Study Coordinator

Patients with non-metastatic advanced rectal cancer often undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, but the outcomes vary significantly, with a 35% chance of distant relapse over five years. About 20-25% of these patients may achieve complete pathological remission, allowing for a non-surgical 'watch-and-wait' approach, while another 20% show minimal to no response, necessitating alternative treatments. Currently, effective biomarkers to predict treatment outcomes are lacking, partly due to the molecular heterogeneity of rectal cancer. This project- developed in collaboration with Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale- aims to enhance treatment personalization by discovering new biomarkers through an integrative analysis combining genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and ex-vivo drug screening on tumor samples collected before treatment. The research will focus on establishing a biorepository of patient-derived tumor fragments and organoids to evaluate treatment responses and identify molecular signatures indicative of effectiveness or resistance to therapy. This comprehensive, data-driven strategy could lead to more tailored treatments for patients and potentially introduce novel therapeutic options, significantly advancing precision medicine in the treatment of rectal cancer. This project will be performed in the Precision Medicine research group under the guidance of Prof. Salvatore Piscuoglio and in collaboration with Prof. Antonino Spinelli, director of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery.