Influence of estrogens, progestins and androgens in ADAMTS-1 levels in breast cancer cells.

• Grant number: 11/00650-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa Morais Freitas
• Grantee: Suély Vieira da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/07699-1 - Protease ADAMTS1 influencing breast cancer behavior and microenvironment , AP.JP

Abstract

Breast cancer is most common among women in incidence, prevalence and mortality. In Brazil is the leading cause of death among women.This high incidence in the country is related to socioeconomic difference, reproductive, hormonal and nutritional factors of population. The malignant transformation of mammary cell activity involves changes in different genes and proteins, which results in uncontrolled cell cycle and changes on cell differentiation. Recent studies show the central role of sex hormones in tumorigenesis.The hormones are among the many factors that induce and promote carcinogenesis. Alterations in hormone secretion result in imbalance of tissue homeostasis, leading to several changes of the environment, which may favor the appearance of cancer.Recent studies show that there are variations in the levels of ADAMTS in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, but the exact role of ADAMTS-1 and the mechanism involved remains to be elucidated. Studies show that estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can inhibit or promote the expression of mRNA and protein of ADAMTS-1 in endometrial cells.In this project, we are going to study the influences of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone on the levels of ADAMTS-1 in normal cells and breast tumor.