Alberto Mantovani
2019 Pezcoller-AACR Award winner
Alberto Mantovani was honored for his discovery of the role of tumor-associated macrophages in driving tumor progression, as well as for establishing the crucial link between inflammation and cancer.
Macrophages: from defenders to tumor “allies”
Alberto Mantovani revolutionized cancer immunology by discovering that macrophages – immune system cells designed to defend the body – can be recruited by the tumor itself within the tumor microenvironment. Instead of fighting it, these “tumor-associated macrophages” (TAMs) end up nourishing the cancer and helping it grow and spread.
Inflammation and cancer: a paradigm shift
His research demonstrated for the first time the existence of a direct link between inflammation and the onset of cancer. This discovery marked a fundamental paradigm shift in modern medicine, showing how chronic inflammation acts as a true “fuel” for neoplastic development.
The Foundation of modern immunotherapies
Clarifying the role of immunology in cancer opened the door to a new scientific era. Mantovani’s pioneering approach provided entirely novel therapeutic targets, laying the groundwork for the development of modern immunotherapies capable of reprogramming the patient’s own defenses to fight the disease.
“Dr. Mantovani is an eminent physician-scientist who has been a leader in the field of tumor immunology for decades. His pioneering research showed that macrophages in the tumor microenvironment can promote tumor development, establishing a mechanistic relationship between inflammation and cancer, and providing new opportunities for therapeutic targeting.”
Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research
Biography
Alberto Mantovani is the Scientific Director of the IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital and Professor Emeritus at Humanitas University in Milan.
He was elected a Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2021 and has received numerous international awards for his discoveries on the link between inflammation and cancer, including the Robert Koch Award in 2016.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Milan and completed his specialization in oncology at the University of Pavia.
Mantovani was announced as the winner during the AACR Annual Meeting 2019 in Atlanta, and subsequently received the award on May 11 during the traditional ceremony at the Teatro Sociale in Trento.