Barbara Cassani

Dr. Barbara Cassani

Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20089 Milan, Italy

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

22Years (2005-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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29 January 2009 in New England Journal of Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
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AAAlessandro Aiuti
Alessandro Aiuti
FCFederica Cattaneo
Federica Cattaneo
SGStefania Galimberti
Stefania Galimberti
UBUlrike Benninghoff
Ulrike Benninghoff
BCBarbara Cassani
Barbara Cassani
MRMaria-Grazia Roncarolo
Maria-Grazia Roncarolo
We investigated the long-term outcome of gene therapy for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to the lack of adenosine deaminase (ADA), a fatal disorder of purine metabolism and immunodeficiency.

1 July 2008 in The American Journal of Human Genetics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MGMatteo M. Guerrini
Matteo M. Guerrini
CSCristina Sobacchi
Cristina Sobacchi
BCBarbara Cassani
Barbara Cassani
MAMario Abinun
Mario Abinun
SKSara Sebnem Kilic
Sara Sebnem Kilic
AFAnnalisa Frattini
Annalisa Frattini

15 September 2007 in Blood
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CCClaudia Cattoglio
Claudia Cattoglio
GFGiulia Facchini
Giulia Facchini
DSDaniela Sartori
Daniela Sartori
AAAntonella Antonelli
Antonella Antonelli
AMAnnarita Miccio
Annarita Miccio
FMFulvio Mavilio
Fulvio Mavilio
Insertional oncogenesis is a possible consequence of the integration of gamma-retroviral (RV) or lentiviral (LV) vectors into the human genome. RV common insertion sites (CISs) have been identified in hematopoietic malignancies and in the nonmalignant progeny of transduced hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs), possibly as a consequence of clonal selection in vivo. We have mapped a large number of RV and LV integrations in human CD34+ HSCs, transduced in vitro and analyzed without selection. Recurrent insertion sites (hot spots) account for more than 21% of the RV integration events, while they are significantly less frequent in the case of LV vectors. RV but not LV hot spots are highly enriched in proto-oncogenes, cancer-associated CISs, and growth-controlling genes, indicating that at least part of the biases observed in the HSC progeny in vivo are characteristics of RV integration, already present in nontransplanted cells. Genes involved in hematopoietic and immune system development are targeted at high frequency and enriched in hot spots, suggesting that the CD34+ gene expression program is instrumental in directing RV integration. The lower propensity of LV vectors for integrating in potentially dangerous regions of the human genome may be a factor determining a better safety profile for gene therapy applications.

1 August 2007 in Journal of Clinical Investigation
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AAAlessandro Aiuti
Alessandro Aiuti
BCBarbara Cassani
Barbara Cassani
GAGrazia Andolfi
Grazia Andolfi
MMMassimiliano Mirolo
Massimiliano Mirolo
LBLuca Biasco
Luca Biasco
CBClaudio Bordignon
Claudio Bordignon
Gene transfer into HSCs is an effective treatment for SCID, although potentially limited by the risk of insertional mutagenesis. We performed a genome-wide analysis of retroviral vector integrations in genetically corrected HSCs and their multilineage progeny before and up to 47 months after transplantation into 5 patients with adenosine deaminase–deficient SCID. Gene-dense regions, promoters, and transcriptionally active genes were preferred retroviral integrations sites (RISs) both in preinfusion transduced CD34+ cells and in vivo after gene therapy. The occurrence of insertion sites proximal to protooncogenes or genes controlling cell growth and self renewal, including LMO2, was not associated with clonal selection or expansion in vivo. Clonal analysis of long-term repopulating cell progeny in vivo revealed highly polyclonal T cell populations and shared RISs among multiple lineages, demonstrating the engraftment of multipotent HSCs. These data have important implications for the biology of retroviral vectors, the dynamics of genetically modified HSCs, and the safety of gene therapy.

1 February 2012 in Molecular Aspects of Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
BCBarbara Cassani
Barbara Cassani
EVEduardo Villablanca
Eduardo Villablanca
JCJaime De Calisto
Jaime De Calisto
SWSen Wang
Sen Wang
JMJ. Rodrigo Mora
J. Rodrigo Mora

1 December 2011 in Gastroenterology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
BCBarbara Cassani
Barbara Cassani
EVEduardo Villablanca
Eduardo Villablanca
FQFrancisco J. Quintana
Francisco J. Quintana
PLPaul E. Love
Paul E. Love
ALAdam Lacy–Hulbert
Adam Lacy–Hulbert
JMJ. Rodrigo Mora
J. Rodrigo Mora