Docenti
Career/Employment
Education
MD, Medicine and Surgery, University of Padova (1998)
Residency in General Surgery, University of Padova (2004)
PhD in Surgical Sciences and Technological Applications, University of Padova (2008)
Other Qualifications and Certifications
Management Program for Healthcare Management and Leadership of Complex Organizational Units, Veneto Region School of Public Health (2023)
Advanced Course “Global Health: Quality and Safety”, Harvard Global Health Institute, Cambridge, USA (2017)
Clinical Observership in Esophageal Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA (2017)
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (since 2017)
Advanced English proficiency (C1–C2)
National Scientific Qualification, Full Professor in General Surgery, Italy (2022)
Positions
Director, General Surgery Unit 1, University Hospital of Padova (since 2022).
Associate Professor of General Surgery, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences DiSCOG, University of Padova (since 2021).
Past President, Italian Society for the Study of Esophageal Diseases (SISME).
Secretary, Triveneto Surgical Society.
Member, Quality Committee and Research & Development Committee, DiSCOG, University of Padova.
Director, Master Program “Case Manager Nurse”, University of Padova.
Research interests and career highlights
Career Highlights
Extensive surgical experience with primary expertise in complex esophagogastric procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic esophagectomy, gastrectomy, and upper gastrointestinal reconstructions.
Pioneer of the totally minimally invasive esophagectomy program at the University Hospital of Padova (2018).
Extensive international collaborations in multicentric trials on esophageal and gastric cancer.
Research Interests
Multimodal treatment strategies for esophageal and gastric cancers.
Predictive and prognostic factors in esophagogastric surgery, including perioperative outcomes and failure-to-rescue analysis.
Surgical innovation in minimally invasive and robotic upper gastrointestinal procedures.
Tumor-related cachexia: pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, and translational approaches.
Benign and functional esophageal diseases, with a focus on tailored surgical strategies.
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applied to the esophagus.
Key publications
1: Capovilla G, Pierobon ES, Moletta L, Scarton A, Sciuto ME, Tagkalos E, Uzun E, De Pasqual CA, Turolo C, Zanchettin G, Riccio F, Provenzano L, Salvador R, Berlth F, Weindelmayer J, Lonardi S, Galuppo S, Giacopuzzi S, De Manzoni G, Grimminger P, Valmasoni M. Prognostic Value of Tumor Regression Grade After Chemotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Treatment for Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Aug;32(8):5909-5918. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-17264-2. Epub 2025 May 5. PMID: 40323553; PMCID: PMC12222383.
2: Salvador R, Forattini F, Provenzano L, Costantini A, Vittori A, Santangelo M, Capovilla G, Costantini M, Moletta L, Nezi G, Nicoletti L, Valmasoni M. Long-term results of laparoscopic Heller-Dor for esophageal-gastric junction outflow obstruction: a prospective comparative study. Int J Surg. 2025 Feb 1;111(2):1950-1956. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002170. PMID: 39715159.
3: Vittori A, Capovilla G, Salvador R, Santangelo M, Provenzano L, Nicoletti L, Costantini A, Forattini F, Pittacolo M, Moletta L, Savarino EV, Valmasoni M. Laparoscopic fundoplication improves esophageal motility in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a high-volume single-center controlled study in the era of high-resolution manometry and 24-hour pH impedance. J Gastrointest Surg. 2025 Feb;29(2):101888. doi: 10.1016/j.gassur.2024.101888. Epub 2024 Nov 12. PMID: 39542415.
4: Moletta L, Pierobon ES, Capovilla G, Zuin IS, Carrillo Lizarazo JL, Nezi G, Lonardi S, Murgioni S, Galuppo S, Zanchettin G, Salvador R, Provenzano L, Valmasoni M. Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Resectable Esophageal Cancer: Upfront Esophagectomy Compared to Surgery after Neoadjuvant Treatments. J Clin Med. 2024 Jul 22;13(14):4271. doi: 10.3390/jcm13144271. PMID: 39064311; PMCID: PMC11277732.
5: Faron M, Cheugoua-Zanetsie M, Tierney J, Thirion P, Nankivell M, Winter K, Yang H, Shapiro J, Vernerey D, Smithers BM, Walsh T, Piessen G, Nilsson M, Boonstra J, Ychou M, Law S, Cunningham D, de Vathaire F, Stahl M, Urba S, Valmasoni M, Williaume D, Thomas J, Lordick F, Tepper J, Roth J, Gebski V, Burmeister B, Paoletti X, van Sandick J, Fu J, Pignon JP, Ducreux M, Michiels S; MANATEC-02 Collaborative Group. Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Oct 1;41(28):4535-4547. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02279. Epub 2023 Jul 12. PMID: 37467395; PMCID: PMC10553121.
6: Capovilla G, Uzun E, Scarton A, Moletta L, Hadzijusufovic E, Provenzano L, Salvador R, Pierobon ES, Zanchettin G, Tagkalos E, Berlth F, Lang H, Valmasoni M, Grimminger PP. Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in the elderly patient: a multicenter retrospective matched-cohort study. Front Oncol. 2023 May 12;13:1104109. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1104109. PMID: 37251945; PMCID: PMC10213659.
7: Barbon S, Biccari A, Stocco E, Capovilla G, D'Angelo E, Todesco M, Sandrin D, Bagno A, Romanato F, Macchi V, De Caro R, Agostini M, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M, Porzionato A. Bio-Engineered Scaffolds Derived from Decellularized Human Esophagus for Functional Organ Reconstruction. Cells. 2022 Sep 20;11(19):2945. doi: 10.3390/cells11192945. PMID: 36230907; PMCID: PMC9563623.
8: Pierobon ES, Capovilla G, Moletta L, De Pasqual AL, Fornasier C, Salvador R, Zanchettin G, Lonardi S, Galuppo S, Hadzijusufovic E, Grimminger PP, Stocchero M, Costantini M, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M. Multimodal treatment of radiation-induced esophageal cancer: Results of a case-matched comparative study from a single center. Int J Surg. 2022 Mar;99:106268. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106268. Epub 2022 Feb 18. PMID: 35183734.
9: Moletta L, Pierobon ES, Capovilla G, Valotto G, Gavagna L, Provenzano L, Zanchettin G, Salvador R, Costantini M, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M. Could the Pittsburgh Severity Score guide the treatment of esophageal perforation? Experience of a single referral center. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Jan 1;92(1):108-116. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003417. PMID: 34561399.
10: Sartori R, Hagg A, Zampieri S, Armani A, Winbanks CE, Viana LR, Haidar M, Watt KI, Qian H, Pezzini C, Zanganeh P, Turner BJ, Larsson A, Zanchettin G, Pierobon ES, Moletta L, Valmasoni M, Ponzoni A, Attar S, Da Dalt G, Sperti C, Kustermann M, Thomson RE, Larsson L, Loveland KL, Costelli P, Megighian A, Merigliano S, Penna F, Gregorevic P, Sandri M. Perturbed BMP signaling and denervation promote muscle wasting in cancer cachexia. Sci Transl Med. 2021 Aug 4;13(605):eaay9592. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay9592. Erratum in: Sci Transl Med. 2024 Jan 24;16(731):eadn3942. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adn3942. PMID: 34349036.
11: Capovilla G, Moletta L, Pierobon ES, Salvador R, Provenzano L, Zanchettin G, Costantini M, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M. Optimal Treatment of cT2N0 Esophageal Carcinoma: Is Upfront Surgery Really the Way? Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;28(13):8387-8397. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10194-9. Epub 2021 Jun 17. PMID: 34142286.
12: Moletta L, Pierobon ES, Salvador R, Volpin F, Finocchiaro FM, Capovilla G, Piangerelli A, Ciccioli E, Zanchettin G, Costantini M, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M. Pharyngo-Esophageal Perforation Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Single Center Experience and a Systematic Review of the Literature. Global Spine J. 2022 May;12(4):719-731. doi: 10.1177/21925682211005737. Epub 2021 Apr 23. PMID: 33887971; PMCID: PMC9109565.
13: Moletta L, Pierobon ES, Capovilla G, Costantini M, Salvador R, Merigliano S, Valmasoni M. International guidelines and recommendations for surgery during Covid-19 pandemic: A Systematic Review. Int J Surg. 2020 Jul;79:180-188. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.05.061. Epub 2020 May 23. PMID: 32454253; PMCID: PMC7245259.
14: Valmasoni M, Capovilla G, Pierobon ES, Moletta L, Provenzano L, Costantini M, Salvador R, Merigliano S. A Technical Modification to the Circular Stapling Anastomosis Technique During Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Procedure. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2019 Dec;29(12):1585-1591. doi: 10.1089/lap.2019.0461. Epub 2019 Oct 3. PMID: 31580751.
15: Valmasoni M, Pierobon ES, Zanchettin G, Briscolini D, Moletta L, Ruol A, Salvador R, Merigliano S. Cervical Esophageal Cancer Treatment Strategies: A Cohort Study Appraising the Debated Role of Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Sep;25(9):2747-2755. doi: 10.1245/s10434-018-6648-6. Epub 2018 Jul 9. PMID: 29987601.
