CAMPANELLA ALESSANDRO

After graduation in Biological Sciences, I obtained my PhD in Molecular Medicine at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University working on the regulation of iron homeostasis in cellular and animal models of iron-associated neurodegenerations. As a Postdoc at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, I started maturing experience in oncology within an AIRC 5x1000 funded program working on a project aimed at understanding the role of iron in disease development in multiple myeloma (MM). Based on the results obtained, I formulated the hypothesis that high-dose iron can induce ferroptosis, a form of cell death induced by oxidative stress, in cancer cells and be a strategy to negatively affect MM cell proliferation. For these results and to further develop my research in preclinical models, I was awarded with the AIRC “TRansforming IDEas in Oncological research (TRIDEO) award”. Afterwards, I found that ferroptosis induction can negatively affect cancer cell viability also in prostate cancer models. These data suggest a novel connection never explored in the clinic, between cellular iron balance and androgen functionality.
Currently, I am focusing my work on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a B cell malignancy in which the tumor microenvironment, beside creating a supportive milieu for the leukemic cells, provides also the context where the tumor shapes the immune system to escape its control. As a consequence, the vast majority of patients also presents with significant immune suppression and infections remain the first cause of death of patient with CLL. Together with my collaborators we are generating an immunophenotype profiling associated to the frequency and severity of infections to try to predict more vulnerable patients and design more effective protective approaches. We are also exploring whether ferroptosis induction in the microenvironment may be a valuable strategy to inhibit leukemic cell proliferation and reprogram immune dysfunctions.