Cancer Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology group
Apostolos Zaravinos
Coordinator of BSc Biological Sciences
Department of Life Sciences
European University Cyprus
Short Bio:
Dr. Apostolos Zaravinos is a Professor of Cancer Genetics and the group leader of the “Cancer Genetics, Genomics & Systems Biology” group of the Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC). He is also the coordinator of the program “BSc in Biological Sciences” in the Department of Life Sciences at the European University Cyprus. He received his B.Sc. in Biology from the Department of Biology, University of Crete, and his Ph.D. in Medicine from the Medical School of the same University. He worked as Research Scientist at the Harris Birthright Research Center for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital, and performed postdoctoral research in Cancer Genetics at the Molecular Medicine Research Center, University of Cyprus. He completed his postdoctoral training in Immunogenetics and Cancer Genetics at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute. In addition, he worked as an Associate Professor in Genetics in the Department of Basic Medical Science, at the College of Medicine, Qatar University. Dr. Zaravinos holds two Specialisations: one in “Systems Biology” from the Systems Biology Center at Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, and another in “Genomic Data Science” from the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the Editorial Board of BMC Cancer, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Frontiers in Oncology, and Frontiers in Pharmacology, among others. He has worked as a Guest Editor for several Special Issues in scientific journals and as an Associate Faculty Member of the F1000Prime. Since 2020 he has been included each year in the list of the top 2% of the world’s most-cited and influential scientists, according to Stanford University. He is the recipient of the “Distinguished Researcher Award – 2022” from the European University Cyprus, the “1st Young Investigator Award – 2017” from the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, and the “Science Award – 2016” from the Youth Board of Cyprus. He is a member of the EACR, AACR, and FEBS and an elected member of the Society of Biological Sciences in Cyprus (SBSCy) board. He has published >115 papers in refereed journals and 7 book chapters (h-index, 40; i10-index, 84; >5280 citations; Google Scholar). His research work aims toward the advanced understanding of carcinogenesis through the investigation of interactions across genes, the discovery of therapeutic targets, and the examination of the immune landscape in inflamed tumors.
Research focus:
Our research group is focusing on the advanced understanding of carcinogenesis through the investigation of interactions across genes. Current major interests include the discovery of therapeutic targets in cancer using next-generation sequencing approaches and the investigation of how gene expression is regulated in cancer. We are also interested in the examination of the immune landscape in inflamed tumors, aiming to find out how this relates to various aspects of their biology. We are especially interested in identifying new links between distinct genomic events, such as kataegis and chromothripsis, and the activation of an antitumor immune response in cancer. We are also keen on elucidating the fractions of different immune cells and cancer neoantigens, and predicting patient responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The aim of our research is to produce new knowledge that can be used to provide better therapeutic guidance to cancer patients.
Current Group Members
Loiy Obeidat
Alexandros Melenikos
Michael Eleftheriades
Sotiris Papadatos
Stephanie Agioti
Elena Mistakidi
Maria-Arsenia Maniori
Anthilena Prodromou
Eleni Kyriakou
Ioanna Ioannou
Niki Charalambous
Michaela Louka
Giorgos Kampouris
Almunthir Sulaiman Altobi
Past Group Members
Kyriaki Psara
Amanda Andreou
Paraskevi (Evita) Vryza
Timo Fischer
Andriani Chiraki
Angeliki Chatziantoniou
Mohammed Eleessawi
Christiana Stylianou
Ioanna Ladi
Rebecca Emily Hill
Ioanna Ioannou
Maria Paraskevopoulou
Eleni Epaminonda
Andria Zoppi & Zacharo Zacharia
Anna Georgiou
Georgios Georgoulias
Anastasia Kalamata
Stavroulla Kalamata
Maria Kyprianou
Milda Grigaliūnaitė
Kyriaki Georgiou
George Panagiotopoulos
Georgia Georgiou
Mara Kitsou
Dr. Beatriz de Lucas Moreno
Anestis Makris
Natalia Mastrogamvraki
Antonia Achilleos
Constantinos Roufas
George Kortas
Petros Makris
Angeliki Foteinou
Research Grants
Ongoing
HORIZON Call: DIGITAL-2022-TRAINING-02 (Digital Training). Topic: DIGITAL-2022-TRAINING-02-SHORT-COURSES. Type of Action: DIGITAL-SME (01/01/2023 – 30/12/2026). Title: “LEVEraging knowLedge of training providers in UPskilling and reskilling of SMEs’ managers and employees towards empowering their digital transformation (Level Up)”. Funding: 4.838,991.54 € (449,721.00 € to European University Cyprus)
Research & Innovation Foundation’s Program, (EXCELLENCE 0421/0179, 01/03/2021 – 28/02/2023), Role: Partner, Title: “Targeting the desmoplastic tumor microenvironment to improve the efficacy of pancreatic cancer immunotherapy”.
Completed
Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, (EXCELLENCE/1216/0417), Role: Partner, Title: “Genetic modifiers in Alport syndrome and thin basement membrane nephropathy”.
Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, (ENTERPRISES/0916/0083), Role: Partner, Title: “Donkey Milk Bioactive Powder”.
Research Promotion Foundation’s Program – Co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus, (POST-DOC/0916/0154). Role: Project Coordinator. Title: “Investigation of RNA editing in microRNA targeting in cancer” (gracefully turned down).
Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, (EXCELLENCE 1216/0036, 01/09/2018 – 31/08/2021), Role: Partner, Title: “Functional and therapeutic implications of histone N-terminal acetyltransferase Naa40 in colorectal oncogenesis”.
Karolinska Institutet’s 2014 Research Foundation Grant (Karolinska Institutets Forskningsstiftelser 2014). Project title: RNA sequencing of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (2014fobi41242).
Selected Publications
- G. Georgoulias, A. Zaravinos. Genomic landscape of the immunogenicity regulation in skin melanomas with diverse tumor mutation burden. Front lmmunol. 13, 1006665 (2022)
- G. I. Lambrou, T. Karakonstantakis, S. Vlahopoulos, A. Zaravinos. Dual mechanisms of metabolism and gene expression of the CCRF-CEM leukemia cells under glucocorticoid treatment. Int J Mol Sci, 22(11), 5889 (2021).
- C. Roufas, I. Georgakopoulos-Soares, A. Zaravinos. Distinct genomic features across cytolytic subgroups in skin melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 70(11), 3137-3154 (2021)
- C. Roufas, I. Georgakopoulos-Soares, A. Zaravinos. Molecular correlates of immune cytolytic subgroups in colorectal cancer by integrated genomics analysis. NAR Cancer, 3(1), zcab005 (2021).
- G. I. Lambrou,K. K. Vichos, D. Koutsouris, A. Zaravinos. Identification of co-deregulated genes in urinary bladder cancer using high-throughput methodologies. Appl. Sci, 11, 1785 (2021).
- G. I. LambrouI, K. Hatziagapiou, A. Zaravinos. The non-coding RNA GAS5 and its role in tumor therapy-induced resistance. Int J Mol Sci, 21(20), E7633 (2020).
- N. Mastrogamvraki and A. Zaravinos. Signatures of co-deregulated genes and their transcriptional regulators in colorectal cancer. NPJ Syst Biol Appl, 6(1), 23 (2020).
- M. Kitsou, G.D. Ayiomamitis, A. Zaravinos. High expression of immune checkpoints correlates with the TIL load, mutation rate and patient survival in colorectal cancer. Int J Oncol, 57, 237-248 (2020).
- T. Panayiotou, S. Michael, A. Zaravinos, E. Demirag, C. Achilleos, K. Strati. Human papillomavirus E7 binds Oct4 and regulates its activity in HPV-associated cervical cancers. PLoS Pathog, 16(4), e1008468 (2020).
- I. Georgakopoulos-Soares, D. V. Chartoumpekis, V. Kyriazopoulou, A. Zaravinos. EMT factors and metabolic pathways in cancer. Front Oncol, 10, 499 (2020).
- M. Christodoulou and A. Zaravinos. New clinical approaches and emerging evidence on immune-checkpoint inhibitors as anti-cancer therapeutics: CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways and beyond. Crit Rev Immunol, 39(5), 379–408 (2019).
- G. D. Ayiomamitis, G. Notas, O. Sfakianaki, T. Vasilakaki, A. Tsavari, M. Georgiadou, S. Vederaki, E. Kouroumalis, A. Zaravinos. Understanding the interplay between COX-2 and hTERT in colorectal cancer using a multi-omics analysis. Cancers (Basel), 11(10), 1536 (2019).
- T. Christofi, S. Baritaki, L. Falzone, M. Libra, A. Zaravinos. Current perspectives in cancer immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel), 11(10), pii: E1472 (2019).
- T. Christofi, A. Zaravinos. RNA editing in the forefront of epitranscriptomics and human health. J Transl Med, 17(1), 319 (2019).
- A. Zaravinos, C. Roufas, M. Nagara, B. de Lucas Moreno, M. Oblovatskaya, C. Efstathiades, C. Dimopoulos, G.D. Ayiomamitis. Cytolytic activity correlates with the mutational burden and deregulated expression of immune checkpoint molecules in colorectal cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 38(1), 364 (2019).
- C. Demetriadou, D. Pavlou, F. Mpekris, C. Achilleos, T. Stylianopoulos, A. Zaravinos, P. Papageorgis, A. Kirmizis. NAA40 contributes to colorectal cancer growth by controlling PRMT5 expression. Cell Death Dis, 10(3), 236 (2019).
- C. Chinello, M. Stella, I. Piga, A.J. Smith, G. Bovo, M. Varallo, M. Ivanova, V. Denti, M. Grasso, A. Grasso, M. Del Puppo, A. Zaravinos, F. Magni. Proteomics of liquid biopsies: Depicting RCC infiltration into the renal vein by MS analysis of urine and plasma. J Proteomics, 191, 29-37 (2019).
- A. Zaravinos, B. Bonavida, E. Chatzaki, S. Baritaki. RKIP: A Key Regulator in Tumor Metastasis Initiation and Resistance to Apoptosis: Therapeutic Targeting and Impact. Cancers (Basel), 10(9), pii: E287 (2018).
- D. V. Chartoumpekis, Y. Yagishita, M. Fazzari, et al. Nrf2 prevents Notch-induced insulin resistance and tumorigenesis in mice. JCI Insight, 3(5), pii: 97735 (2018).
- C. Roufas, D. Chasiotis, A. Makris, C. Efstathiades, C. Dimopoulos, A. Zaravinos. The expression and prognostic impact of immune cytolytic activity-related markers in human malignancies: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Front Oncol, 8, 27 (2018).
- Z. Wang, C.D. Monteiro, K.M. Jagodnik, et al. Extraction and analysis of signatures from the Gene Expression Omnibus by the crowd. Nat Commun, 7, 12846 (2016).
- A. Björkman, P. Qvist, L. Du, M. Bartish, A. Zaravinos, K. Georgiou, A.D. Børglum, R.A Gatti, T. Törngren, Q. Pan-Hammarström. Aberrant recombination and repair during immunoglobulin class switching in BRCA1-deficient human B cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015; 112(7):2157-62.
- A. Zaravinos. The regulatory role of microRNAs in EMT and cancer. J Oncol, 2015, 865816 (2015).
- N.F.C.C. de Miranda, K. Georgiou, L. Chen, C. Wu, Z. Gao, A. Zaravinos, S. Lisboa, G. Enblad, M.R. Teixeira, Y. Zheng, R. Peng, Q. Pan-Hammarström. Exome sequencing reveals novel mutation targets in diffuse large B cell lymphomas derived from Chinese patients. Blood, 124(16), 2544-53 (2014).
- A. Zaravinos, G. I. Lambrou, N. Mourmouras, P. Katafygiotis, G. Papagregoriou, K. Giannikou, D. Delakas, C. Deltas. New miRNA profiles accurately distinguish renal cell carcinomas and upper tract urothelial carcinomas from the normal kidney. PLoS One, 9(3), e91646 (2014).
- J. Radojicic, A. Zaravinos, T. Vrekoussis T, Kafousi M, D.A. Spandidos, E.N. Stathopoulos. MicroRNA expression analysis in triple-negative (ER, PR and Her2/neu) breast cancer. Cell Cycle, 10(3), 507-17 (2011).
Full list of publications
Collaborators
- Dr. Maria Braoudaki. Senior Lecturer in Molecular Genetics. University of Hertfordshire.
- Dr. Dionysios Chartoumpekis. Research Assistant Professor in Pharmacology & Chemical Biology. School of Medicine, University of Patras.
- Dr. Vassiliki Stamatopoulou. Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, University of Patras.
- Dr. Stavroula Baritaki. Assistant Professor of Experimental Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete.
- Dr. Krinio Giannikou. Instructor in Medicine. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
- Dr. Ilias Georgakopoulos Soares. Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco.
- Dr. Antonis Kirmizis. Associate Professor, University of Cyprus.
- Dr. Demetrios A. Spandidos. Professor Emeritus at the School of Medicine, University of Crete.
- Dr. Benjamin Bonavida. Distinguished Research Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
- Dr. Constantinos Deltas. Professor of Genetics, University of Cyprus.
- Dr. Dimitrios Delakas. Associate Professor, Director of the Department of Urology, Asklepieio General Hospital.
- Dr. Massimo Libra. Professor of General Pathology at the School of Medicine, University of Catania.
