Contact
Biography
I graduated in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at the University of Perugia (Italy) in 1995. I obtained my PharmD (EU-qualified) in 1996 and PhD (Cum Laude) in Biochemistry from the University of Perugia (Italy) in 2001. I spent two years (2001-2003) as Post-doctoral Fellow at the School of Biosciences (University of Nottingham) and was then appointed as Senior Research Fellow at the School of Human Development (University of Nottingham) for the following four years. In 2007 I joined the Institute of Genetics and spin-out company EvoCell Ltd (University of Nottingham) as Senior Research Fellow. In 2009 I started my academic appointment at the University of Nottingham and I am currently an Associate Professor in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology. I am an executive member of the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre and hold a professional membership with the UK General Pharmaceutical Council.
Expertise Summary
Dr Cinzia Allegrucci is an Associate Professor in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology
Dr Allegrucci is an executive member of the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre (NBCRC)
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/nottinghambreastcancerresearchcentre/index.aspx
Dr Allegrucci is a member of the Nottingham Centre for Cancer Sciences.
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ccs/
Dr Allegrucci is a pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC reg. number 2206010)
Expertise key words: epigenetics, stem cells, cancer stem cells, germ cells, reprogramming, cancer biology
Teaching Summary
I convene the Genetics and Oncology modules. I teach first, second and third year undergraduate students in the subjects of cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, oncology. I am a coordinator of… read more
Research Summary
My research interests are in Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology. We are working to understand how stem cells are epigenetically regulated during normal tissue homeostasis and in disease. The answer to… read more
Recent Publications
LOTHION-ROY, JENNIFER, HAIGH, DAISY B., HARRIS, ANNA E., METZLER, VERONIKA M., ALSALEEM, MANSOUR, TOSS, MICHAEL S., KARIRI, YOUSIF, NTEKIM, ATARA, ROBINSON, BRIAN D., KHANI, FRANCESCA, GUDAS, LORRAINE J., ALLEGRUCCI, CINZIA, JAMES, VICTORIA H., MADHUSUDAN, SRINIVASAN, MATHER, MELISSA, EMES, RICHARD D., ARCHER, NATHAN, FRAY, RUPERT G., RAKHA, EMAD, JEYAPALAN, JENNIE N., RUTLAND, CATRIN S., MONGAN, NIGEL P. and WOODCOCK, CORINNE L., 2023. Clinical and molecular significance of the RNA m(6)A methyltransferase complex in prostate cancer FRONTIERS IN GENETICS. 13,
PONOMAREV, A, GILAZIEVA, Z, SOLOVYEVA, V, ALLEGRUCCI, C and RIZVANOV, A, 2022. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Impacting Cancer Stemness and Tumor Progression Cancers. 14, 970 IDRISOVA, K.F, ZEINALOVA, A.K, MASGUTOVA, G.A, BOGOV, A.A., ALLEGRUCCI, C, SYROMIATNIKOVA, V,Y, GARANINA, E.E, GARANINA, E.E, ANDREEVA,D.I, KADYROV, A.A, RIZVANOV, A.A and MASGUTOV, R.F, 2022. Application of neurotrophic and proangiogenic factors as therapy after peripheral nervous system injury Neural. Regen. Res.. 17, 1240-1247
HARRIS, ANNA E., METZLER, VERONIKA M., LOTHION-ROY, JENNIFER, VARUN, DHRUVIKA, WOODCOCK, CORINNE L., HAIGH, DAISY B., ENDELEY, CHANTELLE, HAQUE, MARIA, TOSS, MICHAEL S., ALSALEEM, MANSOUR, PERSSON, JENNY L., GUDAS, LORRAINE J., RAKHA, EMAD, ROBINSON, BRIAN D., KHANI, FRANCESCA, MARTIN, LAURA M., MOYER, JENNA E., BROWNLIE, JULIETTE, MADHUSUDAN, SRINIVASAN, ALLEGRUCCI, CINZIA, JAMES, VICTORIA H., RUTLAND, CATRIN S., FRAY, RUPERT G., NTEKIM, ATARA, DE BROT, SIMONE, MONGAN, NIGEL P. and JEYAPALAN, JENNIE N., 2022. Exploring anti-androgen therapies in hormone dependent prostate cancer and new therapeutic routes for castration resistant prostate cancer FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY. 13,
Applications for a PhD position are invited all year round from exceptional graduates to study epigenetic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and tumour reversion. Our lab is interested in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis. Gene function is regulated by epigenetic remodelling of chromatin via DNA methylation, histone modification and RNA interference. These epigenetic modifications play a fundamental role during development and are altered in cancer. A fundamental question in cancer research is the identification of molecular mechanisms that initiate and sustain tumour growth. We are studying how altered epigenetic regulation of gene function can transform tissue stem cells and/or somatic cells to cancer stem cells. We are also investigating how cancer-associated epigenetic alterations can be reverted by cellular reprogramming. To this end, we use oocyte extracts and the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to study how epigenetic alterations can be erased from cancer cells.
Applications for a PhD position are invited all year round from exceptional graduates to study the gene networks involved in germ cell development and cancer.
Our lab is studying the gene networks involved in primordial germ cell (precursors of gametes) specification during embryo development and how these genes become mis-regulated in germ cell tumors. The project uses both in vitro (embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), teratocarcinoma cells) and in vivo (embryos from large animals and human patient tumours) approaches.
Funding Notes:
Candidates interested in joining our lab to work in these research areas can contact Dr Allegrucci by sending an e-mail to cinzia.allegrucci@nottingham.ac.uk Position are currently available only to self-funded students. There are a number of international studentships available to international applicants: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/InternationalOffice/prospective-students/scholarships/index.aspx.
Current Research
My research interests are in Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology. We are working to understand how stem cells are epigenetically regulated during normal tissue homeostasis and in disease. The answer to this biological question is fundamental to understand the basis of human diseases characterised by a stem cell dysfunction and for the development of stem cell therapies.
Epigenetic alterations in carcinogenesis
The epigenetic regulation of DNA function is achieved by chromatin remodelling via DNA methylation and histone modifications and RNA interference. These epigenetic modifications play a fundamental role in development and disease. A fundamental question in cancer research is the identification of molecular mechanisms that initiate and sustain tumour growth. The recent identification of stem cells that initiate and sustain tumour growth (cancer stem cells) is opening a new promise for the understanding of tumorigenesis and for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeted specifically to tumour-initiating cells. My research group is investigating the epigenetic events that initiate breast cancer formation and how they cooperate with genetic alterations in cancer progression.
Epigenetic reprogramming of cancer cells
Altered epigenetic regulation of the genome is associated with tumour initiation and progression. Genome-wide DNA hypomethylation and hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes are hallmark of cancer. Our Lab is focussing on dissecting the epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis by using oocyte extracts and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies to epigenetically reprogram cancer cells.
Pluripotent stem cells and germ cell tumours
Our laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating pluripotency and primordial germ cell specification. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms regulating germ cell differentiation and the formation off germ cell tumours. We use embryonic stem cells, teratocarcinoma cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to address these questions.
Comparative oncology
A significant challenge in advancing cancer research is the availability of experimental models that accurately recapitulate the complexity of the disease in humans. Many cancer types are currently studied by using a combination of models including cell lines, xenografts and genetically engineered mice. We study animals with spontaneous disease as models because of the similarities of their naturally occurring cancers with humans.
Funding
BBSRC, Royal Society, PetPLan, Evocell Ltd, University of Nottingham
Present Lab Members
Ahmad Zyoud, PhD student. project: PIWI RNA in cancer
Jessica Turton, PhD student. Project: HOX genes in breast cancer.
Past Lab Members
Leong Yeh, PhD student. Project: Epigenetic reprogramming of breast cancer cells. Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, UCL, Professor Jane Sowden's lab.
Ryan Cardenas, PhD student. Project: Pluripotency gene networks in germ cell homeostasis. Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, University of Birmingham, Professor Ferenc Mueller's lab.
Norazalina Saad, PhD student. Project: Epigenetic reprogramming of breast cancer cells. Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, Laboratory of Cancer Research, University Putra Malaysia.
Mansi Shah, PhD student. Project: Role of homeobox genes in breast cancer stem cells. Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Glasgow
Somsin Petyim, PhD student. Project: Germ cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells. Current position: Assistant Professor, MD, PhD, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Editorial Board member:
Frontiers in Genetics (Epigenetics) http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/genetics
Stem Cell International https://www.hindawi.com/journals/sci/