Clelia Madeddu

Department of Medical Sciences ‘M. Aresu’

Telephone: +39 0706754228

Personal webpage: here

Main areas of expertise: Molecular pathology; Oncology

♦ Tissue microenvironment and tumoral microenvironment in the carcinogenic process. Prognostic and diagnostic molecular markers correlated to cancer cell biology, cell metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and cancer progression

Cancer progression is characterized by specific molecular and metabolic changes, which play a central role in the pathogenesis of patients’ symptoms and disease outcome. In particular, inflammatory mediators, synthesized by tumor and immune cells, are involved in the regulation of molecular pathways driving tumor progression at tumor microenvironment. Moreover, they act also at systemic levels on different peripheral and central sites and influence the molecular and metabolic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cancer symptoms. A better knowledge of these changes may allow to develop new and targeted drugs able to counteract cancer progression as well as patient symptoms. Our laboratory is experienced in translational research, which ranges from the evaluation of these mechanisms in in vivo and in vitro systems to the assessment of these molecular pathways and their modulation by targeted specific treatments in cancer patients.

Within this general line of research, specific projects are:

Molecular mechanisms linking inflammation and immune system response with cancer development and progession
Molecular factors involved in the pathogenesis and prognosis of ovarian cancer
Molecular and biological mediators involved in the pathogenesis of cancer-related symptoms and their role as target of personalized targeted treatment
Role of leptin in the pathogenesis of endocrine-related cancer and metabolic disorders in cancer patients
Oxidative stress and cancer. Role in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and pathogenesis of cancer-related symptoms and antineoplastic treatment toxicities.

Key publications:

Macciò A, Madeddu C (2013) The role of interleukin-6 in the evolution of ovarian cancer: clinical and prognostic implications-a review. J Mol Med (Berl), doi: 10.1007/s00109-013-1080-7

Macciò A, Madeddu C (2013) Cisplatin: an old drug with a newfound efficacy — from mechanisms of action to cytotoxicity. Expert Opin Pharmacother 14: 1839-1857

Mantovani G, Madeddu C, Macciò A (2013) Drugs in development for treatment of patients with cancer-related anorexia and cachexia syndrome. Drug Des Devel Ther 7: 645-656

Mantovani G, Madeddu C, Macciò A (2012) Cachexia and oxidative stress in cancer: an innovative therapeutic management. Curr Pharm Des 18: 4813-4818

Macciò A, Madeddu C (2012) Inflammation and ovarian cancer. Cytokine 58: 133-147

Macciò A, Madeddu C, Gramignano G, Mulas C, Floris C, Massa D, Astara G, Chessa P, Mantovani G (2010) Correlation of body mass index and leptin with tumor size and stage of disease in hormone-dependent postmenopausal breast cancer: preliminary results and therapeutic implications. J Mol Med (Berl) 88: 677-686

Macciò A, Madeddu C, Mantovani G (2009) Adipose tissue as target organ in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer: new therapeutic perspectives. Obes Rev 10: 660-670

Macciò A, Madeddu C, Massa D, Astara G, Farci D, Melis GB, Mantovani G (2009) Interleukin-6 and leptin as markers of energy metabolic changes in advanced ovarian cancer patients. J Cell Mol Med 13: 3951-3919

Mantovani G, Macciò A, Madeddu C, Gramignano G, Lusso MR, Serpe R, Massa E, Astara G, Deiana L (2006) A phase II study with antioxidants, both in the diet and supplemented, pharmaconutritional support, progestagen, and anti-cyclooxygenase-2 showing efficacy and safety in patients with cancer-related anorexia/cachexia and oxidative stress. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15: 1030-1034

Macciò A, Madeddu C, Massa D, Mudu MC, Lusso MR, Gramignano G, Serpe R, Melis GB, Mantovani G (2005) Hemoglobin levels correlate with interleukin-6 levels in patients with advanced untreated epithelial ovarian cancer: role of inflammation in cancer-related anemia. Blood 106: 362-367