Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, University Federico II, Naples. National coordinator for Oncogenetic Counseling within the ‘Italian Network for Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer’- MURST-COFIN 1999 and MIUR-COFIN 2001 projects.

Research
Hereditary and familial cancers, especially Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), as regards both clinical (oncogenetic counselling) and molecular aspects (analysis of genomic instability). The group has developed a multistep model of Cancer Genetic Counseling addressed to the oncological setting. The model was applied by the research units of the ‘Italian Network for Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer’ – Cofin 1999 and 2001 projects. Other areas of research are:

1) The bio-pathological characterisation of hereditary and familial breast cancer, through the analysis of microsatellite instability.
2) The frequency, phenotype and BRCA1/2 genotype of tumors aggregated in HBOC.
3) Strategies for managing HBOC families (identification, counseling and surveillance).

Selected publications
Pizzi C, Panico L, De Marchis L, Mastranzo P, Di Maio M, D'Amico C, Limite G, Pettinato G, Cocozza S, Bianco AR, Contegiacomo A. p53 expression is decreased in primary breast carcinomas with microsatellite instability. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2002;73:257-66.

Podo F, Contegiacomo A, Pensabene M, Capuano I et al. The Italian multi-centre project on evaluation of MRI and other imaging modalities in early detection of breast cancer in subjects at high genetic risk. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2002;21:115-24.

Aceto G, Di Fulvio P, Stuppia L, Veschi S, Contegiacomo A, Pensabene M, Cama A, Curia MC, Palka G, Mariani-Costantini R, Battista P. Gene Symbol: BRCA1. Disease: Breast/Ovarian Cancer. Human Gene Mutations (pubblication on-line) 2002;110:294-5.

Contegiacomo A, Pensabene M, Capuano I, Tauchmanova L, Federico M, Turchetti D, Cortesi L, Marchetti P, Ricevuto E, Cianci G, Venuta S, Barbieri V, Silingardi V on behalf of the Italian Network on Hereditary Breast Cancer. An Oncologist-based Model of Cancer Genetic Counselling for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. Ann Oncol 2004;15:726-32.

Spagnoletti I, Pizzi C, Galietta A, Di Maio M, Mastranzo P, Daniele S, Limite G, Pettinato G, Contegiacomo A. Loss of hMSH2 expression in primary breast cancer with p53 alterations. Oncol Rep 2004;11:845-51