Dr. Francesco Turturro has an established experience in basic science research and particularly in gene therapy and translational research. He has been working on adenovirus-mediated gene therapy of lymphoma and more recently, on biology of a particular kind of lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Using methodology of adenovirus-mediated expression of particular genes such as p53 or p27, he has looked at this particular lymphoma as an example of "one hit disease" caused by the chromosomal translocation t(2;5). The elucidation of mechanisms of disease in this model may help to better understand general mechanisms responsible for cancer. Dr. Turturro's nude mouse model of adenovirus-mediated p53 gene therapy of anaplastic large cell lymphoma-derived tumors grown into the subcutaneous of the animals constitutes a pioneering model in the literature. He also has recently shown that cells derived from the lymphoma expressing the protein NPM-ALK as product of the chromosomal translocation t(2;5) undergo apoptosis when they are exposed to a drug called Herbimycin A. NPM-ALK protein causes the lymphoma and the idea of interfering with the expression of such protein has potential for therapy.

Finally, Dr. Turturro's interest in adenovirus-mediated gene therapy will direct his future efforts in creating new adenoviral vectors with potential application in clinical trials. His research in this particular context will focus on targeting and delivery of the viral particles to the tumor sites. Although his major area of interventional gene therapy as potential application in clinic remains lymphoma and hematopoietic malignancies (blood-derived tumors), he will also explore areas such as carcinoma of the bladder, carcinoma of the prostate, and cancer of the head and neck.

Selected publications

Dang, N., Pro, B., Hagemeister, F.B., Samaniego, F., Jones, D., Samuels, B.I., Rodriguez, M.A., Goy, A., Romaguera, J.E., McLaughlin, P., Tong, A.T., Turturro, F., Walker, P.L., and Fayad, L. Phase II trial of denileukin diftitox for relapsed/refractory T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. British Journal of Haematology, (2007) February;136(3):439-447

Turturro, F., Denileukin diftitox: a biotherapeutic paradigm shift in the treatment of lymphoid-derived disorders. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, (2007) January;7(1):11-17.

Turturro, F., Lawson, M., Friday, E., and Welbourne, T. Targeting the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger: An old concept with new perspectives in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Leukemia Research, (2006) December 13

Turturro, F., Oliver III, R., Friday, E., Nissim, I., and Welbourne, T. Troglitazone and Pioglitazone interactions via PPAR{gamma} independent and dependent pathways in regulating physiological responses in renal tubule derived cell lines. American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, (2006) October 25

Oliver III, R., Friday, E., Turturro, F., Lacy, A., and Welbourne, T. Troglitazone's rapid and sustained activation of ERK1/2 induces cellular acidosis in LLC-PK1-F+ cells: physiological responses. Americal Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology, (2005) June; 288(6):F1257-1266