Paolo Antonio Ascierto, MD

Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione 'G. Pascale'

At-Large Director Candidate

Biography

Dr. Paolo A. Ascierto is the Director of the Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy at the National Tumor Institute Fondazione G. Pascale in Naples, Italy. He received his medical degree from the University of Naples, where he earned board certification in oncology. Before his present position at the Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy of the National Tumor Institute, he previously served there as a postdoctoral fellow and then vice-director of the Department of Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Ascierto’s primary research interests have included research in the genetics and proteomics of melanoma, assessment of new molecular markers for tumor progression in patients with malignant melanoma, targeted therapies for melanoma, biochemical and immunological monitoring, and immunotherapy and vaccination treatments. He has served as principal investigator in numerous clinical trials and has been well-published in peer-reviewed journals on topics related to his research interests.

Dr. Ascierto serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Translational Medicine, the Journal of Immunotherapy of Cancer, Combination Products in Therapy, the Journal of Skin Cancer, and Dataset Papers in Immunology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Combination Strategies section for the Journal of Translational Medicine. He has also been an invited speaker at more than 350 national and international conferences and meetings and maintains active memberships in several medical societies in Italy and abroad.

SITC Election Platform Statement

What are the two or three critical issues facing cancer immunotherapy?

Clinical evidence emerging from the treatment of cancer patients with new immunotherapeutic agents clearly indicates the need to identify biomarkers predictive of clinical effectiveness that could help in patient selection. Moreover, the plurality of immunotherapeutic modalities targeting immune stimulating as well as immunosuppressive mechanisms has paved the way for extensive testing of combinatorial approaches. Finally, deeper understanding of patients and their cancer biology together with a refined understanding of the mechanism of action of therapeutics will be the basis for personalized immunotherapy.

How do you feel the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer would benefit from your involvement as an At-Large Director on the Board?

As Medical Oncologist involved in translational research, I would like to create a permanent bridge between clinicians and basic researchers in order to increase the knowledge exchange in the field of immunotherapy. I feel that the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer is the paramount venue to exert this goal particularly because it represents a hub for interactions among the leaders in the field at the global level and provides a platform for networking as well as the development of high profile, large research and clinical collaborations.