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Antonio Giordano

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Antonio Giordano
Antonio Giordano
Giordano in 2007
Born (1962-10-11) October 11, 1962 (age 62)
Naples, Campania, Italy
CitizenshipItalian and American
Alma materUniversity of Naples Federico II
AwardsKnight and Commander of Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Cross of Merit Melitense from Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Scientific career
FieldsOncology
Institutions
Websitehttps://www.drantoniogiordano.com/

Antonio Giordano (born October 11, 1962) is an Italian-American oncologist, pathologist, geneticist, researcher, and professor. He is the Director of the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine in Philadelphia and a Professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology in the Department of Medical Biotechnology at the University of Siena.

His research focuses on cell cycle regulation and mechanisms of tumor development. He isolated the tumor suppressor gene Rb2/p130 and demonstrated its potential to reduce tumor growth in animal models using a retrovirus. Giordano has also investigated potential health risks associated with toxic waste in the Italian region of Campania.[1]

Biography

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Antonio Giordano is the son of Giovan Giacomo Giordano (1925–2010), an oncologist and pathologist, and Maria Teresa Sgambati. He earned his degree in Medicine from the University of Naples Federico II in 1986. He subsequently completed his specialization in Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Trieste.

Giordano relocated to the United States to pursue doctoral studies under the mentorship of Nobel laureate James Dewey Watson at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.[2] During his tenure at the laboratory, Giordano published research linking cell cycle regulation to cancer development, proposing that oncogenes interacting directly with cyclins may contribute to cell cycle deregulation and the development of a neoplastic phenotype.[3]

In 1992, he moved to Philadelphia, holding positions as an assistant professor at Temple University and later at Thomas Jefferson University.[4] Since 2004, Giordano has been a professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Siena and directs the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and the Center for Biotechnology in the College of Science and Technology at Temple University.[5]

Scientific achievements

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In 1993, Giordano identified and cloned the tumor suppressor gene Rb2/p130, which plays a key role in the cell cycle by controlling DNA replication. This gene’s role in cell cycle regulation and its potential in cancer prevention have been established.[6] Mutations in this gene may contribute to uncontrolled neoplastic cell proliferation.

In 2000, Giordano led an in vivo gene therapy study using a mouse model with an induced lung tumor. The study reported significant tumor growth reduction after a single injection of Rb2/p130 delivered via a retrovirus vector.[7]

In 2001, Giordano led another study into tumor pathogenesis using a mouse model.[8] The research demonstrated that Rb2/p130 also functions as an inhibitor of angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels supporting tumor growth. Additionally, two regulators of the human genome, CDK9 and CDK10, were identified.[9]

In 2004, Giordano's research identified Novel Structure Proteins (NSPs), protein structures potentially involved in nuclear dynamics during cell division.[10] One isoform, NSP5a3a, is highly expressed in some tumor cell lines and may serve as a tumor marker.

In late 2024, a research team led by Giordano and Luigi Alfano published a study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences titled 'Oleanolic Acid Modulates DNA Damage Response to Camptothecin, Increasing Cancer Cell Death,' which reported that combining oleanolic acid with chemotherapy enhanced the death of cancer cells.[11]

Health and environment

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Giordano has published scientific articles and two books on environmental health, including Campania, terra di Veleni[12] and Monnezza di Stato,[13][14] published respectively by Denaro Libri and Minerva.

He launched a petition calling for environmental protection, reportedly signed by over 500 researchers and professionals, and has promoted initiatives focused on environmental and public health. Giordano was appointed Technical Consultant to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Avellino for the Iso Chimica[15] case and Scientific Director of the Mediterranea - Food and Wine Academy of Naples. He has also conducted studies on the potential anticancer effects of tomatoes.[16]

He authored the Veritas[17] pilot study, which investigated the link between disease onset and exposure to environmental pollutants. In 2024, he published a paper in the journal Environments titled "Understanding Environmental Contamination Through the Lens of the Peregrine Falcon," discussing the use of peregrine falcons as bioindicators of pollution.[18]

Publications

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Giordano has authored over 600 scientific publications[19] in peer-reviewed journals and holds international patents relating to gene discoveries and methods for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Selected publications

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  • Campania, terra di Veleni, Giulio Taro (coauthor), Napoli, Denaro Libri, 2011, ISBN 978-88-7444-067-2.
  • Monnezza di Stato. Le Terre dei Fuochi nell'Italia dei Veleni, Paolo Chiariello (coauthor), Bologna, Minerva Edizioni, 2013, ISBN 978-88-7381-750-5.
  • Cell Cycle and Cancer, Springer, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-5697-7.

Honors and awards

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  • Knight and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
  • Cross of Merit Melitense from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
  • Member of the Accademia dei Georgofili
  • Member of the New York Academy of Sciences
  • Honorary doctorate from the International University in Havana, Cuba

References

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  1. ^ "Temple researcher's work spotlights cancer threat in Italy". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. June 3, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  2. ^ "SMOM, Riccardo Mastrangeli conferisce onorificenza al prof. Antonio Giordano". Dire.it (in Italian). January 7, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Inquirer.com: Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Guest Editors". Oncogene. 25 (38): 5187–5188. August 2006. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209720. ISSN 1476-5594.
  5. ^ "Guest Editors". Oncogene. 25 (38): 5187–5188. August 2006. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209720. ISSN 1476-5594.
  6. ^ "Combining Rb2 gene with radiation therapy quickens tumor cell death, Temple researchers find". EurekAlert!. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Guest Editors". Oncogene. 25 (38): 5187–5188. August 2006. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209720. ISSN 1476-5594.
  8. ^ Miller, Creighton J. (January 1, 2009). "Judicial Staff Directory". Reference Reviews. 23 (1): 23–24. doi:10.1108/09504120910925580. ISSN 0950-4125.
  9. ^ Miller, Creighton J. (January 1, 2009). "Judicial Staff Directory". Reference Reviews. 23 (1): 23–24. doi:10.1108/09504120910925580. ISSN 0950-4125.
  10. ^ "Novel Structure Proteins discovered by Temple University researchers could play a role in apoptosis". Temple Now | news.temple.edu. July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Oleanolic acid from grapes may increase chemotherapy effectiveness". Medical Express. Sbarro Health Research Organization. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "Libro Campania, terra di veleni - A. Giordano - Denarolibri | LaFeltrinelli". www.lafeltrinelli.it (in Italian). Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Monnezza di Stato. La Terra dei fuochi nell'Italia dei veleni - Antonio Giordano - Paolo Chiariello - - Libro - Minerva Edizioni (Bologna) - Clessidra | IBS". www.ibs.it. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lo studio. Terra dei fuochi e veleni. Nuove prove di contagio". www.avvenire.it (in Italian). December 17, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  15. ^ ""Ultima in Campania per sforamenti, metalli e diossina sopra norma: Avellino e l'Irpinia non possono permettersi una qualità dell'aria così scarsa": il monito dello scienziato Giordano - Orticalab.it". www.orticalab.it (in Italian). Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Olgiati (December 16, 2020). "'Dieta del pomodoro' speranza contro il cancro allo stomaco". Adnkronos. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Redazione. "Terra dei Fuochi. Studio "Veritas" rivela alto tasso di metalli pesanti nel sangue | JPress" (in Italian). Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "Falcons exposed to heavy metals are a red flag for environmental health". Phys.org. Sbarro Health Research Organization. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "ANTONIO GIORDANO". scholar.google.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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