Dr Massimiliano di Pietro

I have an interest in early detection of upper gastro-intestinal cancer, with particular attention to oesophageal and gastric cancer and risk stratification of patients with Barrett's oesophagus. My research focuses on novel imaging modalities and clinical utility of molecular biomarkers.

Over the last few years in Cambridge I have developed a strong research interest in pre-malignant conditions of the oesophagus and stomach. In particular I focus on Barrett's oesophagus, which I believe is an extraordinary research model to study epithelial carcinogenesis and new technologies for early detection. My research has embraced key aspects of the disease from molecular pathogenesis, to tissue biomarkers for patient stratification and advanced endoscopic imaging for the diagnosis of dysplasia and cancer. My early studies in Barrett's oesophagus have elucidated the role of Homeobox genes in the development and progression of Barrett's neoplasia. More recently I have invested time and resources on advanced endoscopic imaging and molecular biomarkers. For the first time, I have developed a novel diagnostic approach based on the integration of endoscopic imaging and biomarkers, which used Barrett's neoplasia as research model, but it is applicable to all pre-malignant diseases. Two recent multi-centre studies led by our group (TIME and ACE-B trials) have demonstrated that it is possible to increase diagnostic accuracy for early cancer by combining image-enhance endoscopy and molecular biomarkers. We are also currently investigating novel imaging modalities including multispectral and hyperspectral endoscopy, optoacustic imaging and fluorescence endoscopy.

We are also active in the field of gastric cancer, with particular focus on early detection in patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and non-endoscopic diagnosis of individuals at risk of gastric cancer.