Georgiana-Adeline Staicu

Dr. Georgiana-Adeline Staicu

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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AOAlexandru Oprita
Alexandru Oprita
CBCarina Băloi
Carina Băloi
GSGeorgiana-Adeline Staicu
Georgiana-Adeline Staicu
OAOana Alexandru
Oana Alexandru
DTDaniela Elise Tache
Daniela Elise Tache
ASAni-Simona Sevastre
Ani-Simona Sevastre
Nowadays, due to recent advances in molecular biology, the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is better understood. For the newly diagnosed, the current standard of care is represented by resection followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide administration, but because median overall survival remains poor, new diagnosis and treatment strategies are needed. Due to the quick progression, even with aggressive multimodal treatment, glioblastoma remains almost incurable. It is known that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification is a characteristic of the classical subtype of glioma. However, targeted therapies against this type of receptor have not yet shown a clear clinical benefit. Many factors contribute to resistance, such as ineffective blood–brain barrier penetration, heterogeneity, mutations, as well as compensatory signaling pathways. A better understanding of the EGFR signaling network, and its interrelations with other pathways, are essential to clarify the mechanisms of resistance and create better therapeutic agents.

Verified
Journal Article
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ERElena Silvia Mara Baez Rodriguez
Elena Silvia Mara Baez Rodriguez
GSGeorgiana-Adeline Staicu
Georgiana-Adeline Staicu
ASAni-Simona Sevastre
Ani-Simona Sevastre
CBCarina Băloi
Carina Băloi
VCVasile Ciubotaru
Vasile Ciubotaru
LTLigia Gabriela TATARANU
Ligia Gabriela TATARANU
Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are cells with a self-renewal ability and capacity to initiate tumors upon serial transplantation that have been linked to tumor cell heterogeneity. Most standard treatments fail to completely eradicate GSCs, causing the recurrence of the disease. GSCs could represent one reason for the low efficacy of cancer therapy and for the short relapse time. Nonetheless, experimental data suggest that the presence of therapy-resistant GSCs could explain tumor recurrence. Therefore, to effectively target GSCs, a comprehensive understanding of their biology and the survival and developing mechanisms during treatment is mandatory. This review provides an overview of the molecular features, microenvironment, detection, and targeting strategies of GSCs, an essential information required for an efficient therapy. Despite the outstanding results in oncology, researchers are still developing novel strategies, of which one could be targeting the GSCs present in the hypoxic regions and invasive edge of the glioblastoma.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LTLigia Gabriela TATARANU
Ligia Gabriela TATARANU
STSerban Turliuc
Serban Turliuc
AKAmira Kamel
Amira Kamel
RRRadu Eugen Rizea
Radu Eugen Rizea
ADAnica Dricu
Anica Dricu
AMAndrada Ioana Maria Manole
Andrada Ioana Maria Manole
The race to find an effective treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) remains a critical topic, because of its high aggressivity and impact on survival and the quality of life. Currently, due to GBM’s high heterogeneity, the conventional treatment success rate and response to therapy are relatively low, with a median survival rate of less than 20 months. A new point of view can be provided by the comprehension of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in pursuance of the development of new therapeutic strategies to aim for a longer survival rate with an improved quality of life and longer disease-free interval (DFI). The main components of the GBM TME are represented by the extracellular matrix (ECM), glioma cells and glioma stem cells (GSCs), immune cells (microglia, macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes), neuronal cells, all of them having dynamic interactions and being able to influence the tumoral growth, progression, and drug resistance thus being a potential therapeutic target. This paper will review the latest research on the GBM TME and the potential therapeutic targets to form an up-to-date strategy.

Verified
Journal Article
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LTLigia Gabriela TATARANU
Ligia Gabriela TATARANU
STSerban Turliuc
Serban Turliuc
RRRadu Eugen Rizea
Radu Eugen Rizea
ADAnica Dricu
Anica Dricu
OAOana Alexandru
Oana Alexandru
AKAmira Kamel
Amira Kamel
Accounting for 48% of malignant brain tumors in adults, glioblastoma has been of great interest in the last decades, especially in the biomolecular and neurosurgical fields, due to its incurable nature and notable neurological morbidity. The major advancements in neurosurgical technologies have positively influenced the extent of safe tumoral resection, while the latest progress in the biomolecular field of GBM has uncovered new potential therapeutical targets. Although GBM currently has no curative therapy, recent progress has been made in the management of this disease, both from surgical and molecular perspectives. The main current therapeutic approach is multimodal and consists of neurosurgical intervention, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, mostly with temozolomide. Although most patients will develop treatment resistance and tumor recurrence after surgical removal, biomolecular advancements regarding GBM have contributed to a better understanding of this pathology and its therapeutic management. Over the past few decades, specific biomarkers have been discovered that have helped predict prognosis and treatment responses and contributed to improvements in survival rates.

10 September 2024 in Applied Sciences
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IGIlona Andreea Georgescu
Ilona Andreea Georgescu
ADAnica Dricu
Anica Dricu
SAStefan-Alexandru Artene
Stefan-Alexandru Artene
NVNicolae-Răzvan Vrăjitoru
Nicolae-Răzvan Vrăjitoru
EBEdmond Barcan
Edmond Barcan
S(Stefana Oana Popescu (Purcaru)
Stefana Oana Popescu (Purcaru)
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and digital health technologies, revealing their immense potential in managing cancer patients effectively. This article explores the impact of recent technological developments and widened consumer perspectives on personalised healthcare and patient awareness, particularly in oncology. Smartphones and wearable devices have become integral to daily life, promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting cancer patients through remote monitoring and health management. The widespread use of these devices presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform clinical trials and patient care by offering convenient and accessible means of collecting health data continuously and non-invasively. However, to fully harness their potential, it is crucial to establish standardised methods for measuring patient metrics to ensure data reliability and validity. This article also addresses the challenges of integrating these technologies into clinical practice, such as cost, patient and professional reluctance, and technological oversaturation. It emphasises the need for continuous innovation, the development of robust digital infrastructures, and the importance of fostering a supportive environment to integrate these advancements permanently. Ultimately, the convergence of technological innovation and personalised healthcare promises to enhance patient outcomes, improve quality of life, and revolutionise cancer management in the post-COVID era.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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EBEdmond Barcan
Edmond Barcan
CDCarmen Duta
Carmen Duta
GSGeorgiana-Adeline Staicu
Georgiana-Adeline Staicu
SAStefan-Alexandru Artene
Stefan-Alexandru Artene
OAOana Alexandru
Oana Alexandru
ADAnica Dricu
Anica Dricu
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by molecular complexity and resistance to conventional treatments, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Despite these challenges, advancements in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) research, combined with multi-omics approaches, hold promise for improving patient outcomes and survivability. RTKs are central to GBM progression, influencing cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. However, the complexity of RTK signaling necessitates a broader, integrative perspective, which has been enabled by the emergence of -omics sciences. Multi-omics technologies—including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—offer unprecedented insights into the molecular landscape of GBM and its RTK-driven pathways. Genomic studies have revealed mutations and amplifications in RTK-related genes, while transcriptomics has uncovered alterations in gene expression patterns, providing a clearer picture of how these aberrations drive tumor behavior. Proteomics has further delineated changes in protein expression and post-translational modifications linked to RTK signaling, highlighting novel therapeutic targets. Metabolomics complements these findings by identifying RTK-associated metabolic reprogramming, such as shifts in glycolysis and lipid metabolism, which sustain tumor growth and therapy resistance. The integration of these multi-omics layers enables a comprehensive understanding of RTK biology in GBM. For example, studies have linked metabolic alterations with RTK activity, offering new biomarkers for tumor classification and therapeutic targeting. Additionally, single-cell transcriptomics has unveiled intratumoral heterogeneity, a critical factor in therapy resistance. This article highlights the transformative potential of multi-omics in unraveling the complexity of RTK signaling in GBM. By combining these approaches, researchers are paving the way for precision medicine strategies that may significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy, providing new hope for patients facing this devastating disease.