Ricerca Gruppi di ricerca e contributi alla ricercaThe Section of BiochemistryGruppo Morandi

Gruppo Morandi

TUMOR BIOCHEMISTRY LAB

 

Coordinator

ANDREA MORANDI

Email: andrea.morandi@unifi.it

Twitter/X: @andMORand

Andrea Morandi holds the position of Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Florence. His academic journey began with Biotechnology (BSc) and Medical Biotechnology (MSc) studies at the University of Florence, where he graduated with honors in 2004 and 2006 respectively. During this time, Andrea focused his research on MAPK signaling in both liquid and solid cancers. Following his MSc, Andrea embarked on a PhD journey investigating the intricate realm of Tyrosine Kinase Receptors in breast cancer. His academic pursuits led him to the Institute of Cancer Research in London in 2007, where he worked under the mentorship of Prof Clare Isacke. During his tenure there, initially as a visiting PhD student and later as a Worldwide Cancer Research supported postdoctoral fellow, Andrea explored the role of the tyrosine kinase receptor RET in the context of response and resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer.

In recognition of his contributions to cancer research, Andrea was honored with a Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro Fellowship in 2013, prompting his return to Florence. In 2018, he furthered his academic career by joining the faculty at the University of Florence.

 

Member of the following Boards/Scientific Committees

• Member of the CTS (Comitato Tecnico Sanitario) of the Ministero della Salute (https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/ricercaSanitaria/dettaglioContenutiRicercaSanitaria.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=795&area=Ricerca sanitaria&menu=comitato)
• Member of the Technical Scientific Committee of the Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro (https://www.direzionescientifica.airc.it/about-us/technical-scientific-committee/)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Association of Cancer Research (SIC; https://www.cancerologia.it/)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Associazione Italiana Colture Cellulari (AICC; https://www.aicc.website/)
• Member of the Committee of the European Network for Breast Development and Cancer (ENBDC; https://enbdc.org/)

Current member of editorial board of the following Journals

Associate Editor - Cancer & Metabolism

Associate Editor - Frontiers Molecular and Cellular Oncology

Editorial Board - Taylor & Francis, Molecular and Cellular Oncology  

 

Research Team

MARINA BACCI – ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Email: marina.bacci@unifi.it

I obtained my BSc and MSs in Biotechnology and Medical Biotechnology from the University of Florence and a PhD in Life Sciences and Biotechnologies at the University of Sassari. I investigated the role of metabolic reprogramming in endocrine therapy resistance since my PhD and I continued this journey thanks to Pezcoller Foundation and AIRC support. I am now an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry.

NICLA LORITO – STAFF SCIENTIST

Email: nicla.lorito@unifi.it

I earned my BSc and MSc with honors in Biotechnology and Medical Biotechnology from the University of Florence. Following this, I joined Prof Culig's lab at the University of Innsbruck before pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on cancer metabolism in breast cancer. Then, with support from AIRC, I continued as a post-doctoral fellow in the Tumor Biochemistry Team. As of 2024, I serve as a Staff Scientist.

ANGELA SUBBIANI – POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Email: angela.subbiani@unifi.it

I received my BSc and MSc with honors from the University of Florence. I then started a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Oncohematology Lab of the Pediatric Oncology Hospital "Meyer". I am now a postdoctoral fellow supported by the Fondazione Annastaccatolisa working on the role of metabolic reprogramming in triple-negative breast cancer

ALFREDO SMIRIGLIA – POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Email: alfredo.smiriglia@unifi.it

I obtained my BSc and MSc in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Florence, both with honors.

I then started a PhD in Biomedical Science at the University of Florence investigating the role of metabolic aberration and gender-related differences in liver diseases. I am now a postdoctoral fellow investigating the metabolic reprogramming induced by xenobiotics in liver diseases and hepatocarcinoma.

FRANCESCA BONECHI – PHD STUDENT

Email: francesca.bonechi@unifi.it

I obtained my BSc and MSc in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Florence, both with honors. I then moved to Cologne (CECAD) in the laboratory of Dr Peltzer working on the interaction between lung cancer cells and adipocytes.

I am now a PhD student in Biomedical Science at the University of Florence investigating the role of estrogen in the preneoplastic lesions of the endometrium.

 

Current research interest

Metabolic reprogramming and deregulation are hallmarks of cancer. These alterations are not exclusively secondary effects of increased energetic and anabolic demands of the proliferating or invasive tumor cells. Instead, these traits alone are able to support and drive tumor initiation and progression. Importantly, metabolic reprogramming has a fundamental role in response and adaptation to anti-cancer therapies.

Our laboratory seeks to understand the contribution of metabolic reprogramming and the molecular mechanisms that drive this deregulation, particularly in the context of anti-cancer therapy resistance.

Indeed, preventing or bypassing drug resistance is arguably the most important unmet medical need in cancer management. Therefore, the identification of biomarker-defined patient populations that will most likely respond to the drugs is essential. Our work has multiple implications: (i) it will provide mechanistic insights involved in therapy response and resistance; (ii) it will apply multi-omics analysis to pre-clinical models to identify bio-markers of therapy response and resistance; (iii) it will generate experimental cellular models to study therapy response and resistance in several solid cancers.

 

Research Projects:

1. Metabolic reprogramming in endocrine therapy response and resistance in breast cancer

2. Metabolic reprograming in triple negative breast cancer

3. Metabolic determinants of CDK4/6 inhibitors resistance in breast cancer

4. Characterization of NAFLD to HCC progression: a gender approach with a focus on estrogen

5. The role of estrogen signalling in the progression of preneoplastic lesion of the endometrium

 

Key words

BREAST CANCER, METABOLIC REPROGRAMMING, SIGNALLING, RECEPTOR TYROSINE KINASE, CANCER METABOLISM, THERAPY RESISTANCE, HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA, BIOMARKERS

 

Current sources of funding of Andrea Morandi

AIRC IG 2020-2024 – Principal Investigator  

PRIN2022 2023-2025 – Research Unit Leader

PNRR Tuscan Health Ecosystem – Research Unit Leader

Annastaccatolisa 2022-2025 - Scientific Supervisor/Host of Dr Subbiani

 

Selected publications

1. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 controls a lipid droplet-peroxisome axis and is a vulnerability of endocrine-resistant ER⁺ breast cancer.

Bacci M, Lorito N, Smiriglia A, Subbiani A, Bonechi F, Comito G, Morriset L, El Botty R, Benelli M, López-Velazco JI, Caffarel MM, Urruticoechea A, Sflomos G, Malorni L, Corsini M, Ippolito L, Giannoni E, Meattini I, Matafora V, Havas K, Bachi A, Chiarugi P, Marangoni E, Morandi A. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Feb 28;16(736):eadf9874. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf9874. Epub 2024 Feb 28.PMID: 38416843

Free-access reprint link: https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-1722/full

1. International multidisciplinary consensus on the integration of radiotherapy with new systemic treatments for breast cancer: European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)-endorsed recommendations.

Meattini I, Becherini C, Caini S, Coles CE, Cortes J, Curigliano G, de Azambuja E, Isacke CM, Harbeck N, Kaidar-Person O, Marangoni E, Offersen BV, Rugo HS, Salvestrini V, Visani L, Morandi A, Lambertini M, Poortmans P, Livi L; Consensus Panellist Group. Lancet Oncol. 2024 Feb;25(2):e73-e83. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00534-X.PMID: 38301705 

1. Oxidative phosphorylation is a metabolic vulnerability of endocrine therapy and palbociclib resistant metastatic breast cancers.

El-Botty R, Morriset L, Montaudon E, Tariq Z, Schnitzler A, Bacci M, Lorito N, Sourd L, Huguet L, Dahmani A, Painsec P, Derrien H, Vacher S, Masliah-Planchon J, Raynal V, Baulande S, Larcher T, Vincent-Salomon A, Dutertre G, Cottu P, Gentric G, Mechta-Grigoriou F, Hutton S, Driouch K, Bièche I, Morandi A, Marangoni E. Nat Commun. 2023 Jul 14;14(1):4221. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40022-5.PMID: 37452026 

1. Lysosomal lipid switch sensitises to nutrient deprivation and mTOR targeting in pancreatic cancer.

De Santis MC, Gozzelino L, Margaria JP, Costamagna A, Ratto E, Gulluni F, Di Gregorio E, Mina E, Lorito N, Bacci M, Lattanzio R, Sala G, Cappello P, Novelli F, Giovannetti E, Vicentini C, Andreani S, Delfino P, Corbo V, Scarpa A, Porporato PE, Morandi A, Hirsch E, Martini M. Gut. 2023 Feb;72(2):360-371. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325117. Epub 2022 May 27.PMID: 35623884 

1. Sex difference in liver diseases: How preclinical models help to dissect the sex-related mechanisms sustaining NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Smiriglia A, Lorito N, Serra M, Perra A, Morandi A, Kowalik MA. iScience. 2023 Oct 30;26(12):108363. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108363. eCollection 2023 Dec 15.PMID: 38034347. Review.

1. Integrating radiation therapy with targeted treatments for breast cancer: From bench to bedside.

Meattini I, Livi L, Lorito N, Becherini C, Bacci M, Visani L, Fozza A, Belgioia L, Loi M, Mangoni M, Lambertini M, Morandi A.Cancer Treat Rev. 2022 Jul;108:102417. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102417. Epub 2022 May 21.PMID: 35623219 Review.

1. Lactate Rewires Lipid Metabolism and Sustains a Metabolic-Epigenetic Axis in Prostate Cancer.

Ippolito L, Comito G, Parri M, Iozzo M, Duatti A, Virgilio F, Lorito N, Bacci M, Pardella E, Sandrini G, Bianchini F, Damiano R, Ferrone L, la Marca G, Serni S, Spatafora P, Catapano CV, Morandi A, Giannoni E, Chiarugi P. Cancer Res. 2022 Apr 1;82(7):1267-1282. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-0914.PMID: 35135811 

1. Fat and Furious: Lipid Metabolism in Antitumoral Therapy Response and Resistance.

Bacci M, Lorito N, Smiriglia A, Morandi A. Trends Cancer. 2021 Mar;7(3):198-213. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.10.004. Epub 2020 Dec 16.PMID: 33281098 

1. Glucose Metabolic Reprogramming of ER Breast Cancer in Acquired Resistance to the CDK4/6 Inhibitor Palbociclib.

Lorito N, Bacci M, Smiriglia A, Mannelli M, Parri M, Comito G, Ippolito L, Giannoni E, Bonechi M, Benelli M, Migliaccio I, Malorni L, Chiarugi P, Morandi A. Cells. 2020 Mar 10;9(3):668. doi: 10.3390/cells9030668.PMID: 32164162 

10. Reprogramming of Amino Acid Transporters to Support Aspartate and Glutamate Dependency Sustains Endocrine Resistance in Breast Cancer.

Bacci M, Lorito N, Ippolito L, Ramazzotti M, Luti S, Romagnoli S, Parri M, Bianchini F, Cappellesso F, Virga F, Gao Q, Simões BM, Marangoni E, Martin LA, Comito G, Ferracin M, Giannoni E, Mazzone M, Chiarugi P, Morandi A. Cell Rep. 2019 Jul 2;28(1):104-118.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.010.PMID: 31269432 

Full Publication list: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1JM7xFr2A8y56/bibliography/public/