Massimo Pancione

The laboratory of Massimo Pancione, PhD is interested in the molecular basis of human cancer. Dr. Pancione’s approach is to study normal and malignant functions of genes implicated in human cancer at the level of the cell and macromolecular intracellular structures.

Focus research areas

• Centrosome cohesion function and chromosome stability.  Already 120 years ago the biologist T. Boveri noted that centrosome aberrations are a hallmark of cancer cells suggesting a direct participation of centrosomes in cell transformation.  The centrosome is the main microtubule (MT) organizing center (MTOC) of human cells and metazoans. Centrosome cohesion, the joining of the two centrosomes of a cell, is increasingly appreciated as major regulator of cell functions such as Golgi organization, cilia positioning and chromosome segregation in mitosis. One major element of centrosome cohesion is the centrosome linker. We don’t know the reason for this tethering and its benefits for the cell are unknown. Therefore,  we study the molecular mechanisms at the base of this machinery and its functional consequences on cell division in healthy and cancer cells.
• Tumour microenvironment and metastatic cascade.  Cancer mortality is mainly caused by metastasis, a process in which cancer cells escape the site of the primary tumor invading normal tissue at distant organs. Abnormality of chromosome number known as chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of the vast majority of human cancers. CIN promotes  phenotypic plasticity and intratumoral heterogeneity resulting in drug resistance. Abnormal mitosis also imparts specific vulnerabilities involving tumour microenvironment (TME). The major objective of work in this area is to understand the role of critical genes in normal and neoplastic growth acting at the crossroads of CIN, inflammation and immune evasion.

About the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases networking event entitled -MOLCENRARE- Understanding the intermolecular connections between centrosome cohesion and rare genetic disorders. MOLCENRARE event has been designed to build a multidisciplinary group of Researchers  to share knowledge, expertise along with unparalleled networking opportunities on the centrosome cohesion/cilia complex and its role  rare and complex pathological disorders. The networking event is open to the participation of all interested Researchers, medical and industrial professionals in this sphere and Patient Advocacy Organisations with a specific interest in rare diseases or rare cancers. Young Researchers, Healthcare Industrial Delegates and Talented Student Communities are welcome to foster global partnering and acceleration of future research. 

About the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases networking event entitled -MOLCENRARE- Understanding the intermolecular connections between centrosome cohesion and rare genetic disorders. MOLCENRARE event has been designed to build a multidisciplinary group of Researchers  to share knowledge, expertise along with unparalleled networking opportunities on the centrosome cohesion/cilia complex and its role  rare and complex pathological disorders. The networking event is open to the participation of all interested Researchers, medical and industrial professionals in this sphere and Patient Advocacy Organisations with a specific interest in rare diseases or rare cancers. Young Researchers, Healthcare Industrial Delegates and Talented Student Communities are welcome to foster global partnering and acceleration of future research. 

About the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases networking event entitled -MOLCENRARE- Understanding the intermolecular connections between centrosome cohesion and rare genetic disorders. MOLCENRARE event has been designed to build a multidisciplinary group of Researchers  to share knowledge, expertise along with unparalleled networking opportunities on the centrosome cohesion/cilia complex and its role  rare and complex pathological disorders. The networking event is open to the participation of all interested Researchers, medical and industrial professionals in this sphere and Patient Advocacy Organisations with a specific interest in rare diseases or rare cancers. Young Researchers, Healthcare Industrial Delegates and Talented Student Communities are welcome to foster global partnering and acceleration of future research.