Paola Amero, Ph.D.
Department of Translational Molecular Path, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div
About Dr. Paola Amero
Dr. Amero has a background in molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, chemistry, cancer biology and biotechnology. Her research focuses on three main areas: 1) Selection and identification of new aptamers by SELEX approaches; 2) Chemo-resistance mechanism on ovarian cancer growth and progression; and 3) Development and synthesis of novel aptamers alone or in combination with Non-Coding-RNAs for therapeutic approaches.
Her professional goal is to identify new therapeutic tools for anticancer drug development strategies. During her career, she has generated two novel high-modified aptamers for the treatment of ovarian cancer. The invention of these therapeutic agents led to patent applications. Actually, her main research focuses on the characterization of pharmacokinetic parameters and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo of two dithiophoshate modified AXL-aptamers. The use of aptamers, as a method to inhibit and target specific molecules, has rapidly become a powerful tool for cancer therapy. She is developing modified aptamers for highly efficient in vivo looking to translate these approaches to clinical applications.
Her specific goal is define molecular alterations in ovarian, glioma and breast cancers that might serve as targets for therapy as well as diagnosis. Her main goal is to continue a career in translational cancer research to identify effective therapeutic targets for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Instructor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Instructor, Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | University of Naples Federico II, Naples, IT, Experimental Pharmacology, Ph.D |
| 2009 | University of Naples Federico II, Naples, IT, Experimental Pharmacology, M.S |
Postgraduate Training
| 2015-2020 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2015 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology, Naples |
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | Travel Award, Clyde H. Wright Memorial Fund |
| 2018 | Travel Grant to TAT, European Society for Medical Oncology |
| 2017 | Boazman Distinguished Young Scientist Award, Boazman Institute |
| 2013 | Research Grant, Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology |
| 2011 | Tutored Dialect-Integrative Activities, University of Naples Federico II |
Selected Presentations & Talks
Regional Presentations
- 2014. Selective targeting of Aptamer for delivery, therapeutic and imagining in cancer disease. Conference. Oxford Symposium on Aptamers. Oxford, United Kingdom, US.
- 2014. Grabbing the Grb2/GAB2 complex in ovarian cancer. Conference. Society of Gynecologic Oncology. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2013. Effects of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCB 101, PCB 153 and PCB 180) alone or mixed on mature adipocytes 3T3L1: induction of leptin resistance. Conference. National congress of Italian Society of Pharmacology. Torino, Italy, US.
- 2012. Preventive and curative effect of a synbiotic-based Lactobacillus” paracasei B21060 on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-InducedCcolitis. Conference. EPHAR 6th European Congress of Pharmacology. Granada, Spain, US.
- 2011. Comparative therapeutic effects of Sodium Butyrate and BuToRo in a model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in the young ra. Conference. National Congress of Italian Society of Pharmacology. Bolonga, Italy, US.
National Presentations
- 2019. Next generation DNA aptamers with prolonged stability and antitumor activity. Conference. AACR. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2019. Overcoming adaptive resistance to anti-VEGF therapy by targeting CD5L. Conference. AACR. Atlanta, GA, US.
International Presentations
- 2019. Conversion of RNA aptamer into hybrid modified DNA aptamers provide for prolonged stability and enhanced antitumor activity. Invited. Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society. Munich, DE.
- 2018. Poster presentation. Conference. Targeted Anticancer Therapies (TAT 2018). Paris, FR.
Formal Peers
- 2019. Targeted delivery to cancer cells: an emerging aspect of oligo- therapeutics. Visiting. Naples, IT.
- 2014. An RNA aptamer-based approach for human glioma treatment. Visiting. San Diego, CA, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | Maximizing the Anti-Tumor Immune Response in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma Through Immunovirotherapy and RNF2 Inhibition |
| Funding Source: | V Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | FP00026891 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | INTERCEPT Platform for In Vivo Immune Engineering Through Epigenetic Editing |
| Funding Source: | W. M. Keck Foundation |
| Role: | Key |
| ID: | FP00025550 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Aptamer-siRNA chimera Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Medulloblastoma Thanks |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | GRANT13914924 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to uncover new targets and potential impact of nanomedical treatments in prolonging Ovarian Cancer patient response and survival |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA283899-01A1 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Precision Epigenomic Nanoengineered System (PENS) to Circumvent T-cell Exhaustion in High-grade Ovarian Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA288606-01 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to uncover new targets and potential impact of nanomedical treatments in prolonging Ovarian Cancer patient response and survival |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA283899-01A1 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Targeted epigenetic therapy to overcome T-Cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R21CA290281-01 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Aptamer-siRNA Chimeras Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP240150 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Targeted epigenetic therapy to overcome T-Cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | RP240325 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Aptamer-siRNA chimeras Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | Worldwide Cancer Research |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Use of nanotechnology to understand the ovarian tumor microenvironment to develop effective treatment strategies |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA287729-01 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Overcoming T-cell exhaustion by targeting PD-L1 and AXL in TNBC |
| Funding Source: | Susan G. Komen |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2027 |
| Title: | Nanotechnology intervention to overcome T-cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01CA284129-01 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Nanoengineered genome editing for cancer therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1 R01 CA277995-01 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Nanoengineered genome editing for cancer therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1 R01 CA263892-01A1 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Aptamer Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Adverse Bridge Funding |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Therapeutics aptamers for SARS-CoV-2 treatment |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1R01AI167288-01 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Aptamer Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | B*Cured |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Nanoengineered genome editing for cancer therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 1 R01 CA263892-01 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Aptamer Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Brain Tumors |
| Funding Source: | Chance For Life |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2017 - 2023 |
| Title: | Targeted therapeutics for ovarian cancer and its microenvironment - treatment and theoretical modeling |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | 5U01CA213759-05 |
| Title: | Aptamer-siRNA chimeras Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | Experimental Therapeutics Department Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- LaFargue CJ, Amero P, Noh K, Mangala LS, Wen Y, Bayraktar E, Umamaheswaran S, Stur E, Dasari SK, Ivan C, Pradeep S, Yoo W, Lu C, Jennings NB, Vathipadiekal V, Hu W, Chelariu-Raicu A, Ku Z, Deng H, Xiong W, Choi HJ, Hu M, Kiyama T, Mao CA, Ali-Fehmi R, Birrer MJ, Liu J, Zhang N, Lopez-Berestein G, de Franciscis V, An Z, Sood AK. Overcoming adaptive resistance to anti-VEGF therapy by targeting CD5L. Nat Commun 14(1):2407, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37100807.
- Attia YM, Salama SA, Shouman SA, Ivan C, Elsayed AM, Amero P, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Lopez-Berestein G. Targeting CDK7 reverses tamoxifen resistance through regulating stemness in ER+ breast cancer. Pharmacol Rep. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35000145.
- Handley KF, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Ma S, Stur E, Joseph R, Bayraktar E, Dasari SK, Nguyen N, Powell RT, Sobieski M, Ivan C, Kim M, Umamaheswaran S, Glassman D, Wen Y, Amero P, Stephan C, Coleman RL, Landesman Y, Westin SN, Ram PT, Sood AK. Rational Combination of CRM1 Inhibitor Selinexor and Olaparib Shows Synergy in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines and Mouse Models. Mol Cancer Ther 20(12):2352-2361, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34583979.
- Chakraborty D, Ivan C, Amero P, Khan M, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Basagaoglu H, Lopez-Berestein G. Explainable Artificial Intelligence Reveals Novel Insight into Tumor Microenvironment Conditions Linked with Better Prognosis in Patients with Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 13(14), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34298668.
- Amero P, Lokesh GLR, Chaudhari RR, Cardenas-Zuniga R, Schubert T, Attia YM, Montalvo-Gonzalez E, Elsayed AM, Ivan C, Wang Z, Cristini V, Franciscis V, Zhang S, Volk DE, Mitra R, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein G. Conversion of RNA Aptamer into Modified DNA Aptamers Provides for Prolonged Stability and Enhanced Antitumor Activity. J Am Chem Soc 143(20):7655-7670, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33988982.
- Elsayed AM, Bayraktar E, Amero P, Salama SA, Abdelaziz AH, Ismail RS, Zhang X, Ivan C, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C. PRKAR1B-AS2 Long Noncoding RNA Promotes Tumorigenesis, Survival, and Chemoresistance via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 22(4), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33668685.
- Oncul S, Amero P, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Calin GA, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein G. Long non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer: expression profile and functional spectrum. RNA Biol 17(11):1523-1534, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31847695.
- Pichler M, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Nam SY, Dragomir MP, Bayraktar R, Anfossi S, Knutsen E, Ivan C, Fuentes-Mattei E, Lee SK, Ling H, Catela Ivkovic T, Huang G, Huang L, Okugawa Y, Katayama H, Taguchi A, Bayraktar E, Bhattacharya R, Amero P, He WR, Tran AM, Vychytilova-Faltejskova P, Klec C, Bonilla DL, Zhang X, Kapitanovic S, Loncar B, Gafà R, Wang Z, Cristini V, Hanash SM, Bar-Eli M, Lanza G, Slaby O, Goel A, Rigoutsos I, Lopez-Berestein G, Calin GA. Therapeutic potential of FLANC, a novel primate-specific long non-coding RNA in colorectal cancer. Gut 69(10):1818-1831, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31988194.
- Lara OD, Bayraktar E, Amero P, Ma S, Ivan C, Hu W, Wang Y, Mangala LS, Dutta P, Bhattacharya P, Ashizawa AT, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Sood AK. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal Grb2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (L-Grb2) in preclinical models of ovarian and uterine cancer. Oncotarget 11(29):2819-2833, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32754300.
- Attia YM, Shouman SA, Salama SA, Ivan C, Elsayed AM, Amero P, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Lopez-Berestein G. Blockade of CDK7 Reverses Endocrine Therapy Resistance in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 21(8), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32340192.
- Kanlikilicer P, Ozpolat B, Aslan B, Bayraktar R, Gurbuz N, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Bayraktar E, Denizli M, Gonzalez-Villasana V, Ivan C, Lokesh GLR, Amero P, Catuogno S, Haemmerle M, Wu SY, Mitra R, Gorenstein DG, Volk DE, de Franciscis V, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein G. Therapeutic Targeting of AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibits Tumor Growth and Intraperitoneal Metastasis in Ovarian Cancer Models. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 9:251-262, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29246304.
- Amero P, Esposito CL, Rienzo A, Moscato F, Catuogno S, de Franciscis V. Identification of an Interfering Ligand Aptamer for EphB2/3 Receptors. Nucleic Acid Ther 26(2):102-10, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26824783.
- Ferrante MC, Amero P, Santoro A, Monnolo A, Simeoli R, Di Guida F, Mattace Raso G, Meli R. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 101, PCB 153 and PCB 180) alter leptin signaling and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 279(3):401-408, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24978599.
- Raso GM, Simeoli R, Iacono A, Santoro A, Amero P, Paciello O, Russo R, D'Agostino G, Di Costanzo M, Canani RB, Calignano A, Meli R. Effects of a Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 based synbiotic on steatosis, insulin signaling and toll-like receptor expression in rats fed a high-fat diet. J Nutr Biochem 25(1):81-90, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24314869.
- Ferrante MC, Mattace Raso G, Esposito E, Bianco G, Iacono A, Clausi MT, Amero P, Santoro A, Simeoli R, Autore G, Meli R. Effects of non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCB 101, PCB 153 and PCB 180) alone or mixed on J774A.1 macrophage cell line: modification of apoptotic pathway. Toxicol Lett 202(1):61-8, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21291966.
- Amero P, R Lokesh GL, Chaudhari RR, Cardenas-Zuniga R, Attia YM, Montalvo-Gonzalez E, Wang Z, Cristini V, Franciscis VD, Zhang S, Volk DE, Mitra R, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein AG. Onversion of RNA aptamer into modified DNA aptamers provides for prolonged stability and enhanced antitumor activity. Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).
- LaFargue C, Amero P, Noh K, Mangala L, Lu C, Wen Y, Pradeep S, Wan Y, Yoo W, Bayraktar E, Dasari S, Vathipadiekal V, Chelariu-Raicu A, Ku Z, Hui D, Xiong W, Jin Choi H, Ali-Fehmi R, Birrerxx M, Hu, W Zhang N, Lopez-Berestein G, de Franciscis V, An Z, Sood A. Overcoming Adaptive Resistance to Anti-VEGF Therapy by Targeting CD5L. Pending revisions in Nature Communications. Nature Communications.
Review Articles
- Çakan, E, Lara, OD, Szymanowska, A, Bayraktar, E, Chavez-Reyes, A, Lopez Berestein, G, Amero, P, Rodriguez-Aguayo, C. Therapeutic Antisense Oligonucleotides in Oncology. Cancers 16(17), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39272802.
- Şahin, TÖ, Yılmaz, B, Yeşilyurt, N, Cicia, D, Szymanowska, A, Amero, P, Ağagündüz, D, Capasso, R. Recent insights into the nutritional immunomodulation of cancer-related microRNAs. Phytotherapy Research 37(10):4375-4397, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37434291.
- Karadeniz Saygılı, S, Szymanowska, A, Lopez Berestein, G, Rodriguez-Aguayo, C, Amero, P. Aptamers as Insights for Targeting SARS-CoV-2. Biologics 3(2):116-137, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Ağagündüz, D, Cocozza, E, Cemali, Ö, Bayazıt, AD, Nanì, MF, Cerqua, I, Morgillo, F, Saygılı, SK, Berni Canani, R, Amero, P, Capasso, R. Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer. Frontiers in Pharmacology 14, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36762108.
- Amero P, Khatua S, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Lopez-Berestein G. Aptamers: Novel Therapeutics and Potential Role in Neuro-Oncology. Cancers (Basel) 12(10), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33050158.
- Elsayed AM, Amero P, Salama SA, Abdelaziz AH, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C. Back to the Future: Rethinking the Great Potential of lncRNAS for Optimizing Chemotherapeutic Response in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 12(9), 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32854207.
- H Rashed M, Bayraktar E, K Helal G, Abd-Ellah MF, Amero P, Chavez-Reyes A, Rodriguez-Aguayo C. Exosomes: From Garbage Bins to Promising Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 18(3), 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28257101.
Abstracts
- Simeoli R, Iacono A, Santoro A, Amero P, Russo R, Canani R, Raso G, Calignano A, Meli R. Comparative Evaluation Of Sodium Butyrate and Butorus, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
Book Chapters
- Oncul, S, Amero, P, Rodriguez-Aguayo, C, Sood, AK, Calin, GA, Lopez Berestein, G. RNA delivery for cancer gene therapy, 375-424, 2022.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026