Current Positions:
- Director, Department of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapies, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples (since 2013)
- Coordinator, Interdepartmental Melanoma Group, Istituto Pascale (since 1996)
- Representative of Istituto Pascale at OECI (Organization of European Cancer Institutes) (since 2008)
Education and Training
- MD, Medicine and Surgery, University "Federico II" of Naples
- Specialization in Oncology, University "Federico II" of Naples
Professional Background:
- Entire career dedicated to the study and treatment of melanoma and cancer immunotherapy at Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples
- Former Medical Director of Clinical Immunology Department
- Member of National Oncology Commission
- Multidisciplinary approach to melanoma diagnosis and treatment
Clinical Skills:
- Medical oncologist specialized in melanoma and cancer immunotherapy
- Clinical management of patients with advanced melanoma
- Neoplasms eligible for immunological and targeted therapies (BRAF/MEK inhibitors)
- Coordination of multidisciplinary clinical and research activities
Scientific Skills:
- Biology of melanoma
- Predictive markers of therapy response
- Evaluation of new therapeutic strategies
- Immunotherapy with anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1/PD-L1
- Immuno-targeted combinations
- BRAF/MEK therapies
- Immunoscore and immunological classification of melanoma
- Cellular vaccines and anticancer biotherapies
Scientific Leadership:
- Former President, Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)
- Board Member, Italian Melanoma Intergroup
- Member of scientific societies: AIOM, ASCO, ESMO, EORTC Melanoma Group, NIBIT, IMI, IMWG
Research Activities
Main Research Areas:
1. Melanoma Biology:
- Study of molecular mechanisms of melanoma
- Identification of predictive markers of response
- Immunological characterization of tumor
2. Immunotherapy:
- Clinical studies with anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab)
- Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (nivolumab, pembrolizumab)
- Checkpoint inhibitor combinations
- Immunoscore in melanoma
3. Targeted Therapies:
- BRAF/MEK inhibitors
- Immuno-targeted combinations
- Therapeutic sequencing strategies
4. Translational Projects:
- Anticancer cellular vaccines
- Innovative biotherapies
- International immunological classification of melanoma
Funded Projects (Principal Investigator or Co-PI):
- Ministry of Health: Projects on immunotherapy and melanoma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità: Oncology research projects
- European Networks: Projects on Immunoscore, cellular vaccines, anticancer biotherapies
- Principal Investigator: International projects on immunological classification of melanoma
International Collaborations:
- OECI (Organization of European Cancer Institutes) - Representative of Istituto Pascale since 2008
- EORTC Melanoma Group - Active member
- International projects on immunological classification of melanoma as Principal Investigator
- European Networks for research on immunotherapy and melanoma
- Participation in international steering committees for pivotal immunotherapy clinical trials
International Roles:
- Member ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Member ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology)
- Member EORTC Melanoma Group
- Member IMWG (International Melanoma Working Group)
- Editorial Boards of international oncology and immuno-oncology journals
Clinical Trials:
- Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator in numerous international clinical studies that changed clinical practice in melanoma:
- Immunotherapy with anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab)
- Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab)
- Checkpoint inhibitor combinations (nivolumab + ipilimumab)
- BRAF/MEK therapies (vemurafenib, dabrafenib, trametinib, cobimetinib)
- Immuno-targeted combinations
Pivotal Studies:
- Fundamental contributions to studies that led to approval of:
- Ipilimumab in advanced melanoma
- Nivolumab and pembrolizumab in melanoma
- Nivolumab + ipilimumab combination
- BRAF/MEK inhibitors in BRAF-mutated patients
Scientific Output:
- Extensive scientific production with articles as first or co-author in high-impact journals
Publications in High-Impact Journals:
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Lancet Oncology
- Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Journal of Translational Medicine
- Numerous other publications in international peer-reviewed journals
Main Scientific Contributions:
- Development of main immunotherapy combinations currently used in clinical practice
- Studies on mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies
- Definition of predictive biomarkers of response
- Immunological classification of melanoma
Editorial Activities:
- Editorial Board Member of oncology and immuno-oncology journals
- Editor for journals specialized in melanoma and immunotherapy
- Reviewer for high-impact international journals
Teaching and Training Activities:
- Lecturer and Scientific Director of ECM courses on immuno-oncology
- Faculty in Masters and national/international meetings on melanoma
- Speaker at international congresses on melanoma management and immunotherapy
- Training on organization of care pathways in oncology