Melissa Pool Pizzi
A5028763294- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Galectins and Cancer Biology
- Cancer-related gene regulation
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation
- Gastric Cancer Management and Outcomes
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment
- Cancer Mechanisms and Therapy
- Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
- Gastrointestinal Tumor Research and Treatment
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Immune cells in cancer
- Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
- Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies
- Advanced Breast Cancer Therapies
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Genetic factors in colorectal cancer
- Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2018-2024
AC Camargo Hospital
2016-2019
Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) occurs frequently in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and confers a poor prognosis. Multiplex profiling of primary GACs has been insightful but the underpinnings PC's development/progression remain largely unknown. We characterised exome/transcriptome/immune landscapes PC cells from GAC aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets.We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) whole transcriptome (RNA-seq) on 44 specimens (43 PC) including an integrative...
Abstract Background PVT1 has emerged as an oncogene in many tumor types. However, its role Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the BE/EAC progression uncover therapeutic value against EAC. Methods expression assessed by qPCR normal, BE, EAC tissues statistical analysis performed determine association (stage, metastases, survival). antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were tested for their antitumor activity vitro vivo....
Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC; malignant ascites or implants) occurs in approximately 45% of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) patients and associated with a poor survival. The molecular events leading to PC are unknown. yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) oncogene has emerged many tumour types, but its clinical significance is unclear. Here, we investigated the role YAP1 potential as therapeutic target.Patient-derived cells, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) orthotopic (PDO) models were used...
Objective Many cancers engage embryonic genes for rapid growth and evading the immune system. SOX9 has been upregulated in many tumours, yet role of mediating immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment is unclear. Here, we aim to dissect SOX9-mediated cancer stemness attributes advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) novel therapeutic discoveries. Methods Bulk RNAseq/scRNA-seq, patient-derived cells/models extensive functional studies were used identify expression functions its target vitro...
PURPOSE Claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) is an emerging biomarker and therapeutic target in gastric gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to obtain deeper understanding of CLDN18.2 positivity patterns, prognostic implications, associations with various demographic, clinical, molecular characteristics G/GEJ METHODS Archived tumor tissue samples from 304 patients adenocarcinoma the United States were assessed for by immunohistochemistry. was defined as ≥50% or ≥75%...
Esophageal cancer is a lethal disease that often resistant to therapy. Alterations of YAP1 and CDK6 are frequent in esophageal cancer. Deregulation both molecules may be responsible for therapy resistance.Expressions were examined cells tissues using immunoblotting immunohistochemistry. expression was induced examine YAP1-mediated activation its association with radiation resistance. Pharmacologic genetic inhibitions performed dissect the mechanisms assess antitumor effects vitro vivo.YAP1...
Objective Gastro-oesophageal cancers (GEC) are resistant to therapy and lead poor prognosis. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) antiapoptotic pathways often confer resistance. We sought elucidate the antitumour action of a BCL-2 inhibitor, AT101 in GEC vitro, vivo clinical trial. Methods Extensive preclinical studies vitro were carried out establish mechanism on targeting CSCs proteins. A pilot trial patients with was completed AT-101 added standard chemoradiation. Results Overexpression MCL-1...
Objective Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of mortality, with ARID1A being the second most frequently mutated driver gene in GC. We sought to decipher -specific GC regulatory networks and examine therapeutic vulnerabilities arising from loss. Design Genomic profiling patients including Singapore cohort (>200 patients) was performed derive mutational signatures inactivation across molecular subtypes. Single-cell transcriptomic profiles -mutated GCs were analysed tumour...
Diffuse-type gastric adenocarcinoma (DGAC) is a deadly cancer often diagnosed late and resistant to treatment. While hereditary DGAC linked CDH1 mutations, the role of CDH1/E-cadherin inactivation in sporadic tumorigenesis remains elusive. We discovered subset patient tumors. Analyzing single-cell transcriptomes malignant ascites, we identified two subtypes: DGAC1 (CDH1 loss) DGAC2 (lacking immune response). displayed distinct molecular signatures, activated DGAC-related pathways, an...
Recent advances in spatial transcriptomics (ST) techniques provide valuable insights into cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, most analytical tools lack consideration of histological features and rely on matched single-cell RNA sequencing data, limiting their effectiveness TME studies. To address this, we introduce Morphology-Enhanced Spatial Transcriptome Analysis Integrator (METI), an end-to-end framework that maps cancer cells components, stratifies...
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators of intercellular communication. Part their biological effects can be attributed to the transfer cargos diverse types RNAs, which promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. EVs found in human biofluids a valuable source for development minimally invasive assays. However, total transcriptional landscape is still largely unknown. Here we develop new method transcriptome profiling plasma-derived by next generation sequencing (NGS) from limited...
Abstract The peritoneal cavity is a common site of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) metastasis. Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) resistant to current therapies and confers poor prognosis, highlighting the need identify new therapeutic targets. CD47 conveys “don't eat me” signal myeloid cells upon binding its receptor regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), which helps tumor circumvent macrophage phagocytosis evade innate immune responses. Previous studies demonstrated that blockade alone results in...
Hippo/YAP1 signaling is a major regulator of organ size, cancer stemness, and aggressive phenotype. Thus, targeting YAP1 may provide novel therapeutic strategy for tumors with high expression in esophageal (EC). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChiP) quantitative ChiP-PCR were used to determine the regulation chromatin remodeling protein bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) on YAP1. The role bromodomain extraterminal motif (BET) inhibitor JQ1, an established BRD4 inhibitor, inhibition EC cells was...
Prognosis of patients with advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (mEGAC) is poor and molecular determinants shorter or longer overall survivors are lacking. Our objective was to identify features develop a prognostic model by profiling the genomic mEGAC widely varying outcomes.We profiled 40 untreated mEGACs (20 <13 months 20 >36 months) whole-exome sequencing (WES) RNA performed an integrated analysis exome, transcriptome, immune profile pathological phenotypes determinants, developing...
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is a lethal disease with limited therapeutic options. Genetic alterations in chromatin remodelling gene AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A) and mTOR pathway activation occur frequently GAC. Targeting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) unselected patients has failed to show survival benefit. A deeper understanding GAC might identify subset that can benefit from inhibition.Genomic ARID1A were analysed Mouse gastric epithelial cells CK19-Cre-Arid1Afl/fl...
A fluorescence marker mOrange was inserted to the popular pLentiCrispr-V2 create pLentiCrispr-V2-mOrange (V2mO) that contained both a puromycin selection and fluorescent marker, making viral production target transduction visible. Lentiviruses packaged with this plasmid appropriate guide RNAs (gRNAs) successfully knocked out genes RhoA, Gli1, Gal3 in human gastric cancer cell lines. Cas9-gRNA editing efficiency could be estimated directly from Sanger electropherograms of short polymerase...
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is inherently resistant or becomes to therapy, leading a poor prognosis. Mounting evidence suggests that lncRNAs can be used as predictive markers and therapeutic targets in the right context. In this study, we determined role of lncRNA-PVT1 GAC along with value inhibition PVT1 using antisense oligos (ASOs). RNA scope situ hybridization was analyze expression tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs) paired normal tissues from 792 patients. Functional experiments,...
Gastric adenocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is therapy resistant and leads to poor survival. To study PC in depth, there an urgent need develop representative PC-derived cell lines metastatic models molecular mechanisms of for preclinical screening new therapies.PC were developed from patient-derived cells. The tumorigenicity potential investigated by subcutaneously (PDXs) orthotopically. Karyotyping, whole-exome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, functional studies performed...
Whereas cancer patients have benefited from liquid biopsies, the scenario for gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is still dismal. We used next‐generation deep sequencing of TP53— a highly mutated and informative gene in GAC—to assess mutations tumor plasma (PL) stomach fluids (gastric wash—GW). evaluated their potential to reveal tumor‐derived mutations, useful monitoring mutational dynamics at diagnosis, progression treatment. Exon‐capture libraries were constructed 46 including GW PL pre...