Evaluation of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, with its focus on determining the invasive front

• Grant number: 12/20232-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Cardoso Guimarães
• Grantee: Gustavo Cardoso Guimarães
• Host Institution: A C Camargo Cancer Center. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Isabela Werneck da Cunha

Abstract

The urothelial carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the urinary tract, associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Although most patients presenting with superficial tumors, 20% of them will also develop and progress to muscle invasive disease. Radical cystectomy is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive tumors. The identification of the molecular mechanisms that mediate invasion and metastasis is critical for patients who present with invasive forms of bladder cancer. Matrix metalloproteinases are the major enzymes involved in extracellular matrix degradation and is directly related to the process of tumor invasion and metastasis, and are also involved in the early stages of carcinogenesis, tumor growth regulation, apoptosis, cell adhesion, and angiogenesis. Its importance has been demonstrated in various tumor types. So far, in urothelial carcinomas of the bladder, the work of immunohistochemical expression restricted to isolated evaluation of the various components, not evaluating the interaction between the non-invasive cells, cells of the invasive front and invasive cells in depth. This detailed evaluation is critical to understanding the phenomenon of invasion in these tumors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize the expression profile of these immunohistochemical markers, according to the level of invasion of the tumor, with a focus on invasive front, and to correlate the findings with clinical data and patient follow-up. (AU)