Education

Biography

Dr. Saverio Bettuzzi received a PhD in Biology in 1981, the University Diploma in Marine Biochemistry in 1983, and the Doctorate in Biochemistry in 1990, all from the University of Bologna, Italy. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry (1984–1986) at the University of Modena, Italy, and a Research Associate at the Ben May Institute for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago, USA (1987–1989). After returning to Italy, he became a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry at the University of Modena (1996–2000), Associate Professor of Biochemistry (2001-2005), and Full Professor of Biochemistry (2005-present) at the University of Parma. He is also member of the Board of Directors of the University of Parma, Vice-Director of COMT (Centre for Molecular and Translational Oncology, Parma), member of the Board of INBB (National Institute of Biostructure and Biosystems, Rome). He served as member of the Board of ESUR (European Section of Urological Research) in the time period 2013-2018 and he is now Associate member of the Board. He heads a research group with multiple international collaborations, and hosted international meetings. He cloned and identified Clusterin (CLU) as the major over-expressed gene during castration-induced involution of rat prostate in 1989. His research has focused on understanding the regulation of expression and the biological role of CLU as a tumor suppressor for Prostate, Colon, Ovarian, Lung Cancers and Neuroblastoma. He did original research on the anti-cancer activity of Green Tea extracts (GTE) showing that progression of Prostate Cancer can be blocked with GTE in mouse models and humans. He also validated a qPCR method for molecular diagnosis and prognosis of Prostate Cancer in humans. His group recently discovered and characterized a novel P2 promoter of CLU in humans, which is regulated epigenetically.

Research Interest

Clusterin (CLU), Prostate Cancer (PCa), Green Tea, Catechins, Polyphenols, EGCG, Chemoprevention, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Physiology and Pathology of the Prostate, Cell Growth Control, Prostate Metabolism, Androgen Action on Prostate Cells, Polyamines, Gene expression, Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression

Scientific Activities

• Società Italiana di Biochimica (SIB), 1999.
• Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), member of the Board, 2001.
• Società di Medicina e Scienze Naturali di Parma, 2002.
• European Society of Urological Research (ESUR), 2003; member of the Board, 2013.
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), 2004.
• European Association of Urology (EAU), 2006.
• Centre of Molecular and Translational Oncology (COMT), Vice-President, 2008.

Publications

1. Molecular Targets of Epigallocatechin-Gallate (EGCG): A Special Focus on Signal Transduction and Cancer. Negri A, Naponelli V, Rizzi F, Bettuzzi S. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 6:10(12). Review.
2. Long-Term Oral Administration of Theaphenon-E Improves Cardiomyocyte Mechanics and Calcium Dynamics by Affecting Phospholamban Phosphorylation and ATP Production. Bocchi L, Savi M, Naponelli V, Vilella R, Sgarbi G, Baracca A, Solaini G, Bettuzzi S, Rizzi F, Stilli D. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2018: 47(3):1230-1243.
3. Green Tea Catechins for Prostate Cancer Prevention: Present Achievements and Future Challenges. Naponelli V, Ramazzina I, Lenzi C, Bettuzzi S, Rizzi F. Antioxidants (Basel). 2017 Apr 5: 6(2). pii: E26. Review.
4. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition). Klionsky DJ, et al. Autophagy. 2016 Jan 2: 12 (1):1-222.
5. EGCG antagonizes Bortezomib cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells by an autophagic mechanism. Modernelli A, Naponelli V, Giovanna Troglio M, Bonacini M, Ramazzina I, Bettuzzi S, Rizzi F. Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 16;5:15270. doi: 10.1038/srep15270.
6. Control of autophagy in cancer. Orzechowski A, Bettuzzi S, Pawlikowska P, Pająk B. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:698740. doi: 10.1155/2015/698740.
7. Roles of autophagy induced by natural compounds in prostate cancer. Naponelli V, Modernelli A, Bettuzzi S, Rizzi F. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:121826. doi: 10.1155/2015/121826.
8. Polyphenon E(R), a standardized green tea extract, induces endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to death of immortalized PNT1a cells by anoikis and tumorigenic PC3 by necroptosis. Rizzi F, Naponelli V, Silva A, Modernelli A, Ramazzina I, Bonacini M, Tardito S, Gatti R, Uggeri J, Bettuzzi S. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Apr;35(4):828-39. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgt481.
9. Prognostic role of clusterin in resected adenocarcinomas of the lung. Panico F, Casali C, Rossi G, Rizzi F, Morandi U, Bettuzzi S, Davalli P, Corbetta L, Storelli ES, Corti A, Fabbri LM, Astancolle S, Luppi F. Lung Cancer. 2013 Mar;79(3):294-9. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.11.024.
10. Anticancer activity of green tea polyphenols in prostate gland. Davalli P, Rizzi F, Caporali A, Pellacani D, Davoli S, Bettuzzi S, Brausi M, D'Arca D. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2012;2012:984219. doi: 10.1155/2012/984219. 8.
11. Health Benefits of Tea. Serafini M, Del Rio D, Yao DN, Bettuzzi S, Peluso I. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 12.
12. Intracellular clusterin negatively regulates ovarian chemoresistance: compromised expression sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel. Hassan MK, Watari H, Christenson L, Bettuzzi S, Sakuragi N. Tumour Biol. 2011 Oct;32(5):1031-47. doi: 10.1007/s13277-011-0207-0.