Cell and Gene Therapy
AG Caruana
In particular, our group is aiming to:
- identify novel molecules expressed by tumor cells and use them to better and more specifically redirect our new immunotherapeutic approaches,
- improve the efficacy, functionality and safety of immunotherapeutic approaches based on:
- chimeric antigen receptor gene-modified immune cells
- T-cell receptor gene-modified T-lymphocytes
- oncolytic viruses
- combined therapeutic approaches
- generate ready-to-use cellular and gene-modified products as a bridge therapy or to avoid relapse,
- develop combination strategies to increase the persistence, fitness and efficacy of adoptively transferred immune cells to guarantee a stable and durable treatment response,
- and last but not least, translate these approaches from bench to bedside by first evaluating the efficacy of the proposed approaches in preclinical models and subsequently in human clinical trials.
Team
Leader
Dr. Ignazio Caruana, PhD
Principal Investigator/Group Leader
Telefon: +49 931-201-27660
Fax: +49 931-201-627660
E-Mail: caruana_i@ukw.de
Office administration
Ksenia Melzer
Office administrative AG Caruana
Phone: +49 931 201-27214
E-Mail: melzer_k@ukw.de
Scientific assistants
Dr. Stefan Ebert
Postdoc
Telefon: +49 931-201-27734
Fax: +49 931-201-627734
E-Mail: ebert_s2@ukw.de
Markus Machwirth
Medical-technical assistant
Telefon: +49 931-201-27734
Fax: +49 931-201-627734
E-Mail: machwirth_m@ukw.de
Dorothee Haas M.Sc.
PhD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: haas_d3@ukw.de
Simone Vespa M.Sc.
PhD student
Exchange PhD Program University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: simone.vespa@unich.it
Tobias Theinert
MD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: theinert_t@ukw.de
Sarah Boeing
MD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: sarah.boeing@stud-mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Matthias Berg
MD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: matthias.berg@stud-mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Carolin Franko
MD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: carolin.franko@stud-mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Cara Owin
MD student
Telefon: +49 931-201-27925
E-Mail: cara.owin@stud-mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Career
The Caruana research group offers the possibility to apply for a position to carry out MD or PhD theses, master theses and various internships. Prerequisites are interest and high motivation. A successful applicant should have good communication skills in English and the willingness to work in a dynamic environment. Candidates will be given the opportunity to participate in an innovative translational research project.
Applications including CV and letter of motivation should be addressed in English to Dr. Caruana by email.
E-Mail: caruana_i@ukw.de
Publications
Publications
M. Ruopp, S. Reiländer, D. Haas, I. Caruana, D. Kronenberg, W. Schmehl, R. Stange, L. Meinel.
Transdermal carbon monoxide delivery.
Journal of Controlled Released, 2023; 357: 299-308.
C.B. Nava Lauson, S. Tiberti, P. Corsetto, F. Conte, T. Punit, M. Machwirth, S. Ebert, A. Loffreda, L. Scheller, D. Sheta, T. Peters, A.T. Raman, F. Greco, A. Rizzo, A. Beilhack, G. Signori, N. Tumino, P. Vacca, L. McDonnell, A. Raimondi, P.D. Greenberg, J.B. Huppa, S. Cardaci, I. Caruana, S. Rodighiero, L. Nezi, T. Manzo.
Linoleic acid potentiates CD8+ T cell metabolic fitness and anti-tumor immunity.
Cell Metabolism, 2023; 35(4): 633-650.e9.
F. Del Bufalo, B. De Angelis, I. Caruana, G. Del Baldo, M.A. De Ioris, A. Serra, A. Mastronuzzi, M.G. Cefalo, D. Pagliara, M. Amicucci, G. Li Pira, G. Leone, V. Bertaina, M. Sinibaldi, S. Di Cecca, G. Marica, A. Zeinab, L. Iaffaldano, M. Gunetti, S. Iacovelli, R. Bugianesi, S. Macchia, M. Algeri, P. Merli, F. Galaverna, R. Abbas, M.C. Garganese, M.F. Villani, G.S. Colafati, F. Bonetti, M. Rabusin, K. Perruccio, V. Folsi, C. Quintarelli, F. Locatelli.
Third generation GD2-CART01 for relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2023; 388(14): 1284-1295.
E. de Billy, M. Pellegrino, D. Orlando, G. Pericoli, R. Ferretti, P. Businaro, M.A. Ajmone-Cat, S. Rossi, L.L. Petrilli, N. Maestro, F. Diomedi-Camassei, M. Pezzullo, C. De Stefanis, P. Bencivenga, A. Palma, R. Rota, F. Del Bufalo, L. Massimi, G. Weber, C. Jones, A. Carai, B. De Angelis, I. Caruana, C. Quintarelli, A. Mastronuzzi, F. Locatelli, M. Vinci.
Dual IGF1R/IR inhibitors in combination with GD2-CAR T-cells display a potent anti-tumor activity in diffuse midline glioma H3K27M-mutant.
Neuro-Oncology, 2022; 24(7): 1150-1163.
N. Tumino, G. Weber, F. Besi, F. Del Bufalo, V. Bertaina, P. Paci, L. Quatrini, L. Antonucci, M. Sinibaldi, C. Quintarelli, E. Maggi, B. De Angelis, F. Locatelli, L. Moretta, P. Vacca*, I. Caruana*.
Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells impair the anti-tumor efficacy of GD2.CAR T-cells in patients with neuroblastoma.
Journal of Hematology and Oncology, 2021; 14(1):191.
F. Nazio, A. Po, L. Abballe, C. Ballabio, F. Diomedi Camassei, M. Bordi, A. Camera, S. Caruso, I. Caruana, M. Pezzullo, C. Ferraina, G. Milletti, M. Gianesello, S. Reddel, C.D. De Luca, D. Ceglie, S. Merinelli, S. Campello, E. Papaleo, E. Miele, A. Cacchione, A. Carai, M. Vinci, E. Velardi, B. De Angelis, L. Tiberi, C. Quintarelli, A. Mastronuzzi, E. Ferretti, F. Locatelli, F. Cecconi.
Targeting cancer stem cells in medulloblastoma by inhibiting AMBRA1 dual function in autophagy and STAT3 signalling.
Acta Neuropathologica, 2021; 142(3):537-564.
S. Schwinn, Z. Mokhtari, S. Thusek, T. Schneider, A.L. Sirén, N. Tiemeyer, I. Caruana, E. Miele, P.G. Schlegel, A. Beilhack, M. Wölfl.
Cytotoxic effects and tolerability of gemcitabine and axitinib in a xenograft model for c-myc amplified medulloblastoma.
Scientific Report, 2021; 11(1):14062.
C.M. Arnone, V.A. Polito, A. Mastronuzzi, A. Carai, F. Diomedi Camassei, L. Antonucci, L.L. Petrilli, M. Vinci, F. Ferrari, E. Salviato, G. Weber, M. Scarsella, C. De Stefanis, C. Quintarelli, M.K. Brenner, S. Gottschalk, V. Hoyos, F. Locatelli, I. Caruana*, F. del Bufalo*.
Oncolytic adenovirus and gene therapy with EphA2-BiTE for the treatment of pediatric high-grade gliomas.
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 2021; 9(5):e001930.
M. Carinci, B. Testa, M. Bordi, G. Milletti, M. Bonora, L. Antonucci, C. Ferraina, M. Carro, M. Kumar, D. Ceglie, F. Eck, R. Nardacci, F. le Guerroué, S. Petrini, M.E. Soriano, I. Caruana, V. Doria, M. Manifava, C. Peron, M. Lambrughi, V. Tiranti1, C. Beherends, E. Papaleo, P. Pinton, C. Giorgi, N.T. Ktistakis, F. Locatelli, F. Nazio, F. Cecconi.
TFG (TRK-fused gene) regulates ULK1 to promote autophagosome formation through LC3C binding.
The EMBO journal, 2021; 40(10):e103563.
M. Caforio, C. Sorino, I. Caruana, G. Weber, A. Camera, L. Cifaldi, B. De Angelis, A. Vitale, B.M. Goffredo, R. De Vito, D. Fruci, C. Quintarelli, M. Fanciulli, F. Locatelli, V. Folgiero.
GD2 redirected CAR T and activated NK-cell-mediated secretion of IFNγ overcomes MYCN-dependent IDO1 inhibition, contributing to Neuroblastoma cell immune escape.
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 2021; 9(3):e001502.
P.F. Fiore, P. Vacca, N. Tumino, F. Besi, A. Pelosi, E. Munari, M. Marconi, I. Caruana, V. Pistoia, L. Moretta, B. Azzarone.
Wilms' Tumor Primary Cells Display Potent Immunoregulatory Properties on NK Cells and Macrophages.
Cancers (Basel), 2021; 13(2):224.
C. Canzonetta, A. Pelosi, S. Di Matteo, I. Veneziani, N. Tumino, P. Vacca, E. Munari, M. Pezzullo, C. Theuer, R. De Vito, V. Pistoia, L. Tomao, F. Locatelli, L. Moretta, I. Caruana* and B. Azzarone*.
Identification of neuroblastoma cell lines with uncommon TAZ+/Mesenchymal Stromal Cell phenotype with strong suppressive activity on Natural Killer cells.
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 2021; e001313.
S. Pomella, P. Sreenivas, Berkley E. Gryder, L. Wang, D. Milewski, M. Cassandri, K. Baxi, N.R. Hensch, E. Carcarino, Y. Song, H.C. Chen, M.E. Yohe, B.Z. Stanton, B. Amadio, I. Caruana, C. De Stefanis, R. De Vito, F. Locatelli, Y. Chen, E.Y. Chen, P. Houghton, J. Khan, R. Rota, and M.S. Ignatius.
Liaison between SNAI2 and MYOD enhances oncogenesis and suppresses differentiation in Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma.
Nature Communication, 2021; 12(1):192.
G. Weber, L. Strocchio, F. Del Bufalo, M. Algeri, D. Pagliara, C.M. Arnone, B. De Angelis, C. Quintarelli, F. Locatelli, P. Merli, I. Caruana.
Identification of new soluble factors correlated with the development of graft failure after haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Frontiers in Immunology, 2021; 11:613644.
M. Guercio, D. Orlando, S. Di Cecca, M. Sinibaldi, I. Boffa, S. Caruso, Z. Abbaszadeh, A. Camera, B. Cembrola, K. Bovetti, S. Manni, I. Caruana, R. Ciccone, F. Del Bufalo, P. Merli, L. Vinti, K. Girardi, A. Ruggeri, C. De Stefanis, M. Pezzullo, E. Giorda, M. Scarsella, R. De Vito, S. Barresi, A. Ciolfi, M. Tartaglia, L. Moretta, F. Locatelli, C. Quintarelli, and B. De Angelis.
CD28.OX40 co-stimulatory combination is associated with long in vivo persistence and high activity of CAR.CD30 T-cells.
Haematologica, 2021; 106(4):987-999.
L. Simula, M. Corrado, B. Accordi, A. Di Rita, F. Nazio, Y. Antonucci, A. Di Daniele, M. Pigazzi, F. Caicci, M.E. Soriano, I. Caruana, F. Locatelli, F. Cecconi and S. Campello.
JNK1 and ERK1/2 modulate lymphocyte homeostasis via BIM and DRP1 upon AICD induction.
Cell Death and Differentiation, 2020; 27(10):2749-2767.
V.A. Polito, R. Cristantielli, G. Weber, F. Del Bufalo, T. Belardinilli, C.M. Arnone, A. Petretto, L. Antonucci, E. Giorda, N. Tumino, A. Pitisci, B. De Angelis, C. Quintarelli, F. Locatelli and I. Caruana.
Universal ready-to-use immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer: expanded and activated polyclonal γδ memory T cells.
Frontiers in Immunology, 2019; 10, 2717.
P. D’Acunzo, F. Strappazzon, I. Caruana, G. Meneghetti, L. Simula, G. Weber, F. Del Bufalo, L. Dalla Valle, S. Campello, F. Locatelli and F. Cecconi.
Reversible induction 1 of mitophagy by an optogenetic bimodular system.
Nature Communication, 2019; 10(1):1533.
P. Merli, I. Caruana, R. De Vito, L. Strocchio, G. Weber, F. Del Bufalo, V. Buatois, P. Montanari, M.G. Cefalo, A. Pitisci, M. Algeri, F. Galaverna, C. Quintarelli, V. Cirillo, D. Pagliara, W. Ferlin, M. Ballabio, C. De Min and F. Locatelli.
Role of IFNγ in immune-mediated graft failure occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Haematologica, 2019; 104(11):2314-2323.
J. Becher, L. Simula, E. Volpe, C. Procaccini, C. La Rocca, P. D'Acunzo, V. Cianfanelli, F. Strappazzon, I. Caruana, F. Nazio, G. Weber, V. Gigantino, G. Botti, F. Ciccosanti, G. Borsellino, S. Campello, G. Mandolesi, M. De Bardi, G.M. Fimia, M. D'Amelio, F. Ruffini, R. Furlan, D. Centonze, G. Martino, P. Braghetta, M. Chrisam, P. Bonaldo, G. Matarese, F. Locatelli, L. Battistini and F. Cecconi.
AMBRA1 Controls Regulatory T-Cell Differentiation and Homeostasis Upstream of the FOXO3-FOXP3 Axis.
Developmental Cell, 2018;47(5):592-607.
D. Orlando, E. Miele, B. De Angelis, M. Guercio, I. Boffa, M. Sinibaldi, A. Po, I. Caruana, L. Abbale, A. Carai, S. Caruso, A. Camera, A. Moseley, R.S. Hagedoorn, M.H.M. Heemskerk, F. Giangaspero, A. Mastronuzzi, E. Ferretti, F. Locatelli, C. Quintarelli.
Adoptive immunotherapy in medulloblastoma with T cells redirected toward tumor cells through PRAME-specific αβ TCR gene modification.
Cancer Research, 2018; 78(12): 3337-3349.
C. Quintarelli, D. Orlando, I. Boffa, M. Guercio, V.A. Polito, A. Petretto, C. Lavarello, M. Sinibaldi, G. Weber, F. Del Bufalo, E. Giorda, M. Scarsella, S. Petrini, D. Pagliara, F. Locatelli, B. De Angelis, I. Caruana.
Choice of costimulatory domains and of cytokines determines CAR T-cell activity in neuroblastoma.
Oncoimmunology, 2018; 7(6): e1433518.
Partners and Funding
Kontakt, Öffnungszeiten, Sprechzeiten
Address
Kinderklinik und Poliklinik des Universitätsklinikums und der Bayerischen Julius-Maximilians-Universität | Josef-Schneider-Straße 2 | Haus D31 | 97080 Würzburg | Deutschland