Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of death from cancer. For the past 20 years, our research group has been investigating on multiple aspects of CRC, from early diagnosis to surgical treatment. The main field of research is related to rectal cancer and the association with neoadjuvant treatment (NT) performing both translational and clinical researches.

Our research mostly focuses on:

- non-clinical predictive factors after NT, e.g. serum telomerase (hTERT), miRNA and microarrays

- application of rectal sparing approaches to patients with complete or major clinical response undergoing NT and investigation of surgical and oncological outcomes. The group recently completed the multicentre prospective ReSARCH trial and is drafting the first national registry on rectal sparing approaches (Re-Resarch registry);

- quality of life and bowel function in rectal cancer patients undergoing NT and/or rectal surgery;

- rectal cancer staging and re-staging with selective radiological techniques, as PET-MRI, to understand predictive elements of response to NT or local recurrence;

- implementation of radiomics protocols to define response to NT in rectal cancer patients;

- relation between hospital volume and and oncological, surgical and economic outcomes;

- surgical approach, early diagnosis and surveillance of hereditary colorectal cancer (FAP, a-FAP, HNPCC).

Publications:

Bao QR, Pellino G, Spolverato G, Restivo A, Deidda S, Capelli G, Ruffolo C, Bianco F, Cuicchi D, Jovine E, Lombardi R, Belluco C, Amato A, La Torre F, Asteria C, Infantino A, Contardo T, Del Bianco P, Delrio P, Pucciarelli S. The impact of anastomotic leak on long-term oncological outcomes after low anterior resection for mid-low rectal cancer: extended follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2022 Jul;37(7):1689-1698. doi: 10.1007/s00384-022-04204-9. Epub 2022 Jun 30. PMID: 35773492; PMCID: PMC9262787.

Marchegiani F, Palatucci V, Capelli G, Guerrieri M, Belluco C, Rega D, Morpurgo E, Coco C, Restivo A, De Franciscis S, Aschele C, Perin A, Bonomo M, Muratore A, Spinelli A, Ramuscello S, Bergamo F, Montesi G, Spolverato G, Del Bianco P, Gambacorta MA, Delrio P, Pucciarelli S. Rectal Sparing Approach After Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients with Rectal Cancer: The Preliminary Results of the ReSARCh Trial. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Mar;29(3):1880-1889. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-11121-8. Epub 2021 Dec 2. PMID: 34855063.

Deidda S, Elmore U, Rosati R, De Nardi P, Vignali A, Puccetti F, Spolverato G, Capelli G, Zuin M, Muratore A, Danna R, Calabrò M, Guerrieri M, Ortenzi M, Ghiselli R, Scabini S, Aprile A, Pertile D, Sammarco G, Gallo G, Sena G, Coco C, Rizzo G, Pafundi DP, Belluco C, Innocente R, Degiuli M, Reddavid R, Puca L, Delrio P, Rega D, Conti P, Pastorino A, Zorcolo L, Pucciarelli S, Aschele C, Restivo A. Association of Delayed Surgery With Oncologic Long-term Outcomes in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Not Responding to Preoperative Chemoradiation. JAMA Surg. 2021 Dec 1;156(12):1141-1149. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.4566. PMID: 34586340;PMCID: PMC8482294.

D’Alimonte L, Bao QR, Spolverato G, Capelli G, Del Bianco P, Albertoni L, De Paoli A, Guerrieri M, Mantello G, Gambacorta MA, Canzonieri V, Valentini V, Coco C, Pucciarelli S. Long-Term Outcomes of Local Excision Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 May;28(5):2801-2808. doi: 10.1245/s10434-020-09243-6.

Epub 2020 Oct 30. Erratum in: Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Jan 5;: PMID: 33125570; PMCID: PMC8043910.

Pucciarelli S, Giandomenico F, De Paoli A, Gavaruzzi T, Lotto L, Mantello G, Barba C, Zotti P, Flora S, Del Bianco P. Bowel function and quality of life after local excision or total mesorectal excision following chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2017 Jan;104(1):138-147. doi: 10.1002/bjs.10318. Epub 2016 Oct 5. PMID: 27706805.

Barina A, De Paoli A, Delrio P, Guerrieri M, Muratore A, Bianco F, Vespa D, Asteria C, Morpurgo E, Restivo A, Coco C, Pace U, Belluco C, Aschele C, Lonardi S, Valentini V, Mantello G, Maretto I, Del Bianco P, Perin A, Pucciarelli S. Rectal sparing approach after preoperative radio- and/or chemotherapy (RESARCH) in patients with rectal cancer: a multicentre observational study. Tech Coloproctol. 2017 Aug;21(8):633-640. doi: 10.1007/s10151-017-1665-1. Epub 2017 Jul 28. PMID: 28755256.

Maas M, Nelemans PJ, Valentini V, Das P, Rödel C, Kuo LJ, Calvo FA, García-Aguilar J, Glynne-Jones R, Haustermans K, Mohiuddin M, Pucciarelli S, Small W Jr, Suárez J, Theodoropoulos G, Biondo S, Beets-Tan RG, Beets GL. Long-term outcome in patients with a pathological complete response after chemoradiation for rectal cancer: a pooled analysis of individual patient data. Lancet Oncol. 2010 Sep;11(9):835-44. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70172-8. Epub 2010 Aug 6. PMID: 20692872.

Guillem JG, Díaz-González JA, Minsky BD, Valentini V, Jeong SY, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Coco C, Leon R, Hernandez-Lizoain JL, Aristu JJ, Riedel ER, Nitti D, Wong WD, Pucciarelli S. cT3N0 rectal cancer: potential overtreatment with preoperative chemoradiotherapy is warranted. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Jan 20;26(3):368-73. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.13.5434. PMID: 18202411.

People involved:

Prof. Pucciarelli Salvatore, MD (Full Professor)
Prof.ssa Gaya Spolverato, MD (Associate Professor)
Prof. Imerio Angriman, MD (Associate Professor)
Prof. EDL Urso, MD (Associate Professor)

Group Member

Scarpa Marco, MD (Faculty)
Maretto Isacco, MD (Faculty)
Perin Alessandro, MD (Faculty)
Ruffolo Cesare, MD(Faculty)
Bao Q. Riccardo (Assegnista di Ricerca)