The group features research programs joining basic science and clinics to study genetics, transcriptome, and epigenetics of the most frequent cancers in dogs. Research focuses on morphological, molecular and genomic determinants of canine cancer predisposition, tumour biology, and therapy response. More specifically three major tumors are investigated:

• Canine Lymphoma: mutations in canine B-cell lymphoma using next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches have been identified by the group and investigation to characterize function and clinical relevance of the most frequently mutated genes is the main goal of the group. To facilitate this research, we have established collaborations with several international groups. The group specific aims are as follow: i) application of the brand-new transcriptome techniques (RNA-seq) to describe the lesions underlying DLBCL in dog and to identify new potential therapeutic targets, ii) testing the most promising monoclonal antibodies and target drugs for canine lymphoma treatment.
• Canine Osteosarcoma: osteosarcoma is one of the most aggressive tumors in dog and the role of kinase receptors (i.e. tyrosine kinase receptors) and downstream pathways is the principal area of research. This activity is performed using in vivo and in vitro models. The most relevant techniques such as immunohistochemistry, gene expression and NGS are used to achieve these goals. More recently, our interest was focused on the hypoxia mechanisms driving pathogenesis in osteosarcoma. Genes regulating hypoxia are investigated in cell lines and tumor tissues. The major aims of the research on canine osteosarcoma are i) indentifying kinome gene signatures, ii) testing new target drugs and iii) investigating the role of hypoxia in prognosis.
• Canine Melanoma: despite several therapeutic innovations, malignant melanoma (MM) still remains a disease for which novel and long-term curative treatments are needed. Anti-tumor immune response and characterization of several tumor associated antigens are the main research aims. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 (CSPG4), a cell surface proteoglycan overexpressed in a large range of human and canine cancers, is the principal target. In the last years an adjuvant electro-vaccination against CSPG4 was developed increasing survival time and disease-free interval in dogs with MM in collaboration with Prof. Cavallo and Prof. Soldano Ferrone. New clinical trials are going on to further characterize MM response to this innovative therapy.

• Ricerca Corrente IZSPLV11/17 dal titolo "Geni driver nella patogenesi dell’osteosarcoma canino" - Services for third parties (histopathological diagnostic service in teaching Hospital)
• AREL_RIC_N_COMP_REND_19_01 - Estensione della banca dati del network italiano dei laboratori per l'oncologia veterinaria
• AREL_SIR_15_01 Progetto SIR bando 2014

• Aresu L, Ferraresso S, Marconato L, Cascione L, Napoli S, Gaudio E, Kwee I, Tarantelli C, Testa A, Maniaci C, Ciulli A, Hillmann P, Bohnacker T, Wymann MP, Comazzi S, Milan M, Riondato F, Rovere GD, Giantin M, Giannuzzi D, Bertoni F. - "New molecular and therapeutic insights into canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma elucidates the role of the dog as a model for human disease".  Haematologica. 2019 Jun;104(6):e256-e259
• Ferraresso S, Aricò A, Sanavia T, Da Ros S, Milan M, Cascione L, Comazzi S, Martini V, Giantin M, Di Camillo B, Mazzariol S, Giannuzzi D, Marconato L, Aresu L. - "DNA methylation profiling reveals common signatures of tumorigenesis and defines epigenetic prognostic subtypes of canine Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma". Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 14;7(1):11591.
• Giannuzzi D, Giudice L, Marconato L, Ferraresso S, Giugno R, Bertoni F, Aresu L. - "Integrated analysis of transcriptome, methylome and copy number aberrations data of marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma in dog". Vet Comp Oncol. 2020
• Sánchez-Céspedes R, Accornero P, Miretti S, Martignani E, Gattino F, Maniscalco L, Gola C, Iussich S, Martano M, Morello E, Buracco P, Aresu L, Maria R. - "In vitro and in vivo effects of toceranib phosphate on canine osteosarcoma cell lines and xenograft orthotopic models". Vet Comp Oncol. 2020 Mar;18(1):117-127.
• Maniscalco L, Iussich S, Morello E, Martano M, Biolatti B, Riondato F, Della Salda L, Romanucci M, Malatesta D, Bongiovanni L, Tirrito F, Gattino F, Buracco P, De Maria R. - "PDGFs and PDGFRs in canine osteosarcoma: new targets for innovative therapeutic strategies in comparative oncology". Vet J. 2013 Jan;195(1):41-7.
• Iussich S, Maniscalco L, Di Sciuva A, Iotti B, Morello E, Martano M, Gattino F, Buracco P, De Maria R. - "PDGFRs expression in dogs affected by malignant oral melanomas: correlation with prognosis". Vet Comp Oncol. 2017 Jun;15(2):462-469.
• Riccardo F, Iussich S, Maniscalco L, Lorda Mayayo S, La Rosa G, Arigoni M, De Maria R, Gattino F, Lanzardo S, Lardone E, Martano M, Morello E, Prestigio S, Fiore A, Quaglino E, Zabarino S, Ferrone S, Buracco P, Cavallo F. - "CSPG4-specific immunity and survival prolongation in dogs with oral malignant melanoma immunized with human CSPG4 DNA". Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Jul 15;20(14):3753-62.

• Lymphoma Genomics- The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR)

• Prof Francesco Bertoni (Institute of Oncology Research, Switzerland)
• Prof Maria Flavia Di Renzo (Dipartimento di Oncologia, UNITO)
• Prof Dario Sangiolo (Dipartimento di Oncologia, UNITO)
• Prof Federica Cavallo (Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, UNITO)
• Prof Soldano Ferrone (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA)