Tumor Immunology & Biomarkers Group
Short Bio:
Dr Marianna Christodoulou is an Assistant Professor of Immunology at the Department of Life Sciences of the European University Cyprus (2019-today). She possesses a BSc diploma in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2003), a MSc diploma in Clinical Biochemistry–Molecular Diagnostics from the Faculty of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2015) and a PhD degree in Immunology-Human Autoimmunity from the School of Medicine of the same University (2010). Marianna worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Schools of Medicine (2010-2012) and Biology (2012-2016) of the University of Athens and at the Research Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation of the University of Glasgow (UK) (2017-2019). Her research expertise is primarily in the field of immune-mediated conditions (autoimmunity, tumor immunology, inflammation in type-2 diabetes) and application of novel omics technologies in translational research. Her work is included in 19 research articles (first/last author in 11 of them), published in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals (Google scholar metrics as of 25/11/2021: h-index=13; Citations=861), and presented in several international and national conferences. She has received awards by the Hellenic Society for Rheumatology (Athens, Greece in 2004 and 2006) and the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2007), and an individual scholarship for Post-Doctoral Research by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (2017-2019). Her current research interests are focused on novel immune-regulatory cytokines and their involvement in the abovementioned disorders, as well as the development of related biomarkers, using transcriptomics approaches. Marianna is leading the Tumor Immunology and Biomarkers group of BTCRC, collaborating with research groups at EUC, University of Athens, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai (China). She has been actively involved in 7 national/international funded research programs in Greece, Cyprus and the UK, working among others in the fields of tumor immunology, metastasis and anti-cancer properties of natural products. She is also an Affiliate Researcher at the University of Glasgow. She has served as ad-hoc reviewer in >40 international scientific journals, editorial board member in two, and Guest-Editor in two.
Research focus:
Emerging evidence of the last decades support the pivotal role of the immune system during tumor development and the importance of the evasion of cancer cells from immune surveillance. And this is exactly where current challenges of immune-oncologists lie: to pinpoint involved immune-checkpoints and regulatory compartments and set them as therapeutic targets. Within this frame, our group focuses on the investigation of novel immune-regulatory cell populations and proteins critical in human cancers. We aim at the elucidation of their pathophysiological role during the course of the disease and the evaluation of their potential to serve as possible biomarkers for prognosis and monitoring of the response-to-therapy. Our projects utilize cutting-edge high-throughput approaches (bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, microarrays, luminex), related bioinformatics analyses and a series of cellular/molecular biology techniques (multi-color flow-cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, qPCR assays) to address our biological questions.
Current Group Members
Panayiota Christodoulou
Apostolis Mourkakis
Apostolis studies the alarmin pro-thymosin α (proTα) as possible biomarker for the response to chemotherapy of patients with cancer
Maria Paraskevopoulou
Maria studies the anti-cancer properties of phenolic compounds from flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) on human breast and prostate tumor cells
Elif Cobani
Elif studies the anti-cancer properties of extracts from the Cypriot endemic species Hypericum repens on human tumor cells
Kyriaki Psomati
Kyriaki studies the anti-cancer properties of extracts from the Cypriot endemic species Quercus alnifolia on human tumor cells
Anna Avgousti
Elina Antimissari
Eleni Poutouri
Maria Papasavva
Maria studies IL-37 expression in patients with bladder cancer
Lazaros Konstantinou
Lazaros studies the anti-cancer properties of the endemic plant of Cyprus Onosma fruticosa, on human prostate cancer cells (in collaboration with Drs. C. Nikiforou and C. Antoniou).
Marios Nikolaou
Marios studies the anti-cancer properties of the endemic plant of Cyprus Onosma fruticosa, on human breast cancer cells (in collaboration with Drs. C. Nikiforou and C. Antoniou).
Styliana Amvrosiou
Styliana studies the synergistic action of metformin with anti-cancer agents in gynaecological cancers.
Christos Tympas
Christos studies the expression of IL-37 in samples from type-2 diabetes patients.
Artea-Sofia Tzempra
Sofia studies the synergistic action of metformin with anti-cancer agents in gynaecological cancers.
Meropi Mikalli
Ero studies the alarmin prothymosin-a in systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases.
Andrew Mansour
Andrew studies the expression of IL-37 in samples from type-2 diabetes patients and prediabetic individuals.
Past Group Members
Fragkoula Michael
Natasa Andreou
Kalliopi Zakheou
Eleni Chrysanthou
Research Grants
Ongoing
“EXCELLENCE HUBS”, Research & Innovation Foundation Program, (Excellence/0421/0179, 2022-24). Role: Researcher.
“DIDAKTOR”, Research & Innovation Foundation Program, (POST-DOC/0916/0044, 01/01/2019 – 31/12/2021). Role: Researcher. Title: “Unveiling novel molecular mechanisms that regulate colonization of dormant metastatic breast cancer cells”.
“CULTURE / AWARD-YR / 0119 / 0024”, Research & Innovation Foundation Program, (RESTART 2016-2020, 2021-2023). Role: Researcher. Title: “Investigating the phytochemical profile and in-vitro bioactive properties of endemic plant extracts from Cyprus for potential use in medicine and agriculture- PlantexCY”.
Completed
“Enhancing Post-Doctoral Researchers”, State Scholarships Foundation (IKY, Greece) (2017-2019), ‘‘Human Resources Development Program, Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2014 – 2020. Role: Principal Investigator. Title: “Investigation of the molecular profile of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus utilizing high throughput, new generation sequencing technologies: development of a panel of microRNAs (miRNAs)-potential biomarkers for the disease.”.
Selected Publications
- Α.Ι., Birmpilis, Α. Paschalis, Α. Mourkakis, P. Christodoulou, I.V. Kostopoulos, E. Antimissari, G. Terzoudi, A.G. Georgakilas, C. Armpilia, P. Papageorgis, E. Kastritis, E. Terpos, M.A. Dimopoulos, H. Kalbacher, E. Livaniou, M.-I. Christodoulou, O.E. Tsitsilonis. Immunogenic Cell Death, DAMPs and Prothymosin α as a Putative Anticancer Immune Response Biomarker. Cells. 2022 April;11(9), 1415
- T.C. Kyriakou, P. Papageorgis, M.I. Christodoulou. Common genetic aberrations associated with metabolic interferences in human type-2 diabetes and acute myeloid leukemia: a bioinformatics approach. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 28;22(17):9322.
- Μ. Avgeris, Ι. Kokkinopoulou, Ε. Maratou, P. Mitrou, E. Boutati, A. Scorilas, E.G. Fragoulis, M.I. Christodoulou. Blood-based analysis of 84 microRNAs identifies molecules deregulated in individuals with type-2 diabetes, risk factors for the disease or metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020 Jun;164:108187.
- C.M. Neophytou, C. Pierides, M.I. Christodoulou, P. Costeas, T.C. Kyriakou, P. Papageorgis. The Role of Tumor-Associated Myeloid Cells in Modulating Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol. 2020 Jun 9;10:899.
- Τ. Bagratuni, Ν. Mavrianou, N. G. Gavalas, K. Tzannis, C. Arapinis, M. Liontos, M.I. Christodoulou, N. Thomakos, D. Haidopoulos, A. Rodolakis, E. Kastritis, A. Scorilas, M.A. Dimopoulos, A. Bamias. JQ1 inhibits tumour growth in combination with cisplatin and suppresses JAK/STAT signaling pathway in ovarian cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2020 Feb;126:125-135.
- M.I. Christodoulou, 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. 2019;39(5):379-408.
- I. Kokkinopoulou, E. Maratou, P. Mitrou, E. Boutati, D.C. Sideris, E.G. Fragoulis, M.I. Christodoulou. Decreased expression of microRNAs targeting type-2 diabetes susceptibility genes in peripheral blood of patients and predisposed individuals. Endocrine. 2019 Nov;66(2):226-239.
- M.I. Christodoulou, M. Avgeris, I. Kokkinopoulou, E. Maratou, P. Mitrou, C.K. Kontos , E. Pappas, E. Boutati, A. Scorilas, E.G. Fragoulis. Blood-based analysis of type-2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility genes identifies specific transcript variants with deregulated expression and association with disease risk. Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 6;9(1):1512.
- M.I. Christodoulou, A. Scorilas. Metformin and Anti-Cancer Therapeutics: Hopes for a More Enhanced Armamentarium Against Human Neoplasias? Curr Med Chem. 2017;24(1):14-56.
- M.E. Sakavitsi, M.I. Christodoulou, J. Tchoumtchoua, N. Fokialakis, I.K. Kokkinopoulou, E. Papageorgiou, A. Argyropoulou, L.A. Skaltsounis, M. Halabalaki, A. Scorilas. Comparative HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-ESI (-)-HRMS & MS/MS profiling of Hypericum species and correlation with necrotic cell-death activity in human leukemic cells. Phytochem Let. 2017;20:481-90.
- A. Koumarianou, M.I. Christodoulou, P. Patapis, I. Papadopoulos, E. Liakata, A. Giagini, A. Stavropoulou, N. Poulakaki, N. Tountas, N. Xiros, T. Economopoulos, D. Pectasides, O.E. Tsitsilonis, V. Pappa. The effect of metronomic versus standard chemotherapy on the regulatory to effector T-cell equilibrium in cancer patients. Exp Hematol Oncol. 2014 Jan 23;3(1):3.
- M.I. Christodoulou, C.K. Kontos, M. Halabalaki, A.L. Skaltsounis, A. Scorilas. Nature promises new anticancer agents: Interplay with the apoptosis-related BCL2 gene family. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2014 Mar;14(3):375-99.
- C.K. Kontos, M.I. Christodoulou, A. Scorilas. Apoptosis-related BCL2-family members: Key players in chemotherapy. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2014 Mar;14(3):353-74.
- E.K. Kapsogeorgou, M.I. Christodoulou, D.B. Panagiotakos, S. Paikos, A. Tassidou, A.G. Tzioufas, H.M. Moutsopoulos. Minor salivary gland inflammatory lesions in Sjögren's syndrome: Do they evolve? J Rheumatol. 2013 Sep;40(9):1566-71.
- M.I. Christodoulou, E.K. Kapsogeorgou, H.M. Moutsopoulos. Characteristics of the minor salivary gland infiltrates in Sjögren's syndrome. J Autoimmun. 2010 Jun;34(4):400-7.
- M.I. Christodoulou, E.K. Kapsogeorgou, N.M. Moutsopoulos, H.M. Moutsopoulos. Foxp3+-T Regulatory Cells in Sjögren’s Syndrome: Correlation with the Grade of the Autoimmune Lesion. Am J Pathol. 2008 Nov;173(5):1389-96.
Full list of publications
Collaborators
- Dr Ourania Tsitsilonis, Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Dr Andreas Scorilas, Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Dr Eftstathia K. Kapsogeorgou, Associate Professor National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Dr Margaritis Avgeris, Associate Professor National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Dr Damo Xu, Senior Researcher, University of Glasgow
- Dr Luman Wang, Associate Professor, Fudan University
- Dr Constantinos Nikiforou, Associate Professor, European University Cyprus
- Dr Chrystalla Antoniou, Researcher, European University Cyprus Research Center
- Dr Job Tchoumtchoua, R&D Project Leader at Celabor, Belgium