Research and publications
Explore my active involvement in research: Principal Investigator in over 75 Phase I-IV clinical trials and numerous publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
Research stems from clinical work which encompasses the entire spectrum of Medical Oncology. As a member of the Greek Cooperative Oncology Group (HECOG), participated in many prospective and randomized clinical trials on palliative support and treatment of patients with malignant tumours.
I established a clinical trial UNIT at IVth Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Oncology Unit, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Current Research Projects
Leading International and National Phase I-IV Clincial Studies
I am the Principal Investigator (PI) in more than 25, Phase I-IV, International Clinical Studies in Breast, Lung, Colorectal and Urogenital cancer (Data Available on Demand).
I am the PI in more than 50 National Clinical Studies.
Participation in multicenter studies (Focus on NET)
I participate in several national and international clinical trials in the field of solid malignancies (data available on demand). For example:
Greek database of neuroendocrine tumours: a Greek study registering patients aiming to monitor neuroendocrine tumours (study registration G NET).
- National research log (Registry, Abstracts and full paper published).
- ENET’s Database Registry
- Scientific Project Leader and Principal investigator in ENETS Lung NET Task Force
- ENETs Centre of excellence. EKPA LAIKO and Hematology Oncology Unit, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University General Hospital (Leader: Prof. G. Kaltsas).
Multicenter Phase II study of a treatment arm to evaluate the efficacy and safety of everolimus as first-line therapy in newly diagnosed patients with advanced neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumours.
- Nationwide phase IV clinical study of Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HECOG)
- Principal Investigator
- Sponsor Company: Novartis.
- Institution Oncology Unit, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University General Hospital of Athens
- Started on 2015 (completed in June 2016).
- Analysis completed, data published
Postgraduate Studies: PhD
PhD in Tumour Immunotherapies, Sept 1994 – June 1998
- Conducted research and developed a monoclonal antibody with dual specificity to MUC1. This is a tumour antigen expressed by adenocarcinomas such as breast cancer, and the CD3 surface antigen of T-lymphocytes
- Conducted animal model study involving the harvesting of mouse spleens and in vitro activation of T cells against MUC1 expressing MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
- Reviewed the most important immunotherapeutic approaches, such as cancer vaccines, and demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies can successfully redirect cytotoxic T lymphocytes against tumour cells expressing tumour antigens on their cell membrane. The tumour target antigen was the MUC1 mucin, a glycosylated protein, which is expressed on the cell membrane of many adenocarcinomas (breast, ovarian and pancreatic)
- Since then four new monoclonal antibodies, the anti-c-erbB-2 (Herceptin), the anti-CD20 (Mabthera), the anti VEGF (Bevacizumab, Avastin) and the anti-c-erbB-1 (Cetuximab), have been introduced in clinical practice for the treatment of breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and colon cancer
- The monoclonal antibody against MUC1, which I used in my doctoral thesis, is in a phase III study by Roche, as a second-line therapy in patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma.
MD Thesis in connective and adipose dystrophy of the breast tissue, Medical School University of Rome, Sept 1990 – June 1991
Research Grants
EOPE (2020-2021): Angiogenesis and microRNAs in stage IV colorectal cancer. Study is ongoing
Ministry of Health (2008-2010): Angiogenesis in colorectal cancer: 12,000€
Ministry of Health, Directorate for Training and Research: Does the genetic background affect the therapeutic outcome? Analysis of the angiogenesis pathway by PCR and immunohistochemistry in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon, who received the first-line treatment with bevacizumab. A translational research correlate molecular profile and response to therapy.
Study completed and published
University of Athens (ELKE): Regulatory T cells in the serum and tumour tissue of patients with solid tumours: 6,000€
Scientific Project Leader: A. Koumarianou
Supervisors: Professors T. Economopoulos and N. Tountas.
Funding: University of Athens (Special Research Account)
Study completed and published
Teaching Experience
Training of medical students, foundation doctors and registrars:
As Consultant in Medical Oncology at Attikon University General Hospital
Since 2003 I am an instructor of 4th and 6th year medical students in bedside courses, clinical examination and diagnostics including imaging and laboratory; presentation of interesting cases under treatment at the oncology clinic of the hospital in weekly medical meetings (grand rounds); led the journal club studying and discussing cases from international literature. Instructor of the 6th year medical students with lectures on Tumour Markers, Paraneoplastic Syndromes and Oncological Emergencies.
As Consultant in Medical Oncology at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology:
taught medical students and foundation doctors
As Registrar at Evangelismos Hospital:
Trained undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and foundation doctors on different biopsy techniques and cancer immunology and immunotherapy; training was delivered through lectures (using PowerPoint presentations) and a series of clinical courses
As Registrar in Medical-Oncology, Hammersmith Centre of Imperial College and PhD Student:
Participated in bedside teaching of younger junior doctors and medical students on cancer, immunology and immunotherapy
Training of nurses:
As Consultant at Attikon University General Hospital
trained students undertaking a Masters in nursing oncology including one-to-one practice in the outpatient clinic
Training of post-graduate medical students & Research Supervision
Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sept 2008 – to date
Designed and delivered an eight-hour postgraduate course on stress-induced pathology entitled: ‘Stress management and health promotion’ with an ongoing satisfaction rate of 98%.
I am supervising the Master Thesis of one student each year.
I supervise three PhD students in the field of colorectal cancer (2) and neuroendocrine tumours (1)
Invited lectures
I am an invited speaker in several National Meetings in the field of Oncology.
I deliver presentations in English language as an invited speaker in International Conferences such as for NANETS, ENETS, ENEA, ECIO and INCA. (data available on demand).
Public Health Training
- Lectures in Public
- “Development of Public Health – Prevention, Information and Treatment of Cancer” with specialization in “Interdisciplinary approach to the prevention and treatment of cancer”, under the Operational Programme “Health and Welfare 2000-2006” Axis 1 : “Health, Measure 4:” Development of Public Health”. (Third Community Support Framework 2000-2006).
- Organization: Volunteer Group against Cancer “Embrace” with co-financing of the European Social Fund (75%) and National Resources (25%). Participation with 10 hours of instruction from 20/3/2007 to 26/6/2007
Audits
Participated in an audit investigating the implementation of new guidelines on the medical treatment of patients treated by surgery for early-stage Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours. The results of this work were presented at the Mediterranean Oncology Forum Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2011. A full paper was published in peer reviewed journal.
Conferences Organised
I am responsible for the organization of several National scientific meetings each year in Greece (data available on demand). As Advisory Board Member of the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (2019-2024) I participated as a member of the Educational Committee of ENETs (Postgraduate Course, Conference, Webinars).
