Anna Costa

Dr. Anna Costa

Iom Ricerca srl, Viagrande (Ct)

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 December 2020 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CPCaterina Puglisi
Caterina Puglisi
RGRaffaella Giuffrida
Raffaella Giuffrida
GBGiuseppina Rita Borzì
Giuseppina Rita Borzì
PMPaolo Di Mattia
Paolo Di Mattia
ACAnna Costa
Anna Costa
Stefano ForteStefano Forte
Stefano Forte
Neo-adjuvant radiotherapy is frequently employed in the therapeutic management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Radiotherapy can both reduce local recurrence and improve the success of surgical procedures by reducing tumor mass size. However, some patients show a poor response to treatment, which results in primary resistance or relapse after apparent curative surgery. In this work, we report in vitro and in vivo models based on patient-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs); these models are able to predict individual responses to radiotherapy in LARC. CSCs isolated from colorectal cancer biopsies were subjected to in vitro irradiation with the same clinical protocol used for LARC patients. Animal models, generated by CSC xenotransplantation, were also obtained and treated with the same radiotherapy protocol. The results indicate that CSCs isolated from rectal cancer needle biopsies possess an intrinsic grade of sensitivity to treatment, which is also maintained in the animal model. Notably, the specific CSCs’ in vitro and in vivo sensitivity values correspond to patients’ responses to radiotherapy. This evidence suggests that an in vitro radiotherapy response predictivity assay could support clinical decisions for the management of LARC patients, thus avoiding radiation toxicity to resistant patients and reducing the treatment costs.