title: Highlights of the annual meeting of the Italian Association for Cell Cultures (AICC): new drug delivery strategies and technological platforms for diagnosis and therapy of tumors (Part I) 6 - 7 December 2007, Naples, Italy.
abstract: The application of computational analysis to biochemistry and molecular biology techniques has allowed the design of advanced technological platforms such as DNA microarrays, proteomic analysis and tissue microarrays. These are useful in the diagnosis of tumors and in driving the choice of opportune therapeutic options. The use of target-based agents requires the determination of the molecular features of the tumors. During the AICC meeting four new advanced technological platforms were analyzed: DNA microarrays, ProtoArrays, tissue microarrays and proteomic analysis with differential in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE) and matrix-associated laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). The use of DNA microarray in the study of neo-angiogenic components in tumor tissues was described and the ex vivo analysis in humans of circulating endothelial cells was proposed. The role of both genomic and pharmacogenomic profiles in the diagnosis and prediction of response to therapy and toxicity of both breast and colorectal cancer was described. A developmental model for the optimization of zoledronic acid (ZOL) antitumor activity based on either nanotechnological modification or molecular target fishing with DNA microarrays was discussed. The interdisciplinary network between pharmacologists, cellular and molecular biologists, biochemists and translational and clinical oncologists was encouraged and approved during the meeting in order to improve the efficacy of antitumor strategies.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Tumors Fondazione G Pascale, Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy. michele.caraglia@fondazionepascale.it
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caraglia
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budillon
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000639:trends; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007558:Italy; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000639:trends; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents