Trisenox: a paradigm shift in APL therapy, an interview with Francesco Lo-Coco

Abstract

Francesco Lo-Coco speaks to Sebastian Dennis-Beron, Commissioning Editor: Francesco Lo-Coco is currently a full professor of hematology and head of the Laboratory of Integrated Diagnosis of Oncohematologic Diseases at the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention of the University Tor Vergata of Roma. He obtained his MD degree from the University of Pisa in 1981, and his specialization in clinical and laboratory hematology is from the University La Sapienza of Rome in 1985. From 1992 to 1994, he has trained on molecular genetics of lymphomas at Columbia University, New York. His main scientific interest and research activities include genetic characterization, monitoring and treatment of hematologic tumors, particularly acute myeloid leukemia and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). He has published over 390 internationally peer-reviewed articles, mainly focused on molecular diagnosis and follow-up of leukemia as well as on treatment of APL. He chairs at present the APL subcommittee of the Italian National Cooperative Group, GIMEMA. He served as president of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, chairman of the Education Committee of the European Hematology Association, board member of the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research, member of the Committe on Health Research of the Italian Ministry of Health and member of the Editorial Board of the journals Leukemia, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Haematologica.