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Gabriele Romano

Gabriele Romano, PhD

Associate Professor


Department: Pharmacology & Physiology

Education

  • PhD - Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Bicocca (2015)
  • MS - Medical Biotechnology, University of Milan, Bicocca (2012)
  • BS - Biotechnology, University of Milan, Bicocca (2010)

Awards & Honors

  • Full Member of Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Immune Cell Regulation & Targeting (IRT) Program of Excellence (2022 - Present)
  • Rising Star Award, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA (2024)
  • Cancer Immune Engineering Working Group - Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Co-Lead (2025 - Present)
  • Research Scholar Grant, American Cancer Society (2026)
  • Early Career Basic Science Investigator Award- Drexel University (2026)

Gabriele Romano, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Research Overview

Cancer Drug Resistance, Tumor Suppressor Genes, Immune evasion, Chemokine signaling, Computational Biology, Functional Genomics; HIV and Cancer; nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery. 

Research Interests

Cancer Drug Resistance, Mouse Models, Immunology, Genomics, HIV

Research

Research in the Romano lab is focused on studying cancer drug resistance using a conjunction of mouse modeling, functional genomics and computational biology. We study intrinsic and acquired molecular mechanisms by which tumor cells resist targeted and/or immunotherapy approaches, with the final aim of developing novel therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Our research is organized around three main interconnected themes:

  • Reprogramming the immune microenvironment to enhance targeted therapy
    Targeted therapies can produce dramatic tumor regression, yet residual drug-tolerant cells frequently survive treatment and ultimately drive relapse. We investigate how MAPK pathway inhibition reshapes the tumor microenvironment and how these changes can be leveraged to improve anti-tumor immunity. By defining the signaling networks that regulate immune cell recruitment and function—including chemokine-mediated communication—we develop strategies that combine targeted therapy with immune-modulating approaches to eliminate minimal residual disease and achieve durable responses.
  • Tumor suppressor networks and mechanisms of therapeutic resistance
    Although many current therapies successfully inhibit oncogenic drivers such as BRAF or EGFR, resistance often arises through alterations in tumor suppressor pathways that remain therapeutically underexplored. Using genome-wide functional genomics, CRISPR-based screening, and preclinical models, we identify tumor suppressor-mediated mechanisms of resistance and uncover synthetic vulnerabilities that can be exploited therapeutically. Our goal is to anticipate resistance before it emerges and develop rational combination therapies that improve the durability of current targeted treatments.

  • Cancer immunity in the context of HIV infection
    People living with HIV (PLWH) experience a higher incidence of several non-AIDS-defining cancers and often have poorer outcomes following cancer treatment. We study how chronic HIV-associated immune dysfunction alters the tumor microenvironment and influences responses to targeted therapies and immunotherapy. By defining the mechanisms underlying impaired anti-tumor immunity in PLWH, we aim to develop therapeutic strategies that improve treatment efficacy while generating broader insights into immune dysfunction in cancer.

Publications

Selected Publications

"Deep learning multi-omics integration identifies new molecular subtypes of lung cancer"
Gonda B., Wang D., Azim S.M., Romano G., Dehzangi I. 
BioData Mining. 2026 PMID: 42169010.

"Population analysis and immunologic landscape of melanoma in people living with HIV."
Barger L.N., Wang D., Saravia A., Mezzano V., Ward G., Loomis C., Feldman C., Tuluc M., Gaskill P.J.,  Seedor R., Coghill A.E., Suneja G., Dehzangi I., Hope J.L., Jour J., Romano G. 
Clinical Cancer Research. 2026; PMID: 41504629

"BAP1 loss affords lipotoxicity resistance in uveal melanoma"
Cunanan C.J., Amirfallah A., Sanders A.B., Gallant K.C., Cavallo M.R., Homer E.A., El-Naggar O.S., Farnan J.K., Romano G., Hope J.L., Jackson J.G., Hartsough E.J.
Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research. 2025; PMID: 40300851

"Disabling PSGL-1 abrogates immune suppression and resistance to PD-1 blockade in pancreatic cancer" 
Hope J.L., Zhang Y., Hetrick H.A.F., Sanchez-Hernandez E.S., Silvestri B., Smith B.J., Nakil S.H., Roy S., Lin M., Palete A.B., Maganti S., Ling L., Otero D.C., Byrne K., Romano G., Wang Y.X., Commisso C., Bradley L.M. bioRxiv [submitted to peer review]. 2025; PMID: 40501664

"Plasticity and functional heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts."
Flynn J.M., Thadani N., Gallagher E.E., Azzaro I., Bodnar C.M., McCarty C.P., Romano G., Webster M.R., Capparelli C.
Cancer Research. 2025; PMID: 40729489

"A structured curriculum supporting biomedical trainees' transition into independent academic positions and early career success."
Perez-Oquendo M., Romano G., Farris D.P., Gandhi V., Wistuba I.I., Tillman R.E., Udan R., Mangahas P., Soundararajan R.
BMC Medical Education. 2024; PMID: 38589919 

“Melanoma in people living with HIV: Immune landscape dynamics and the role of immuno- and antiviral therapies”
Barger LN, El Naggar OS, Ha B, Romano G
Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2024

“A structured curriculum supporting biomedical trainees' transition into independent academic positions and early career success”
Perez-Oquendo M, Romano G, Farris DP, Gandhi V, Wistuba II, Tillman RE, Udan R, Mangahas P, Soundararajan R
BMC Med Educ. 2024

“Microparticle-delivered Cxcl9 prolongs Braf inhibitor efficacy in melanoma”
Romano G, Paradiso F, Li P, Shukla P, Barger LN, El Naggar O, Miller JP, Liang RJ, Helms TL, Lazar AJ, Wargo JA, Taraballi F, Costello JCC, Kwong LN
Cancer Immunology Research. 2023

"Multi-modal molecular programs regulate melanoma cell state and clinical outcomes"
Andrews MC, Oba J, Zhu H, Wu C, Karpinets T, Creasy CA, Forget M, Yu Z, Song X, Mao X, Hoon DSB, Robertson AG, Romano G, Li P, Burton EM, Lu Y, Sloane RS, Wani KM, Rai K, Lazar AJ, Haydu LE, Bustos MA, Shen J, Chen Y, Patel KP, Morgan MB, Wargo JA, Kwong LN, Haymaker CL, Grimm EA, Hwu P, Zhang J, Gershenwald JE, Davies MA, Futreal PA, Bernatchez C, Woodman SE
Nature Communications. 2022

Microparticle-delivered Cxcl9 delays the relapse of Braf inhibitor-treated melanoma
Romano G, Paradiso F, Miller JP, Liang RJ, Wargo JA, Taraballi F, Costello JC, Kwong LN
BioRxiv, [Preprint]. 2022

Additional publications...

"Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Escape in the Time Course of Glioblastoma"
Virtuoso A, De Luca C, Cirillo G, Riva M, Romano G, Bentivegna A, Lavitrano M, Papa M, Giovannoni R
Molecular Neurobiology. 2022

"BTK Inhibitors Synergise with 5-FU to Treat Drug-Resistant TP53-Null Colon Cancers"
Lavitrano, M., Ianzano, L., Bonomo, S., Cialdella, A., Cerrito, M. G., Pisano, F., Missaglia, C., Giovannoni, R., Romano, G., McLean, C. M., Voest, E. E., D'Amato, F., Noli, B., Ferri, G. L., Agostini, M., Pucciarelli, S., Helin, K., Leone, B. E., Canzonieri, V., and Grassilli, E.
J Pathol. 250:134-47.10.1002/path.5347 (2020)

"Specific Expression of a New Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Isoform (p65BTK) in the Glioblastoma Gemistocytic Histotype"
Sala, L., Cirillo, G., Riva, G., Romano, G., Giussani, C., Cialdella, A., Todisco, A., Virtuoso, A., Cerrito, M. G., Bentivegna, A., Grassilli, E., Ardizzoia, A., Bonoldi, E., Giovannoni, R., Papa, M., and Lavitrano, M.
Front Mol Neurosci. 12:2.10.3389/fnmol.2019.00002 (2019)

"BRAF Dimerization: An Underlying Resistance Mechanism in Low-Grade Pediatric Gliomas"
Romano, G., and Kwong, L. N.
Cancer Discov. 8:1064-65.10.1158/2159-8290.CD-18-0784 (2018)

"Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of miRNA-Based Strategies to Cancer Immunotherapy"
Romano, G., and Kwong, L. N.
Cancer Metastasis Rev. 37:45-53.10.1007/s10555-017-9716-7 (2018)

"APOA-1Milano Muteins, Orally Delivered Via Genetically Modified Rice, Show Anti-Atherogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Vitro and in Apoe(-/-) Atherosclerotic Mice"
Romano, G., Reggi, S., Kutryb-Zajac, B., Facoetti, A., Chisci, E., Pettinato, M., Giuffre, M. R., Vecchio, F., Leoni, S., De Giorgi, M., Avezza, F., Cadamuro, M., Crippa, L., Leone, B. E., Lavitrano, M., Rivolta, I., Barisani, D., Smolenski, R. T., and Giovannoni, R.
Int J Cardiol. 271:233-39.10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.04.029 (2018)

"A Preexisting Rare PIK3CAE545K Subpopulation Confers Clinical Resistance to MEK Plus CDK4/6 Inhibition in NRAS Melanoma and Is Dependent on S6K1 Signaling"
Romano, G., Chen, P., Song, P., McQuade, J.L., Liang, R.J., Liu, M., Roh, W., Duose, D.Y., Carapeto, F.C. L., Li, J., Teh, J.L.F., Aplin, A.E., Chen,M., Zhang, J., Lazar, A.J., Davies, M.A., Futreal, P.A., Amaria, R.N., Zhang, D.Y., Wargo, J.A., and Kwong, L.N.
Cancer Discovery. 8:556-67.10.1158/2159-8290.Cd-17-0745 (2018)

"The Path to Metastatic Mouse Models of Colorectal Cancer"
Romano, G., Chagani, S., and Kwong, L. N.
Oncogene. 37:2481-89.10.1038/s41388-018-0155-x (2018)

"miRNAs, Melanoma and Microenvironment: An Intricate Network"
Romano, G., and Kwong, L. N.
Int J Mol Sci. 18.10.3390/ijms18112354 (2017)

"Resveratrol Impairs Glioma Stem Cells Proliferation and Motility by Modulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway"
Cilibrasi, C., Riva, G., Romano, G., Cadamuro, M., Bazzoni, R., Butta, V., Paoletta, L., Dalpra, L., Strazzabosco, M., Lavitrano, M., Giovannoni, R., and Bentivegna, A.
PLoS One. 12:e0169854.10.1371/journal.pone.0169854 (2017)

"Thyrospheres from B-CPAP Cell Line with BRAF and TERT Promoter Mutations Have Different Functional and Molecular Features Than Parental Cells"
Caria, P., Pillai, R., Dettori, T., Frau, D. V., Zavattari, P., Riva, G., Romano, G., Pani, F., Bentivegna, A., Giovannoni, R., Pagni, F., Sogos, V., and Vanni, R.
J Cancer. 8:1629-39.10.7150/jca.18855 (2017)

"The TGF-β Pathway Is Activated by 5-Fluorouracil Treatment in Drug Resistant Colorectal Carcinoma Cells"
Romano, G., Santi, L., Bianco, M. R., Giuffre, M. R., Pettinato, M., Bugarin, C., Garanzini, C., Savarese, L., Leoni, S., Cerrito, M. G., Leone, B. E., Gaipa, G., Grassilli, E., Papa, M., Lavitrano, M., and Giovannoni, R.
Oncotarget. 7:22077-91.10.18632/oncotarget.7895 (2016)

"A Functional Biological Network Centered on XRCC3: A New Possible Marker of Chemoradiotherapy Resistance in Rectal Cancer Patients"
Agostini, M., Zangrando, A., Pastrello, C., D'Angelo, E., Romano, G., Giovannoni, R., Giordan, M., Maretto, I., Bedin, C., Zanon, C., Digito, M., Esposito, G., Mescoli, C., Lavitrano, M., Rizzolio, F., Jurisica, I., Giordano, A., Pucciarelli, S., and Nitti, D.
Cancer Biol Ther. 16:1160-71.10.1080/15384047.2015.1046652 (2015)

"Inhibition of GSK3B Bypass Drug Resistance of p53-Null Colon Carcinomas by Enabling Necroptosis in Response to Chemotherapy"
Grassilli, E., Narloch, R., Federzoni, E., Ianzano, L., Pisano, F., Giovannoni, R., Romano, G., Masiero, L., Leone, B. E., Bonin, S., Donada, M., Stanta, G., Helin, K., and Lavitrano, M.
Clin Cancer Res. 19:3820-31.10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-3289 (2013)