Team - Cancer Immunotherapy Lab
Group Leader: Arianna Calcinotto, PhD
Arianna Calcinotto obtained her PhD in Molecular Medicine with honors from the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, in 2015. She pursued postdoctoral research at the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, the Mayo Clinic (Arizona, USA), and the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), focusing on the interplay between immune system cells, microbiota, and cancer cells in both solid and hematological malignancies.
Since 2019, she has led the Cancer Immunotherapy group at IOR, where her research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which immune cells shape the tumor microenvironment and contribute to therapy resistance. In recognition of her scientific contributions, she was appointed Assistant Professor at Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) in October 2022.
Dr. Calcinotto has authored over 30 scientific publications in high-impact journals and has received multiple grants to support her research, including SNSF Starting grant, Peter Hans Hofschneider Professorship. Dr. Arianna Calcinotto’s research has unveiled the key roles of neutrophils and microbiota in cancer progression and therapy resistance. She identified immunosuppressive neutrophils producing IL-23 in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and discovered senescent-like neutrophils that persist in tumors, promoting resistance. Both findings led to potential therapeutic strategies, including Romidepsin and CXCR2 inhibitors. Additionally, she demonstrated the impact of gut microbiota on multiple myeloma and CRPC, identifying microbial signatures influencing cancer progression and therapy resistance.
Members
Boffa Letizia, PhD Student
Calcinotto Arianna, Group Leader
D'Avolio Giulia, Master Student
De Carli Roberta, PhD Student
Dewhurst Hannah Faith, PostDoc
Fasana Chiara, Research Assistant
Garda Cindy, PhD Student
Lim Jiu, Master Student
Martini Nicola, Master Student
Massara Matteo, Staff Scientist
Paleari Camilla, PhD Student
Pasquini Emiliano, Lab Manager
Righetti Francesca, PhD Student
Rys Ryan, PostDoc
Torcasio Cristina, Lab Manager
Totaro Benedetta, Master Student
