Mechanisms of oncogenesis in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma

• Grant number: 13/06287-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ana de Lourdes Candolo Martinelli
• Grantee: Ana de Lourdes Candolo Martinelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ajith Kumar Sankarankutty ; Andreza Corrêa Teixeira ; Enio David Mente ; Fernanda Maris Peria ; Jorge Elias Júnior ; Leandra Náira Zambelli Ramalho ; Leandro Machado Colli ; Matheus Waitman ; Natalia Ferreira Scatena ; Rodrigo do Tocantins Calado de Saloma Rodrigues ; Wilson Araújo da Silva Junior

Abstract

Hepatoceluar carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant tumor of the liver and represents a great public health problem worldwide. HCC is the fifth most common malignancy among men and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with approximately 90% of cases associated with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of HCC, early detection of this malignancy is still major challenge to researchers. Moreover, the diagnosis in advanced stages courses with poor prognosis and high morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, the discovery of biomarkers that could contribute to an early diagnosis of HCC has become the subject of research worldwide. There are three main classes of biomarkers currently under study: blood, tissue, tumor and peri-tumor and stem cells. In this project, it is planned to review the length of telomeres, expression of miRNAs and genome sequencing in patients with HCC, chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis, and healthy controls. We will study blood, tumoral and peri-tumoral tissues. The interest in these biomarkers is justified by few reports in the international literature, and the need for new tools that can contribute to better diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of a potentially curable malignancy, that still leads to great morbidity and death. (AU)