Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

PERSONAL INFORMATION Zein Mersini Besharat

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

10/2013 12/2016 PhD in Molecular Medicine with Honours
Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Molecular Medicine, Rome (Italy)
Director of the PhD Program: Professor Isabella Screpanti
PhD Thesis title: "High-throughput mRNA sequencing in Neural cerebellar Stem Cells"

2005 10/06/2013 Diploma of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Master of Engineering Communications Degree: 7.12/10 "Very Good"
National Technical University of Athens, Athens (Greece)
Supervising Professor: Konstantina Nikita
Diploma thesis title: "Implementation of neural network with feedback for predicting glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus"

30/06/2005 Unified Lyceum Graduation Degree 18.9/20 "Excellent"
9th Unified Lyceum of Amarousio, Athens (Greece)

WORK EXPERIENCE
2023-present Tenure Track Researcher (RTT), Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
2020-2023 Post-doc researcher in Functional omics data and Precision medicine laboratory (RTDA), Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
2013 2018 Post-doc researcher in Laboratory of Oncogenomics
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
Hereditary and non hereditary diseases
Genetic disorders and cancer predisposition

2017 2020 Post-doc research contracts
15/12/2018-31/03/2020: Post-doc fellowship
Siena (Italy)
Evaluation of microRNAs as biomarkers of response to therapy and tolerability of hypoglycemic drugs in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients

25/09/2017-24/01/2018: Post-doc fellowship
Rome (Italy)
Identification of circulating RNA through next generation sequencing, in detail next generation sequencing data analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients before and after treatment

2014 Present International research activities in bioinformatics analyses using omics tools
1) microRNA-seq data analyses, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
2) Advanced use of R2 molecular platform, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam
3) RNA-seq Bioinformatics, Leipzig, Germany
4) miRNA detection, Leipzig, Germany
5) Promoter analysis using Genomatix, Munich, Germany
6) NGS data analysis using Genomatix, Munich, Germany

2016 Present Scientific and technological experience - Participation in Italian and International research groups

Italian:Sapienza University (Dep. of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Dep. of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Dep. of Molecular Medicine), Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, University of Siena

International: David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research MIT Cambridge (MA) USA, Heidelberg University Germany, University of Bern Switzerland, University of Amsterdam

Scopus bibliometric indicators
Number of publications in international databases recognized for the national scientific qualification: 49
Total number of citations: 895
Average number of citations per publication: 18.26
Total Impact Factor, relative to the impact factor of 2022: 276.17
Average Impact Factor per publication, relative to the impact factor 2022: 5.63
Total number of publications as first or last author in international journals with impact facto>1: 8
Hirsch index: 19 (Scopus)

2014 Present National training activities in bioinformatics analyses using omics tools
1) "Medical writing" workshop, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
2) "Training Course on Best practices for RNA-Seq data analysis", ELIXIR-IIB Training, University of Salerno, Italy
3) "An introductory course to RNA-seq", MBC, Via Nizza 52, Torino, Italy
4) "High Throughput Sequencing data analysis - HTS BeMM 2015", Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
5) "2nd Bioinformatics introductory Course", Perugia, Italy

2018 Present Teaching appointments
Professor of General Pathology (MED/04, 1 CFU), Course of Cellular and Molecular Basis of Life, Course A Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques, Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2022 present

Professor of General Pathology (MED/04, 1 CFU), Course of Research Methodology, Course A Health Professions of Technical Sciences (diagnostic), Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2020 present

Professor of Health Statistics (MED/01, 1 CFU), Course of Research Methodology, Course A Health Professions of Technical Sciences (diagnostic), Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2020 present

Faculty member of PhD Program in Network Oncology and Precision Medicine - 36th (aa 2020/2021) & 37th cycle (aa 2021/2022) & 38th cycle (aa 2022/2023), Sapienza University of Rome, 2020-2023

Professor of Genetics (MED/03, 1 CFU), Course of Cellular and Molecular Basis of Life, Course A Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques, Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2020 2022

Professor of English V - Evidence Based Medicine (L-LIN/12, 1 CFU), Course A Medical School, Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2018 2022

Professor of English in Biotechnology, Biotechnology Degree, Sapienza University of Rome, academic years 2018 2022

Professor of English III - Evidence Based Medicine, Medical School, Course D, Sapienza University of Rome, academic year 2018/2019

07/11/2019 08/11/2019 Oral presentations in conferences
Montpellier (France)
International LifeTime Conference, Oral presentation
"Experimental disease models, Longitudinal samples and Data Integration"
Genopolys , Campus Arnaud de Villeneuve , 141 Rue de la Cardonille , 34396 Montpellier cedex 5

Honours and awards
8/12/2021 Winner of Fondazione Umberto Veronesi Post-doctoral Fellowship
1/12/2021 Winner of Minerva Research award for investigating the role of microRNAs in physiological and pathological contexts, Roma Sapienza Foundation
2018 2019 Post-doc fellowship research on the evaluation of microRNAs as biomarkers of response to therapy and tolerability of hypoglycemic drugs
2017 2018 Post-doc fellowship awarded for the Fondazione Roma Project Non communicable diseases in the elderly: Circulating microRNAs and long non coding RNA as novel biomarkers of response to therapy in metabolic diseases
2013 - 2016 Three year scholarship for the completion of PhD in Molecular Medicine

2018 Present Referee of International Scientific Journals
BMC Cancer, Cancer Management and Research, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, OncoTargets and Therapy, Frontiers Cell And Developmental Biology, Diagnostics, Journal of Immunology Research, Cancers, Journal of Personalized Medicine, Biomedicines, Frontiers Pharmacology, Journal of Translational Medicine

2019 Present International Scientific Board Member as Guest Editor of Special Issue
Circulating Biomarkers in Cancer: Towards Personalized Precision Medicine in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology IF 6.08
Molecular Biomarkers in Cancer and Metabolic Disease in International Journal of Molecular Sciences IF 6.20
Signalling pathways in Metabolic Diseases and Cancer in Cancers IF 6.57

2022 PresentInternational Scientific Board Member
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation IF 5.46

2014 Present International memberships
2019 Present
Member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), Member ID EACR27439

2014 Present
Member of the European SIOP-LGG preclinical working group (preclinical working group on low grade glioma, LGG, of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, SIOP)

PERSONAL SKILLS

Mother tongue(s) Greek

Foreign language(s) UNDERSTANDING SPEAKING WRITING
Listening Reading Spoken interaction Spoken production
English C2 C2 C2 C2 C2
Certificate of Proficiency in English (University of Cambridge) Certificate Number: 0010594124
Arabic C2 C2 C2 C2 C2
Italian C1 C1 C1 C1 C1
German B2 B2 B2 B2 B2
Zertifikat Deutsch Nr.MB: 37165
French A1 A1 A1 A1 A1
Levels: A1 and A2: Basic user - B1 and B2: Independent user - C1 and C2: Proficient user
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Publications
Researcher identifiers
ORCID: 0000-0003-0317-9854
ResearcherID: A-3898-2015
Scopus Author ID: 56595254100
Google Scholar: Besharat ZM

Scientific production
Publications: 49
H-index: 19 (Scopus), 20 (Google Scholar)
Book chapters: 2

Publications
1) Bimonte VM, Catanzaro G, Po A, Trocchianesi S, Besharat ZM, Spinello Z, Curreli M, Fabi A, Bei R, Milella M, Vacca A, Ferretti E, Migliaccio S. The endocrine disruptor cadmium modulates the androgen estrogen receptors ratio and induces inflammatory cytokines in luminal (A) cell models of breast cancer. Endocrine. 2023 Nov 18:1-2. doi: 10.1007/s12020-023-03594-2.

2) Catanzaro G, Conte F, Trocchianesi S, Splendiani E, Bimonte VM, Mocini E, Filardi T, Po A, Besharat ZM, Gentile MC, Paci P, Morano S, Migliaccio S, Ferretti E. Network analysis identifies circulating miR-155 as predictive biomarker of type 2 diabetes mellitus development in obese patients: a pilot study. Scientific Reports. 2023 Nov 9;13(1):19496. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46516-y.

3) Citarella A*, Besharat ZM*, Trocchianesi S, Autilio TM, Verrienti A, Catanzaro G, Splendiani E, Spinello Z, Cantara S, Zavattari P, Loi E, Romei C, Ciampi R, Pezzullo L, Castagna MG, Angeloni A, Elisei R, Durante C, Po A and Ferretti E. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by specific fragmentation and methylation changes with diagnostic value. Biomarker Research (2023). doi: 10.1186/s40364-023-00522-4.*(co-senior authorship).

4) Di Fiore A, Bellardinelli S, Pirone L, Russo R, Angrisani A, Terriaca G, Bowen M, Bordin F, Besharat ZM, Canettieri G, Fabretti F, Di Gaetano S, Di Marcotullio L, Pedone E, Moretti M, De Smaele E. KCTD1 is a new modulator of the KCASH family of Hedgehog suppressors. Neoplasia. 2023 Sep 1;43:100926. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100926

5) Lucarini V, Nardozi D, Angiolini V, Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Carrano R, Besharat ZM, Bei R, Masuelli L. Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Role of miRNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Invasion. Biomedicines. 2023 Jun 19;11(6):1761. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11061761

6) Trocchianesi S, Po A, Citarella A, Spinello Z, Rughetti A, Besharat ZM, Autilio TM, Pecce V, Verrienti A, Elisei R, Durante C, Catanzaro G, Ferretti E. Molecular mechanisms of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor pralsetinib activity in in-vitro models of medullary thyroid carcinoma: Aberrant activation of the HH-Gli signaling pathway in acquired resistance. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2023 Jun 8. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114995.

7) Besharat ZM, Trocchianesi S, Verrienti A, Ciampi R, Cantara S, Romei C, Sabato C, Noviello TMR, Po A, Citarella A, Caruso FP, Panariello I, Gianno F, Carpino G, Gaudio E, Chiacchiarini M, Masuelli L, Sponziello M, Pecce V, Ramone T, Maino F, Dotta F, Ceccarelli M, Pezzullo L, Durante C, Castagna MG, Elisei R, Ferretti E. Circulating miR 26b 5p and miR 451a as diagnostic biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma patients. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2023 Jun 7. doi: 10.1007/s40618-023-02115-2.

8) Pecoraro M, Catanzaro G, Conte F, Besharat ZM, Messina E, Laschena L, Trocchianesi S, Splendiani E, Sciarra A, Catalano C, Paci P, Ferretti E, Panebianco V. Prospective Validation Study of a Novel Integrated Pathway Based on Clinical Features, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers, and MicroRNAs for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer. European Urology Oncology. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1016/j.euo.2023.05.008.

9) Citarella, A., Catanzaro, G., Besharat, Z.M., Trocchianesi, S., Barbagallo, F., Gosti, G., Leonetti, M., Di Fiore, A., Coppola, L., Autilio, T.M. and Spinello, Z., 2023. Hedgehog-GLI and Notch Pathways Sustain Chemoresistance and Invasiveness in Colorectal Cancer and Their Inhibition Restores Chemotherapy Efficacy. Cancers, 15(5), p.1471. doi: 10.3390/cancers15051471.

10) Ambroselli, D., Masciulli, F., Romano, E., Catanzaro, G., Besharat, Z.M., Massari, M.C., Ferretti, E., Migliaccio, S., Izzo, L., Ritieni, A. and Grosso, M., 2023. New Advances in Metabolic Syndrome, from Prevention to Treatment: The Role of Diet and Food. Nutrients, 15(3), p.640. doi: 10.3390/nu15030640.

11) Sabato C., Noviello T.M., Covre A., Coral S., Caruso F.P., Besharat Z.M., Splendiani E., Masuelli L., Battistelli C., Vacca A., Catanzaro G., Po A., Anichini A., Maio M., Ceccarelli M., Di Giacomo A.M., Ferretti E. A novel microRNA signature for the detection of melanoma by liquid biopsy. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2022 Dec;20(1):1-4. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03668-1.

12) Scheper M., Romagnolo A., Besharat Z.M., Iyer A.M., Moavero R., Hertzberg C., Weschke B., Riney K., Feucht M., Scholl T., Petrak B., Maulisova A., Nabbout R., Jansen A.C., Jansen F.E., Lagae L., Urbanska M., Ferretti E., Tempes A., Blazejczyk M., Jaworski J., Kwiatkowski D.J., Jozwiak S., Kotulska K., Sadowski K., Borkowska J., Curatolo P., Mills J.D., Aronica E., Epistop Consortium Members. miRNAs and isomiRs: Serum-Based Biomarkers for the Development of Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 29;10(8):1838. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10081838.

13) Catanzaro G.*, Besharat Z.M.*, Carai A., Jäger N., Splendiani E., Colin C., Po A., Chiacchiarini M., Citarella A., Gianno F., Cacchione A., Miele E., Diomedi Camassei F., Gessi M., Massimi L., Locatelli F., Jones D.T.W., Figarella-Branger D., Pfister S.M., Mastronuzzi A., Giangaspero F., Ferretti E. MiR-1248: a new prognostic biomarker able to identify supratentorial hemispheric pediatric low-grade gliomas patients associated with progression. Biomark Res. 2022 Jun 17;10(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s40364-022-00389-x. *(co-senior authorship).

14) Bartolomeu A.R., Romualdo G.R., Lisón C.G., Besharat Z.M., Corrales J.A.M., García M.Á., Barbisan L.F. Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid Combination Attenuate Early-Stage Chemically Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Mice: Involvement of oncomiR miR-21a-5p. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116292.

15) Grieco G.E.*, Besharat Z.M.*, Licata G., Fignani D., Brusco N., Nigi L., Formichi C., Po A., Sabato C., Dardano A., Natali A., Dotta F., Sebastiani G., Ferretti E. Circulating microRNAs as clinically useful biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: miRNomics from bench to bedside. Translational Research. 2022 Mar 27. doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.03.008. *(co-senior authorship).

16) Campolo F., Catanzaro G., Venneri M.A., Ferretti E., Besharat Z.M. MicroRNA loaded edible nanoparticles: an emerging personalized therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. Theranostics. 2022;12(6):2631. doi:10.7150/thno.71399.

17) Migliaccio S., Bimonte V.M., Besharat Z.M., Sabato C., Lenzi A., Crescioli C., Ferretti E. Environmental contaminants acting as endocrine disruptors modulate atherogenic processes: New risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in women? Biomolecules 2022, 12, 44. doi: 10.3390/biom12010044

18) Panebianco V., Paci P., Pecoraro M., Conte F., Carnicelli G., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Splendiani E., Sciarra A., Farina L., Catalano C., Ferretti E. Network Analysis Integrating microRNA Expression Profiling with MRI Biomarkers and Clinical Data for Prostate Cancer Early Detection: A Proof of Concept Study. Biomedicines. 2021 Oct;9(10):1470. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9101470

19) Bimonte V.M., Besharat Z.M., Antonioni A., Cella V., Lenzi A., Ferretti E., Migliaccio S. The endocrine disruptor cadmium: a new player in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. Journal of endocrinological investigation. 2021 Jan 26:1-5. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01502-x.

20) Carta R., Del Baldo G., Miele E., Po A., Besharat Z.M., Nazio F., Colafati G.S., Piccirilli E., Agolini E., Rinelli M., Lodi M., Cacchione A., Carai A., Boccuto L., Ferretti E., Locatelli F., Mastronuzzi A. Cancer predisposition syndromes and medulloblastoma in the molecular era. Frontiers in Oncology. 2020;10:2314. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.566822.

21) Chiacchiarini M., Trocchianesi S., Besharat Z.M., Po A., Ferretti E. Role of tissue and circulating microRNA and DNA as biomarkers in medullary thyroid cancer. Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2020 Oct 20:107708. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107708.

22) Miele E., Po A., Mastronuzzi A., Carai A., Besharat Z.M., Pediconi N., Abballe L., Catanzaro G., Sabato C., De Smaele E., Canettieri G., Di Marcotullio L., Vacca A., Mai A., Levrero M., Pfister S.M., Kool M., Giangaspero F., Locatelli F., Ferretti E. Downregulation of miR 326 and its host gene arrestin1 induces pro survival activity of E2F1 and promotes medulloblastoma growth. Molecular Oncology. 2020 Sep 13. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.12800.

23) Po A., Citarella A., Catanzaro G., Besharat Z.M., Trocchianesi S., Gianno F., Sabato C., Moretti M., De Smaele E., Vacca A., Fiori M.E., Ferretti E. Hedgehog-GLI signalling promotes chemoresistance through the regulation of ABC transporters in colorectal cancer cells. Scientific reports. 2020 Aug 19;10(1):1-4. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70871-9.

24) Giuli M.V., Diluvio G., Giuliani E., Franciosa G., Di Magno L., Pignataro M.G., Tottone L., Nicoletti C., Besharat Z.M., Peruzzi G., Pelullo M., Palermo R., Canettieri G., Talora C., d Amati G., Bellavia D., Screpanti I., Checquolo S. Notch3 contributes to T-cell leukemia growth via regulation of the unfolded protein response. Oncogenesis. 2020 Oct 18;9(10):1-6. doi: 10.1038/s41389-020-00279-7.

25) Miele E., Abballe L., Spinelli G.P., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Chiacchiarini M., Vacca A., Po A., Capalbo C., Ferretti E. BRAF mutant colorectal cancer: ErbB2 expression levels as predictive factor for the response to combined BRAF/ErbB inhibitors. BMC cancer. 2020 Dec;20(1):1-0. doi: 10.1186/s12885-020-6586-0.

26) Chiacchiarini M., Besharat Z.M., Carai A., Miele E., Del Baldo G., Mastronuzzi A., Catanzaro G., Ferretti E. Pediatric low-grade gliomas: molecular characterization of patient-derived cellular models. Child's Nervous System. 2020 Mar 11:1-8. doi: 10.1007/s00381-020-04559-w.

27) Pelullo M., Nardozza F., Zema S., Quaranta R., Nicoletti C., Besharat Z.M., Felli M.P., Cerbelli B., d'Amati G., Palermo R., Capalbo C., Talora C., Di Marcotullio L., Giannini G., Checquolo S., Screpanti I., Bellavia D. Kras/ADAM17-dependent Jag1-ICD reverse signalling sustains colorectal cancer progression and chemoresistance. Cancer research. 2019 Jan 1:canres-0145. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-0145.

28) Zwergel C., Romanelli A., Stazi G., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Tafani M. and Valente S. and Mai A. 2018. Application of Small Epigenetic Modulators in Pediatric Medulloblastoma. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 6, p.370. doi: 10.3389/fped.2018.00370.

29) Besharat Z.M., Sabato C., Po A., Gianno F., Abballe L., Napolitano M., Miele E., Giangaspero F., Vacca A., Catanzaro G. and Ferretti E., 2018. Low Expression of miR-466f-3p Sustains Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma Stem Cells Through Vegfa-Nrp2 Signaling Pathway. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 9. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01281.

30) Abballe L., Mastronuzzi A., Miele E., Carai A., Besharat Z.M., Moretti M., De Smaele E., Giangaspero F., Locatelli F., Ferretti E. and Po A., 2018. Numb Isoforms Deregulation in Medulloblastoma and Role of p66 Isoform in Cancer and Neural Stem Cells. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 6, p.315. doi: 10.3389/fped.2018.00315.

31) Gasparri, M.L., Besharat, Z.M., Farooqi, A.A., Khalid, S., Taghavi, K., Besharat, R.A., Sabato, C., Papadia, A., Panici, P.B., Mueller, M.D. and Ferretti, E., 2018. MiRNAs and their interplay with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in ovarian cancer cells: a potential role in platinum resistance. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, pp.1-6. doi: 10.1007/s00432-018-2737-y.

32) Po A., Abballe L., Sabato C., Gianno F., Chiacchiarini M., Catanzaro G., De Smaele E., Giangaspero F., Ferretti E., Miele E., Besharat Z.M. Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Mirnome and Transcriptome Highlight Novel Functional Networks. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2326. doi: 10.3390/ijms19082326.

33) Ferrandino F., Bernardini G., Tsaouli G., Grazioli P., Campese A.F., Noce C., Ciuffetta A., Vacca A., Besharat Z.M., Bellavia D., Screpanti I., Felli M.P. Intrathymic Notch3 and CXCR4 combinatorial interplay facilitates T-cell leukemia propagation. Oncogene. 2018. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0401-2

34) Diluvio G., Del Gaudio F., Giuli M.V., Franciosa G., Giuliani E., Palermo R., Besharat Z.M., Pignataro M.G., Vacca A., d Amati G., Maroder, M., Talora C., Capalbo C., Bellavia D. and Checquolo S. 2018. NOTCH3 inactivation increases triple negative breast cancer sensitivity to gefitinib by promoting EGFR tyrosine dephosphorylation and its intracellular arrest. Oncogenesis, 7(5), p.42. doi: 10.1038/s41389-018-0051-9.

35) Catanzaro G.*, Besharat Z.M.*, Chiacchiarini M., Abballe L., Sabato C., Vacca A., Borgiani P., Dotta F., Tesauro M., Po A., Ferretti E. Circulating MicroRNAs in Elderly Type 2 Diabetic Patients. International Journal of Endocrinology. vol. 2018, Article ID 6872635, 11 pages, 2018. doi:10.1155/2018/6872635. *(co-senior authorship).

36) Catanzaro G., Besharat Z.M., Miele E., Chiacchiarini M., Po A., Carai A., Marras C.E., Antonelli M., Badiali M., Raso A., Mascelli S., Schrimpf D., Stichel D., Tartaglia M., Capper D., von Deimling A., Giangaspero F., Mastronuzzi A., Locatelli F., Ferretti E. The miR-139-5p regulates proliferation of supratentorial paediatric low-grade gliomas by targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signalling. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2018. doi: 10.1111/nan.12479.

37) Besharat Z.M., Abballe L., Cicconardi F., Bhutkar A., Grassi L., Le Pera L., Moretti M., Chinappi M., D Andrea D., Mastronuzzi A., Ianari A., Vacca A., De Smaele E., Locatelli F., Po A., Miele E., Ferretti E. Foxm1 controls a pro-stemness microrna network in neural stem cells. Scientific Reports 2018;8:3523. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21876-y

38) Bisicchia E., Sasso V., Catanzaro G., Leuti A., Besharat Z.M., Chiacchiarini M., Molinari M., Ferretti E., Viscomi M.T., Chiurchiù V. Resolvin D1 Halts Remote Neuroinflammation and Improves Functional Recovery after Focal Brain Damage Via ALX/FPR2 Receptor-Regulated MicroRNAs. Molecular Neurobiology. 2018:1-2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-018-0889-z

39) Catanzaro G., Sabato C., Russo M., Rosa A., Abballe L., Besharat Z.M., Po A., Miele E., Bellavia D., Chiacchiarini M., Gessi M., Peruzzi G., Napolitano M., Antonelli M., Mastronuzzi A., Giangaspero F., Locatelli F., Screpanti I., Vacca A., Ferretti E. Loss of miR-107, miR-181c and miR-29a-3p Promote Activation of Notch2 Signaling in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas (pHGGs). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2017; 18(12):2742; doi:10.3390/ijms18122742.

40) Miele E., Valente S., Alfano V., Silvano M., Mellini P., Borovika D., Marrocco B., Po A., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Battaglia G., Abballe L., Zwergel C., Stazi G., Milite C., Castellano S., Tafani M., Trapencieris P., Mai A., Ferretti E. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 as a druggable target in SHH medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. Oncotarget, 2 August 2017; doi: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.19782.

41) Miele E., Po A., Begalli F., Antonucci L., Mastronuzzi A., Marras C.E., Carai A., Cucchi D., Abballe L., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Infante P., Di Marcotullio L., Canettieri G., De Smaele E., Screpanti I., Locatelli F., Ferretti E. -arrestin1-mediated acetylation of Gli1 regulates Hedgehog/Gli signaling and modulates self-renewal of SHH medulloblastoma Cancer Stem Cells. BMC Cancer. 2017. 17:488. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3477-0.

42) Po A., Silvano M., Miele E., Capalbo C., Eramo A., Salvati V., Todaro M., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Cucchi D., Coni S., Di Marcotullio L., Canettieri G., Vacca A., Stassi G., De Smaele E., Tartaglia M., Screpanti I., De Maria R. and Ferretti E. Noncanonical GLI1 signalling promotes stemness features and in-vivo growth in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncogene advance online publication, 3 April 2017; doi:10.1038/onc.2017.91.

43) Po A., Begalli F., Abballe L., Alfano V., Besharat Z.M., Catanzaro G., Vacca A., Napolitano M., Tafani M., Giangaspero F., Locatelli F., Ferretti E., Miele E. -Arrestin1/miR-326 Transcription Unit Is Epigenetically Regulated in Neural Stem Cells Where It Controls Stemness and Growth Arrest. Stem Cells International, vol. 2017, Article ID 5274171, 2017. doi:10.1155/2017/5274171

44) Catanzaro G., Curcio M., Cirillo G., Spizzirri U.G., Besharat Z.M., Abballe L., Vacca A., Iemma F., Picci N. and Ferretti E., 2017. Albumin nanoparticles for glutathione-responsive release of cisplatin: new opportunities for medulloblastoma treatment. International Journal of Pharmaceutics.

45) Catanzaro G.*, Besharat Z. M.*, Garg N., Ronci M., Pieroni L., Miele E., Mastronuzzi A., Carai A., Alfano V., Po A., Screpanti I., Locatelli F., Urbani A. & Ferretti E. 2016. Micrornas-Proteomic Networks Characterizing Human Medulloblastoma-Slcs., Stem Cells International, 2016, E2683042. doi: 10.1155/2016/2683042. *(co-senior authorship).

46) Dolci M., Migliau G., Besharat Z. M., Besharat L. K. & Gallottini L. 2016. Prevalence And Distribution Of Endodontic Treatments And Apical Periodontitis In An Italian Population Sample. European Journal Of Inflammation, 14, 48-53.

47) Franciosa G., Diluvio G., Gaudio F. D., Giuli M. V., Palermo R., Grazioli P., Campese A. F., Talora C., Bellavia D., D'amati G., Besharat Z. M., Nicoletti C., Siebel C. W., Choy L., Rustighi A., Sal G. D., Screpanti I. & Checquolo S. 2016. Prolyl-Isomerase Pin1 Controls Notch3 Protein Expression And Regulates T-All Progression. Oncogene.

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