The scientific activity of the group focuses on clinical and translational research in gastrointestinal malignancies, including colorectal, gastro-oesophageal, hepato-biliary-pancreatic cancers, and neuroendocrine tumours.
At the University Oncology Unit of ASST Settelaghi (Varese), phase II and III academic and investigator-initiated clinical trials are currently ongoing. These are multicentre studies promoted by national and international research networks. The main areas of clinical activity include first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer and the management of colorectal cancer in elderly patients.
Translational research is focused on the identification of biomarkers useful for the personalisation of oncological therapies, with particular emphasis on the prognostic and predictive role of liquid biopsy in gastrointestinal cancers. This includes the assessment of circulating tumour DNA mutations and microRNAs in patients receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy for advanced disease.
