Giovanna Tosato, M.D.

Giovanna Tosato, M.D.
Senior Investigator
Laboratory of Cellular Oncology
Head, Molecular and Cell Biology Section

Our research is focused on the endothelium as a component of the tumor microenvironment, which regulates tumor progression, as source of hematopoietic cells during development, and as component of the hematopoietic cell niche, which regulates stem cell maintenance and hematopoiesis. We seek to use information from this research to develop targeted therapies for cancer and other conditions in which the endothelium plays a functional role. Malignancies associated with EBV and/or KSHV infection are of particular interest as these herpes viruses can infect endothelial cells.

Areas of Expertise

1) viral-induced malignancies; EBV and KSHV, 2) angiogenesis; molecular mechanisms and functional interactions, 3) hematopoiesis; endothelium and hematopoietic functional interactions, 4) tumor microenvironment; regulation of tumor progression,
5) immunodeficiency with viral-induced malignancies

Contact Info

Giovanna Tosato, M.D.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 37, Room 4124B
Bethesda, MD 20892-1906
Ph: 240-760-6144
tosatog@mail.nih.gov

The laboratory focuses on the study of the endothelium in the context of cancer development and progression. We study new vessel formation (angiogenesis) and vessel survival as these processes are essential for tumor growth. We investigate the endothelium as a component of the hematopoietic cell niche, which regulates stem cell maintenance and hematopoiesis, as hematopoietic cell populations regulate tumor development and progression. We seek to use information from this research to develop targeted therapies for cancer and other conditions in which the endothelium plays a functional role. Malignancies associated with EBV and/or KSHV infection are of particular interest as these herpes viruses can infect endothelial cells contributing to tumor development.

NIH Scientific Focus Areas:
Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Clinical Research, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
View Dr. Tosato's PubMed Summary.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Identification of Eph receptor signaling as a regulator of autophagy and a therapeutic target in colorectal carcinoma..
    DiPrima, M
    Molecular Oncology. 2019. [ Journal Article ]
  2. EphrinB2 controls vessel pruning through STAT1-JNK3 signalling.
    Salvucci O, Ohnuki H, Maric D, Hou X, Li X, Yoon SO, Segarra M, Eberhart CG, Acker-Palmer A, and Tosato G.
    Nat. Commun. 6: 6576, 2015. [ Journal Article ]
  3. Identification of IL-23p19 as an endothelial proinflammatory peptide that promotes gp130-STAT3 signaling.
    Espigol-Frigole G, Planas-Rigol E, Ohnuki H, Salvucci O, Kwak H, Ravichandran S, Luke B, Cid MC, and Tosato G
    Science Signaling. 9(419): ra28, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  4. Sinusoidal ephrin receptor EPHB4 controls hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization from bone marrow.
    Kwak H, Salvucci O, Weigert R, Martinez-Torrecuadrada JL, Henkemeyer M, Poulos MG, Butler JM, and Tosato G.
    J. Clin. Invest. 126(12): 4554-68, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Evidence for a Mesothelial Origin of Body Cavity Effusion Lymphomas.
    Sanchez-Martin D, Uldrick TS, Kwak H, Ohnuki H, Polizzotto MN, Annunziata CM, Raffeld M, Wyvill KM, Aleman K, Wang V, Marshall VA, Whitby D, Yarchoan R, Tosato G
    Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2017 Sep 1: 109(9). doi: 10.1093/jnci/djx016, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Tosato attended the La Sapienza Medical School in Rome, Italy, where she received her M.D. in 1973 and completed her residency in medicine at the Catholic University in Rome. In 1976, she came to the NCI where she became a Clinical Associate in the Pediatric and Medicine Branches and subsequently a visiting fellow in the Metabolism Branch. In 1983, Dr. Tosato began working at the Food and Drug Administration. From 1992-99 she served as Director, Division of Hematologic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA. In 1999 Dr. Tosato returned to the NCI as a senior investigator.

Name Position
Michael Diprima Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (CRTA)
Jingxin Feng Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
Taekyu Ha Ph.D. Research Fellow
Hidetaka Ohnuki Ph.D. Staff Scientist
Yuyi Wang Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)