Advanced studies of elemental distribution in biological tissues: mechanisms involved in cancer pain and prospecting for therapeutic alternatives

• Grant number: 24/09370-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cristiane Renata Schmitt ; Lilian Seiko Kato

Abstract

Chronic cancer-related diseases have become a significant concern, especially in the elderly population. It is estimated that approximately 19.3 million new cases of cancer emerged globally in 2020, leading to almost 10.0 million deaths related to the disease, with colorectal cancer standing out as the second leading cause of cancer death. In Brazil, according to projections by the National Cancer Institute (INCA) for the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, colorectal cancer will be one of the three types of cancer with the highest incidence in men and women. The highest rates are recorded in the Southeast Region for both sexes, while in the South, this cancer is the third most prevalent. Among women, colorectal cancer is the second most common in the Southeast (28.88 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and South (26.04 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) regions. RS SP Data In colorectal cancer therapy, oxaliplatin (OXA) is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents. However, the use of this treatment results in several undesirable effects, such as peripheral neuropathy. Recently, the study group from the Federal University of Pelotas - Rio Grande do Sul (RS), led by the proponent, demonstrated that the accumulation of platinum in the central nervous system may contribute to the toxic effects of OXA. This perspective had been little explored until then, and this finding expands the understanding of the mechanisms involved in oncological pain caused by OXA. Thus, it also increases the possibility for the development of alternative therapies that minimize pain and improve the quality of life of patients. In this sense, 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl)quinoline (4-PSQ) is a substance that has aroused interest in research due to its potential therapeutic properties. The main objective of this proposal is to strengthen the collaborative network between prominent research groups from institutions in RS and São Paulo, including the Federal University of Pelotas, the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, the Federal University of Santa Maria and the State University of Campinas. The initiative aims to employ analytical and biochemical strategies to clarify the mechanisms underlying cancer pain, considering the particularities of age, with the purpose of identifying new pharmacological targets and proposing an innovative therapeutic alternative for the treatment of this debilitating condition. (AU)