Dr Giuseppe Curigliano MD PhD, Breast Cancer and Early Cancer Drugs Development Specialist - Milan, Italy

 

HONORS & PRIZES

1993 - Prize “Tullio Terranova” for Clinical Cancer Research

1995 - Prize “Istituto Toniolo” for Clinical Cancer Research

2011 - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scholar

2012 - Awarded “Cavaliere” by Prime Minister Mario Monti and President Giorgio Napolitano

 

POSTGRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

1993 - Tullio Terranova Traveling Fellow

1994 - Clinical Immunology Fellowship at South Carolina Medical School, Charleston, SC, USA

1995 - Istituto Toniolo Translational Research fellowship

1995-96 - Clinical Fellowship at Columbia University Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

1997-2000 - Federazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (FIRC) Translational Research Fellowship

 

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY CAREER

Sept. 1989 - Sept 1991: Catholic University of Rome, Dept of Medicine, Prof. G. Folli, Internal Medicine Research Fellow

Oct 1991 - Dec 1993: Giovanni XXIII Institute for Cancer Research, Prof. A. Cittadini - Molecular Biology Training Fellowship, Senior Lecturer in Medical Oncology

Dec 1993 – Dec 1994: Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina Medical School, Charleston, SC, USA, Dept of Clinical Immunology, prof. M. La Via, Senior Research Fellow

Jan 1995 - Feb 1996: Columbia University, College of Physician and Surgeons, Columbia Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Molecular Epidemiology Lab, prof. I.B. Weinstein, Senior Fellow

Mar 1996 – Sept 1998: Italian Air Force, 53° Stormo Caccia Chiarini, Cameri, Novara, IT; Lieutenant, Chief Medical Officer

April 2013 – Present: Chair, Early Clinical Trial Division

May 2010- March 2013: Co-Chair of the Division of Medical Oncology, Chair prof. Aron Goldhirsch

2010: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Visiting scientist: Breast Cancer Program, Chair Eric P. Winer

May 2005 – May 2010: Deputy Director of the Division of Medical Oncology, Chair prof. A. Goldhirsch

Jan 1999 – Apr 2004: Senior Clinical Assistant, Phase I and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Chair dr F. de Braud

 

MEMBERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

Local

• European Institute of Oncology
• Committee of Heads of Clinical Divisions
• Committee of IEO Education
• Committee of Clinical Pharmacology Evaluation
• Committee of Clinical Pathways and Activity Based Costing assessment

 

National

• Expert Board for Drug Evaluation of Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA), Board Member (2007-Present)
• Clinical Research Council of Associazione Italiana Oncologia Medica, Molecular and Cell Medicine Board, Committee Member (2011-Present)

International

• Expert Board of European Medicines Agency (EMA), Assessors Committee Member (2007-Present)
• Scientific Advisory Council, International Breast Cancer Study Group, Committee Member (2009-Present)
• St Gallen Early Breast Cancer Consensus Conference, Scientific Committee Member (2009-Present)
• International Cardio-Oncology Society, Founding Member and Scientific Secretary (2009-Present)
• European School of Oncology, Faculty Member (2009-Present)
• Scientific Advisory Council, Breast International Group (BIG), Committee Member (2011-Present)
• Institut National du Cancer, INCa, Scientific Committee Member (2010-Present)
• European Society for Medical Oncology, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Scientific Committee Member (2011-Present)
• European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Breast Cancer Study Group, Member (2011 – present)
• Komen Scholar Scientific Peer Review Committee (2011-2012)
• Member of Breast International Group and North American Breast Cancer Group partnership under coordination of the National Cancer Institute (2009-Present)
• European Society for Medical Oncology, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Scientific Committee Chair (2013-Present)
• European Society for Medical Oncology, IMPAKT meeting, Scientific Committee Chair (2013-Present)

Translational Cancer Research

-          Established a phase I-II Trials Unit at European Institute of Oncology using the facilities of the IEO Translational Reseach Campus

-          Obtained several research grants in clinical translational immunology (mechanisms of resistance to anti-HER2 therapies) and in translational cancer research.

-          Principal investigator in a translational trial committed to develop xenograft models. The experimental plan to achieve this objective will contemplate several intermediate endpoint:

·         Generation of primary human breast xenografts using the above mentioned cohort of patients

·         Set up of in vivo RNAi screening using cells from primary xenografts as cancer cells in the assay

·         Whole exome sequencing of primary tumor samples, primary xenografts and secondary tumors obtained from RNAi screening

Identification of molecular events by exome sequencing tools in tumor xenografts obtained from collected tumor tissues, may be crucial to understand molecular mechanisms inducing resistance to first line therapy.

-          Committed in a national grant research protocol on stem cell research.

-          PI of the TRANSCAN project on the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on residual disease after primary chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer.

-          With the aim to identify a new potential tool for a better selection of high-risk patients eligible for postneoadjuvant investigational drugs and that could also represent a new surrogate for neoadjuvant drug efficacy for TNBC, we are evaluating whether the magnitude of lymphocytic infiltration in the residual disease after NACT could allow identifying a population of TNBC patients at good outcome. We are also assessing expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its two known ligands, PD-L1 (also known as B7-H1 or CD274) and PD-L2 (also known as B7-DC or CD273).

 

Interaction with Industry

I have established board level links with a number of global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies which has led to significant grant funding (GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Millenium Takeda, ESO, Philogen).

IEO has an impressive record of protecting and developing its IPR and establishing spin out companies. When working at IEO, I established one of their first biotechnology spin outs, a generic cancer therapy company in collaboration with Nerviano Medical Center.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS:

USA - I have established a series of collaborations with the USA’s major cancer research centres (North American Breast Cancer Group, National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Dana Farber, Harvard).

INDIA -  As a member of the scientific advisory board of the BIG, I’m actively involved in the “Developing Countries Task Force”, aimed to develop academic clinical research within a network of India’s top cancer centres, in partnership with BIG. This collaboration will provide training opportunities for Indian investigators in Europe and will build an internationally competitive clinical research network.

EUROPE - I had the opportunity to collaborate within the BIG network with all centres of excellence for clinical cancer research in Europe. I am in a strong position to improve standing of Medical Oncology in Europe.

SOUTH AMERICA - I have established active collaboration with Brasil and Argentina institution training and mentoring clinician scientist that visited my institution in Milan.

NORTH AFRICA - I have been involved in a collaborative clinical network of cancer research centers in Libya and Egypt (involving scientist with education and training in European and US countries).

 

RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED

1994

• Toniolo Institute Grant - E 15,000.
• One year's salary for Research Assistant
  • Grant Holder: G. Curigliano

1995-1998

• Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (FIRC) Triennal Grant – E 150,000
• Molecular biology of transitional cell bladder carcinoma. Research Grant
• Grant Holder: G. Curigliano

1999-2001

• Ricerca Finalizzata Ministero della Salute Grant – E 110,000
• 2 year senior post-doctoral scientist for project on pharmacogenetics of transitional bladder cell carcinoma
  • Grant Holder: G. Curigliano

2001-2009

• Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro Grant - E 150,000
• 2 year senior post-doctoral scientist for project on identification of gene signature predictive of response to bevacizumab in triple negative breast cancer
  • Grant Holders – A. Goldhirsch, G. Curigliano
• Ricerca Finalizzata Ministero della Salute Grant - E 210,000
• Identification of Mechanisms of resistance to trastuzumab
  • Grant Holders – M. Rescigno, G Curigliano
• Cariplo Foundation Grant- E 60,000
• Eps8 gene polymorphism and toxicity from cisplatin
  • Grant Holders – N. Offenhauser, G. Curigliano
• Umberto Veronesi Foundation Grant – E 120,000
• Role of cancer stem cells in anticancer drug resistance
  • Grant Holder – G. Bonizzi, G. Curigliano

2009-2011

• Roche Unrestricted Grant- E 300.000
• To explore activity of bevacizumab in lymphangitic breast cancer
  • Grant holders – A. Goldhirsch, G. Curigliano

2011-2012

• Umberto Veronesi Foundation Grant E 200,000
• Genome Remodeling in Luminal B, HER2 and Ductal Triple Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis and Xenograft: Exome sequencing analysis for identification of driver pathways to overcome resistance
  • Grant holder – G. Curigliano
• Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Komen Grant E. 450.000
• Measuring Estrogen Levels During Letrozole Interruption – The SOLE-EST Substudy
  • Grant holders – A. Goldhirsch, G. Curigliano
• Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) Grant E 3,000,000
• Understanding how cancer stem cells drive breast cancer growth and how to exploit them as its Achille’s heel
  • Task 5 Team Leader: G Curigliano
• Optimization of available therapies: Breast canncer stem cells and drug resistance
  • Grant Holders: P.P. Di Fiore, P.G. Pelicci, G. Viale and A. Goldhirsch

2012-2015

• ERA-Net on translational cancer research (TRANSCAN) E 3.000,000
• "CD3 and CD20 lymphocytes infiltration to predict chemosensitivity in patients with triple negative breast cancer", UGI1
  • Grant holder – F. Andrè, G. Curigliano, K. Denkert

 

PUBLICATIONS

Published Abstracts: Over 600 abstracts presented at national and international conferences.

Theses & Mentoring:

• MD 4-ABP DNA adducts in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
• dHER2 peptide vaccine ad adjuvant therapy in HER2 positive breast cancer
• Pharmacogenetic determinants of response to intravescical gemcitabine in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder stage pT1, pT1
• Identification of a gene signature predictive of response to bevacizumab in lymphangitic breast cancer
• Cancer testis antigens expression in triple negative breast cancer
• PhD Pharmacogenetic determinants of response to intravescical gemcitabine in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder stage pT1, pT1

164 Peer Reviewed Publications

Citations: 1829

Citing Articles: 1722

Citing Articles without self-citations: 1683

11 PUBLISHED BOOK CHAPTERS

 

Journal Editorial Board- Editorial Board Member:

• Annals of Oncology
• Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Current reviewer
• Nature Clinical Cancer Reviews
• Journal of National Cancer Institute
• Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
• Nature Clinical Practice Oncology
• Cancer Treatment Review
• Breast Cancer Research
• British Journal of Cancer
• European Journal of Cancer
• Breast Cancer Research
• Critical Review in Hematology-Oncology

 

Selected International Conferences Attended as Faculty

• 1992 International Conference on Cancer: Molecular Oncology and Clinical Application, Roma, Italia.
• 1993 4th World Congress International Gastro-Surgical Club, Madrid, Spain.
• 1995 5th Congress of the European Council of Coloproctology, Barcellona, Spain.
• 1995 First International Congress “Colorectal Cancer: from Gene to Cure”, Amsterdam, Netherland.
• 1995 Research Forum 94° Annual Convention of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Montreal, Canada.
• 1996 American Association for Cancer Research 87th Annual Meeting, Washington, USA.
• 1996 AARC and IARC Joint Conference “Carcinogenesis from environmental pollution: Assessment of human risk and strategies for prevention”, Budapest, Hungary.
• 1996 2nd International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Therapy “Impact of cancer biotechnology on diagnostic and prognostic indicators in predictive oncology and therapy”, Nice, France.
• 1998 European Association for Cancer Research, XV meeting, Stockholm, Sweden.
• 1998 4th International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Therapy “Impact of biotechnology on cancer: Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators”, Nice, France.
• 2000 2nd Milan Breast Conference, Milan, Italy
• 2000 25th European Society of Medical Oncology Congress, Hamburg, Germany.
• 2000 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans, LA, USA
• 2001 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, San Francisco, CA, USA
• 2001 Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference, Miami, USA
• 2002 4th Milan Breast Conference, Milan, Italy
• 2003 5th Milan Breast Conference, Milan, Italy
• 2003 39th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago, USA
• 2004 6th Milan Breast Conference, Milan, Italy
• 2004 Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2004 40th Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans, USA
• 2005 41th Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, USA
• 2005 7th Milan Breast Conference, Milan, Italy
• 2005 96th American Association for Cancer research Annual Meeting Anaheim/Orange County, USA, CA, 2005
• 2006 42th Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Atlanta, USA
• 2006 8th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
• 2006 97th American Association for Cancer research Annual Meeting Washington, USA, 2006
• 2006 Saint Gallen Breast Cancer Conference, Saint Gallen, Switzerland
• 2007 98th American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, USA
• 2007 43th Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago, USA
• 2007 9th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
• 2008 10th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
• 2008 Saint Gallen Breast Cancer Conference, Saint Gallen, Switzerland
• 2008 Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, USA
• 2008 San Antonio, Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, USA
• 2009 Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, USA
• 2009 San Antonio, Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, USA
• 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago
• 2010 IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference, Brussels, Belgium
• 2011 Saint Gallen Breast Cancer Conference, Saint Gallen, Switzerland
• 2011 IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference, Brussels, Belgium
• 2011 Milan Breast Cancer Conference
• 2012 IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference, Brussels, Belgium
• 2012 ESMO Meeting, Vienna, Invited Speaker and Faculty Member
• 2013 Saint Gallen Breast Cancer Conference, St Gallen, Switzerland
• 2013 ECCO Cancer Meeting, Amsterdam
• 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago
• 2013 Russian Society of Medical Oncology, Moscow
• 2013 ESTRO annual meeting, Porto
• 2013 ESSO annual meeting, Amsterdam
• 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference