence between radiotherapy or 19