The participation of pathway phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Grant number: 14/09248-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Alfredo Ribeiro da Silva
• Grantee: Alfredo Ribeiro da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have high incidence in Brazil corresponding to nearly 95% of all oral malignancies. The OSCC molecular biology is very complex because this carcinoma develops from dysfunction of many interrelated signaling pathways. The active PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in cellular growth and cell survival beyond to block apoptosis. Dysfunctions in this pathway have already been described in several cancer types. However, its role in the development of OSCC merits further investigation. The aim of this work is study the PI3K/AKT pathway in OSCC. For this purpose we will use OSCC cell lines (SCC4 and SCC25) that present constitutive activation of PI3K/AKT pathway related proteins. These cell lines will be placed in presence of LY294002 or AKT IV blockers. We will be perform protein expression, qRT-PCR and immunolocalization by Western Blotting and indirect immunofluorescence to determine the pathway activation (pAKT) and the apoptosis related proteins (XIAP, p53 and FOXO4) in presence of LY294002 or AKT IV blockers and also analyze which gene is most changed in the the carcinoma. To perform a functional characterization of both treated and nontreated cells, we will use matrigel matrix invasion, apoptosis and cellular proliferation assays. (AU)