Oncology Therapeutics and Drug Development

Prof.  Nicola Maurea  is a specialist in Cardiology and Internal Medicine.

He has specific expertise in the cardiac treatment of oncology patients. He also treats cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, arterial and venous thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, aortic stenosis, myocarditis, valvular heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and arterial hypertension.

In 1985 he graduated with honors in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Naples Federico II, where he obtained specializations in Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, in 1988 and 1993 respectively.
During his training, in 1988 he went to the Echocardiography Laboratory of the San Matteo Polyclinic of the University of Pavia.

Immediately after completing his specialization in Cardiology, Prof. Maurea went to the United States in 1989/90 to work at the Adult and Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

In 1995 he went to attend the Echocardiography laboratory at the New England Medical Center in Boston.

In 1996 he attended the Echocardiography Laboratory of the Thorax Center in Rotterdam, Holland. After a long experience as Medical Director of Cardiology at the Coronary Unit of the Cardiology Division of the Cardarelli Hospital in Naples, he won the competition for Director of the Complex Cardiology Unit at the IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale in Naples in 2004.
From 1 January 2005, Prof. Maurea began his activity as Director of the Complex Cardiology Unit of the National Cancer Institute IRCCS Fondazione Pascale in Naples, a position he still holds.
Furthermore, he also holds a II level Master's degree in Healthcare Management obtained from the Federico II University in 2007. He obtained the "Certificate of management training for Health Director and Director of Complex Organizational Unit of Companies and Institutions of the Regional Health Service" in 2019 and the "Certificate of management training for General Directors of Companies and Institutions of the Regional Health System" in 2017. He is present in the national rankings of those eligible for the role of General Director of Companies and Institutions of the Regional Health System. Healthcare (Ministry of Health – Healthcare Eligible Persons Section). He is also on the Regional List of Eligible Persons for the position of Corporate Healthcare Director.
He has authored over 400 scientific papers in national and international journals. In 2013, he founded the Italian Association of Cardiac Oncology (AICO) and is currently its President

• Cardio-Oncology
• Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity
• Targeted Therapy Cardiotoxicity
• Cardiometabolic Risk in Cancer Patients
• Preventive Cardiology in Oncology
• Translational Cardiovascular Research
• Emerging Therapies and Precision Medicine
• Clinical Management of Heart Failure in Cancer

• Director, Complex Structure of Cardiology — Pascale IRCCS

• Former Director, Critical Area Department (“Area Critica”)

• Contributor to multiple Italian and international cardio-oncology consensus guidelines (ANMCO, AIOM, etc.)

• Investigator in preclinical and clinical cardiotoxicity research

• Active contributor to multicenter cardio-oncology registries

• Editorial contributions to cardio-oncology scientific literature

• Lecturer, mentor, and trainer in cardiology and cardio-oncology

• Participation in multicenter European Heart Journal Supplements projects

• Speaker at international conferences in cardiology and oncology

1. Fasting mimicking diet in mice delays cancer growth and reduces immunotherapy-associated cardiovascular and systemic side effects. Cortellino S, Quagliariello V, Delfanti G, Blaževitš O, Chiodoni C, Maurea N., … doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41066-3
2. Correction: Cisplatin resistance can be curtailed by blunting Bnip3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy. Vianello C … Maurea N. Cell Death and Disease (2023) 14:521.
3. Circulating Vitamin D Level and Its Impact on Mortality and Recurrence in Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ottaiano A … Maurea N. Cancers 2023;15(11):3012.
4. Combination of Spirulina, Ganoderma Lucidum and Moringa Oleifera improves cardiac functions… European Heart Journal Supplements 2023.
5. Maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity by probiotics, herbal extract and vitamins. Cocetta V … Maurea N. Minerva Pediatr (2023).
6. SGLT2i Dapagliflozin decreases NLRP3, IL-1 and PCSK9 expression in preclinical models of short-term doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.
7. Anti–CTLA-4 and PD-1 antibodies increase SDF-1 and galectin-3 and reduce myocardial strain via NLRP3/MyD88. Circulation 2023.
8. Corrigendum: Cancer survivorship at heart: multidisciplinary cardio-oncology roadmap… (2023).
9. Interleukin-1 blocking agents for preventing anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicities. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2021.
10. ANMCO Position Paper: Cardio-oncology in the COVID era. G Ital Cardiol 2021; also Eur Heart J Suppl 2021.
11. Evolocumab co-incubated with doxorubicin/trastuzumab reduces cardiomyocyte death via MyD88-NLRP3-NF-kB. European Heart Journal 2021.
12. Oxidized LDL increases nivolumab cardiotoxicity via TLR4/NF-kB/NLRP3. European Heart Journal 2021.
13. Endocannabinoid system expression in ovarian epithelial tumors. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2021.
14. Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy as Epiphenomenon of Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2021.
15. Cytoprotective effects of spirulina extract against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. J Clin Oncol 2021.
16. Immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated pericardial disease. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021.
17. Multiple effects of ascorbic acid against chronic diseases. Antioxidants 2020.
18. SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardio-oncology outcomes. Cancers 2020.
19. Capasso I, Esposito E, Pentimalli F, Montella M, Crispo A, Maurea  N, D Aiuto M, Fucito A, Grimaldi M, Cavalcanti E, Esposito G, Brillante G, Lodato S, Pedicini T, D Aiuto G, Ciliberto G, Giordano A. Homeostasis model assessment to detect insulin resistance and identify patients at high risk of breast cancer development: national cancer institute of Naples experience. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Mar 14;32(1):14
20. Tocchetti CG, Gallucci G, Coppola C, Piscopo G, Cipresso C, Maurea C, Giudice A, Iaffaioli RV, Arra C, Maurea  N. The emerging issue of cardiac dysfunction induced by antineoplastic angiogenesis inhibitors. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013 May; 15(5):482-9.
21. Gallucci G, Tartarone A, Tocchetti CG, Bochicchio AM, Coccaro M, Capobianco A, Maurea  N, Improta G, Zupa A, Aieta M. Role of preeclampsia-related angiogenic factors in sunitinib cardiotoxicity: two cases and review of the literature. Future Oncol. 2013 Jan;9(1):127-33           
22. Tarantini L, Gori S, Faggiano P, Pulignano G, Simoncini E, Tuccia F, Ceccherini R, Bovelli D, Lestuzzi C, Cioffi G, Lestuzzi C, Fioretti SO, Giotta F, Latorre A, Tarantini L, Russo P, Sardina G, Catania G, Tuccia F, Laveder F, Faggiano P, Triggiani M, Simoncini E, Severini D, Di Tano G, Generali D, Gabrielli D, Pennacchietti L, Cardinali L, Maurea  N, Lombari MC, De Laurentis M, Pacilio C, Gori S, Alunni G, Carluccio E, Boccardi L, Fini F, Pulignano G, Bovelli D, De Bonis P, Nunzi M, Sabatini S, Russo G, Di Lenarda A, Ceccherini R; ICARO (Italian CARdio-Oncologic) Network. Adjuvant trastuzumab cardiotoxicity in patients over 60 years of age with early breast cancer: a multicenter cohort analysis. Ann Oncol. 2012 Dec;23(12):3058-63
23. Inno A, Maurea N, Metro G, Carbone A, Russo A, Gori S- Immune checkpoint inhibitors-associated pericardial disease: a systematic review of case reports- Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2021 Apr 20.
24. Berretta M, Quagliariello V, Maurea N, Di Francia R, Sharifi S, Facchini G, Rinaldi L, Piezzo M, Manuela C, Nunnari G, Montopoli M -Multiple Effects of Ascorbic Acid against Chronic Diseases: Updated Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies-  Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Nov 26;9(12):1182
25. Quagliariello V, Bonelli A, Caronna A, Conforti G, Iovine M, Carbone A, Berretta M, Botti G, Maurea N. SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Cardioncology: From Cardiometabolic Risk Factors to Outcomes in Cancer PatientsCancers (Basel). 2020 Nov 10;12(11):3316
26. Barbieri A, Robinson N, Palma G, Maurea N, Desiderio V, Botti G Can Beta-2-Adrenergic Pathway Be a New Target to Combat SARS-CoV-2 Hyperinflammatory Syndrome?-Lessons Learned From Cancer Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 30;11:588724.
27. Quagliariello V, De Laurentiis M, Cocco S, Rea G, Bonelli A, Caronna A, Lombari MC, Conforti G, Berretta M, Botti G, Maurea N NLRP3 as Putative Marker of Ipilimumab-Induced Cardiotoxicity in the Presence of Hyperglycemia in Estrogen-Responsive and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells - Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 21;21(20):7802.
28. Gulizia Chairperson MM, Parrini Co-Chairperson I, Colivicchi Co-Chairperson F, Bisceglia I, Caiazza F, Gensini GF, Mureddu GF, Santomauro M, Ageno W, Ambrosetti M, Aspromonte N, Barni S, Bellocci F, Caldarola P, Carletti M, De Luca L, Di Fusco SA, Di Lenarda A, Di Nisio M, Domenicucci S, Enea I, Francese GM, Lestuzzi C, Lucà F, Maurea N, Nassiacos D, Pedretti RFE, Pusineri E, Roscio G, Rossini R, Russo A, Volterrani M, Gabrielli Co-Chairperson D. - [HCF-ANMCO/AICPR/GIEC/ITAHFA/SICOA/SICP/SIMG/SIT Cardiological Societies Council Consensus document: Anticoagulant therapy in venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation of the patient with cancer. Current knowledge and new evidence] - G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2020 Sep;21(9):687-738
29. Vincenzo Quagliariello , Margherita Passariello , Domenica Rea , Antonio Barbieri , Martina Iovine , Annamaria Bonelli , Antonietta Caronna , Gerardo Botti , Claudia De Lorenzo, Nicola Maurea Evidences of CTLA-4 and PD-1 Blocking Agents-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Cellular and Preclinical Models-  J Pers Med 2020 Oct 19;10(4):E179.
30. Avallone, A., Piccirillo, M.C., Di Gennaro, E., Romano, C, Calabrese, F., Roca, M.S., Tatangelo, F., Granata, V, Cassata, A., Cavalcanti, E., Maurea, N., Maiolino, P., Silvestro, L., De Stefano, A., Giuliani, F., Rosati, G, Tamburini, E., Aprea, P, Vicario, V Nappi, A., Vitagliano, C., Casaretti, R, Leone, A., Petrillo, A., Botti, G., Delrio, P., Izzo, F, Perrone, F, Budillon, A.- Randomized phase II study of valproic acid in combination with bevacizumab and oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine regimens in patients with RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer: the REVOLUTION study protocol - Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
31. Volume 12, 2020
32. Quagliariello, V. Bonelli, A. Caronna, A. Lombari, M.C. Conforti, G. Libutti, M. Iaffaioli, R.V. Berretta, M.Botti, G. Maurea, N. - SARS-CoV-2 infection: NLRP3 inflammasome as plausible target to prevent cardiopulmonary complications? - European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences Volume 24, Issue 17, 2020, Pages 9169-9171
33. Quagliariello, V.Vecchione, R. De Capua, A.Lagreca, E.Iaffaioli, R.V.Botti, G. Netti, P.A.Maurea, N- Nano-encapsulation of coenzyme q10 in secondary and tertiary nano-emulsions for enhanced cardioprotection and hepatoprotection in human cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes during exposure to anthracyclines and trastuzumab - International Journal of Nanomedicine - Volume 15, 2020, Pages 4859-4876
34. Barbieri, A., Robinson, N.,Palma, G. Maurea, N. Desiderio, V., Botti, G. Can Beta-2-Adrenergic Pathway Be a New Target to Combat SARS-CoV-2 Hyperinflammatory Syndrome?—Lessons Learned From Cancer - Frontiers in Immunology Volume 11, 30 September 2020, Article number 588724
35. Canale, M.L.Camerini, A.Casolo, G.Lilli, A.Bisceglia, I.Lestuzzi, C.Del Meglio, J.Puccetti, C.Camerini, L.Amoroso, D.,Maurea, N. Incidence of Pericardial Effusion in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Immunotherapy- Advances in Therapy 37(7), pp. 3178-3184 2020
36. Berretta, M Bignucolo A. Di Francia R. Comello F Facchini, G, Ceccarelli, M, Iaffaioli, R.V. Quagliariello, V.Maurea, N- Resveratrol in cancer patients: From bench to bedside - International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020 Volume 21, Issue 8, 2 April 2020, Article number 2945
37. Calcagno V, Vecchione R, Quagliariello V, Marzola P, Busato A, Giustetto P, Profeta M, Gargiulo S, Cicco CD, Yu H, Cassani M, Maurea  N, Mancini M, Pellegrino T, Netti PA. Oil Core-PEG Shell Nanocarriers for In Vivo MRI Imaging. Adv Healthc Mater. 2019 Feb;8(3):e1801313. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201801313. Epub 2019 Jan 7.
38. Pascarella G, Capasso A, Nardone A, Triassi M, Pignata S, Arenare L, Ascierto P, Curvietto M, Maiolino P, D'Aniello R, Montanino A, Laudato F, De Feo G, Botti G, Perrone F, Petrillo A, Cavalcanti E, Lastoria S, Maurea  N, Morabito A. Costs of clinical trials with anticancer biological agents in an Oncologic Italian Cancer Center using the activity-based costing methodology. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 8;14(1):e0210330. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210330. eCollection 2019.
39. Quagliariello V, Coppola C, Mita DG, Piscopo G, Iaffaioli RV, Botti G, Maurea  N. Low doses of Bisphenol A have pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects, stimulate lipid peroxidation and increase the cardiotoxicity of Doxorubicin in cardiomyoblasts. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;69:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.03.006. Epub 2019 Mar 7.
40. Barbarisi M, Barbarisi A, De Sena G, Armenia E, Aurilio C, Libutti M, Iaffaioli RV, Botti G, Maurea  N, Quagliariello V.   Boswellic acid has anti-inflammatory effects and enhances the anticancer activities of Temozolomide and Afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, in human glioblastoma cells.    Phytother Res. 2019 Jun;33(6):1670-1682. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6354. Epub 2019 Mar 28.
41. Quagliariello V, Passariello M, Coppola C, Rea D, Barbieri A, Scherillo M, Monti MG, Iaffaioli RV, De Laurentiis M, Ascierto PA, Botti G, De Lorenzo C, Maurea  N.Cardiotoxicity and pro-inflammatory effects of the immune checkpoint inhibitor Pembrolizumab associated to Trastuzumab.Int J Cardiol. 2019 Oct 1;292:171-179. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.05.028. Epub 2019 May 17.
42. Quagliariello V, Vecchione R, Coppola C, Di Cicco C, De Capua A, Piscopo G, Paciello R, Narciso V, Formisano C, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Iaffaioli RV, Botti G, Netti PA, Maurea  N. Cardioprotective Effects of Nanoemulsions Loaded with Anti-Inflammatory Nutraceuticals against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity. Nutrients. 2018 Sep 14;10(9)
43. Riccio G, Antonucci S, Coppola C, D’Avino C, Piscopo G, Fiore D, Maurea C, Russo M, Rea D, Arra C, Condorelli G, Di Lisa F, Tocchetti CG, De Lorenzo C, Maurea  N. Ranolazine attenuates trastuzumab-induced heart dysfunction by modulating ROS production. Front. Physiol. 2018 Feb 6; 9:38
44. De Lorenzo C, Paciello R, Riccio G, Rea D, Barbieri A, Coppola C, Maurea  N. Cardiotoxic effects of the novel approved anti-ErbB2 agents and reverse cardioprotective effects of Ranolazine. OncoTargets and therapy, 2018 Apr 19; 11:2241-2250
45. Calabrese V, Menna P, Annibali O, Armento G, Carpino A, Cerchiara E, Greco C, Marchesi F, Spallarossa P, Toglia G, Reggiardo G, Minotti G; Collaborators. Early Diastolic Dysfunction after Cancer Chemotherapy: Primary Endpoint Results of a Multicenter Cardio-Oncology Study. Chemotherapy. 2018;63(2):55-63.
46. Coppola C, Rienzo A, Piscopo G, Barbieri A, Arra C, Maurea  N. Management of QT prolongation induced by anti-cancer drugs: Target therapy and old agents. Different algorithms for different drugs. Cancer Treat Rev. 2017 Dec 6;63:135-143.
47. Fotticchia T, Vecchione R, Scognamiglio PL, Guarnieri D, Calcagno V, Di Natale C, Attanasio C, De Gregorio M, Di Cicco C, Quagliariello V, Maurea  N, Barbieri A, Arra C, Raiola L, Iaffaioli RV, Netti PA. Enhanced Drug Delivery into Cell Cytosol via Glycoprotein H-Derived Peptide Conjugated Nanoemulsions. ACS Nano. 2017 Oct 24;11(10):9802-9813
48. Luigi Tarantini (Coordinator), Michele Massimo Gulizia, FACC, FESC (Coordinator), Andrea Di Lenarda, FACC, FESC (Coordinator), Nicola Maurea, FACC, FESC (Coordinator), Maurizio Giuseppe Abrignani, Irma Bisceglia, Daniella Bovelli, Luisa De Gennaro, Donatella Del Sindaco, Francesca Macera, Iris Parrini, Donatella Radini, Giulia Russo, Angela Beatrice Scardovi, and Alessandro Inno. [ANMCO/AIOM/AICO Consensus Document on clinical and management pathways of cardio-oncology: executive summary]. European Heart Journal Supplements (2017) 19 (Supplement D), D370–D379.
49. Maurea  N, Ragone G, Coppola C, Caronna A, Tocchetti CG, Agozzino L, Apice G, Iaffaioli RV. Intracardiac metastasis originated from chondrosarcoma. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown).  2017 May;18(5):385-388
50. Coppola C, Riccio G, Barbieri A, Monti MG, Piscopo G, Rea D, Arra C, Maurea C, De Lorenzo C, Maurea  N. Antineoplastic related cardiotoxicity, morphofunctional aspects in murine model: contribution of the new tool 2D-speckle tracking. Oncotarget and therapy 2016  Nov 2;9:6785-6794.
51. Rea D, Coppola C, Barbieri A, Monti MG, Misso G, Palma G, Bimonte S, Zarone MR, Luciano A, Liccardo D, Maiolino P, Cittadini A, Ciliberto G, Arra C, Maurea  N. Strain Analysis in the Assessment of a Mouse Model of Cardiotoxicity due to Chemotherapy: Sample for Preclinical Research. In Vivo. 2016 May-Jun;30(3):279-90.
52. Maurea  N, Spallarossa P, Cadeddu C, Madonna R, Mele D, Monte I, Novo G, Pagliaro P, Pepe A, Tocchetti CG, Zito C, Mercuro G. A reccommended practical approach to the management of target therapy and angiogenesis inhibitors cardiotoxicity: an opinion paper of the working group on drug cardiotoxicity and cardioprotection, Italian Society of Cardiology. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2016 May;17 Suppl 1:S93-S104.
53. Maurea  N, Coppola C, Piscopo G, Galletta F, Riccio G, Esposito E, De Lorenzo C, De Laurentiis M, Spallarossa P, Mercuro G. Pathophysiology of Cardiotoxicity from Target Therapy and Angiogenesis Inhibitors. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2016 May;17 Suppl 1:S19-26
54. Spallarossa P, Maurea  N, Cadeddu C, Mele D, Tocchetti CG, Pagliaro P, Madonna R, Monte I, Novo G, Pepe A, Zito C, Mercuro G. A recommended practical approach to the management of anthracycline-based chemotherapy cardiotoxicity: an opinion paper of the working group on drug cardiotoxicity and cardioprotection, Italian Society of Cardiology. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2016 May;17 Suppl 1:S84-92
55. Mele D, Tocchetti CG, Pagliaro P, Madonna R, Novo G, Pepe A, Zito C, Maurea  N, Spallarossa P. Pathophysiology of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2016 May;17 Suppl 1:S3-S11
56. Riccio G, Coppola C, Piscopo G, Capasso I, Maurea C, Esposito E, De Lorenzo C, Maurea  N.Trastuzumab and target-therapy side effects: is still valid to differentiate anthracycline Type I from Type II. Cosmi F, Di Giulio P, Masson S, Finzi A, Marfisi RM, Cosmi D, Scarano M, Tognoni G, Maggioni AP, Porcu M, Boni S, Cutrupi G, Tavazzi L, Latini R; GISSI-HF Investigators. Regular wine consumption in chronic heart failure: impact on outcomes, quality of life, and circulating biomarkers. Circ Heart Fail. 2015 May;8(3):428-37
57. Avallone A, Piccirillo MC, Delrio P, Pecori B, Di Gennaro E, Aloj L, Tatangelo F, D Angelo V, Granata C, Cavalcanti E, Maurea  N, Maiolino P, Bianco F, Montano M, Silvestro L, Barberio MT, Roca MS, Di Maio M, Marone P, Botti G, Petrillo A, Daniele G, Lastoria S, Iaffaioli VR, Romano G, Caracò C, Muto P, Gallo C, Perrone F, Budillon A. Phase 1/2 study of valproic acid and short-course radiotherapy plus capecitabine as preoperative treatment in low-moderate risk rectal cancer-V-shoRT-R3 (Valproic acid - short RadioTherapy - rectum 3rd trial). BMC Cancer. 2014 Nov 24;14(1):875
58. Capasso I, Esposito E, de Laurentiis M, Maurea  N, Cavalcanti E, Botti G, Petrillo A, Montella M, D'Aiuto M, Coppola C, Crispo A, Grimaldi M, Frasci G, Fucito A, Ciliberto G, D'Aiuto G. Metabolic syndrome-breast cancer link varies by intrinsic molecular subtype. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2014 Sep 26;6(1):105
59. Russo G, Cioffi G, Gori S, Tuccia F, Boccardi L, Khoury G, Lestuzzi C, Maurea  N, Oliva S, Faggiano P, Tarantini L; ICARO (Italian CARdio-Oncological) Network. Role of hypertension on new onset congestive heart failure in patients receiving trastuzumab therapy for breast cancer. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2014 Feb;15(2):141-6
60. Tocchetti CG, Carpi A, Coppola C, Quintavalle C, Rea D, Campesan M, Arcari A, Piscopo G, Cipresso C, Monti MG, De Lorenzo C, Arra C, Condorelli G, Di Lisa F, Maurea  N. Ranolazine protects from doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction. Eur J Heart Fail. 2014 Apr;16(4):358-66