Investigation on mammary carcinogenesis and new therapeutic strategies against breast cancer
The research program of the Laboratory of Experimental Biology is focused on the molecular mechanisms governing breast carcinogenesis and the breast cancer response to new therapeutic strategies. The ongoing projects are aimed at testing the efficacy of immunotherapies, targeted therapies and natural compounds, administered alone or in a combinatorial regimen, in breast cancer preclinical models, such as Δ16HER2 transgenic mice that develop spontaneous mammary tumors. In parallel, we are studying the regulatory roles of tRNA fragments and their properties as diagnostic biomarkers in breast cancer.
In particular, we are investigating: (1) the anticancer activity and immune reactions triggered by vaccines conceived against the oncogene HER2 (phage-based or DNA vaccines, encapsulated or not in lipid nanoparticles); (2) the anti-neoplastic action and the underlying molecular mechanisms of selected medicinal fungi and herbs traditionally used in Chinese medicine; (3) the tumor suppressor role of the tRNA fragment tRF3E through nucleolin interaction; (4) the impact of the exposure to microplastics on breast cancer.
Keywords - ENGLISH
breast cancer, HER2, tRNA fragments, cancer vaccines, lipid nanoparticles, cancer targeted therapies
Active participants in the research line (PI last author or *)
Junbiao Wang; Maurizio Falconi; Cristina Marchini
External Collaborations
Giulio Caracciolo; Daniela Pozzi; Barbara Belletti; Roberta Galeazzi; Manuela Iezzi;
Pillar
Human Health
Macroareas in Human Health
Biology of health and disease
Relevant research grants (national/international) funding specifically this Research Line
FAR 2022 PNR: The tRNA-fragment tRF3E: tumor suppressor role in breast cancer and diagnostic detection methods (tRNA catching);
PRIN 2022 PNRR: Development of a biophotonic instrumentation to detect and quantify different types of microplastics present in aquatic ecosystems and evaluation of risks to human health (PlasticHealth);
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Post-doctoral Fellowships 2024 to Junbiao Wang: Investigation of the synergistic effect between Mushroom extracts and conventional therapies in breast cancer;
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Post-doctoral Fellowships 2023 to Junbiao Wang: Combination of Phage-Based anti-HER2 Vaccination and Palbociclib as a Therapeutic Strategy in Hormone Receptor‐Positive/HER2‐Positive Advanced Breast Cancer;
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Post-doctoral Fellowships 2019, 2020, 2021 to Junbiao Wang
Email Address
cristina.marchini@unicam.it
Link to Relevant Publications