Professori Associati

Professori Associati

Anna Maria CACCURI

Professore Ordinario SSD: BIO/10 – BiochimicaStanza: E204 Torre E Sud Medicina
Telefono: (+39) 06 7259 6204
Foto di Anna Maria CACCURI

Informazioni biografiche

Short CVPubblicazioni
2022 Full professor of Biochemistry (05/E1 – SSD BIO/10) at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
2014 National Scientific Qualification: Full professor of Biochemistry (05/E1 – SSD BIO/10).
2001 Associate professor of Biochemistry (SSD: BIO/10) at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
1988 Post-doc fellow in the Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics of the University of Texas, in the Medical Branch of Galveston (U.S.A.) and in the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Oxford (U.K).
1986 Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
1983 Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Chieti G. D’Annunzio.
1979 Degree in Biological Science (cum laude) at the University of Rome La Sapienza.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY
AMC scientific activity is based on the study of structural, catalytic and physiological properties of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Since 2002 she has been involved in the design, synthesis and study of potent inhibitors of GSTP1-1, a GST isoform involved in the onset of drug resistance in tumors. Moreover, she clarified the mechanism of action of these nitrobenzoxadiazole derivatives, in particular of NBDHEX, at cellular level. The new compounds show promising anticancer properties and have been included in the United States Patent No. US8,796,317 B2 (USE OF 7-NITRO-2,1,3-BENZOXADIAZOLE DERIVATIVES FOR ANTICANCER THERAPY, Caccuri et al.) and in the Italian Patent No 0001412189 (DERIVATI DEL 7-NITRO-2,1,3-BENZOSSADIAZOLO PER TERAPIA ANTITUMORALE, Mai, Caccuri et al). Notable among them is MC3181, a water-soluble derivative of NBDHEX, which is highly effective against human melanoma cells carrying the BRAFV600E mutation, both sensitive and resistant to vemurafenib. MC3181 also shows antitumor activity in vivo, against both types of tumors. Moreover, the work of AMC has led to the synthesis of phosphate monoesters of NBDHEX and MC3181 (compounds MC3479 e MC3626) characterized by very good solubility in aqueous solutions. These compounds have proved safe and effective when administered intravenously or orally as an aqueous solution to mice xenografted with A375 human melanoma cells. Collectively, these findings support the potential use of nitrobenzoxadiazole derivatives in novel therapies for the treatment of different types of tumors, in particular of melanoma.
AMC is currently involved in the study of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), to clarify the involvement of this protein in the formation of multivesicular bodies and / or in the autophagic process. In the hope it will result in new strategies for drug-delivery, she is also studying how best to exploit the TRAF2 C-terminal domain’s ability to induce endovesiculation.
Overall AMC scientific activity has resulted in 2 Patents and 102 papers in international scientific journals (Scopus). H- index =33 (March 2022), Citations: 3246 (March 2022).

FUNDING RECEIVED:
(2006 – 2008) Research project B1-35 / DIL / 04 of ISPESL (Role: PI).
(2008 – 2010) Research project B-02-DML-07 of ISPESL (Role: PI)
(2007 – 2011) Finalized Research Project of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute (Role : Head of OU).
(2010 – 2013) Three-year research project of AIRC IG 2010 (Role: PI).
(2015 – 2016) Project “CONSOLIDATE THE FOUNDATIONS” University of Rome “Tor Vergata” (Role: PI) .
(2016 – 2018) Project funded by the IRCCS Fondazione G.B. Bietti (Role: PI)
(2020 -2021) Project funded by the IRCCS Fondazione G.B. Bietti (Role PI)

TEACHING ACTIVITY
Enzimology . University of Rome “Tor Vergata” – Master Degree in Chemistry (6 CFU).
Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry University of Rome “Tor Vergata” – Degree in Chemistry – (6 CFU).
Enzimology University of Rome “Tor Vergata” -Master Degree in Medical Biotechnology – (2 CFU).


Scopus Author ID: 7003306759
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3756-4163