Dr Luigi Ombrato
Group Leader / Lecturer
Research
Tumour Microenvironment, Metastasis, Immune cells, Stromal cells, Immunotherapy
Interests
Our lab uses 3D models (including heterotypic spheroids/tumoroids, transwell scaffolds, hydrogels) to study the interactions between cancer cells, stromal cells and immune cells. These systems help us to dissect the molecular mechanims underlying metastasis formation and to understand how the different cellular components within the tumour microenvironment communicate with each others and with the cancer cells during the establishment of a tumour supportive niche. Cancers of interest: breast, colorectal, pancreatic.Publications
Publications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
2023
Kafka A, Ermogenous C and Ombrato L (2023). Isolation of Live Immune Cells from the Tumor Microenvironment by FACS. Springer Nature 10.1007/978-1-0716-3593-3_1
2022
Ombrato L (2022). In vivo labelling system to study cell neighbourhoods. Springer Nature Nature Reviews Cancer vol. 22, (12) 661-661. 10.1038/s41568-022-00521-x
Perdrix Rosell A, Maiques O, Martin JAJ, Chakravarty P, Ombrato L, Sanz-Moreno V and Malanchi I (2022). Early functional mismatch between breast cancer cells and their tumour microenvironment suppresses long term growth. Elsevier Cancer Letters vol. 544, 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215800
Borel V, Boeing S, Van Wietmarschen N, Sridharan S, Hill BR, Ombrato L, Perez-Lloret J, Jackson D, Goldstone R, Boulton SJ, Nussenzweig A and Bellelli R (2022). Disrupted control of origin activation compromises genome integrity upon destabilization of Polε and dysfunction of the TRP53-CDKN1A/P21 axis. Elsevier Cell Reports vol. 39, (9) 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110871
Nolan E, Bridgeman VL, Ombrato L, Karoutas A, Rabas N, Sewnath CAN, Vasquez M, Rodrigues FS, Horswell S, Faull P, Carter R and Malanchi I (2022). Author Correction: Radiation exposure elicits a neutrophil-driven response in healthy lung tissue that enhances metastatic colonization. Springer Nature Nature Cancer vol. 3, (4) 519-519. 10.1038/s43018-022-00373-2
Nolan E, Bridgeman VL, Ombrato L, Karoutas A, Rabas N, Sewnath CAN, Vasquez M, Rodrigues FS, Horswell S, Faull P, Carter R and Malanchi I (2022). Radiation exposure elicits a neutrophil-driven response in healthy lung tissue that enhances metastatic colonization. Springer Nature Nature Cancer vol. 3, (2) 173-187. 10.1038/s43018-022-00336-7
2021
Rosell AP, Maiques O, Chakravarty P, Ombrato L, Sanz-Moreno V and Malanchi I (2021). Early functional mismatch between breast cancer cells and their tumour microenvironment suppresses long term growth. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 10.1101/2021.06.15.448466
Passaro D, Garcia-Albornoz M, Diana G, Chakravarty P, Ariza-McNaughton L, Batsivari A, Borràs-Eroles C, Abarrategi A, Waclawiczek A, Ombrato L, Malanchi I, Gribben J and Bonnet D (2021). Integrated OMICs unveil the bone-marrow microenvironment in human leukemia. Elsevier Cell Reports vol. 35, (6) 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109119
2020
Ombrato L, Nolan E, Passaro D, Kurelac I, Bridgeman VL, Waclawiczek A, Duarte D, Lo Celso C, Bonnet D and Malanchi I (2020). Generation of neighbor-labeling cells to study intercellular interactions in vivo. Springer Nature Nature Protocols vol. 16, (2) 872-892. 10.1038/s41596-020-00438-5
Ombrato L and Montagner M (2020). Technical Advancements for Studying Immune Regulation of Disseminated Dormant Cancer Cells. Frontiers Media Frontiers in Oncology vol. 10, 594514-594514. 10.3389/fonc.2020.594514
2019
Ombrato L, Nolan E, Kurelac I, Mavousian A, Bridgeman VL, Heinze I, Chakravarty P, Horswell S, Gonzalez-Gualda E, Matacchione G, Weston A, Kirkpatrick J, Husain E, Speirs V, Collinson L, Ori A, Lee J-H and Malanchi I (2019). Author Correction: Metastatic-niche labelling reveals parenchymal cells with stem features. Springer Nature Nature vol. 575, (7784) e8-e8. 10.1038/s41586-019-1697-y
Ombrato L, Nolan E, Kurelac I, Mavousian A, Bridgeman VL, Heinze I, Chakravarty P, Horswell S, Gonzalez-Gualda E, Matacchione G, Weston A, Kirkpatrick J, Husain E, Speirs V, Collinson L, Ori A, Lee J-H and Malanchi I (2019). Metastatic-niche labelling reveals parenchymal cells with stem features. Springer Nature Nature vol. 572, (7771) 603-608. 10.1038/s41586-019-1487-6
Ombrato L and Malanchi I (2019). Subclonal cooperation rewrites metastasis. Springer Nature Nature Cell Biology vol. 21, (7) 797-798. 10.1038/s41556-019-0353-y
Kurelac I, Iommarini L, Vatrinet R, Amato LB, De Luise M, Leone G, Girolimetti G, Umesh Ganesh N, Bridgeman VL, Ombrato L, Columbaro M, Ragazzi M, Gibellini L, Sollazzo M, Feichtinger RG, Vidali S, Baldassarre M, Foriel S, Vidone M, Cossarizza A, Grifoni D, Kofler B, Malanchi I, Porcelli AM and Gasparre G (2019). Inducing cancer indolence by targeting mitochondrial Complex I is potentiated by blocking macrophage-mediated adaptive responses. Springer Nature Nature Communications vol. 10, (1) 10.1038/s41467-019-08839-1
2015
del Pozo Martin Y, Park D, Ramachandran A, Ombrato L, Calvo F, Chakravarty P, Spencer-Dene B, Derzsi S, Hill CS, Sahai E and Malanchi I (2015). Mesenchymal Cancer Cell-Stroma Crosstalk Promotes Niche Activation, Epithelial Reversion, and Metastatic Colonization. Elsevier Cell Reports vol. 13, (11) 2456-2469. 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.11.025
2014
Aulicino F, Theka I, Ombrato L, Lluis F and Cosma MP (2014). Temporal Perturbation of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in the Control of Cell Reprogramming Is Modulated by TCF1. Elsevier Stem Cell Reports vol. 2, (5) 707-720. 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.04.001
Ombrato L and Malanchi I (2014). The EMT Universe: Space between Cancer Cell Dissemination and Metastasis Initiation. Begell House Critical Reviews™ in Oncogenesis vol. 19, (5) 349-361. 10.1615/critrevoncog.2014011802
2012
Ombrato L, Lluis F and Cosma MP (2012). Regulation of self-renewal and reprogramming by TCF factors. Taylor & Francis Cell Cycle vol. 11, (1) 39-47. 10.4161/cc.11.1.18759
2011
Lluis F, Ombrato L, Pedone E, Pepe S, Merrill BJ and Cosma MP (2011). T-cell factor 3 (Tcf3) deletion increases somatic cell reprogramming by inducing epigenome modifications. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America vol. 108, (29) 11912-11917. 10.1073/pnas.1017402108
2007
Buccigrossi V, de Marco G, Bruzzese E, Ombrato L, Bracale I, Polito G and Guarino A (2007). Lactoferrin Induces Concentration-Dependent Functional Modulation of Intestinal Proliferation and Differentiation. Springer Nature Pediatric Research vol. 61, (4) 410-414. 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3180332c8d
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
Characterising neutrophil:macrophage cross-talk in metastatic niches
Ombrato L
£99,997 The Academy of Medical Sciences (01-08-2022 - 31-07-2024)
Ombrato L
£99,997 The Academy of Medical Sciences (01-08-2022 - 31-07-2024)
Understanding how neutrophils remodel the extracellular matrix
Ombrato L
£20,000 Royal Society (21-03-2022 - 20-09-2023)
Ombrato L
£20,000 Royal Society (21-03-2022 - 20-09-2023)
Identify new strategies to prevent immune cells supporting liver metastasis in colorectal cancer
Ombrato L
£50,000 Bower Research UK (01-09-2021 - 28-02-2023)
Ombrato L
£50,000 Bower Research UK (01-09-2021 - 28-02-2023)