Assistant Professor at the Dipartimento di Biologia e
Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università di Napoli Federico II.

Research interests
The laboratory focuses on the mechanisms of epithelial neoplastic transformation. Several animal models have been developed to clarify the role of activated oncogenes in the generation and progression of thyroid carcinomas and other neoplasias of epithelial origin.
Our future aims will be to gain a better understanding of the pathways stimulating cell proliferation and transformation, with particular attention to the mechanisms that promote invasion and metastases.
The ultimate aim is that of developing viral vector transducing genes able to interfere with neoplastic or metastastic progression.

Selected publications
Portella G, Scala S, Vitagliano D, Vecchio G, Fusco A. ONYX-015, an E1B gene-defective adenovirus, induces cell death in human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell lines. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:2525-31.

Portella G, Laezza C, Laccetti P, De Petrocellis L, Di Marzo V, Bifulco M. Inhibitory effects of cannabinoid CB1 receptor stimulation on tumor growth and metastatic spreading: actions on signals involved in angiogenesis and metastasis. FASEB J 2003;12:1771-3.

Portella G, Pacelli R, Libertini S, Cella L, Vecchio G, Salvatore M, Fusco A. ONYX-015 enhances radiation-induced death of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:5027-32.

Chieffi P, Troncone G, Caleo A, Libertini S, Linardopoulos S, Tramontano D, Portella G. Aurora B expression in normal testis and seminomas. J Endocrinol 2004;181:263-70.

Bifulco M, Laezza C, Valenti M, Portella G, Di Marzo V. A new strategy to block tumor growth by inhibiting endocannabinoid inactivation. FASEB J 2004, in press.