Back to Editor profile » Dr Antonella D'Anneo

Dr Antonella D'Anneo

Dr Antonella D'Anneo

Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Dr. D'Anneo earned a Master Degree with full marks and honors in Biological Sciences (curriculum in molecular biology) from the University of Palermo in 2000 and obtained a Ph.D. in Experimental Oncobiology in 2004. She began her studies on the field of tumor biology, cell death mechanisms and biochemical pathways that can be activated in tumor cells. Her scientific production is characterized by manuscripts on researches performed to elucidate the mode of action of apoptotic drugs and the possible synergistic interactions when drugs are employed in combination studies. To complement the graduate training in biochemistry, Dr. D'Anneo obtained, as visiting scholar, a training at Rangos Research Center (Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA-USA). During this stage (2005-2007), she was directly involved in the study of Adenoviral and EIA (Equine infectious anemia) viruses in blocking cytokine-induced apoptosis in both human and murine pancreatic ß islets. She also took part in a research project concerning gene therapy approaches to determine tolerization of diabetic patients against the cells of islet donor.

During her career, she has acquired expertise in the study of many different types of cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, autophagy and anoikis) activable in vitro tumor systems and the role of oxidative stress in cancer. Dr. D'Anneo made significant contributions to researches on combinations of sesquiterpene lactones (parthenolide), HDAC inhibitors (SAHA, Trichostatin A and sodium butyrate), proteasome inhibitors (MG132, lactacystin and Velcade) and recombinant Trail in vitro studies for the treatment of many different cancer systems. She is also the co-inventor of a patent for combined therapies for the treatment of liver tumors. In recent years she was also focused on the study of the serpin proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9) in ER+ breast cancer cells and breast cancer stem-like cells.

She is currently an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry at the Department of Sciences and Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Palermo and serves as mentor of PhD and students of the MSc in Molecular and Health Biology.

Updated 25 August 2023