From Palermo to Philadelphia, with stops in London and Paris, Italian scientist Pietro Mancuso has pursued research across borders. Today, as a Research Associate at Fox Chase Cancer Center, he is helping investigate ways to make cancer treatments more effective. Born in Sicily, Mancuso graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Palermo in 2005 and later earned a doctorate at the University of Siena. His career has spanned genetics, melanoma, HIV research exploring the potential for a cure, and gene editing, including research at Paris's Institut Curie and Philadelphia's Temple University. Along the way, he has contributed to inventions associated with international patents. But his story is also one of Italian identity carried across the Atlantic, a journey shaped by the scientific training he received in his homeland and the opportunities he discovered abroad.

The United States has offered Mancuso access to advanced facilities, international collaborations and opportunities to explore new scientific fields. Yet he is equally proud of the education and culture that shaped him in Italy. "The United States has given me an international perspective, while Italy has shaped my roots and worldview," he says. He hopes researchers can move between countries without feeling forced to choose between professional growth and home. "International mobility should be an opportunity for growth, not a necessity for success!" His Sicilian roots remain present in his outlook, his humor and his affection for the traditions of Palermo. For him, the scientific exchange between Italy and America is not a story of one country replacing another, but of knowledge and talent crossing borders.

Since 2025, Mancuso has collaborated with the teams of Dr. Lorenzo Galluzzi and Dr. Aitziber Buqué-Martínez, studying how radiotherapy affects tumors and the immune system, particularly in breast cancer. "Tumors are not simply collections of malignant cells; they are complex biological systems that interact continuously with the immune system and surrounding tissues," he explains. Radiation can do more than destroy cancer cells: it may also alter immune responses, sometimes strengthening the body's defenses and sometimes contributing to treatment resistance. Researchers hope that understanding these interactions will inform more effective therapies and are exploring possible future applications to pancreatic cancer, a particularly challenging disease. Mancuso is also interested in epigenetics, biological aging and nutrigenomics, including how inflammation, oxidative stress and dietary patterns influence cellular health. These are research directions, not treatments already available to patients.

Asked what advice he would give his younger self, Mancuso talks about curiosity, patience and the courage to change direction. "Don't confuse a difficult chapter with a failed story," he says. "A career, just like life, doesn't always follow a straight line. Living here in Philly, a city made famous by Rocky, I’ve learned that progress isn’t about winning every round. It’s about getting back up and continuing to move forward!”. From Sicily to America’s cancer research laboratories, Mancuso’s journey reflects that same spirit of perseverance, blending scientific ambition with a deep connection to his Italian roots. And after years abroad, one Italian conviction remains unshaken: pineapple has no place on pizza.