Critical analysis of tumor immune evasion of differentiated thyroid carcinomas

• Grant number: 09/10722-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Laura Sterian
• Grantee: Lucas Leite Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This is a translational study that aims to correlate molecular features of differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTC) to clinical outcome. Our objectives are to research both gene and protein expression profile of tumors comparing to susceptible tumors. We will investigate the putative correlation between expression profile of B7-H1 (mRNA and protein) and presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) or concurrent thyroiditis (CT) in DTC and if B7-H1 profile would distinguish patients with poor prognosis from whom have good prognosis; caracterize the different components of immune cells on TIL/CT of DTC; evaluate if the presence of several kinds of immune cells (CD19+, CD4+, NK, T CD8+, Th17, MDSCs and Treg) are able to modify prognosis. We will use our own stored tumors and clinical data will be obtained from A.C. Camargo and Hospital das Clínicas charts. This study is the result of an association among our group and Head and Neck surgery (Prof Dr Luiz Kowalski) and pathology (Prof Dr Fernando Soares) from A.C. Camargo and pathology (Prof Dr José Vassallo) and head and neck surgery (Prof Dr Alfio José Tincani) from Hospital das Clínicas. Data obtained will contribute for us to acquire knowlegde about immune reaction against cancer and elucidate patients profile that need more agressive therapy, being useful to the identification of new approaches against DTC.