Ever since she studied medicine in Turin she has been interested Simona Saluzzo for new drugs and immunotherapies – the science involved was immediately fascinating for the Italian, as she explains to science.ORF.at: “There is still so much to understand and learn in this area. The potential is great, especially when it comes to diseases like cancer.”
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It was therefore already clear to Saluzzo in Turin that her desire to become a doctor was not enough. Eleven years ago, she started doctoral studies at the Medical University of Vienna in the field of immunology. After completing it and doing further research, she also pursued her desire to become a doctor. The immunologist is currently in her training as a specialist at MedUni Vienna’s Department of Dermatology. “I’m very happy here, we really have a fantastic mix of basic research and clinical work in the hospital,” says Saluzzo.
Up to 34 times higher risk
In her research work, Saluzzo has been dealing with one topic in particular for several years: the connection between HIV-Infections and the increased risk of developing various types of cancer. “People infected with HIV generally have skin and organ tumors more often,” explains the immunologist.
Saluzzo wanted to know more about it. Their subsequent investigations showed, among other things, that the risk of certain types of cancer increased particularly sharply with HIV. “These include, for example, anal or cervical cancer, which are also caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) be triggered.”
HPV have so-called oncogenic potential – certain subtypes of viruses can therefore cause cancer. In addition to cervical and anal cancer, they are also linked to penile or oropharyngeal cancer. When HIV-infected men are exposed to the papillomavirus, their risk of these cancers increases 34-fold – and women six-fold.
HPV vaccination as prevention
In order to prevent this, protection against papillomaviruses can already be provided in childhood. There is already a vaccination against HPV in schools – but it is still used too rarely, says Saluzzo: “HPV is a virus that everyone who has sex gets at some point. All people are theoretically in the potential risk group, which is why such a vaccination is really absolutely necessary for all children.
Vaccination is generally important for girls to protect them from cervical cancer, among other things. According to Saluzzo, anal cancer mainly occurs in homosexual men, but vaccination in schools is also advisable for all boys. “Not only to prevent anal cancer, but also in general so as not to infect other people with the papillomavirus later on.”
Missing T-cells due to HIV
Saluzzo has already explored part of the reason why HIV leads to a greatly increased risk of cancer. In a Study from December 2021, she and a research team found out that with an HIV infection, the number of certain T memory cells in the skin continues to decrease. “However, the cells would be important for the immunological protection against infections and tumor cells – i.e. also for the immune defense against the papillomaviruses,” explains Saluzzo.
“If you are sexually active and with different people or if you have high-risk contacts, you should be tested for HIV at least every three months,” advises the immunologist. The earlier a suitable therapy is started, the more T cells are preserved.
For her research, Saluzzo was awarded in March 2022 by the Working Group Dermatological Research also with this year Egon Macher Prize excellent.
search for mechanism
In addition to completing her residency training, Saluzzo is already busy learning more about how T cells work. “We have not yet found the mechanism that makes these cells important. So we’re currently in the process of examining uterine and anal cancer in otherwise healthy people and in people who are infected with HIV.” Saluzzo then wants to compare the results from the two groups.
Even as a qualified specialist, Saluzzo would like to stay in Austria and combine clinical work in the hospital with basic research. With her research, the Italian would like to advance the development of new drugs and treatment options against cancer, infections, allergic reactions, metabolic diseases and much more.