Italy, Padua Dr. Sara Lonardi is a medical oncologist and Chief of the Medical Oncology Department at the Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV–IRCCS) in Padova, Italy. She obtained her MD with highest honors from the University of Padova in 2000 and her specialization in Oncology with highest honors from the same institution in 2004. She has been actively engaged in the care of gastrointestinal cancer patients since 1998, and has established herself as one of the leading GI oncologists in Italy and Europe, with particular expertise in colorectal, gastric, and biliary tract cancers. She has served as Principal Investigator on more than 125 clinical trials across all GI malignancies and has published more than 300 full papers in indexed journals, with an H-Index of 62 (Scopus). She holds the National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor in Italy and serves on the Steering Committee of the ACCENT DataBase at Mayo Clinic.
Current Positions
- Chief, Medical Oncology Department, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV–IRCCS, 2025–present
- Chief, Medical Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV–IRCCS, 2024–present
- Scientific Secretary, ROV (Veneto Oncology Network) Molecular Tumor Board, 2022–present
- Member, PhD Course in Clinical and Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Padova University, 2019–present
- Member, ACCENT DataBase Steering Committee, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 2017–present
Education
- High School Degree, Liceo Classico Tito Livio, Padova, 1994
- MD, 110/110 cum laude, Medical School, Padova University, 2000 — Thesis: “Thymidylate Synthase protein expression in colorectal cancer metastases predicts for the clinical response to infusional and/or Leucovorin-modulated 5-Fluorouracil but not Methotrexate-modulated bolus 5-Fluorouracil”
- Specialization in Oncology, 70/70 cum laude, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Padova University Hospital and Medical School, 2004 — Thesis: “DCC protein expression in colorectal cancer metastases: correlation with response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with metastatic disease receiving palliative biochemically-modulated 5-fluorouracil”
- Intern Student, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Padova University Hospital, 1998–2000
- Involvement in EORTC New Drug Development Group, Brussels, Belgium, 2002–2004
- Master, Clinical Trials Management, 110/110 cum laude, Medical School, Modena and Reggio Emilia University, 2008 — Thesis: “La ricerca clinica indipendente in Italia”
- Master, Oncology Management Fast Track, cum laude, Bocconi School of Management, Milan, 2016
Professional Experience
- Medical Resident in Oncology, Dept. of Medical Oncology, Padova University Hospital and Medical School, 2000–2004
- Oncology Assistant, Medical Oncology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV–IRCCS, 2005–2008
- Full Time Oncology Assistant, Medical Oncology 1 Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV–IRCCS, 2008–2018
- Chief, Colorectal Cancer Clinical Pathway Unit, Medical Oncology 1 Unit, IOV–IRCCS, 2014–2018
- Chief, Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit, Dept. of Oncology, IOV–IRCCS, 2019–2024
- Chief, Medical Oncology 3 Unit, Dept. of Oncology, IOV–IRCCS, 2021–2024
- Chief, Medical Oncology 1 Unit, Dept. of Oncology, IOV–IRCCS, 2024–present
- Chief, Medical Oncology Department, Dept. of Oncology, IOV–IRCCS, 2025–present
Teaching Activity
- Contract Professor, “Colorectal Cancer,” Oncology School of Specialization, Medical School, Padova University, AA 2011–2012 (20 h/year)
- Contract Professor, “Colorectal Cancer,” Oncology School of Specialization, Medical School, Padova University, AA 2016–2023 (20 h/year)
- Contract Professor, “Colorectal and Gastroesophageal Cancer,” Master “La sperimentazione clinica in Oncologia,” Medical School, Padova University, AA 2016–2023 (4 h/year)
- National Scientific Qualification to Associate Professor, 28 March 2018
- National Scientific Qualification to Full Professor, 17 December 2023
- Member, PhD Course in Clinical and Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Padova University, 2019–present
- Co-supervisor of more than 15 theses for Medical Degree and Oncology Specialization across multiple Italian universities (Padova, Sapienza, Modena–Reggio Emilia, Catania), 2008–2021
Research Activity
- Principal Investigator on more than 125 clinical trials in GI oncology: 66 in colorectal cancer, 21 in esophago-gastric cancer, 8 in biliary tract cancer, 7 in pancreatic cancer, 2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, 10 Phase I trials, 8 multipathology trials, and 3 other trials
- Coordinator of the Veneto Oncology Network (ROV) PDTA for patients with pancreatic cancers
- Contributor to ROV PDTAs for colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and hepatobiliary pathologies since 2014
- Scientific Secretary, ROV Molecular Tumor Board, since 2022
- Coordinator of 7 multidisciplinary tumor boards (GOM) in collaboration with the Padua University Hospital covering colorectal, rectal, esophago-gastric, hepatobiliary-pancreatic, neuroendocrine, peritoneal carcinosis, and GI hereditary cancers
- MISSONI Study: “Extensive clinical and molecular characterization of Microsatellite Instability High Metastatic Colorectal cancer” — funded by IOV-IRCCS 5×1000 (2018)
- VELVET Study: “Valorizzazione economica e valutazione degli esiti derivanti da sperimentazioni cliniche e programmi di accesso allargato a farmaci innovativi in oncologia” — funded by CORIS (2019)
- Ministerial Grant RF-2021-12374355: “Development of a multiparametric model based on host and tumor immune-related features for predicting complete pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer” (2021)
- Regional Veneto Grant RP-2014-00000395: “Caratterizzazione molecolare dei tumori del colon retto metastatico e valutazione di outcome: progetto di rete” (2014)
Scientific Committees and Affiliations
- Member, ACCENT DataBase Steering Committee, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 2017–present
- Member, Technical Scientific Committee (CTS), Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV–IRCCS
- Member, Board of Directors, GONO Foundation (Gruppo Oncologico del Nord-Ovest)
- Member, Board of Directors, GISCAD Foundation (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio del Carcinoma dell’Apparato Digerente)
- Member, Scientific Committee, ENGIC (European Network for GI Cancer)
- Member, “Coordinamento regionale per le cure palliative e la lotta al dolore,” Regione Veneto, since 19 May 2023
- Member, ESMO 2024 Scientific Committee, Track “Lower GI Cancer”
- Chair, GI Cancer Track Scientific Committee, ESMO Asia 2024
- Member, Lower GI Track Scientific Committee, ESMO 2024 and ESMO 2025
- Member, Scientific Committee, French National Institute of Cancer (INCa), evaluating Hospital Clinical Research Programme (PHRC) proposals
- Member, Group for Anal and Rectal Cancer, AIOM Guidelines
Editorial Activity
- Editorial Board, Digestive and Liver Disease, 2021–2022
- Editorial Board, ESMO GI Oncology, October 2023–present
- Reviewer: The Lancet Oncology, Nature, Nature Medicine, European Journal of Cancer, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology
Memberships
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 2002–present
- Italian Society of Medical Oncology (AIOM), 2006–present
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), 2014–present
Areas of Specialization
- Medical oncology — gastrointestinal cancers
- Colorectal cancer (metastatic, locally advanced, MSI-H/dMMR, BRAF-mutated)
- Gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer
- Pancreatic cancer and biliary tract cancer
- Hepatocellular carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors
- Neoadjuvant and perioperative treatment strategies
- Early-phase clinical trials
- Translational biomarker research in GI cancers
- Multidisciplinary cancer care coordination
- Clinical trial management and research methodology
Publications
Dr. Lonardi has authored and co-authored more than 300 full papers in indexed journals, with an H-Index of 62 (Scopus). She reviews for The Lancet Oncology, Nature, Nature Medicine, European Journal of Cancer, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Annals of Oncology
Lonardi S, et al. “Discontinuation of first-line bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer: the BEAWARE Italian Observational Study.” Tumori Journal, March 2019.
Cremolini C, Marmorino F, Bergamo F, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “Phase II randomised study of maintenance treatment with bevacizumab or bevacizumab plus metronomic chemotherapy after first-line induction with FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer patients: the MOMA trial.” European Journal of Cancer, March 2019.
Overman M, Lonardi S, Wong M, Andre T, et al. “Nivolumab plus low-dose ipilimumab in previously treated patients with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer: Long-term follow-up.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, February 2019.
Lenz HJ, Van Cutsem E, Limon ML, Lonardi S, et al. “Durable clinical benefit with nivolumab plus low-dose ipilimumab as first-line therapy in microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient metastatic colorectal cancer.” Annals of Oncology, October 2018.
Cremolini C, Antoniotti C, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “TRIBE2: A phase III, randomized strategy study by GONO in the 1st- and 2nd-line treatment of unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer.” Annals of Oncology, October 2018.
Cremolini C, Antoniotti C, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “Primary tumor sidedness and benefit from FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as initial therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis of the TRIBE trial by GONO.” Annals of Oncology, April 2018.
Sobrero A, Lonardi S, Rosati G, Labianca R, et al. “FOLFOX or CAPOX in stage II to III colon cancer: Efficacy results of the Italian Three or Six Colon Adjuvant Trial.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, April 2018.
Cremolini C, Antoniotti C, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “Activity and Safety of Cetuximab Plus Modified FOLFOXIRI Followed by Maintenance With Cetuximab or Bevacizumab for RAS and BRAF Wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Phase 2 Clinical Trial (MACBETH).” JAMA Oncology, April 2018.
Taïeb J, Falcone A, Lonardi S, Van Cutsem E, et al. “Safety and efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil in metastatic colorectal cancer patients according to previous treatment with regorafenib in the international phase IIIb PRECONNECT study.” Annals of Oncology, October 2018.
Borelli B, Moretto R, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “TRIPLETE: a randomised phase III study of modified FOLFOXIRI plus panitumumab versus mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab as initial therapy for patients with unresectable RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.” ESMO Open, July 2018.
Cremolini C, Rossini D, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “Rechallenge for Patients With RAS and BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer With Acquired Resistance to First-line Cetuximab and Irinotecan: A Phase 2 Single-Arm Clinical Trial (CRICKET).” JAMA Oncology, March 2019.
Van Cutsem E, Yoshino T, Lenz HJ, Lonardi S, et al. “Nintedanib for the treatment of patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (LUME-Colon 1): A phase III, international, randomized, placebo-controlled study.” Annals of Oncology, July 2018.
Yoshino T, Portnoy DC, Obermannová R, Lonardi S, Tabernero J, et al. “Biomarker analysis beyond angiogenesis: RAS/RAF mutation status, tumour sidedness, and second-line ramucirumab efficacy in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma from RAISE — a global phase III study.” Annals of Oncology, October 2018.
Fuchs CS, Shitara K, Di Bartolomeo M, Lonardi S, Asmis TR, et al. “Ramucirumab with cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic gastric or junctional adenocarcinoma (RAINFALL): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.” The Lancet Oncology, February 2019.
Procaccio L, Brunello A, Fiduccia P, Lonardi S, et al. “Role of the oncological-multidimensional prognostic index in older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated in a real-world setting.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, May 2019.
Cremolini C, Rossini D, Martinelli E, Lonardi S, Falcone A, et al. “Trifluridine/Tipiracil (TAS-102) in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter Register in the Frame of the Italian Compassionate Use Program.” The Oncologist, May 2018.
Cremolini C, Milione M, Marmorino F, Lonardi S, Pietrantonio F, et al. “Differential histopathologic parameters in colorectal cancer liver metastases resected after triplets plus bevacizumab or cetuximab: a pooled analysis of five prospective trials.” British Journal of Cancer, March 2018.
Debeuckelaere C, Murgioni S, Lonardi S, Loupakis F, et al. “Ramucirumab: the long and winding road toward being an option for mCRC treatment.” Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, March 2019.
Procaccio L, Damuzzo V, Di Sarra F, Loupakis F, Lonardi S, et al. “Safety and Tolerability of Anti-Angiogenic Protein Kinase Inhibitors and Vascular-Disrupting Agents in Cancer: Focus on Gastrointestinal Malignancies.” Drug Safety, January 2019.
Loupakis F, Schirripa M, Intini R, Lonardi S, Zagonel V, et al. “Another Chapter of the Right Versus Left Story: Is Primary Tumor Location a Prognostic Feature in RAS Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer?” The Oncologist, August 2018.
All information is sourced from publicly available materials.