Research in the Capparelli Lab focuses on melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer due to its high metastatic nature. The incidence rate of melanoma is rising and, despite recent therapeutic advances, the efficacy of FDA-approved treatments is limited by tumor heterogeneity, cellular adaptations, and resistance. Our studies aim to identify mechanisms of drug tolerance and resistance to targeted inhibitors and immunotherapies in melanoma. Cellular plasticity contributes to intra-tumoral heterogeneity and phenotype switching, which enable adaptation to metastatic microenvironments and resistance to therapies. It is crucial to understand the mechanistic switches to drug-tolerant subpopulations and selectively targeting them to improve treatment for Stage III and IV melanoma. Our research aims to identify and target pathway dependencies and vulnerabilities in tolerant persister cells to prevent metastasis and improve treatment options for melanoma patients. Additional research interests include characterizing alterations that occur in the tumor microenvironment during the establishment of drug tolerance and following different combination therapies.

Overall, our research aims to understand how tumor heterogeneity and plasticity contribute to resistance to therapies and melanoma progression, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutical approach for the treatment of melanoma. 

PhD, Cell Biochemistry and Drug Action in Oncology, University of Calabria, 2011
MS, Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Technology, University of Calabria - 2006