The Gastrointestinal (GI) and Liver Oncology group is devoted to conduct both clinical-epidemiologic and basic/translational research on preneoplastic conditions and on cancers of the upper GI tract and of the liver.
As far as basic science and translational research is considered, this group is specifically interested on molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis in the liver and in upper GI tract. Among these mechanisms, research projects are mainly focused on inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, immune response and production of reactive oxygen species, which interact in the oncologic network and contribute to the development of the neoplastic disease. Moreover, microRNAs as important gene expression regulators that might be involved in cancer development and progression, are also investigated. These mechanisms are evaluated starting from pre-neoplastic lesions and conditions, such as cirrhosis (in liver carcinogenesis) and atrophic gastritis and Barrett’s esophagus (in gastric and esophageal tumors). In addition, liver oncology research projects are also aimed at identifying circulating biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNA (“liquid biopsy”) useful for early diagnosis, prognostic stratification of the patients and prediction of the response to treatment, focusing in particular on systemic therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
With respect to precancerous conditions and lesions of the upper GI tract, esophageal (Barrett's esophagus) and gastric (H. pylori related gastritis and autoimmune gastritis) predisposing conditions and their pre-neoplastic role will be investigated from a clinical point of view. In addition, translational studies will be conducted on the mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis (investigating autophagy associated with oxidative stress; the changes in the expression of onco-miRNAs and onco-suppressor miRNAs), on the mechanisms of inflammation (cytokines), and on "liquid biopsy" in an attempt to identify new markers useful in predicting cancer development.

The Oncology group is also involved in international trials on HCC therapy and collaborates with the multicenter group ITA.LI.CA (Italian Liver Cancer) in the production of scientific evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In particular, research projects are aimed at evaluating changes in epidemiology, defining the best surveillance strategies in cirrhotic patients at risk, defining new prognostic systems and evaluating changes in the treatment scenario for HCC.

Publications:

• Pinto E, Lazzarini E, Pelizzaro F, Gambato M, Santarelli L, Potente S, Zanaga P, Zappitelli T, Cardin R, Burra P, Farinati F, Romualdi C, Boscarino D, Tosello V, Indraccolo S, Russo FP. Somatic Copy Number Alterations in Circulating Cell-Free DNA as a Prognostic Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights from a Proof-of-Concept Study. Cancers (Basel). 2025 Mar 26;17(7):1115. doi: 10.3390/cancers17071115. PMID: 40227625; PMCID: PMC11988118.
• Burra P, Battistella S, ... Zanetto A, Russo FP. Liver transplantation for HBV-related liver disease: Impact of prophylaxis for HBV on HCC recurrence. JHEP Rep. 2024 Nov 23;7(3):101278. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101278. PMID: 40041120; PMCID: PMC11876922.
• Quaranta MG, Cavalletto L, Russo FP, et al, On Behalf Of Piter Collaborating Investigators. Reduction of the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma over Time Using Direct-Acting Antivirals: A Propensity Score Analysis of a Real-Life Cohort (PITER HCV). Viruses. 2024 Apr 26;16(5):682. doi: 10.3390/v16050682. PMID: 38793565; PMCID: PMC11125808.
• Pinto E, ... F, Russo FP. HIF-1α and VEGF as prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization. Dig Liver Dis. 2024 May;56(5):872-879. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.09.019. Epub 2023 Sep 30. PMID: 37783655.
• Pinto E, Meneghel P, Farinati F, Russo FP, Pelizzaro F, Gambato M. Efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: Does liver disease etiology have a role? Dig Liver Dis. 2024 Apr;56(4):579-588. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.08.062. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37758610.
• Pelizzaro F, Cardin R, Penzo B, Pinto E, Vitale A, Cillo U, Russo FP, Farinati F. Liquid Biopsy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where Are We Now? Cancers (Basel). 2021 May 10;13(9):2274. doi: 10.3390/cancers13092274. PMID: 34068786; PMCID: PMC8126224.
• Russo FP, Zanetto A, Pinto E, Battistella S, Penzo B, Burra P, Farinati F. Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Where Do We Stand? Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 2;23(1):500. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010500. PMID: 35008926; PMCID: PMC8745141.
• Pelizzaro F, Gambato M, Gringeri E, Vitale A, Cillo U, Farinati F, Burra P, Russo FP. Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Sep 29;13(19):4882. doi: 10.3390/cancers13194882. PMID: 34638365; PMCID: PMC8508053.
• Zanetto A, Campello E, Bulato C, Gavasso S, Saggiorato G, Shalaby S, Spiezia L, Cillo U, Farinati F, Russo FP, Burra P, Senzolo M, Simioni P. More Pronounced Hypercoagulable State and Hypofibrinolysis in Patients With Cirrhosis With Versus Without HCC. Hepatol Commun. 2021 Dec;5(12):1987-2000. doi: 10.1002/hep4.1781. Epub 2021 Aug 16. PMID: 34558850; PMCID: PMC8631093.
• Vitale A, Cabibbo G, Iavarone M, Viganò L, Pinato DJ, Ponziani FR, Lai Q, Casadei-Gardini A, Celsa C, Galati G, Gambato M, et al; HCC Special Interest Group of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver. Personalised management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a multiparametric therapeutic hierarchy concept. Lancet Oncol. 2023 Jul;24(7):e312-e322. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00186-9. PMID: 37414020.
• Shalaby S, et al; Italian Transplant and Cancer Cohort Study. Hepatocellular carcinoma and the risk of de novo malignancies after liver transplantation - a multicenter cohort study. Transpl Int. 2021 Apr;34(4):743-753. doi: 10.1111/tri.13831. Epub 2021 Feb 26. PMID: 33492715.
• Pelizzaro F, Marsilio I, Fassan M, Piazza F, Barberio B, D'Odorico A, Savarino EV, Farinati F, Zingone F. The Risk of Malignancies in Celiac Disease-A Literature Review. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Oct 21;13(21):5288. doi: 10.3390/cancers13215288. PMID: 34771450; PMCID: PMC8582432.

Funding (as PI):

Ordinary department funding

People involved (LIVER):

Patrizia Burra, full Professor
Francesco Paolo Russo, Associate Professor
Giacomo Germani, Associate Professor
Nora Cazzagon, Assistant Professor
Alberto Zanetto, Assistant Professor
Alberto Ferrarese, Assistant Professor

People involved (GI):

Edoardo Vincenzo Savarino, Associate Professor
Fabiana Zingone, Associate Professor

Group members:

Martina Gambato (Consultant Hepatologist), Matteo Ghisa, Alessandro Borsato (Consultant Gastroenterologists), Elisa Pinto, Sara Battistella, Elisa Catanzaro, Luisa Bertin, (Gastroenterologists and PhD students), Maria Piera Kitenge, Elena Marchese, Chiara Suraci (Gastroetnerology Fellows), Romilda Cardin (PhD Biologist)
Paola Zanaga, Elena Agostini, Erica Bonazzi, Daria Maniero, Michela Palo,  (Study Coordinator), Teresa Zappitelli (Study Coordinator, Phd student), Greta Lorenzon (Study Coordinator and Research Nurse)