Angiogenesis evaluation in response to treatment with melatonin in breast cancer: a study in vitro and in vivo

• Grant number: 11/01052-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2011
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Grantee: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Dorotéia Rossi Silva Souza ; Eny Maria Goloni Bertollo

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, and the leading cause of death of patients due to tumor growth and metastasis development. The tumor growth requires the formation of new vessels which are stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), expressed under the control of hypoxia-inducible factor - 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha). Thus, the VEGF and its receptors and molecules involved in angiogenesis are a prime target for new therapeutic agents. Some studies have shown that the introduction of exogenous melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, has oncostatic effects, and may reduce angiogenesis mediated by VEGF and HIF-1 alpha in some tumor types, although this relationship has not been described for breast cancer . Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of treatment with melatonin on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in breast cancer, a study in vitro and in vivo. The molecular and protein expression of VEGF and HIF-1 alpha will be verified by real time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Moreover, the technique will be performed by computed tomography and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) using the agent Tc-99m-HYNIC-VEGF-C that allows the analysis of angiogenesis in animal model. The data obtained in this study may provide clues to the use of melatonin as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of breast cancer, reducing tumor growth and improving the prognosis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

JARDIM-PERASSI, BRUNA VICTORASSO; ARBAB, ALI S.; FERREIRA, LIVIA CARVALHO; BORIN, THAIZ FERRAZ; VARMA, NADIMPALLI R. S.; ISKANDER, A. S. M.; SHANKAR, ADARSH; ALI, MESER M.; PIRES DE CAMPOS ZUCCARI, DEBORA APARECIDA. Effect of Melatonin on Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in Xenograft Model of Breast Cancer. PLoS One, v. 9, n. 1, JAN 9 2014. (11/01054-1, 11/01052-9, 12/05065-0)