Annagiada Toniolo

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a tumor type with surging incidence. Metastatic SCCs represent a significant unmet medical need, as the 5-year survival rate remains below 50%. Previous research by our team identified excessive death of keratinocytes as a driver of squamous carcinogenesis in the skin. Apoptotic cell death, classically known to be immune silent and protective against tumor initiation, has in more recent years been reconsidered as putatively promoting tumor progression. Besides apoptosis, dysregulation of another cell death programs, namely necroptosis, can impact carcinogenesis. However, while many anti-cancer treatments aim to induce cell death broadly, there is limited understanding of the specific pathways of cell death involved and their effects on inflammation and proliferation in the tumor niche. 
Our aim is to map the contribution of different types of regulated cell death to squamous tumorigenesis and stem cell plasticity. This study on SCC will allow to determine if the manipulation of keratinocytes cell death mediators has a significant therapeutic potential against cancer. Preliminary data on both cSCC and oSCC chemically-induced models are showing a promising contribution of cell death pathways in tumorigenesis, the final goal is to extrapolate these findings to other tissues and humans.
Our findings will contribute to understanding the link between the different keratinocytes cell death modalities and squamous carcinogenesis, aiming to provide the scientific basis for more precise and efficient treatment options for SCC patients in future clinical cancer care.
 

• 2022-present: PHD Candidate at Ghent University IRC-VIB (BE)
• 2022: Research Fellow at Università degli Studi di Padova (IT)
• 2021: Undergraduate Researcher at Université de Lausanne (CH)
• 2019-2021: Master degree in Pharmaceutical biotechnologies at University of Padova (IT)
• 2016-2019: Bachelor degree in Biotechnologies at University of Padova (IT)
   

• Autophagy critically controls skin immunity inflammation and apoptosis-induced stem cell activation. Autophagy. 2023 Aug 24. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2247742.
• Cell death as an architect of adult skin stem cell niches. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2024 April 22. doi: 10.1038/s41418-024-01297-3
• Nuclear lamin A/C phosphorylation by loss of androgen receptor leads to cancer-associated fibroblast activation. Nature Communications. 12 September 2024. doi: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546870 
   

• Lab address: VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde
• Keratinocyte microenvironment lab
• LinkedIn
• Annagiada Toniolo is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks