The Oncology Laboratory is dedicated to advancing precision medicine, focusing on various cancer types, with particular emphasis on lung cancer, rare extrapulmonary tumors, and breast cancer. In the study of lung and rare extrapulmonary tumors, the laboratory conducts targeted research to uncover genetic and epigenetic molecular aberrations that drive the heterogeneity of solid tumors. It also investigates related cellular processes through in vitro studies. Utilizing state-of-the-art genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies—including next-generation sequencing platforms and confocal microscopy—the laboratory develops protocols for identifying molecular biomarkers to predict and monitor responses to cancer therapies using both solid and liquid biopsies. Current projects include characterizing clinically significant gene fusions in mucinous tumors and identifying novel resistance markers to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer.
In the area of breast cancer, the laboratory focuses on identifying molecules involved in the pathological mechanisms underlying metastasis formation. Of particular interest is the study of microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play a pivotal role in tumor development and progression. The laboratory is investigating microRNA expression in normal and tumor tissues, as well as in circulating microvesicles, to identify those associated with the development of distant metastases in breast cancer. A controlled clinical study is currently evaluating whether the expression of specific microRNAs, in combination with other clinico-pathological criteria, can predict metastasis risk. Additionally, experiments on tumor cell lines and murine models aim to clarify the relationship between specific microRNAs and the molecular mechanisms driving metastasis.
The results produced by the Oncology Laboratory not only deepen scientific understanding in the field of oncology but also have the potential to revolutionize the clinical management of cancer patients, paving the way for innovative and highly targeted therapeutic strategies.
