Prof. Francesco Lo Coco: curriculum vitae
Full Professor of Hematology and Head of the Laboratory of Integrated Diagnosis of
Oncohematologic Diseases at the Department of Biopathology of the University Tor Vergata of
Roma.
He obtained his MD degree from the University of Pisa in 1981 and his specialization in Clinical and
Laboratory Hematology from the University La Sapienza of Rome in 1985.
From 1992 to 1994 he trained on molecular genetics of oncohematologic diseases with R. Dalla
Favera at Columbia University, New York.
His main scientific interest and research activities include genetic characterization, monitoring and
treatment of hematologic tumors, particularly acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute
promyelocytic leukaemia (APL).
He has published over 300 internationally peer-reviewed articles, mainly focused on molecular
diagnosis and follow up of leukemia and lymphoma as well as on treatment of APL (I.F >2200; Hindex = 55, source: Web of Knowledge).
He served as President of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology (SIE), board member of
the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research (AIRC) and member of the Committe on Health
Research of the Italian Ministry of Health.
He is presently chairman of the APL subcommitte of the Italian National Cooperative Group
GIMEMA, chairman of the Subcommitte on Biology of AML of the GIMEMA, chairman of the
Education Committee of the European Hematology Association (EHA), and member of the Editorial
Board of the journals Leukemia, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Haematologica.
IMPEGNO DIDATTICO-FORMATIVO DEL DOCENTE
NELL’AMBITO DEL DOTTORATO
A) Tutor durante l’attività sperimentale, nell’ultimo anno accademico e/o precedenti, dei seguenti
dottorandi:
Dott. Safaa RAMADAN
Dott. Ettore COTRONEO
B) Tutor durante la preparazione della tesi di dottorato, nell’ultimo anno accademico e/o
precedenti, dei seguenti dottorandi:
Dott. Safaa RAMADAN
Dott. Ettore COTRONEO
C) Attività seminariale nell’ultimo anno accademico:
Titolo seminario:
1) Genetica molecolare delle neoplasie oncoematologiche
2) Terapie innovative nella leucemia acuta promielocitica
3) Terapie differenziative nelle leucemie acute
4) Diagnostica integrata in oncoematologia
Prof. Francesco Lo Coco: Pubblicazioni recenti
1) Di Croce L, et al. Methyltransferase recruitment to target promoters as a mechanism of DNA
hypermethylation by an oncogenic transcription factor. Science 295:1079, 2002.
2) Petti MC, Fazi F, Gentile M, Diverio D, De Fabritiis P, De Propris MS, Fiorini R, Aloe Spiriti MA,
Padula F, Pelicci PG, Nervi C, Lo Coco F. Complete remission through blast cell differentiation in
PLZF/RARα-positive acute promyelocytic leukemia: in vitro and in vivo studies. Blood 100:1065,
2002.
3) Scherer SW, et al. Human chromosome 7: DNA sequence and biology. Science 300:767, 2003.
4) Cheson BD, et al. Revised recommendations of the International Working Group for Diagnosis,
Standardization of Response Criteria, Treatment Outcomes, and Reporting Standards for
Therapeutic Trials in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 15:4642, 2003.
5) Lo Coco F, et al. Gentuzumab ozogamicin ("mylotarg") as a single agent for molecularly relapsed
acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 104:199, 2004.
6) Falini B, et al. Cytoplasmic Nucleophosmin (NPM) Identifies a Subtype of Acute Myelogenous
Leukemia With A Normal Karyotype and NPM Gene Mutations. N Engl J Med. 352:254, 2005.
7) Sanz MA, Tallman MS, Lo Coco F. The tricks of the trade for the appropriate management of
newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 105:3019, 2005.
8) Fazi F, et al. Epigenetic silencing of the myelopoiesis regulator microRNA-223 by the AML1/ETO
oncoprotein. Cancer Cell 12:457, 2007.
9) Maurillo L, et al. Toward Optimization of Postremission Therapy for Residual Disease-Positive
Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 26:4944, 2008.
10) Hasan SK, Mays AN, Ottone T, Ledda A, La Nasa G, Cattaneo C, Borlenghi E, Melillo L,
Montefusco E, Cervera J, Stephen C, Satchi G, Lennard A, Libura M, Byl JA, Osheroff N, Amadori S,
Felix CA, Voso MT, Sperr WR, Esteve J, Sanz MA, Grimwade D, Lo-Coco F. Molecular analysis of
t(15;17) genomic breakpoints in secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia arising after treatment
of multiple sclerosis. Blood 112:3383, 2008.
11) Song MS, Salmena L, Carracedo A, Egia A, Lo-Coco F, Teruya-Feldstein J, Pandolfi PP. The
deubiquitinylation and localization of PTEN are regulated by a HAUSP-PML network. Nature
455:813, 2008.
12) Sanz MA, Grimwade D, Tallman MS, Lowenberg B, Fenaux P, Estey EH, Naoe T, Lengfelder E,
Büchner T, Döhner H, Burnett AK, Lo-Coco F. Management of acute promyelocytic leukemia:
recommendations from an expert panel on behalf of the European LeukemiaNet. Blood 113:1875,
2009.
13) Grimwade D, et al. Prospective minimal residual disease monitoring to predict relapse of acute
promyelocytic leukemia and to direct pre-emptive arsenic trioxide therapy. J Clin Oncol. 27:3650,
2009.
14) Döhner H, et al. European LeukemiaNet. Diagnosis and management of acute myeloid
leukemia in adults: recommendations from an international expert panel, on behalf of the
European LeukemiaNet. Blood 115:453, 2010.
15) Gruszka AM, Lavorgna S, Consalvo MI, Ottone T, Martinelli C, Cinquanta M, Ossolengo G,
Pruneri G, Buccisano F, Divona M, Cedrone M, Ammatuna E, Venditti A, de Marco A, Lo-Coco F,
Pelicci PG. A monoclonal antibody against mutated nucleophosmin 1 for the molecular diagnosis
of acute myeloid leukemias. Blood 116:2096, 2010.
16) Buccisano F, et al. Cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic characterization combined to
postconsolidation minimal residual disease assessment by flow cytometry improves risk
stratification in adult acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 116:2295, 2010.
17) Lo-Coco F, et al. Front-line treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with AIDA induction
followed by risk-adapted consolidation for adults younger than 61 years: results of the AIDA-2000
trial of the GIMEMA Group. Blood 116:3171, 2010.
18) Sanz MA, Lo-Coco F. Modern approaches to treating acute promyelocytic leukemia. J Clin
Oncol. 29:495, 2011.
19) Lo Coco F, Sanz MA. Whole genome sequencing and acute promyelocytic leukemia. JAMA 306;
610, 2011.
20) Breccia M, Mazzarella L, Bagnardi V, Disalvatore D, Loglisci G, Cimino G, Testi AM, Avvisati G,
Petti MC, Minotti C, Latagliata R, Foà R, Pelicci PG, Lo-Coco F. Increased BMI correlates with higher
risk of disease relapse and differentiation syndrome in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia
treated with the AIDA protocols. Blood 119; 49, 2012