Research Area
Active Research fields
Study of the biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy in human tumor cell lines. Analysis of the effects of natural compounds and of new synthesis
Isolation and characterization of cancer stem cells in breast cancer.
Evaluation of the nutraceutical properties (anti-oxidants, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory) of subtropical plants cultivated in Sicily in tumor cells in culture
Research projects of the last 5 years
1. Financing out of the Finalized Research Fund (FFR 2012/13). Project called "Breast cancer cells not endocrine-responsive. A study in vitro and in vivo of their behavior and the effects of anticancer drugs" (Head Prof. R. Wind, 2012-ATE-0122) from 03.01.2013 to 19/09/2015
2. Project funded by the Local Action Group, entitled "Enhancement of the nutraceutical properties of subtropical crops in Sicily" (Responsible Prof. G. Calvo) from 16/04/2015 to date
Collaborations
Professor Francesco Cappello, Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Anatomy, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Professor Giuseppe Daidone and Professor Demetrio Raffa, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies Section, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123, Palermo, Italy.
Professor Everly Conway De Macario and Professor Alberto J.L. Macario, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore and IMET, Columbus Center, Baltimore, USA
Prof. M. Wozniak, Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Active research
laminar flow hoods, incubators at C02, centrifuges, fluorescence microscope with digital camera and image analysis system (Leica DC 300F); optical microscopes; flow cytometry; Spectrophotometer UV / Vis; apparatus for PCR; Real Time PCR; electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels and western blotting; imaging system for acquiring and chemiluminescent bioiluminescenti images (BioRad)
Services delivered under the right of third parties
Evaluation of antioxidant , anti-inflammatory and antitumoral activities of synthetic and natural compounds