Current Positions
– Full Professor of Medical Oncology (MED/06), University of Milan, Italy.
– Director, Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan, Italy.
– Co‑Director, New Drugs Program, IEO.
– Head, Medical Inpatient Unit for Solid Tumours, IEO.
Education and Training
– 1993 – MD, Medicine and Surgery (summa cum laude), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome.
– 1997 – Specialization in Medical Oncology (summa cum laude), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome.
– 2006 – PhD in Medical Pathophysiology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pisa.
Professional Background
– 1993 – Clinical Immunology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Activities: immunophenotyping of solid tumours; flow cytometry for early cancer diagnosis.
– 1994–1995 – Molecular Epidemiology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Activities: molecular epidemiology of bladder and lung carcinogenesis.
– 1999–2006 – Clinical Pharmacology and New Drugs Unit, IEO, Milan.
Activities: early clinical trials (phase I–II) in oncology.
– 2010–2013 – Co‑Director, Division of Medical Oncology, IEO.
Responsibilities: clinical management and coordination of the medical oncology ward.
– 2011 – Visiting Scientist, Harvard Medical School / Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA.
Clinical Skills
– Senior medical oncologist with primary focus on breast cancer and early clinical trials (phase 0, I, II) in solid tumours.
– Clinical lead for therapeutic planning in metastatic solid tumours and enrollment in early‑phase trials with innovative and targeted agents.
– Responsible per year for approximately:
– 3,500 outpatient visits in innovative clinical trials (mainly breast cancer).
– 1,500 Day Hospital procedures in experimental studies.
– 600 inpatient procedures in the medical area.
– Principal Investigator or Overall Investigator for approximately 50 phase I–II studies in solid tumours.
Scientific Skills
– Expertise in immune mechanisms of response and tolerance to monoclonal antibodies.
– Molecular predictors of response and toxicity to targeted therapies.
– Personalized medicine approaches in breast cancer.
– Cardio‑oncology (Co‑Founder and President of the International Cardio‑Oncology Society – ICOS).
Teaching Skills
– Full Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Milan, teaching in Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy (experimental and targeted therapies).
– Long‑standing tutor for residents and medical students in oncology at national and international level.
– Executive Committee Member, IEO Education (since 2012).
Research Activities
Direct responsibility for early‑phase (phase 0, I, early II) studies in metastatic breast cancer and other solid tumours.
Translational Projects (Lead Investigator)
– Immune mechanisms of response and tolerance to monoclonal antibodies.
– Molecular predictors of response and toxicity to targeted therapies.
– Personalized medicine approaches in breast cancer.
Recent Clinical Studies
– Responsibility for approximately 50 phase I–III studies with innovative agents in breast cancer and solid tumours.
– Member of Steering Committees for global breast cancer trials (adjuvant, neoadjuvant and metastatic settings, including molecular screening programs).
– Member of Independent Data Monitoring Committees for:
– Global HER2‑positive adjuvant trials.
– Immunotherapy studies in breast cancer.
– Early‑phase solid tumour trials.
International Experiences
– 1993 – Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
– 1994–1995 – Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, USA.
– 2011 – Visiting Scientist, Harvard Medical School / Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA.
International Roles
– Co‑Founder and President, International Cardio‑Oncology Society (ICOS).
– Member, Scientific Advisory Council, IBCSG (International Breast Cancer Study Group), since 2008.
– Member, Scientific Advisory Council, BIG (Breast International Group), 2010–2013.
– Expert Clinical Assessor for Oncology, European Medicines Agency (EMA), appointed by AIFA, 2006–2010.
– Member, Breast Faculty: ESMO, European School of Oncology (ESO), St Gallen Early Breast Cancer Conference.
– Executive Committee Member, EUSOMA (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists).
– ESMO Press & Media Affairs Committee (since 2013; responsible for breast cancer communications).
– Elected Member, ESMO Nominating Committee, 2017.
Clinical Trials
– Principal / Overall Investigator for approximately 50 phase I–II studies in solid tumours.
– Responsibility in recent years for approximately 50 phase I–III studies with innovative agents in breast cancer and solid tumours.
– Member of Steering Committees for global breast cancer trials (adjuvant, neoadjuvant and metastatic).
– Member of Independent Data Monitoring Committees for:
– Global HER2‑positive adjuvant trials.
– Immunotherapy studies in breast cancer.
– Early‑phase solid tumour trials.
Scientific Output
– Author / co‑author of over 1,000 peer‑reviewed publications in international journals.
– Over 10 book chapters in oncology.
– H‑index: 109.
Editorial Activities
– Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief:
– The Breast.
– Cancer Treatment Reviews.
– Associate Editor: European Journal of Cancer.
– Editorial Board Member:
– Journal of Clinical Oncology.
– Annals of Oncology.
– Peer reviewer for leading oncology journals: JNCI, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Nature‑branded oncology journals, European Journal of Cancer, British Journal of Cancer, and others.
Awards and Honours
– Fellow, European Academy of Cancer Sciences (2017).
– Umberto Veronesi Award, March 2017, Vienna (St Gallen Early Breast Cancer Conference, Scientific Chair 2017).