Elena Andreucci^*1, Anna Laurenzana^*, Silvia Peppicelli^*, Alessio Biagioni^*, Francesca Margheri^*, Jessica Ruzzolini^*, Francesca Bianchini^*, Gabriella Fibbi^*, Mario Del Rosso^*†, Chiara Nediani^*, Simona Serratì^‡, Livia Fucci^§, Michele Guida^¶, Lido Calorini^*†1

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.9, pp. 873-884, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504021X16273798026651

Abstract Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer characterized by an elevated grade of tumor cell plasticity. Such plasticity allows adaptation of melanoma cells to different hostile conditions and guarantees tumor survival and disease progression, including aggressive features such as drug resistance. Indeed, almost 50% of melanoma rapidly develop resistance to the BRAFV600E inhibitor vemurafenib, with fast tumor dissemination, a devastating consequence for patients’ outcomes. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), the ability of cancer cells to organize themselves in perfused vascular-like channels, might sustain tumor spread by providing vemurafenibresistant cancer cells with supplementary ways to enter into circulation and disseminate. Thus, this… More >

Angela Silvano^*†1, Giulio Menegazzi^*1, Silvia Peppicelli^*1, Caterina Mancini^*, Alessio Biagioni^*, Alessandro Tubita^*, Ignazia Tusa^*, Jessica Ruzzolini^*, Matteo Lulli^*, Elisabetta Rovida^*, Persio Dello Sbarba^*

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 33-46, 2021, DOI:10.3727/096504022X16442289212164

Abstract This study was directed to deepen the effects of nutrient shortage on BCR/Ablprotein expression and signaling in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. The backbone of the study was cell culture in medium lacking glucose, the consumption of which we had previously shown to drive BCR/Ablprotein suppression, and glutamine, the other main nutrient besides glucose. In this context, we focused on the role of lactate, the main by-product of glucose metabolism under conditions of rapid cell growth, in particular as a modulator of the maintenance of CML stem/progenitor cell potential, a crucial determinant of disease course and relapse of disease. The… More >