Omics Sciences
Computational Cancer Immunotherapy Lab
Our research team is dedicated to developing and applying advanced computational approaches to explore the interactions between immune and tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment. By integrating data from genomics, molecular profiling, proteomics, and image analysis, we aim to uncover the mechanisms that allow tumors to evade immune detection and devise innovative strategies to counteract these processes. Our work encompasses different types of cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian tumors. Driven by a commitment to translational medicine, we collaborate closely with researchers and clinical units to translate our discoveries into new diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, formulating and testing clinically-driven hypotheses.
Research activity
Our research interests focus on various aspects of cancer and metastasis, the tumor microenvironment, and spatial heterogeneity. Currently, the principal areas of our research include:
- Spatial Heterogeneity of the Tumor Microenvironment: Each cancer is characterized by a unique pattern of genomic alterations that drive the tumorigenic process. These alterations tend to be specific to the cancer type and are generally conserved between primary and metastatic lesions. However, it is clear that other factors, such as immune system evasion, also play critical roles in tumor development and metastasis. In this context, we are conducting high-resolution tumor and immune cell profiling of liver metastases from colorectal and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. This includes the use of high-resolution spatial omics sequencing to comprehensively analyze the immunological landscapes in the tumor microenvironment. This study is part of the Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro 5 per Mille project: “Advanced Immune Gene and Cell Therapies for Liver Metastases”.
- Omics Technologies in TCR and CAR T Cell Research: Our multi-omics studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological processes involved in immune cells functionality, advancing the development of more effective and personalized cancer immunotherapies. Omics techniques are employed to investigate cellular heterogeneity and molecular signatures, contributing to gain deeper insights into T cell receptor (TCR) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell research. We are directly involved in the in-depth characterization of these cellular products, with Chiara Bonini’s lab leading Adoptive T cell therapy studies, Eliana Ruggiero’s Team active on TCR studies and Monica Casucci’s lab focusing on CAR T cell research. Our role is to support and enhance these projects through detailed omics analyses.
- Immunogenomic Cancer Treatment Response: We aim to unravel cancer response to treatment. Cancer cells coexist in various transcriptional states in relation to treatment. Our goal is to define the mechanisms maintaining these states and discover therapies that disrupt these thriving communities. We use bulk and single-cell transcriptomic and spatial proteomic technologies. This project is part of a collaborative effort with the Dellabona-Casorati group.
