Analisa Difeo | Cancer Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Analisa Difeo | Cancer Biology | Best Researcher Award

University of Michigan | United States

Dr. Analisa Difeo’s extensive scientific portfolio demonstrates a robust record of impactful contributions to cancer biology, reflected in her h-index of 37, 84 documents, and 4693 citations. Her research primarily explores the molecular mechanisms driving ovarian and gynecological cancers, focusing on microRNA regulation, tumor stemness, and chemoresistance. She has authored and co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, including publications in leading journals such as Cancer Research, Nature Communications, Cancer Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Her studies on miR-181a signaling, PP2A activation, and tumor immune response have provided innovative translational insights and laid the foundation for therapeutic strategies targeting ovarian cancer recurrence. Beyond her publications, Dr. Difeo has received multiple competitive research grants from the NIH, DoD, and major foundations, supporting her leadership in precision oncology. She also holds patents related to cancer biomarkers and therapeutic compositions, underscoring her commitment to clinical impact and innovation. With sustained funding, high citation impact, and significant scholarly output, her record establishes a strong foundation for leadership in translational cancer research and mentorship in molecular oncology

Featured Publications

Avelar, R. A., Gupta, R., Carvette, G., da Veiga Leprevost, F., Colina, J., Teitel, J., Nesvizhskii, A., O’Connor, C., Hatzoglou, M., & Difeo, A. (2024, March 28). Integrated stress response plasticity governs normal cell adaptation to chronic stress via the PP2A–TFE3–ATF4 pathway [Preprint].

Lee, R. T., Yang, P., Alahmadi, A., McQuade, J., Yuan, E., Difeo, A., Narla, G., & Kaseb, A. (2021). Mistletoe extract Viscum Fraxini-2 for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A case series. Case Reports in Oncology, 14(2), 729–738.

Nagaraj, A. B., Knarr, M., Sekhar, S., Connor, R. S., Joseph, P., Kovalenko, O., Fleming, A., Surti, A., Nurmemmedov, E., Beltrame, L., et al. (2021). The miR-181a–SFRP4 axis regulates Wnt activation to drive stemness and platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. Cancer Research, 81(16), 4081–4095.

Huvila, J., Cochrane, D. R., Ta, M., Chow, C., Greening, K., Leung, S., Karnezis, A. N., Difeo, A., & Huntsman, D. G. (2021, November). STING pathway expression in low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary: An unexpected therapeutic opportunity? The Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research, 7(6), 537–547.

O’Connor, C. M., Leonard, D., Wiredja, D., Avelar, R. A., Wang, Z., Schlatzer, D., Bryson, B., Tokala, E., Taylor, S. E., Upadhyay, A., et al. (2020). Inactivation of PP2A by a recurrent mutation drives resistance to MEK inhibitors. Oncogene, 39(9), 1832–1847