Single-cell proteomics analyses of immune cells from Head and Neck Cancer patients

• Grant number: 23/14874-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Franco Paes Leme
• Grantee: Adriana Franco Paes Leme
• Principal researcher abroad: Erwin Schoof
• Institution abroad: Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Daniela Campos Granato
• Associated research grant: 18/18496-6 - The role of alcohol treated-extracellular vesicles in oral cells transformation, AP.TEM

Abstract

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are considered the seventh most common cancer type worldwide. Squamous oral cell carcinomas are the most prevalent and are highly associated with lymph node metastasis, which leads to poor prognosis for patients. In a previous study, our group identified nodal metastasis signatures in the bulk lymphocytes and neutrophils. However, up to now, the heterogeneity between these two subpopulations and their interactions remains unclear. In this context, the present study proposes to investigate the protein profile of these immune cells at single cell level in HNC patients with presence (N+) and absence (N0) of lymph node metastasis, seeking to identify relevant differences in protein abundances that can reveal potential biomarkers for HNC metastasis. Buffy coat samples will be collected from HNC patients classified according to the presence of metastasis and prepared for single-cell proteomics analysis by Data-independent acquisition (DIA)-based method. As part of this project, we propose to collaborate with Dr. Erwin Schoof from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), who is a well-known researcher and pioneer in the field of single-cell proteomics. We expect this project will allow the knowledge exchange with the implementation and optimization of single-cell proteomics at LNBio, CNPEM and give insights into the biology of HNC exploring the altered proteins and pathways in the lymphocytes and neutrophils in head and neck cancer. (AU)