Journal of Oncology and Cancer Research

Dr. Sheila Spada is a translational researcher at the Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, Italy. She obtained her Ph.D. in Immunology and Immunopathology from Sapienza University of Rome and completed multiple postdoctoral appointments at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, focusing on tumor immunology and immune microenvironment modulation.Her research explores the role of extracellular vesicles, epigenetic regulation, and immune escape in cancer progression, aiming to develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. Dr. Spada serves as an editor and guest editor for several international journals, including Frontiers in Immunology and Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, and has published extensively in high-impact journals. She is a member of several international cancer research societies and a recipient of multiple grants and awards recognizing her contributions to the field of translational oncology.

• Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy
• CAR-T Cell Therapy and Immune Escape Mechanisms
• Biomarkers and Spatial Immune Cell Heterogeneity
• Epigenetic Regulation in Cancer
• Cancer Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy Combinations
• Extracellular Vesicles and Tumor Microenvironment

1. Editorial Roles

   1. Editor, Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy (2023–Present)

   2. Guest Editor, Frontiers in Immunology, for multiple special issues (2023–2025)

   3. Guest Editor, Biomedicines, Biology, International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology

   4. Co-Editor, Methods in Cell Biology – CAR T Cells: Development, Characterization, and Applications (2022)

   5. Co-Editor, Methods in Enzymology – Extracellular Vesicles: Expanding Field of Investigation (2020)

2. Grants

   1. canSERV Horizon Consortium – “Training the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers” (2025)

   2. Institutional Grant (Under-40 Researcher) (2024–Present)

   3. American-Italian Cancer Foundation Fellowship (2018–2020)

3. Scientific Societies

   1. Junior Faculty Member, Italian Network of Tumor Biotherapies (NIBIT)

   2. Member, Italian Society of Extracellular Vesicles (EVITA)

   3. Member, International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV)

   4. Member, ISEV Working Group on Genito-Urinary Apparatus (GUSEV)

4. Awards

   1. Travel Grant – Italian Cancer Society (SIC), 2016

   2. Travel Grant – Cellular Biology and Differentiation Association (ABCD), 2015

1. Spada S., Ganguly A. (2025). Role of extracellular vesicles in cancer: implications in immunotherapeutic resistance. Frontiers in Immunology.

2. Mukhametshin S.A., Spada S. (2025). Allogeneic NKG2D CAR-T cell therapy: a promising approach for solid tumors. Biomedicines.

3. Belmonte B., Spada S., et al. (2025). Highlighting recent achievements to advance more effective cancer immunotherapy. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research.

4. Galluzzi L., Spada S. (2025). Circulating biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment-response prediction in cancer. International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology.

5. Di Modugno F., Spada S., et al. (2024). Tumoral and stromal hMENA isoforms impact tertiary lymphoid structures and predict immune-checkpoint response. EBioMedicine.

6. Rudqvist N.P., Spada S., et al. (2023). Immunotherapy targeting different immune compartments with radiation therapy induces regression of resistant tumors. Nature Communications.

7. Charpentier M., Spada S., Demaria S. (2022). Radiation therapy-induced remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment. Seminars in Cancer Biology.

8. Wennerberg E., Spada S., Formenti S.C., Demaria S. (2020). CD73 blockade promotes dendritic-cell infiltration and tumor rejection. Cancer Immunology Research.

9. Spada S., Di Modugno F., Nisticò P. (2021). Fibronectin as a multiregulatory molecule in the tumor matrisome. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research.

10. Spada S., Diamond J., Demaria S. (2018). Exosomes shuttle TREX1-sensitive IFN-stimulatory dsDNA from irradiated cancer cells to dendritic cells. Cancer Immunology Research.