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Salvatore Vincent Pizzo

Professor of Pathology
Pathology
Rm 3059 Duke South Hospital, Duke Box 3712, Durham, NC 27710
Rm 3059 Duke South Hospital, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


RESEARCH ABSTRACT
Studies from this laboratory identified cell surface expression of the molecular chaperone GRP78 as a major factor in prostate cancer and other malignancies.  Cell surface GRP78 functions as a signaling receptor promoting tumor proliferation and suppressing apoptosis.  Patients with a number of malignancies mount an autoimmune response to GRP78 and these antibodies, which bind to the NH2 terminal domains of GRP78, are receptor agonists whose appearance is a marker of poor prognosis.  More recently, we have shown that antibodies directed against the COOH-terminal domain of GRP78 are receptor antagonists which may have therapeutic potential for treating patients whose tumors express GRP78 on the cell surface.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Pathology · 1985 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments

In the News


Published June 28, 2023
New, Early Marker for Heart Disease Discovered

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Recent Publications


An antibody that targets cell-surface glucose-regulated protein-78 inhibits expression of inflammatory cytokines and plasminogen activator inhibitors by macrophages.

Journal Article J Cell Biochem · May 2023 Glucose-regulated protein-78 (Grp78) is an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, which is secreted by cells and associates with cell surfaces, where it functions as a receptor for activated α2 -macroglobulin (α2 M) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). I ... Full text Link to item Cite

Serum Pro-N-Cadherin Is a Marker of Subclinical Heart Failure in the General Population.

Journal Article J Am Heart Assoc · March 21, 2023 Background We recently reported aberrant processing and localization of the precursor PNC (pro-N-cadherin) protein in failing heart tissues and detected elevated PNC products in the plasma of patients with heart failure. We hypothesize that PNC mislocaliza ... Full text Link to item Cite

Physiological Roles of the Autoantibodies to the 78-Kilodalton Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases.

Journal Article Biomedicines · May 24, 2022 The 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), a member of the 70 kDa heat-shock family of molecular chaperones (HSP70), is essential for the regulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) resulting from cellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. During ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Development of an Optimized Human Antibody to a Novel Target for the Treatment of Fibrotic Diseases

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2019 - 2020

Tension-Stat3-miR-mediated Metastasis

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by City of Hope · 2015 - 2017

Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2015

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 1973 M.D.
Duke University · 1972 Ph.D.