Diferential expression of complementary microRNA and mRNA in oligodendrogliomas of different grades of malignancy

• Grant number: 08/05972-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2008
• End date: June 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Neder Serafini
• Grantee: Luciano Neder Serafini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the past few years, several studies have been addressed the molecular mechanisms related to glioma progression. However, the prognosis of patients with high-grade gliomas remains dismal. The study of new molecular markers enrolled in the tumor progression has been created new lines of research, mainly those related to genetic modulation or gene silencing. MicroRNAs are a large tiny regulatory RNAs found in plants, insects, and mammals. They have been implicated as molecular regulators of developmental timing, neuronal differentiation, cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression due to repression or degradation of target mRNAs, the study of miRNAs is of great value in the identification new targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In fact, several studies indicate their participation in the oncogenesis, acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. The role of miRNAs in oligodendrogliomas in different grades of malignancy (grades II and III) has not been established thus far. Therefore, the main goals of this project are evaluate the miRNAs and mRNA expressions with further validation of target genes by real time PCR in a series of microdissected oligodendrogliomas (8 per group). The miRNAs and mRNAs expression will evaluate using microarray-based expression profiling platforms (723 transcripts and 41,000 genes, respectively). As controls, samples of temporal lobe white matter from patients operated for intractable complex partial seizures will be used (n = 8). In this project we aim to identify putative oncogenic miRNAs that could be operating in oligodendrogliomas, expanding our knowledge in this new field of tumor biology. We also intend to obtain novel data about molecular mechanisms involved in glioma progression as well as create a new line of research. (AU)