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 Models2023
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_12022
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-xPerdrix 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.2022.215800Borel 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.2022.110871Nolan 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/s43018-022-00373-2Nolan 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/s43018-022-00336-72021
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 10.1101/2021.06.15.448466Passaro 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.2021.1091192020
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/s41596-020-00438-5Ombrato 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.2020.5945142019
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-yOmbrato 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/s41586-019-1487-6Ombrato L and Malanchi I (2019). Subclonal cooperation rewrites metastasis. Springer Nature Nature Cell Biology vol. 21, (7) 797-798. 10.1038/s41556-019-0353-yKurelac 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/s41467-019-08839-12015
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.2015.11.0252014
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.2014.04.001Ombrato 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.20140118022012
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.11.1.187592011
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.10174021082007
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.0b013e3180332c8dGrants
Grants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
Characterising neutrophil:macrophage cross-talk in metastatic nichesOmbrato L
£99,997 The Academy of Medical Sciences (01-08-2022 - 31-07-2024)
Understanding how neutrophils remodel the extracellular matrixOmbrato L
£20,000 Royal Society (21-03-2022 - 20-09-2023)
Identify new strategies to prevent immune cells supporting liver metastasis in colorectal cancerOmbrato L
£50,000 Bower Research UK (01-09-2021 - 28-02-2023)