Laboratory of Oncohematology
(Responsible: Prof. Maria Teresa Voso)
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PRESENTATION OF THE LABORATORY
The laboratory of Oncohematology of the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, directed by Prof.ssa Maria Teresa Voso, founded by Prof. Francesco Lo Coco, has more than 20-year experience in the genetic and molecular characterization of myeloid neoplasms and is a regional and national reference and counseling center for the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloproliferative disorders and myelodysplastic syndromes. This activity is crucial for the correct prognostic assessment and risk-stratification of myeloid diseases, to better direct therapy and evaluate treatment response. As a research center, the lab focuses on the identification of novel molecular alterations in myeloid diseases and on their correlation with clinical and prognostic information. The identification of biomarkers in hematologic neoplasms is a major challenge, as it can provide prognostic information for patient risk stratification, which is important to modulate treatment intensity (chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, targeted treatments etc.), and help to identify actionable therapeutic targets for the development of new drugs. The research group has conducted pioneering studies in the field of minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia, demonstrating the prognostic significance of molecular evaluation in predicting response to therapy and disease relapse. In the national contest, the laboratory is one of the coordinating center of Gruppo Romano-Laziale Sindromi Mielodisplastiche (GROM-L) as well as of LabNet, a network of Italian hematology laboratories created within the GIMEMA group (the Italian cooperative group of adult hematological diseases), to foster the standardization of molecular diagnosis in acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. ( LabNet AML –Acute Myeloid Leukemia; JakNet –chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms Philadelphia-negative; LabNet MDS – Myelodisplastic Syndrome). The Lab also centralizes samples of several AML and MDS protocols for diagnostic and translational purposes. All the necessary equipments are available in the Lab, and the staff is highly specialized in the study of the biology and pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia, particularly acute promielocytic leukemia, for which it is an internationally recognized center of excellence. Another focus of the research group are genetic and epigenetic alterations in myelodysplastic syndromes, de novo and therapy-related. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS • Cytogenetic analysis (conventional Karyotype) • Molecular cytogenetics (FISH) • Analysis of molecular alterations (PCR, RT-PCR, Q-RT-PCR, Dd-PCR, Sanger sequencing, NGS) The proposed comprehensive diagnostic approach helps to properly define the specific subtypes of myeloid neoplasms, and is completed by the integration with clinical data. This helps to identify molecular targets at diagnosis and during follow-up through minimal residual assessments, with the final objective of a personalized medicine approach. BASIC PANEL: mutations and recurrent translocations • Karyotyping/FISH • PML/RARA (bcr1-2-3) • BCR/ABL1 (p190-p210-p230) • RUNX1/RUNX1T1 • CBFb/MYH11 • DEK/NUP214 • FLT3-ITD-D835 and I836 • NPM1 • IDH1/IDH2 • c-KIT • JAK2 • CALR • MPL • E2A/PBX1 • KMT2A/AFF1 • TEL/AML1 • SIL/TAL-1 • FIP1L1/PDGFRα Advanced NGS panel ABL, ASXL1, BRAF, CALR, CBL, CEBPA, CSF3R, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FLT3, HRAS, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MPL, NPM1, NRAS, PTPN11, RUNX1, SETBP1, SF3B1, SRSF2, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, WT1, ZRSR2 TEACHING ACTIVITY The laboratory is responsible for the tutoring of students of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the degree programs in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, Medical Biotechnology, the specialty board in Hematology, and PhD programs. Teaching and training include the participation to courses, seminars and conferences, both internal, national and international. Foreign students are regularly hosted in the lab, in the context of scientific and cultural exchange programs with other European and non-European Universities and Research Centers. Prof. M.T. Voso is Coordinator of the PhD course in Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata MAIN LINES OF RESEARCH: The group coordinates the molecular tests in the following projects and clinical protocols:
Research Funding Support
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StaffSara Ceccolini, Fellow Antonio Cristiano, Fellow Emiliano Fabiani, PhD Giulia Falconi, PhD Elisa Galossi, Fellow Hajro Hajrullaj, PhD Student Annamaria Nardozza, Fellow Nelida Ines Noguera, PhD Dr.ssa Carmen Puzzangara, PhD Student Dr.ssa Tiziana Ottone, PhD Dr.ssa Serena Travaglini, PhD AddressLaboratory of Oncohematology Department of Biomedicine and Prevention Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome Tor Vergata Building E North Second Floor Via Montpellier ,1 00133 Rome, Italy Tel +39 0672596281-6278-6280 |