Giulia Pasello.pdf

Main research field is thoracic oncology, with particular reference to: lung cancer; pleural mesothelioma; thymic epithelial tumors.
Research activity is focused on the following areas:

1. Translational studies on tumor immune microenvironment and circulating biomarkers of inflammation for prognostic stratification and treatment outcome prediction of thoracic cancers circulating. This research line was initially focused on pleural mesothelioma, where we explored tumor immune microenvironment and checkpoint expression as well as inflammatory circulating biomarkers in different histological subtypes of mesothelioma, their prognostic role and modulation by systemic treatments and correlation with molecular pathways involved in cancer progression.
This research field was subsequently enlarged to lung cancer where I am currently the principal investigator of three ongoing translational studies which received research grants: 1) Circulating biomarkers in patients treated with ATezolizumab + chemotherapy in extended Small-Cell Lung Cancer (CATS study), supported by an unconditioned company-based research grant and by a grant funding on liquid biopsy by IOV; 2) Inflammatory markers and Radiomic signature as predictors of response and Outcome in stage III Non-small cell lung cancer (Iron Study), supported by an unconditioned company-based research grant; 3) Circulating biomarkers as predictors of gender-specific response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer patients (Studio MAGNETIC Study, Co-PI) supported by RF-2018-12367604; and 5x1000 IOV, 2018.
These projects were lead in collaboration with the Pathology and Thoracic Surgery Units of University of Padova and with the laboratories of molecular oncology of the Istituto Oncologico Veneto and University of Padova.

Related publications:

• Detection of circulating immunosuppressive cytokines in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients for prognostic stratification. Urso L, Silic-Benussi M, Boscolo A, Lorenzi M, Bonanno L, Lunardi F, Guarneri V, Calabrese F, Rea F, Conte P, Pasello G.Cytokine 2021
• P14/ARF Positive Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Phenotype With Distinct Immune Microenvironment. Pezzuto F, Lunardi F, Vedovelli L, Fortarezza F, Urso L, Grosso F, Ceresoli GL, Kern I, Vlacic G, Faccioli E, Schiavon M, Gregori D, Rea F, Calabrese F, Pasello G. Front Oncol. 2021
• Malignant pleural mesothelioma immune microenvironment and checkpoint expression: correlation with clinical-pathological features and intratumor heterogeneity over time. Pasello G, Zago G, Lunardi F, Urso L, Kern I, Vlacic G, Grosso F, Mencoboni M, Ceresoli GL, Schiavon M, Pezzuto F, Pavan A, Vuljan SE, Del Bianco P, Conte P, Rea F, Calabrese F.Ann Oncol. 2018).
• Immunoscore for Prognostic Stratification of Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Boscolo A, Fortarezza F, Lunardi F, Comacchio G, Urso L, Frega S, Menis J, Bonanno L, Guarneri V, Rea F, Conte P, Calabrese F, Pasello G. Front Oncol. 2020
• Tumor Immune-Infiltrate Landscape After Chemo-Radiotherapy in a Case Series of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Pretreatment Predictors and Correlation With Outcome.  Pavan A, Ferro A, Fortarezza F, Schiavon M, Evangelista L, Pezzuto F, Lunardi F, Frega S, Bonanno L, Rea F, Guarneri V, Conte PF, Calabrese F, Pasello G. Oncologist 2022

2. Preclinical and translational studies on rare thoracic cancer. Since my residency and PhD thesis works, part of my research activity has been focused on studies aiming at the investigation of predictive and prognostic molecular pathways in pleural mesothelioma in preclinical models and tumor samples as well as of preclinical activity of targeted agents. These works have been lead in collaboration with the molecular oncology laboratories at the University of Zurich where I spent a 6-months fellowship, as well as with the laboratories of molecular oncology of the Istituto Oncologico Veneto and University of Padova. This research line received the 2010, ESMO translational research fellowship award.

Related publications:

• Induction of senescence markers after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma and association with clinical outcome: an exploratory analysis. Sidi R, Pasello G, Opitz I, Soltermann A, Tutic M, Rehrauer H, Weder W, Stahel RA, Felley-Bosco E. Eur J Cancer 2011
• Synergistic antitumor activity of recombinant human Apo2L/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pasello G, Urso L, Silic-Benussi M, Schiavon M, Cavallari I, Marulli G, Nannini N, Rea F, Ciminale V, Favaretto A.J Thorac Oncol. 2014

3. Real world studies on innovative anticancer drugs in lung cancer. These are multicenter studies both a regional and national level, conducted by my group and I, aiming at investigating effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of innovative anticancer drugs such as targeted treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Related publications:

• Multicenter Real-World Study on Effectiveness and Early Discontinuation Predictors in Patients With Non–small cell Lung Cancer Receiving Nivolumab. Oncologist 2022 (published on line) Pasello G, Lorenzi M , Calvetti L , Oliani C , Pavan A, , Favaretto A , Palazzolo G , Giovanis P , Zustovich F, Bonetti A, Bernardi D, Mandarà M, Aprile G , Crivellaro G, Sinigaglia G , Tognazzo S, Morandi P , Bortolami A, Marino V , Bonanno L , Guarneri V, Conte PF, on behalf of the ROV investigators.
• First-Line Osimertinib in Patients with EGFR-Mutant Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Outcome and Safety in the Real World: FLOWER Study Lorenzi M, Ferro A, Cecere F, Scattolin D, Del Conte A, Follador A, Pilotto S, Polo V, Santarpia M, Chiari R, Pavan A, Maso AD, Da Ros V, Targato G, Vari S, Indraccolo S, Calabrese F, Frega S, Bonanno L, Conte PF, Guarneri V, Pasello G. Oncologist. 2021
• From Diagnostic-Therapeutic Pathways to Real-World Data: A Multicenter Prospective Study on Upfront Treatment for EGFR-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MOST Study). Pasello G, Vicario G, Zustovich F, Oniga F, Gori S, Rosetti F, Bonetti A, Favaretto A, Toso S, Redelotti R, Santo A, Bernardi D, Giovanis P, Oliani C, Calvetti L, Gatti C, Palazzolo G, Baretta Z, Bortolami A, Bonanno L, Basso M, Menis J, Corte DD, Frega S, Guarneri V, Conte P; Veneto Oncology Network. Oncologist. 2019

4. New drugs development in thoracic cancers. I am the principal investigator of several sponsored and no-profit clinical trials investigating new anticancer drugs in the treatment of patients affected by thoracic cancers. In some of these trials, my Center was the national coordinating center.

Related publications:

• A phase II, open-label, single-arm trial of carboplatin plus etoposide with bevacizumab and atezolizumab in patients with extended-stage small-cell lung cancer (CeLEBrATE study): background, design and rationale. Andrini E, Lamberti G, Mazzoni F, Riccardi F, Bonetti A, Follador A, Artioli F, Genova C, Barbieri F, Frassoldati A, Brighenti M, Colantonio I, Pasello G, Ficorella C, Cinieri S, Tiseo M, Gelsomino F, Tognetto M, Rihawi K, Ardizzoni A.Future Oncol. 2022
• Gemcitabine with or without ramucirumab as second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (RAMES): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Pinto C, Zucali PA, Pagano M, Grosso F, Pasello G, Garassino MC, Tiseo M, Soto Parra H, Grossi F, Cappuzzo F, de Marinis F, Pedrazzoli P, Bonomi M, Gianoncelli L, Perrino M, Santoro A, Zanelli F, Bonelli C, Maconi A, Frega S, Gervasi E, Boni L, Ceresoli GL.Lancet Oncol. 2021
• Atezolizumab in a CoHort of pretreated, advanced, non-small cell lung cancer patients with rare HistologiCal SubtypEs (CHANCE trial). Gelsomino F, Lamberti G, Tiseo M, Rocco D, Pasello G, Cecere FL, Chella A, Grilli G, Mandruzzato M, Tognetto M, Garassino MC, Macerelli M, Novello S, Roila F, Colantonio I, Grossi F, Fiorentino M, Ardizzoni A.Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2020
• Trabectedin in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Results From the Multicentre, Single Arm, Phase II ATREUS Study. Cortinovis D, Grosso F, Carlucci L, Zucali PA, Pasello G, Tiseo M, Sperandi F, Hollander L, Galli F, Torri V, Rulli E, Canova S, Maconi A, Bidoli P, Ceresoli GL, D'Incalci M; ATREUS investigators. Clin Lung Cancer. 2021
• RELEVENT Trial: Phase II Trial of Ramucirumab, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel in Previously Untreated Thymic Carcinoma/B3 Thymoma With Area of Carcinoma. Imbimbo M, Vitali M, Fabbri A, Ottaviano M, Pasello G, Petrini I, Palmieri G, Berardi R, Zucali P, Ganzinelli M, Marabese M, Broggini M, Marino M, Trama A, Rulli E, Hollander L, Pruneri G, Torri V, Garassino MC.Clin Lung Cancer. 2018
• Phase II Study of Everolimus in Patients With Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Previously Treated With Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy. Zucali PA, De Pas T, Palmieri G, Favaretto A, Chella A, Tiseo M, Caruso M, Simonelli M, Perrino M, De Vincenzo F, Toffalorio F, Damiano V, Pasello G, Garbella E, Ali M, Conforti F, Ottaviano M, Cioffi A, De Placido S, Giordano L, Bertossi M, Destro A, Di Tommaso L, Santoro A.J Clin Oncol. 2018

5. Liquid biopsy as diagnostic, predictive and prognostic tool in thoracic oncology.
Lung cancer has been the first solid tumor where the role of liquid biopsy has been established. Our clinical team in collaboration with the preclinical team of Prof. Indraccolo (University of Padova), was one of the first in Italy to test the role of liquid biopsy first as diagnostic tool and more recently as useful tool for translational research.

Related publications:

• Clinical Features and Progression Pattern of Acquired T790M-positive Compared With T790M-negative EGFR Mutant Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Catching Tumor and Clinical Heterogeneity Over Time Through Liquid Biopsy. Dal Maso A, Lorenzi M, Roca E, Pilotto S, Macerelli M, Polo V, Cecere FL, Del Conte A, Nardo G, Buoro V, Scattolin D, Monteverdi S, Urso L, Zulato E, Frega S, Bonanno L, Indraccolo S, Calabrese F, Conte P, Pasello G.Clin Lung Cancer. 2020
• Early assessment of KRAS mutation in cfDNA correlates with risk of progression and death in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
• Zulato E, Attili I, Pavan A, Nardo G, Del Bianco P, Boscolo Bragadin A, Verza M, Pasqualini L, Pasello G, Fassan M, Calabrese F, Guarneri V, Amadori A, Conte P, Indraccolo S, Bonanno L.Br J Cancer. 2020
• Role of next generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: impact of STK11, KRAS and TP53 mutations and co-mutations on outcome.
• Pavan A, Bragadin AB, Calvetti L, Ferro A, Zulato E, Attili I, Nardo G, Dal Maso A, Frega S, Menin AG, Fassan M, Calabrese F, Pasello G, Guarneri V, Aprile G, Conte P, Rosell R, Indraccolo S, Bonanno L.Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2021

Other research grants: 2015, My First AIRC Grant

1. Pasello G, Lorenzi M , Calvetti L , Oliani C , Pavan A, , Favaretto A , Palazzolo G , Giovanis P , Zustovich F, Bonetti A, Bernardi D, Mandarà M, Aprile G , Crivellaro G, Sinigaglia G , Tognazzo S, Morandi P , Bortolami A, Marino V , Bonanno L , Guarneri V, Conte PF, on behalf of the ROV investigators. Multicenter Real-World Study on Effectiveness and Early Discontinuation Predictors in Patients With Non–small cell Lung Cancer Receiving Nivolumab. Oncologist 2022 (published on line)
2. Pasello G, Remon J, Felley-Bosco E. Understanding the Interplay Between the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Genetic Alterations in Thoracic Malignancies. Front. Oncol., 10 March 2022 https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.871544
3. Pavan A, Ferro A, Fortarezza F, Schiavon M, Evangelista L, Pezzuto F, Lunardi F, Frega S, Bonanno L, Rea F, Guarneri V, Conte PF, Calabrese F, Pasello G. Tumor Immune-Infiltrate Landscape After Chemo-Radiotherapy in a Case Series of Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Pretreatment Predictors and Correlation With Outcome. The Oncologist, Volume 27, Issue 2, February 2022, Pages e199–e202, https://doi.org/10.1093/oncolo/oyab0473.
4. Pasello G, Menis J, Pilotto S, Frega S, Belluomini L, Pezzuto F, Caliò A, Sepulcri M, Cernusco NLV, Schiavon M, Infante MV, Damin M, Micheletto C, Del Bianco P, Giovannetti R, Bonanno L, Fantoni U, Guarneri V, Calabrese F, Rea F, Milella M, Conte P. How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted on Integrated Care Pathways for Lung Cancer: The Parallel Experience of a COVID-Spared and a COVID-Dedicated Center. Front Oncol. 2021 Jun 28;11:669786. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.669786. eCollection 2021
5. Lorenzi M, Ferro A, Cecere F, Scattolin D, Del Conte A, Follador A, Pilotto S, Polo V, Santarpia M, Chiari R, Pavan A, Maso AD, Da Ros V, Targato G, Vari S, Indraccolo S, Calabrese F, Frega S, Bonanno L, Conte PF, Guarneri V, Pasello G. First-Line Osimertinib in Patients with EGFR-Mutant Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Outcome and Safety in the Real World: FLOWER Study. Oncologist. 2021 Aug 23. doi: 10.1002/onco.13951. Online ahead of print.
6. Boscolo A, Fortarezza F, Lunardi F, Comacchio G, Urso L, Frega S, Menis J, Bonanno L, Guarneri V, Rea F, Conte P, Calabrese F, Pasello G. Immunoscore for Prognostic Stratification of Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol. 2020 Sep 25;10:564915. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.564915. PMID: 33072595; PMCID: PMC7544833.
7. Ceresoli GL, Pasello G Immune checkpoint inhibitors in mesothelioma: a turning point. Lancet. 2021 Jan 30;397(10272):348-349. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00147-1. Epub 2021 Jan 21
8. Pasello G, Pavan A, Attili I, Bortolami A, Bonanno L, Menis J, Conte P, Guarneri V. Real world data in the era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs): Increasing evidence and future applications in lung cancer. Cancer Treat Rev. 2020 Jul;87:102031. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102031. Epub 2020 May 16. PMID: 32446182.
9. Pasello G, Vicario G, Zustovich F, Oniga F, Gori S, Rosetti F, Bonetti A, Favaretto A, Toso S, Redelotti R, Santo A, Bernardi D, Giovanis P, Oliani C, Calvetti L, Gatti C, Palazzolo G, Baretta Z, Bortolami A, Bonanno L, Basso M, Menis J, Corte DD, Frega S, Guarneri V, Conte P; Veneto Oncology Network. From Diagnostic-Therapeutic Pathways to Real-World Data: A Multicenter Prospective Study on Upfront Treatment for EGFR-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MOST Study). Oncologist. 2019 Jun;24(6):e318-e326. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0712. Epub 2019 Mar 7.PMID: 30846513
10. Pasello G, Zago G, Lunardi F, Urso L, Kern I, Vlacic G, Grosso F, Mencoboni M, Ceresoli GL, Schiavon M, Pezzuto F, Pavan A, Vuljan SE, Del Bianco P, Conte P, Rea F, Calabrese F. Malignant pleural mesothelioma immune microenvironment and checkpoint expression: correlation with clinical-pathological features and intratumor heterogeneity over time. Ann Oncol. 2018 May 1;29(5):1258-1265. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdy086. PMID: 29514216.

2015, My First AIRC Grant