Cancer Stem Cells
About us
The Cancer Stem Cells Unit focuses its interest on the study of neoplasms affecting the central nervous system, colon, breast, lung, pancreas and dermis, in particular on the identification, isolation, expansion and characterization of the tumor stem subpopulation (CSCs), circulating and metastatic cancer stem cells (CTCs, mCSCs).
The main activity consists in the analytical screening, both at a functional and molecular level, of post-operative tissues of patients affected by the above listed neoplasms and tumor stem cell lines and derived circulating tumor cells.
The relative definition of hierarchical models of the gene and protein profile, of early carcinogenesis processes and of the differences between tumor tissue of origin and respective stem cells and circulating tumor isolated is aimed at:
- understanding the biological processes linked to the aggressive nature of these neoplastic pathologies, especially relapses and/or metastases that arise also following pharmacological treatments;
- identify genes potentially responsible for the different sensitivities to conventional drugs;
- develop an optimal system of enrichment of stem cells, in order to be able to manipulate and characterize them;
- to identify new specific effectors for these cells that can constitute innovative and effective therapeutic targets, as well as innovative diagnostic and/or prognostic cell markers;
- develop a therapy approach that is patient-specific and that involves both the use of traditional pharmacological agents and innovative CSCs-specific biopharmaceuticals.
The following are the activities in which she is currently engaged:
- Isolation, expansion, functional characterization in vitro and enrichment of CSCs, CTCs and mCSCs from the indicated neoplasms
- Functional characterization of the tumorigenic and stem cell index in vivo of CSCs, CTCs and mCSCs in orthotopic mouse models
- Analysis of gene and molecular expression and regulation, identification, molecular and functional validation of new genes, effector molecules, pathways and proteins that play a specific key role in CSCs, CTCs and mCSCs
- Drug design, models building and targeted drug delivery studies.
Studied Pathologies: Neoplasms affecting the central nervous system, colon, breast, lung, pancreas and derma.
Name: Elena Binda
University and Training: M. Sc. State University of Milan, Milan, Italy
PhD Functional and Applied Genomics and Proteomics, State University of
Bari “A. Moro”, Bari, Italy
Work Experience:
2020-present Director of Animal Facility Unit
2014- present Head of Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG)
2006-2014 Senior Research Scientist University of Milan-Bicocca,
2009-2011 Senior Research Scientist Stemgen Spa, University of Milan-Bicocca,
Scientific Area of Interest:
Cancer Stem Cells, Tumor Organoids, Tumor enviroment
Teaching Activity:
- University Master on Biomaterial and Tissue Engineering. “Development of a bioartificial vessel”, Bergamo, Italy
- Programma nazionale per la formazione continua – Malattie genetiche rare: basi molecolari e meccanismi fisiopatologici”, Istituto CSS-Mendel, Rome, Italy.
- “Recenti progressi nello studio dei meccanismi di regolazione delle cellule staminali di glioblastoma umano”
- Advances in Biology and Treatment of Malignant Brain Gliomas, Rome, Italy. “EphA2 receptor inhibition in Cancer Stem Cells from human glioblastoma: a tool for new therapies”
- Programma nazionale per la formazione di personale altamente qualificato nell’impiego e nella valorizzazione di infrastrutture e attrezzature di ricerca per lo studio e l’applicazione di cellule staminali”, Codice PON a03_00326. Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy. “Cellule staminali tumorali da glioblastoma umano”
- Progetto Alternanza Scuola-Lavoro, Lezioni frontali, ISBReMIT, Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
- Programma Nazionale per la formazione continua degli operatori della Sanità, Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy. “Cancer Stem Cells: a tool for identification of new diagnostic/prognostic markers and development of innovative therapeutics”
- “Next Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics: methods, tools and applications in basic research, clinical diagnostic and much more”. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, Messina, Italy
Collaborations:
- IRCCS Neurologico “C. Besta”, Milano
- IRCCS Policlinico “A. Gemelli”, Milano
- Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Milano
- Università degli Studi “A. Moro”, Bari
- Stemgen Spa
- Wageningen University and Research (Netherland)
Totale pubblicazioni a partire dal 2011: n. 31
Elenco pubblicazioni:
1. Different states of stemness of glioblastoma stem cells sustain glioblastoma subtypes indicating novel clinical biomarkers and high-efficacy customized therapies. Visioli A, Trivieri N, Mencarelli G, Giani F, Copetti M, Palumbo O, Pracella R, Cariglia MG, Barile C, Mischitelli L, Soriano AA, Palumbo P, Legnani F, DiMeco F, Gorgoglione L, Pesole G, Vescovi AL, Binda E.J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2023 Sep 21;42(1):244. doi: 10.1186/s13046-023-02811-0.PMID: 37735434 Free PMC article.
2. Local delivery of hrBMP4 as an anticancer therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: a first-in-human phase 1 dose escalation trial. Bos EM,* Binda E*, Verploegh ISC, Wembacher E, Hoefnagel D, Balvers RK, Korporaal AL, Conidi A, Warnert EAH, Trivieri N, Visioli A, Zaccarini P, Caiola L, van Wijck R, van der Spek P, Huylebroeck D, Leenstra S, Lamfers MLM, Ram Z, Westphal M, Noske D, Legnani F, DiMeco F, Vescovi AL, Dirven CMF.Mol Cancer. 2023 Aug 10;22(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s12943-023-01835-6.PMID: 37563568 Free PMC article. *co-first authors
3. Changes in gut microbiota composition after 12 weeks of a home-based lifestyle intervention in breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 lockdown. Donati Zeppa S, Natalucci V, Agostini D, Vallorani L, Amatori S, Sisti D, Rocchi MBL, Pazienza V, Perri F, Villani A, Binda E, Panebianco C, Mencarelli G, Ciuffreda L, Ferri Marini C, Annibalini G, Lucertini F, Bartolacci A, Imperio M, Virgili E, Catalano V, Piccoli G, Stocchi V, Emili R, Barbieri E.Front Oncol. 2023 Sep 1;13:1225645. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1225645. eCollection 2023.PMID: 37727203 Free PMC article.
4. Simone L, Pisani F, Binda E, Frigeri A, Vescovi AL, Svelto M, Nicchia GP. “AQP4-dependent glioma cell features affect the phenotype of surrounding cells via extracellular vesicles.” (2022) Cell Biosci Sep 7;12(1):150. doi: 10.1186/s13578-022-00888-2. PMID: 36071478
5. Turco EM, Giovenale AMG, Sireno L, Mazzoni M, Cammareri A, Marchioretti C, Goracci L, Di Veroli A, Marchesan E, D'Andrea D, Falconieri A, Torres B, Bernardini L, Magnifico MC, Paone A, Rinaldo S, Della Monica M, D'Arrigo S, Postorivo D, Nardone AM, Zampino G, Onesimo R, Leoni C, Caicci F, Raimondo D, Binda E, Trobiani L, De Jaco A, Tata AM, Ferrari D, Cutruzzolà F, Mazzoccoli G, Ziviani E, Pennuto M, Vescovi AL, Rosati J. “Retinoic acid-induced 1 gene haploinsufficiency alters lipid metabolism and causes autophagy defects in Smith-Magenis syndrome.” (2022) Cell Death Dis Nov 21;13(11):981. doi: 10.1038/s41419-022-05410-7. PMID: 36411275
6. Trivieri N, Visioli A, Mencarelli G, Cariglia MG, Marongiu L, Pracella R, Giani F, Soriano AA, Barile C, Cajola L, Copetti M, Palumbo O, Legnani F, DiMeco F, Gorgoglione L, Vescovi AL, Binda E. Growth factor independence underpins a paroxysmal, aggressive Wnt5aHigh/EphA2Low phenotype in glioblastoma stem cells, conducive to experimental combinatorial therapy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Apr 12;41(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13046-022-02333-1. PMID: 35414102
7. Sisti D, Pazienza V, Piccini F, Citterio B, Baffone W, Donati Zeppa S, Biavasco F, Prospero E, De Luca A, Artico M, Taurone S, Minelli A, Perri F, Binda E, Pracella R, Santolini R, Amatori S, Sestili P, Rocchi MBL, Gobbi P.A proposal for the reference intervals of the Italian microbiota "scaffold" in healthy adults. Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 10;12(1):3952. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08000-x. PMID: 35273317
8. Panebianco C, Trivieri N, Villani A, Terracciano F, Latiano TP, Potenza A, Perri F, Binda E, Pazienza V: “Improving Gemcitabine Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Restoring miRNA-217 Levels” (2021) Biomolecules Apr 26; 11(5):639. doi: 10.3390/biom11050639. PMID: 33925948.
9. Rueca M, Fontana A, Bartolini B, Piselli P, Mazzarelli A, Copetti M, Binda E, Perri F, Gruber CEM, Nicastri E, Marchioni L, Ippolito G, Capobianchi MR, Di Caro A, Pazienza V: “Investigation of Nasal/Oropharyngeal Microbial Community of COVID-19 Patients by 16S rDNA Sequencing” (2021) Int J Environ Res Public Health. Feb 23;18(4):2174. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042174.PMID: 33672177.
10. Trivieri N, Panebianco C, Villani A, Pracella R, Latiano TP, Perri F, Binda E*, Pazienza V* These authors share the senior authorship: “High Levels of Prebiotic Resistant Starch in Diet Modulate a specific pattern of miRNAs Expression Profile associated to a better overall survival in Pancreatic Cancer” (2020) Biomolecules. Dec 29;11(1):26. doi: 10.3390/biom11010026. PMID: 33383727
11. Trivieri N, Pracella R, Cariglia MG, Panebianco C, Parrella P, Visioli A, Giani F, Soriano AA, Barile C, Canistro G, Latiano TP, Dimitri L, Bazzocchi F, Cassano D, Vescovi AL, Pazienza V, Binda E: "BRAFV600E Mutation Impinges on Gut Microbial Markers Defining Novel Biomarkers for Serrated Colorectal Cancer Effective Therapies (2020) J Exp Clin Cancer Res. Dec14; 39(1):285. doi 10.1186/s13046-020-01801-w. PMID: 33317591.
12. Fontana A, Panebianco C, Picchianti-Diamanti A, Laganà B, Cavalieri D, Potenza A, Pracella R, Binda E, Copetti M, Pazienza V.: “Gut Microbiota Profiles Differ among Individuals Depending on Their Region: An Italian Pilot Study”. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 23;16(21):4065. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214065.PMID: 31652705.
13. Mazzini L, Gelati M, Profico DC, Sorarù G, Ferrari D, Copetti M, Muzi G, Ricciolini C, Carletti S, Giorgi C, Spera C, Frondizi D, Masiero S, Stecco A, Cisari C, Bersano E, De Marchi F, Sarnelli MF, Querin G, Cantello R, Petruzzelli F, Maglione A, Zalfa C, Binda E, Visioli A, Trombetta D, Torres B, Bernardini L, Gaiani A, Massara M, Paolucci S, Boulis NM, Vescovi AL: ” (2019) Stem Cells Transl Med. Sep;8(9):887-897. doi: 10.1002/sctm.18-0154.PMID: 31104357.
14. Visioli A*, Giani F, Trivieri N, Pracella R, Miccinilli E, Cariglia MG, Palumbo O, Arleo A, Dezi F, Copetti M, Cajola L, Restelli S, Papa V, Sciuto A, Latiano TP, Carella M, Amadori D, Gallerani G, Ricci R, Alfieri S, Pesole G, Vescovi AL, Binda E: “Stemness underpinning all steps of human colorectal cancer defines the core of effective therapeutic strategies” (2019) EBioMedicine May 2 pii: S2352-3964(19)30288-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.04.049. PMID: 31056474.
15. Zalfa C, Rota Nodari L, Vacchi E, Gelati M, Profico D, Boido M, Binda E, De Filippis L, Copetti M, Garlatti V, Daniele P, Rosati J, De Luca A, Pinos F, Cajola L, Visioli A, Mazzini L, Vercelli A, Svelto M, Vescovi AL, Ferrari D: “Transplantation of clinical-grade human neural stem cells reduces neuroinflammation, prolongs survival and delays disease progression in the SOD1 rats” (2019) Cell Death Dis Apr 25;10(5):345. Doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1582-5. PMID: 31024007.
16. Rosati J, Ferrari D, Altieri F, Tardivo S, Ricciolini C, Fusilli C, Zalfa C, Profico D, Pinos F, Bernardini L, Torres B, Manni I, Piaggio G, Binda E, Copetti M, Lamorte G, Mazza T, Carella M, Gelati M, Valente EM, Simeone A, Vescovi AL: “Establishment of stable iPS-derived human neural stem cell lines suitable for cell therapies” (2018) Cell Death Dis Sep 17;9(10):937. Doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0990-2- PMID: 30224709
17. Scicchitano BM, Sorrentino S, Proietti G, Lama G, Dobrowolny G, Catizone A, Binda E, Larocca LM, Sica G: “Levetiracetam enhances the temozolomide effect on glioblastoma stem cell proliferation and apoptosis” (2018) Cancer Cell Int Sep 10;18:136. doi: 10.1186/s12935-018-0626-8. PMID:30214378
18. Angelucci C, D’Alessio A, Lama G, Binda E, Mangiola A, Vescovi A, Proietti G, Masuelli L, Bei R, Fazi B, Ciafrè SA, Sica G: “Cancer stem cells from peritumoral tissue of glioblastoma multiforme: the missing link between tumor development and progression?” (2018) Oncotarget Jun 15;9(46): 28116-28130. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25565 PMID:29963265
19. Binda E*, Visioli A, Giani F, Trivieri N, Palumbo O, Restelli S, Dezi F, Mazza T, Fusilli C, Legnani F, Carella M, Di Meco F, Duggal R, Vescovi AL: “Wnt5a drives an invasive phenotype in human glioblastoma stem-like cells” (2017) Cancer Research Feb 15; 77(4):996-1007 doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-1693 PMID: 28011620. *co-corresponding author
20. Lama G, Mangiola A, Proietti G, Colabianchi A, Angelucci C, D’Alessio A, De Bonis P, Geloso MC, Lauriola L, Binda E, Biamonte F, Giuffrida MG, Vescovi A, Sica G: “Progenitor/stem cells markers in brain adjacent to glioblastoma: GD3 ganglioside and NG2 proteoglycan expression” (2016) J Neuropathol Exp Neurol Jan 20 pii: nlv012 PMID: 26792897
21. Mazzini L, Gelati M, Profico DC, Sgaravizzi G, Projetti Pensi M, Muzi G, Ricciolini C, Rota Nodari L, Carletti S, Giorgi C, Spera C, Domenico F, Bersano E, Petruzzelli F, Cisari C, Maglione A, Sarnelli MF, Stecco A, Querin G, Masiero S, Cantello R, Ferrari D, Zalfa C, Binda E, Visioli A, Trombetta D, Novelli A, Torres B, Bernardini L, Carriero A, Prandi P, Servo S, Cerino A, Cima V, Gaiani A, Nasuelli N, Massara M, Glass J, Sorarù G, Boulis NM, Vescovi AL: “Human Neural stem cell transplantation in ASL: initial results from phase I trial” (2015) J Transl Med Jan 27; 13:17. doi: 10.1186/s12967-014-0371-2. PubMed PMID: 25889343
22. Vescovi AL, Binda E, Mazza T, Dimeco F: “Ephrina2 receptor in human glioblastoma cancer stem cells and identification of new, putative therapeutic targets.” Neuro Oncol. (2014). Suppl 3:iii34. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou208.42
23.Meco D, Servidei T, Lamorte G, Binda E, Arena V, Riccardi R: “Ependymoma stem cells are highly sensitive to temozolomide in vitro and in orthotopic models” (2014) Neuro Oncol Feb 12. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou008PubMed PMID: 24526307
24. Fusar Poli E, Zalfa C, D’Avanzo F, Tomanin R, Carlessi L., Bossi M, Rota Nodari L, Binda E, Marmiroli P, Scarpa M, Delia M, Vescovi AL, De Filippis L: “Murine neural stem cells model Hunter disease in vitro: glial cell-mediated neurodegeneration as a possible mechanism involved” (2013) Cell Death Dis 7;4:e906. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2013.430
25. Duggal R, Geissinger U, Zhang Q, Aguilar J, Chen NG, Binda E, Vescovi AL, Szalay AA: “Vaccinia virus expressing bone morphogenetic protein-4 in novel glioblastoma orthotopic models facilitates enhanced tumor regression and long-term survival” (2013) J Transl Med 24;11(1):155.doi:10.1186/1479-5876-11-155. (Epub ahead of print) PubMed PMID: 23800258
26. Binda E*, Visioli A, Giani F, Lamorte G, Copetti M, Pitter KL, Huse JT, Cajola L, Zanetti N, DiMeco F, De Filippis L, Mangiola A, Maira G, Anile C, De Bonis P, Reynolds BA, Vescovi AL: “The EphA2 receptor drives self-renewal and tumorigenicity in stem-like tumor propagating cells from human glioblastomas” (2012). Cancer Cell 22(6):765-80. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.11.005. PubMed PMID: 23238013. *co-corresponding author
Review
1. Binda E, Reynolds BA, Vescovi AL: “Glioma stem cells: turpis omen in nomen? (The evil in the name)” (2014). J Intern Med Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/joim.12254. PubMed PMID: 24708237
2. De Filippis L, Binda E: “Concise review: self-renewal in the central nervous system: neural stem cells from embryo to adult” (2012). Stem Cells Transl Med 1(4):298-308. doi: 10.5966/sctm.2011-0045. PubMed PMID: 23197809
3. Binda E, Visioli A, Reynolds BA, Vescovi AL: “Heterogeneity of cancer-initiating cells within glioblastoma” (2012). Front Biosci (Schol Ed) 1;4:1235-48. PubMed PMID: 22652868
BOOK Chapter
1. Peréz JA, Garcia-Aloy M, Cariglia MG, Binda E, Pazienza V, Rubert J: ”Exploiting intestinal organoids and foodomics strategies for studying the role of diet and host responses” (2020) Reference Module in Food Science. Doi 10.1016/B978-0-08-100596-5.22887-4.
2.Binda E, Visioli A, Trivieri N, Vescovi AL: “Drug delivery in an orthotopic tumor stem cell-based model of human glioblastoma” (2019) Methods Mol Biol 1869:197-205. Doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8805-1_17. PMID: 30324525.
Start Year: 2022
Expiry: 2025
Funding Entity: Italian Ministry of Health programma di Ricerca Corrente
Project Leader: Dr. Elena Binda
Principal Investigator: Dr. Elena Binda
Project Team:
Nadia Trivieri
Maria Grazia Cariglia
Chiara Barile
Gandino Mencarelli
Start Year: 2018
Expiry: 2023
Funding Entity: Italian Association of Research on Cancer (AIRC) IG-22027 (2018).
Project Leader: Prof. Angelo Luigi Vescovi
Principal Investigator: Prof. Angelo Luigi Vescovi and Co-PI Elena Binda
Project Team:
Nadia Trivieri
Maria Grazia Cariglia
Chiara Barile
Gandino Mencarelli
Equipe


- Cancer Biomarkers
- Cancer Stem Cells
- Hematopathology
- Advanced Therapies Production Unit
- Endocrinology
- Hepatology
- Medical genetics
- Geriatrics and gerontology
- Hemostasis and thrombosis




























