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Niguarda Cancer Center, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
Milan's largest public hospital, whose cancer centre under Salvatore Siena and Andrea Sartore-Bianchi ran HERACLES, the trial that proved HER2 is a target in bowel cancer.
Also called: Ospedale NiguardaNiguarda Ca' Granda HospitalFalck Division of Medical Oncology
Overview
The Niguarda Cancer Center is the oncology department of Milan's Niguarda hospital, a large public teaching hospital of the University of Milan. Under Salvatore Siena it built a programme in molecular oncology of colorectal cancer, running HERACLES, the first trial to show that HER2-directed therapy works in HER2-amplified colorectal cancer, contributing to the panitumumab trials that established RAS testing, and hosting the phase 1 unit that led DESTINY-CRC01. Andrea Sartore-Bianchi directs its clinical research and precision oncology programme.
Location
Milan, IT
Type
hospital · Università degli Studi di Milano
Website
Newsweek 2026 oncology rank
Not in top 300 listing used
OnCo score
#444 · 10 points (0 Newsweek + 0 NCI + 10 from 5 linked objects) · ranking
Research output
From OpenAlex, oncology works in the last five years (2022 to 2026, current year in progress); counted on 2026-09-24.
Matched to Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, including child institutions. 358 works · 6,252 citations · 71% open access · 21% clinical trials · 4% reviews.
Oncology works per year
612022
742023
652024
992025
592026
Most works
- Salvatore Siena77 works
- Giovanni Carlo Ferrari50 works
- Andrea Sartore Bianchi43 works
- Michele Mazzola42 works
- Marc G. Besselink33 works
- Mohammad Abu Hilal31 works
- Ugo Boggi29 works
- Bergþór Björnsson28 works
- Alessandro Giani27 works
- Bas Groot Koerkamp27 works
Most cited
Programmes
3- Colorectal cancer molecular oncology
- Phase 1 trials
- Precision oncology
People
2Andrea Sartore-Bianchi
Medical oncologist, Niguarda Cancer Center and University of Milan
HER2-amplified colorectal cancerPrecision oncologyAnti-EGFR therapy
Milan oncologist who was lead author of HERACLES, the first trial to show that HER2-targeted drugs work in HER2-amplified colorectal cancer.
Salvatore Siena
Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Milan, and Niguarda Cancer Center
Colorectal cancerHER2-directed therapyAnti-EGFR therapy
Milan oncologist who co-led HERACLES and was lead author of DESTINY-CRC01, which showed trastuzumab deruxtecan is active in HER2-positive colorectal cancer, and a leader of the anti-EGFR antibody trials in the disease.
Key papers
3rctThe Lancet Oncology 2016changed practice782 citations
Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES)
The first demonstration that HER2 is actionable in colorectal cancer, and the trial that defined the colorectal-specific HER2 scoring criteria every later trial has used.
methodsModern Pathology 2015changed practice245 citations
Assessment of a HER2 scoring system for colorectal cancer: results from a validation study
It is the threshold behind the colorectal HER2 approvals: the more-than-50% rule, rather than the 10% used in gastric cancer, is what a pathologist applies when a bowel cancer is called HER2-positive.
translationalNature 20121,525 citations
Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer
It made acquired resistance a measurable, plasma-readable event, and it is the origin of anti-EGFR rechallenge strategies guided by ctDNA clearance of the resistant clone.
Connected
7Similar pages
- PersonAlberto Bardelli
Shares Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer, Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES), Colorectal cancer.
- Key paperTrastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201) in patients with HER2-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (DESTINY-CRC01)
Shares Salvatore Siena, Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES), Colorectal cancer.
- InstitutionIstituto di Candiolo IRCCS (FPO)
Shares Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer, Assessment of a HER2 scoring system for colorectal cancer: results from a validation study, Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES), Colorectal cancer.
- PersonRona Yaeger
Shares Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer, Colorectal cancer.
- Key paperTucatinib plus trastuzumab for chemotherapy-refractory, HER2-positive, RAS wild-type unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer (MOUNTAINEER)
Shares Salvatore Siena, Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES), Colorectal cancer.
- TreatmentLapatinib
Shares HERACLES, Dual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES), Colorectal cancer.
- TrialTRIUMPH
Shares HERACLES, Colorectal cancer.
- Key paperA molecularly annotated platform of patient-derived xenografts identifies HER2 as an effective therapeutic target in cetuximab-resistant colorectal cancer
Shares HERACLES, Colorectal cancer.
cancers
trials
people
key papers
Assessment of a HER2 scoring system for colorectal cancer: results from a validation studyDual-targeted therapy with trastuzumab and lapatinib in treatment-refractory, KRAS codon 12/13 wild-type, HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (HERACLES)Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer
Sources
Every source this page cites, grouped by who published it. Grouping is read from the web address, not assigned by hand.
ospedaleniguarda.it · 1
A source that has moved or gone is reported by the weekly link check. /audit/
ProvenanceLast edited 2026-09-18 · Jude Gomila · Fill institutions for 78 trial investigators and add 41 i… · diff · file
Sourced, not expert-reviewed