His research programmes in the 1990s resulted in pioneering works on the application of molecular methods for the detection of minimal residual disease in lymphomas, to the elucidation of the effect of antibiotic therapy in low-grade gastric MALT lymphomas as well as the study of the antigen dependent mechanisms in the development of the latter.

Later he focused his research interest on the extranodal lymphomas. Dr Zucca is a co-founder of the IELSG (International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group), which runs several co-operative clinical and pathological studies; Dr Zucca is author or co-author of more than 100 scientific papers published on peer-reviewed journals and of more than 80 communications at major international scientific meetings.

He is an active member of the European Society for Clinical Oncology (ESMO) and of the American Society of Haematological Oncology (ASCO).