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Antonio Giordano (October 11, 1962) is an Italian-American oncologist, pathologist, geneticist, researcher, and professor. Giordano serves as the Director of the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine in Philadelphia and is a professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology in the Department of Medical Biotechnology at the University of Siena.
Giordano is known for his discoveries in cell cycle regulation and tumor development mechanisms. Notably, he isolated the tumor suppressor gene RB2 / p130[1][2] and demonstrated its potential to reduce tumor growth when introduced into animal models via a retrovirus.[3] In addition to his scientific achievements, Giordano also works to communicate science to a general audience, particularly on the health risks of toxic waste in the Campania region.
Biography
Antonio Giordano is the son of Giovan Giacomo Giordano (1925–2010), an oncologist and pathologist of Maria Teresa Sgambati. He graduated with a degree in Medicine at the University of Naples in 1986 and later specialized in Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Trieste.
Giordano then moved to the United States to pursue a PhD, studying under Nobel laureateJames Dewey Watson at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.[4] During his time there, Giordano made a discovery linking cell cycle regulation to cancer development. He demonstrated that for normal cells to become neoplastic, oncogenes must interact directly with cyclins, leading to cell cycle deregulation and the onset of a neoplastic phenotype.[5]
In 1992, he moved to Philadelphia, where he held the position of assistant professor at Temple University and then at Thomas Jefferson University. Since 2004, Giordano has been a professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Siena. He also directs the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and of the Center for Biotechnology in the College of Science and Technology at Temple University.[6]
Since June 2006, Giordano has been president of the Scientific Committee of the Human Health Foundation Olus and president of the scientific committee for CROM (Oncological Research Center of Mercogliano-AV). There are also several collaborations with Italian universities, such as the Universities of Rome, Naples, Palermo, Messina, and Sassari.
Scientific achievements
In 1993, Giordano identified and cloned a new tumor suppressor gene RB2 / p130 which has a primary function in the cell cycle by controlling correct DNA replication and essentially preventing cancer development.[7] Mutations in the aforementioned gene allow neoplastic cells to multiply in an uncontrolled way.
In 2000, Giordano led a pioneering gene therapy in vivo using a mouse model with an induced lung tumor. Using the functionally active RB2 / p130 gene and a retrovirus as a vector, tumor growth has been shown to be drastically reduced after a single injection of RB2 / p130.[8]
In 2001, Giordano led another study into tumor pathogenesis. The research, conducted using a mouse model, demonstrated that RB2/p130 also functions as an inhibitor of angiogenesis—the process of new blood vessel formation that supports tumor growth. Additionally, two critical regulators of the human genome, CDK9 and CDK10, was identified.[9] These findings contributed to a deeper understanding of cancer development, offering new perspectives on cancer treatment.
In 2004 Giordano discovered NSPs (Novel Structure Proteins), a new protein structure with a potential role in the dynamics of the nucleus during cell division.[10] One protein in particular (Isoform NSP5a3a) is highly expressed in the cell lines of some tumors and could be a very useful tumor marker.
In late 2024 a research team led by Giordano and Luigi Alfano published a study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences titled "Oleanolic Acid Modulates DNA Damage Response to Camptothecin Increasing Cancer Cell Death" which reveals the effects of the viability of cancer cell lines when combining oleanic acid and a chemotherapy drug.[11]
Health and environment
In recent years, Giordano has made efforts to study the relationship between cancer and environmental pollution in the Italian region of Campania. He was among the first to report an increase in various types of cancer in populations near illegal toxic waste sites.[citation needed] Not only has he published scientific articles on this subject, but he has also created two books on the subject, respectively "Campania, latera di Velini"[12] and "Munizza di stator" [13][14] edited by Denaro Libri and Minerva respectively. It also launched a petition to protect the environment, signed by over 500 researchers and people from various professional sectors. He has been the promoter of numerous non-profit initiatives aimed at safeguarding the environment and human health. Giordano was appointed Technical Consultant of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Avellino for the Iso Chimica,[15] case and Scientific Director of the Mediterranea - Food and Wine Academy of Naples. He has carried out some scientific studies highlighting the anticancer properties of tomatoes.[16] He was the author and promoter of the Veritas[17] pilot study, aimed at clarifying the link between the onset of diseases and exposure to environmental pollutants. In 2024 he published a paper in the journal Environments "Understanding Environmental Contamination Through the Lens of the Peregrine Falcon" which underscored the importance of the birds as a bioindicator of pollution in their habitats.[18]
Publications
Giordano is the author of over 600 scientific publications[19] on peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous international patents relating to the discovery of new genes and new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Selected publications
Campania, terra Dei Velini, Giulio Taro (coautore), Napoli, Denaro Libri, 2011, ISBN978-88-7444-067-2. - Libro Bianco
Munizza di Stato. Le Terre Dei Fouche Nell 'Italia Dei Velini, Paolo Chiariello (couture), Bologna, Minerva Edizioni,2015, ISBN978-88-7381-750-5. - Libro itchiest
Awards and recognition
Cavaliere dell'Ordine al Merito Della Repubblica Italian (Italia) 2001
Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito Della Repubblica Italian (Italia) 2010
Croce al Merito Meli tense, onorificenza del Soprano Militar Ordines di Malta
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