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AUSL 10 Firenze

Plastic Surgery Unit Regional Melanoma Referral Center

Ospedale S.M. Annunziata
Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze
via Antella 58, 50012 Antella – Firenze
Tel: 055 2496754 Fax: 055 2496283

Principal investigator: Lorenzo Borgognoni

staff picture   Staff

  • Lorenzo Borgognoni responsabile
  • Paola Brandani medico dirigente I livello
  • Cristina Chiarugi medico dirigente I livello
  • Riccardo Gelli medico dirigente I livello
  • Gianni Gerlini medico dirigente I livello
  • Vanni Giannotti medico dirigente I livello
  • Serena Sestini medico dirigente I livello

The Unit was instituted in the Institute of Dermatology in Florence in 1973. The Plastic Surgery Unit moved in Ospedale Santa Maria Annunziata-Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze in 1997 and was recognized Regional Melanoma Referral Center in 2000. Our Unit is carrying out clinical and translational research on cutaneous tumors and particularly on melanoma. The primary aims of the research projects are: a) to develop surgical procedures; b) to study the immunobiology of dendritic cells within the sentinel node (SN) and the melanoma immune escape mechanisms; c) to evaluate possible novel immunotherapies.

Main Research Themes

  • Analysis of possible novel diagnostic and prognostic factors in cutaneous melanoma
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: development of the technique
  • Antigens presenting system analysis on dendritic cells in primary and metastatic melanoma
  • Maturation state of Langerhans dendritic cells analysis in sentinel lymph node of melanoma patients
  • Plasmacytoid dendritic cells analysis in sentinel lymph nodes of melanoma patients

Clinical Trials

  • PHASE II STUDY ML 19309 (Bevacizumab + Fotemustine) in patients with unresectable stage IV melanoma
  • EORTC Trial 18991: Adjuvant Peg-Intron treatment in stage III melanoma versus observation after regional lymph node dissection: a multicenter randomized phase III trial.
  • EORTC Trial 18961: Post-operative adjuvant ganglioside GM2-KLH/QS-21 vaccination treatment vs observation after resection of primary cutaneous melanoma (AJCC stage II, T3-T4N0M0): a 2-arm multicenter randomized phase III trial.

Publications

  1. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(+) cells correspond to the BDCA2(+) plasmacytoid dendritic cells in human melanoma sentinel nodes.
    Gerlini G, Di Gennaro P, Mariotti G, Urso C, Chiarugi A, Pimpinelli N, Borgognoni L.
    J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Oct 15 [Epub ahead of print].
  2. Non-sentinel lymph node involvement in a patient with an atypical Spitz tumor and a positive sentinel node. report of a case and review of the literature.
    Urso C, Borgognoni L, Doria M, Tinacci G, Zini E.
    J Cutan Pathol. 2009 May;36(5):586-90. Epub 2009 Mar 30. Review.
  3. Sphingosine 1-phosphate induces differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards smooth muscle cells.
    Nincheri P, Luciani P, Squecco R, Donati C, Bernacchioni C, Borgognoni L, Luciani G, Benvenuti S, Francini F, Bruni P. Cell Mol Life Sci; 2009;66:1741-1754.
  4. Il trattamento chirurgico del melanoma.
    L. Borgognoni. In: De Giorgi V, Aricò M, Lotti T. Ed Fernando Folini, Alessandria, 2008;130-146.
  5. Clinico-pathological characteristics of familial melanoma in a mediterranean population.
    Chiarugi A, Nardini P, Borgognoni L, Brandani P, Crocetti E, Carli P. Melanoma Research 2008;18:367-369.
  6. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in childhood: two case reports and review of the literature.
    Gerlini G, Mariotti G, Urso C, Brandani P, Reali UM, Borgognoni L. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2008;25:559-566.
  7. Adjuvant therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2B versus observation alone in resected stage III melanoma: final results of EORTC 18991, a randomised phase III trial.
    Eggermont AM, Suciu S, Santinami M, Testori A, Kruit WH, Marsden J, Punt CJ, Salès F, Gore M, Mackie R, Kusic Z, Dummer R, Hauschild A, Musat E, Spatz A, Keilholz U and EORTC Melanoma Group: Borgognoni L et al. Lancet. 2008 Jul 12;372(9633):117-26.
  8. Induction of CD83+CD14+ nondendritic antigen-presenting cells by exposure of monocytes to IFN-ALPHA.
    Gerlini G, Mariotti G, Chiarugi A, Di Gennaro P, Caporale R, Parenti A, Cavone L, Tun-Kyi A, Prignano F, Saccardi R, Borgognoni L, Pimpinelli N. J Immunol. 2008 Sep 1;181(5):2999-3008.
  9. Sensitivity and specificity of histological criteria in the diagnosis of conventional cutaneous melanoma.
    Urso C, Saieva C, Borgognoni L, Tinacci G, Zini E.Melanoma Research 2008;18:253-258.
  10. The p.G23S CDKN2A founder mutation in high-risk melanoma families from central Italy.
    Gensini F, Sestini R, Piazzini M, Vignoli M, Chiarugi A, Brandani P, Ghiorzo P, Salvini C, Borgognoni L, Palli D, Bianchi-Scarrà G, Carli P, Genuardi M. Melanoma Research 2007;17:387-392.
  11. Focus on melanoma: le raccomandazioni cliniche dell'ITT per la diagnosi e cura del melanoma cutaneo.
    Amunni G, BorgognoniL. Toscana Medica 2007;5:25.
  12. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells represent a major dengritic cell subset in sentinel lymph nodes of melanoma patients and accumulate in metastatic nodes
    Gerlini G, Urso C, Mariotti G, Di Gennaro P, Palli D, Brandani P, Salvadori A, Pimpinelli N, Reali UM, Borgognoni L. Clinical Immunology, 2007;125:184-193.
  13. Raccomandazioni cliniche per il melanoma cutaneo.
    Borgognoni L, Carli P, Crocetti E, Maio M, Pimpinelli N, Romanini A, Santucci M, Vaggelli L; Gruppo Melanoma ITT. Scientific Press, Firenze 2007.
  14. A key role for poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase-1 activity during human dendritic cell maturation.
    Aldinucci A, Gerlini G, Fossati S, Cipriani G, Ballerini C, Biagioli T, Pimpinelli N, Borgognoni L, Massacesi L, Moroni F, Chiarugi A. J Immunol 2007;179:305-312.
  15. Italian guidelines for staging and follow-up of stage I-II cutaneous melanoma patients.
    Quaglino P, Borgognoni L, Bottoni U, Calvieri S, Carli P, Catricala' C, Eibenschutz L, Manganoni A, Moretti S, Pellacani G, Pimpinelli N, Seidenari S, Bernengo MG. Giornale Italiano Dermatol Venereol 2007;142:41-47.
  16. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with "atypical Spitz tumors". A report on 12 cases.
    Urso C, Borgognoni L, Saieva C, Ferrara G, Tinacci G, Begliomini B, Reali UM. Human Pathology 2006; 37:816-823.
  17. Positive sentinel node in a 30-month-old boy with atypical Spitz tumor (spitzoid melanoma). Urso C, Gelli R, Borgognoni L, Tinacci G, Reali UM. Histopathology 2006; 48:884-886.
  18. Stem cell factor affects tumour progression markers in metastatic melanoma cells.
    Prignano F, Gerlini G, Salvatori B, Orlando C, Mazzoli S, Pimpinelli N, Moretti S. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2006;23(3-4):177-86.
  19. Role of conventional treatments on circulating and monocyte-derived dendritic cells in colorectal cancer.
    Bellik L, Gerlini G, Parenti A, Ledda F, Pimpinelli N, Neri B, Pantalone D. Clin Immunol. 2006 Oct;121(1):74-80.
  20. Massive recruitment of type I interferon producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells in varicella skin lesions.
    Gerlini G, Mariotti G, Bianchi B, Pimpinelli N. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Feb;126(2):507-9.
  21. Cause di arrivo, esito diagnostico e possibili criticita' negli ambulatori per la diagnosi precoce del melanoma cutaneo in Toscana: survey pilota.
    Carli P, Zappa M, Ventura L, Bartoli L, Biagioli M, Borgognoni L, Brandani P, Ceccarini M, Chiarugi A, Cristiani G, Maccanti G, Nardini P, Lo Scocco G.
    In: I Programmi di Screening della Regione Toscana. Sesto rapporto annuale. Firenze 2005:46-51.
  22. Skin cancer and immunosuppression
    Gerlini G, Romagnoli P, Pimpinelli N.
    Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2005 Oct;56(1):127-36. Review.
  23. Sentinel node biopsy procedures with an analysis of recurrence patterns and prognosis in melanoma patients: technical advantages using computer-assisted gamma probe with adjustable collimation.
    Borgognoni L, Urso C, Vaggelli L, Brandani P, Gerlini G, Reali UM. Melanoma Research 2004; 14:311-319.
  24. Vasculogenic mimicry has no prognostic significance in pT3 and pT4 cutaneous melanoma.
    Massi D. Franchi A, Paglierani M, Ketabchi S, Borgognoni L, Reali UM Santucci M. Human Pathology 2004; 35:496-502.
  25. Metastatic melanoma secreted IL-10 down-regulates CD1 molecules on dendritic cells in metastatic tumor lesions
    Gerlini, G., Tun-Kyi, A., Dudli, C., Burg, G., Pimpinelli, N., and Nestle, F. O. Am J Pathol 2004;165:1853-1863.
  26. Linfonodo sentinella nel melanoma cutaneo: esperienza nell'area fiorentina.
    Urso C, Borgognoni L, Vaggelli L, Giannini A, Salvadori A, Zini E, Reali UM. Pathologica 2003; 95:133-139.
  27. Immunoterapia adiuvante con interferon-alpha nel melanoma.
    Moretti S, Brunasso G, Borgognoni L, Pimpinelli N. G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2003; 138:225-228.
  28. Immediate local and regional recurrence after the excision of a polypoid melanoma: tumor dormancy or tumor activation?
    De Giorgi V, Massi D, Gerlini G, Mannone F, Quercioli E, Carli P.
    Dermatol Surg. 2003 Jun;29(6):664-7.
  29. Specific immune therapy-related cutaneous b-cell pseudolymphoma with following dissemination.
    Gerlini G, Mori M, Massi D, Pimpinelli N.
    J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003 Mar;17(2):208-12.
  30. Acute leucocytoclastic vasculitis and aquagenic pruritus long preceding polycythemia rubra vera.
    Gerlini G, Prignano F, Pimpinelli N.
    Eur J Dermatol. 2002 May-Jun;12(3):270-1.
  31. Control of the differentiation state and function of human epidermal langerhans cells by cytokines in vitro.
    Prignano F, Gerlini G, Fossombroni V, Pimpinelli N, Giannotti B, Nestle FO, Romagnoli P.
    J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2001 Sep;15(5):433-40.
  32. Biological effects of silicone gel sheeting.
    Borgognoni L. Wound Repair and Regeneration 2002;10:118-121
  33. Tumor angiogenesis as a prognostic factor in thick cutaneous malignant melanoma: a quantitative morphologic analysis.
    Massi D, Franchi A, Borgognoni L, Paglierani M, Reali UM, Santucci M. Virchows Arch 2002; 440:22-28.
  34. Microsatellite analysis in cutaneous malignant melanoma.
    Massi D, Sardi I, Franchi A, Urso C, Borgognoni L, Giannini A, Reali UM, Santucci M. Melanoma Research 2002; 12:577-584.
  35. Linfonodo sentinella ed altre tecniche di chirurgia radioguidata: esperienze e prospettive in Toscana.
    Vaggelli L, Distante V, Borgognoni L. Toscana Medica 2002; 10:11-14.
  36. Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in benign and malignant cutaneous melanocytic lesions.
    Massi D, Franchi A, Sari I, Magnelli L, Paglierani M, Borgognoni L, Reali UM, Santucci M.
    J Pathol 2001;194:194-200.
  37. Improved radio-guided surgery using computer-assisted gamma probe with adjustable collimation for the detection of sentinel node in melanoma patients.
    Borgognoni L, Urso C, Vaggelli L, Chiarugi C, Gelli R, Giannotti V, Reali UM. Melanoma Research 2001;11:103-104.
  38. Keloids and hypertrophic scars of caucasians show distinctive morphologic and immunophenotypic profiles.
    Santucci M, Borgognoni L, Reali UM, Gabbiani G. Virchows Archives 2001;438:457-463.
  39. Advantages of an adhesive hydrocellular dressing in the treatment of partial-thickness skin graft donor sites.
    Reali UM, Martini L, Borgognoni L, Brandani P, Andriessen A. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 2001;14:18-22.
  40. CD1d is expressed on dermal dendritic cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
    Gerlini, G., Hefti, H. P., Kleinhans, M., Nickoloff, B. J., Burg, G., and Nestle, F. O. J Invest Dermatol 2001;117: 576-582.

Collaborations

  • Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)
  • Core Research Laboratory – Istituto Toscano Tumori
  • Melanoma Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC);
  • Polispecialistic Italian Group for Melanoma (GIPME);
  • Istituto per lo Studio e la Prevenzione Oncologica (ISPO) – Regione Toscana;
  • Department of Dermatological Science – University of Firenze;
  • Department of Biochemical Science - University of Firenze;
  • Department of Physiopathology Clinic, Medical Genetic Unit - University of Firenze;
  • Department of Pharmacology – University of Firenze;
  • Department of Oncology and Experimental Pathology - University of Firenze;
  • Surgical-Medical Critical Area Department, Pathological Anatomy Unit (former Department of Human Pathology and Human Oncology) - University of Firenze;
  • U.O. Pathological Anatomy, Dermatopathology, S.M. Annunziata Hospital – Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze.

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