Luigi Xodo

Luigi Xodo is a Full Professor of Biochemistry at the Department of Medicine of the University of Udine, Italy. His work focuses on unraveling the oncogenes involved in carcinogenesis and on the development of new cancer therapies. In particular,Dr. Xodo’s work led to the discovery that the KRAS oncogene, a key player in cellular transformation toward malignancy, is intricately regulated by guanine-rich sequences that adopt unique G-quadruplex structures. This discovery paved the way for targeted interventions against KRAS-related cancers. Dr. Xodo developed effective anticancer drugs that could inhibit the KRAS oncogene. One notable approach has been the use of cationic porphyrins that specifically target G-quadruplexes in KRAS mRNA and trigger transcript degradation upon photoactivation. In addition, Dr. Xodo’s studies contribute to the discovery of a metabolic reprogramming phenomenon in KRAS-related cancers by elucidating how arginine metabolism shifts to promote the production of polyamines, phosphocreatine, and nitric oxide. He is the author of 120 publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. His academic contributions are evidenced by 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals with high-impact factor, underlining his profound impact on the field of biochemistry and oncology.