Simone Anfossi
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston
Department of Translational Molecular Pathology
Dr. Simone Anfossi is a molecular biologist focused on tumor immunology, tumor microenvironment (TME), and extracellular vesicle (EV) biology. His research focuses on understanding the molecular and immunological mechanisms behind tumor progression and immune evasion in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). He is particularly interested in exploring the role of molecular cargo like non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), proteins, and lipids within EVs in regulating intercellular communication among cancer cells and tumor-associated cells, including T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages within the TME. Dr. Anfossi investigates how EVs derived from TNBC influence immune cell function, promote tumor growth, and contribute to metastasis and resistance to both traditional and immune-based therapies. Furthermore, analyzing the molecular content of EVs may help identify new diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for patients’ clinical outcomes.
Dr. Anfossi’s research interests also include studying the role of tumor-associated nerves and hormones as additional factors that influence the TME and modulate EV-related intercellular communication. His primary goal is to understand how neurotransmitters and hormones, such as norepinephrine and estrogens, affect the molecular composition of EVs and, in turn, shape the TME to support tumor growth, evade immune responses, and develop resistance to treatment. Studying the molecular content of EVs aims to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms within the TME that drive cancer development and progression, ultimately leading to the development of new therapeutic approaches. Additionally, Dr. Anfossi is developing engineered EVs to specifically target aggressive cancer cell types, such as cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features, within the TME of TNBC. His long-term goal is to develop innovative therapeutic strategies using engineered EVs to target the TME cells precisely.
Education & Training
PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2013