Gaetano Lombardi
e-mail: gaelomba AT unina.it
affiliation: Università di Napoli Federico II
research area(s): Neuroscience, Cancer Biology
Course:
Molecular Pathology and Pathophysiology
University/Istitution: Università di Napoli Federico II
University/Istitution: Università di Napoli Federico II
Post-graduate fellow in Endocrinology in 1968, in Gynecology and Obstretics in 1977, and in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine in 1981 at the Federico II University of Naples.
In 1971 researcher at the laboratory of Experimental Medicine INSERM U297, University of Aix II-Marseille chaired by Prof. J. Vague and in 1974 researcher at the laboratory Chelsea Hospital for Women chaired by Prof. Prof. J. Sommerville.
At the Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University of Naples: from 1965-1983 Senior Doctor, from 1983-1990 Associate Professor of Endocrinology and from 1990 Full Professor of Endocrinology and chief of the Pituitary, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathology Unit.
From 1983-2003 chief of the Specialization School in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Federico II University of Naples. From 2003 President of the Full Professor of Endocrinology Collegium. From June 2003 Chief of Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology and member of Board of the Faculty and of Polo of Sciences and Life in the University Federico II.
In 1971 researcher at the laboratory of Experimental Medicine INSERM U297, University of Aix II-Marseille chaired by Prof. J. Vague and in 1974 researcher at the laboratory Chelsea Hospital for Women chaired by Prof. Prof. J. Sommerville.
At the Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University of Naples: from 1965-1983 Senior Doctor, from 1983-1990 Associate Professor of Endocrinology and from 1990 Full Professor of Endocrinology and chief of the Pituitary, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathology Unit.
From 1983-2003 chief of the Specialization School in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Federico II University of Naples. From 2003 President of the Full Professor of Endocrinology Collegium. From June 2003 Chief of Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology and member of Board of the Faculty and of Polo of Sciences and Life in the University Federico II.
The main research lines are:
1) Molecular basis of treatment of hypothalamus-pituitary tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.
2) Consequences of GH deficit and excess on cardiovascular system.
3) Endocrine consequences in survivors of malignancies.
1) From the discovery of somatostatin analogues for treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors, the characterization of somatostatin receptors on tumor membranes has become an important area of research. In recent years new molecules have become available for medical treatment so that knowledge on intracellular mechanism inducing suppression of hormone secretion and inhibition of proliferation was essential. Several publications have focused on the role of somatostatin analogues in controlling the acromegaly disease. In particular, we have demonstrated that the depot formulation of the analogues reduces tumor size in a substantial proportion of patients. Our data have been subsequently confirmed by several other independent publications. Some of the published data are particularly important in the pre-surgical approach to GH-secreting tumors. Additionally, since these are rare tumors research is also addressed in creating a network among different specialized centres.
2) GH and IGF-I play a relevant role in maintaining a normal cardiovascular function. Several publications have contributing in improving knowledge on the acromegalic cardiomyopathy. In particular, we demonstrated that the biochemical control of GH and IGF-I in acromegaly is essential to improve cardiac performance on effort. These results have been of crucial importance since these patients die earlier because of cardiac disease. We also demonstrated the peculiarity of the cardiomyopathy by showing a discrepancy between cardiac size and integrity of the coronary system in acromegaly. Besides, we demonstrated that GH deficient adults have early atherosclerosis on major arteries with increased prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques. GH replacement is beneficial in improving the atherosclerotic profile an cardiac performance on effort. Several publications are dedicated to this issue.
3) Young adult survivors to different malignancies have several alterations of the endocrine system. In particular, we studied patients survivors to lymphoproliferative disorders (leukemias, lymphomas etc.) who received chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation. We demonstrated damage of the endocrine system in these patients overall on the gonadal axis, the thyroid axis and the adrenal axis. Some IGF-I deficiency is also demonstrated. It is our belief that all patients survivors to these tumors are affected by some endocrinopathies. This causes severe systemic damage that reduces quality of life. Several publications are dedicated to this issue and some future efforts will be dedicated to produce more data prompting othe investigators to start a detailed analysis of the endocrine system in these patients. In the same view, we have started a collaborative study with pediatricians and other specialists to demonstrate the endocrine consequences of systemic disease characterized by enzymatic defects such as Fabri disease and glycogenosis which were shown to be associated with endocrine consequences.
1) Molecular basis of treatment of hypothalamus-pituitary tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.
2) Consequences of GH deficit and excess on cardiovascular system.
3) Endocrine consequences in survivors of malignancies.
1) From the discovery of somatostatin analogues for treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors, the characterization of somatostatin receptors on tumor membranes has become an important area of research. In recent years new molecules have become available for medical treatment so that knowledge on intracellular mechanism inducing suppression of hormone secretion and inhibition of proliferation was essential. Several publications have focused on the role of somatostatin analogues in controlling the acromegaly disease. In particular, we have demonstrated that the depot formulation of the analogues reduces tumor size in a substantial proportion of patients. Our data have been subsequently confirmed by several other independent publications. Some of the published data are particularly important in the pre-surgical approach to GH-secreting tumors. Additionally, since these are rare tumors research is also addressed in creating a network among different specialized centres.
2) GH and IGF-I play a relevant role in maintaining a normal cardiovascular function. Several publications have contributing in improving knowledge on the acromegalic cardiomyopathy. In particular, we demonstrated that the biochemical control of GH and IGF-I in acromegaly is essential to improve cardiac performance on effort. These results have been of crucial importance since these patients die earlier because of cardiac disease. We also demonstrated the peculiarity of the cardiomyopathy by showing a discrepancy between cardiac size and integrity of the coronary system in acromegaly. Besides, we demonstrated that GH deficient adults have early atherosclerosis on major arteries with increased prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques. GH replacement is beneficial in improving the atherosclerotic profile an cardiac performance on effort. Several publications are dedicated to this issue.
3) Young adult survivors to different malignancies have several alterations of the endocrine system. In particular, we studied patients survivors to lymphoproliferative disorders (leukemias, lymphomas etc.) who received chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation. We demonstrated damage of the endocrine system in these patients overall on the gonadal axis, the thyroid axis and the adrenal axis. Some IGF-I deficiency is also demonstrated. It is our belief that all patients survivors to these tumors are affected by some endocrinopathies. This causes severe systemic damage that reduces quality of life. Several publications are dedicated to this issue and some future efforts will be dedicated to produce more data prompting othe investigators to start a detailed analysis of the endocrine system in these patients. In the same view, we have started a collaborative study with pediatricians and other specialists to demonstrate the endocrine consequences of systemic disease characterized by enzymatic defects such as Fabri disease and glycogenosis which were shown to be associated with endocrine consequences.
Project Title:
Project Title:
Study of molecular target for treatment of endocrine tumors.
Project Title:
Study of receptor pattern in endocrine cells.