Modulation of kinases and microRNAs by protein tyrosine phosphatase and mechanism of resistance of leukemic cells

• Grant number: 12/05956-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira
• Grantee: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The progress of knowledge about the molecular basis of cancer, has reinforced the concept of this multifactorial disease. The challenge in the coming years is to develop strategies to understand the molecular framework of tumor cells, therapeutic approaches to establish "smart" and personalized therapy in order to increase efficiency, specificity and quality of life of patients. In this context, the processes responsible for acquisition of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is an important area of research. Recently, our group reported that resistant leukemia cells display high level and activity of the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMWPTP). Besides, we dmeonstrated that the LMWPTP silencing caused a decrease of resistance, under molecular context, it was, at least in part, due to inhibition of Src and Bcr-Abl kinases, both kinases involved with cell survival and porliferation. We also observed that the LMWPTP silencing decreased the expression of Let7a microRNA. Therefore, the general goal of the project is to evaluate the modulation of kinome and microRNAs expression by the LMWPTP in leukemia cells. Therefore, the proposal is innovative and multidisciplinary, and can give great contribution to basic and applied research in the field of cancer study. (AU)