Education
- 2016 – 2019: PhD in Medical and Surgical Biotechnologies, University of Messina
- 2019: Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology and Early Clinical Trials, University of Maryland Medical Center, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, USA), Prof. C. Rolfo
- 2016 – 2019: Medical Oncology Unit, A.O. Papardo (Messina, Italy), Prof. V. Adamo
- 2016 – 2019: Thesis Advisor – Prof. Vincenzo Adamo, degree thesis: “Exosomal PD-L1 expression and dynamic changes of immune response associated cytokines as predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockage with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer”
- 2011 – 2016: Residency, Medical Oncology, University of Messina (Magna Cum Laude), Thesis Advisor – Prof. Vincenzo Adamo, degree thesis: “Influence of EGFR mutational status on metastatic behavior in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer”
- 2004 – 2010: M.D., University of Messina School of Medicine (Magna Cum Laude), Thesis Advisor – Prof. Vincenzo Adamo, degree thesis: “Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR TKIs: Erlotinib vs. Gefitinib. Our Experience”
- 1999 – 2004: High School Diploma, Liceo Classico Statale “Francesco Maurolico” (Messina, Italy), full marks
Academic Appointments
- Current role – Assistant Professor
- 2020 – 2024: Medical Oncologist, Medical Oncology Unit, Papardo Hospital (Messina, Italy)
- 2019: Research Scholar, Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology and Early Clinical Trials, University of Maryland Medical Center, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, USA), Prof. C. Rolfo
Membership and Affiliations
- 2019 – present: General Member, International Society of Liquid Biopsy (ISLB)
- 2016 – present: General Member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- 2014 – present: General Member, Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology (AIOT)
- 2012 – present: General Member, Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)
- 2012 – present: General Member, European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO)
- 2023 – 2025: Member of the Education Committee, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- 2023 – 2025: Member of the Membership Committee, International Society of Liquid Biopsy (ISLB)
- 2023 – 2025: Member of the Executive Board, Sicilian Section of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)
- 2020 – 2021: Observer, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Membership Committee
- 2017 – 2019: Member of the Executive Board, Sicilian Section of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)
- 2015 – 2017: Member of the Executive Board, Sicilian Section of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)
- Editorial board member of several peer-reviewed international journals, including Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, BMC Medicine, Journal of Liquid Biopsy
The main areas of interests are the study and treatment of thoracic malignancies and the identification of predictive biomarkers to immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies through liquid biopsies.
Clinical research include the condution of phase II-III clinical trials as principal investigator (PI) or sub-investigator (S-I) in lung cancer patients. PI/S-I of multiple prospective and retrospective observational studies through widespread collaborations with prestigiuos national and international institutions.
Translational research is based on the evaluation of both tissue and circulating predictive and/or prognostic biomarkers to targeted therapies and immunotherapy-based therapies in patients with thoracic malignancies, collaborating with leading experts in the field.
Main research fields:
- Thoracic oncology
- Targeted therapies
- Immunotherapy
- Circulating tumor DNA analyses
- Extracellular vesicles
- Russo A, Lee JK, Pasquina LW, Del Re M, Dilks HH, Murugesan K, Madison RW, Lee Y, Schrock AB, Comment L, Dietrich M, Oxnard GR, Rolfo C. Liquid Biopsy of Lung Cancer Before Pathological Diagnosis Is Associated With Shorter Time to Treatment. JCO Precis Oncol. 2024 Jan;8:e2300535. doi: 10.1200/PO.23.00535. PMID: 38295321.
- de Miguel-Perez D, Russo A, Arrieta O, Ak M, Barron F, Gunasekaran M, Mamindla P, Lara-Mejia L, Peterson CB, Er ME, Peddagangireddy V, Buemi F, Cooper B, Manca P, Lapidus RG, Hsia RC, Cardona AF, Naing A, Kaushal S, Hirsch FR, Mack PC, Serrano MJ, Adamo V, Colen RR, Rolfo C. Extracellular vesicle PD-L1 dynamics predict durable response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Jun 2;41(1):186. doi: 10.1186/s13046-022-02379-1. PMID: 35650597.
- Russo A, Russano M, Franchina T, Migliorino MR, Aprile G, Mansueto G, Berruti A, Falcone A, Aieta M, Gelibter A, Russo A, Barni S, Maio M, Martelli O, Pantano F, Iacono D, Calvetti L, Quadrini S, Roca E, Vasile E, Imperatori M, Occhipinti M, Galvano A, Petrelli F, Calabrò L, Pasquini G, Intagliata S, Ricciardi GRR, Tonini G, Santini D, Adamo V. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Outcomes with Nivolumab in Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Large Retrospective Multicenter Study. Adv Ther. 2020 Mar;37(3):1145-1155. doi: 10.1007/s12325-020-01229-w. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 32002809.
- Russo A, Franchina T, Ricciardi GR, Fanizza C, Scimone A, Chiofalo G, Giordano A, Adamo V. Influence of EGFR mutational status on metastatic behavior in non squamous non small cell lung cancer. 2017;8(5):8717-8725.
- Rolfo C, Russo A. Liquid biopsy for early stage lung cancer moves ever closer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2020 May 26. doi: 10.1038/s41571-020-0393-z