VEGF-C for the treatment of lymphedema

• Grant number: 11/04538-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Paula de Carvalho Papa Keohane
• Grantee: Juliana Shimara Pires Ferrao
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The treatment of limbs lymphedema, due mainly to breast cancer mastectomy, in humans and bitches has been underexplored so far. The time of formation of new lymphatic vessels at the affected area depends on each patient, and may take a long time to complete recovery or, in some cases, the affected area does not recover anymore. It is known that in dogs the lymphedema can achieve self resolution in approximately fifteen days, even with full chain mastectomy and removal of the lymphnodes, but how and why it happens is still unknown. This study aims to assess ways so that revascularization on the lymphedema area occurs with more efficiency and in a shorter period of time than usual, beyond that, it aims a better comprehension of VEGF-C gene therapy in the revascularization process in a lymphedema affected area, thus bringing a treatment that can be used to improve the quality of life for both human and animals patients. For such purpose, a mice limb lymphedema model will be used to compare revascularization with and without VEGF-C gene therapy. After treatment, control and VEGF-C group will be compared three, nine, fifteen and thirty days after gene therapy for lymphatic and blood vessels number using immunohistochemistry followed by stereological counting. VEGF-A and C gene expression in both groups will be analyzed by Real Time PCR (RT-PCR). Construction of VEGF-C vector will be done as described by Pereira-Lopes et al (2010) in collaboration with CINTERGEN, UNIFESP. Statistical analysis between treated and not treated groups with gene therapy will be done through evaluation of data regarding their normality and variance. For normal distribution and equal variances ANOVA parametric test or t-Student will be applied. For nonparametric data, Kruskal Wallis test or U-MannWhitney will be used. Data will be analyzed using the statistical software Minitab®; differences will be considered significant when p<0.05. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERRAO, JULIANA S. P.; BONFIM NETO, ANTENOR P.; DA FONSECA, VANESSA U.; SOUSA, LIZA M. M. DE C.; PAPA, PAULA DE C.. Vascular endothelial growth factor C treatment for mouse hind limb lymphatic revascularization. VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE, v. 5, n. 2, p. 249-259, MAY 2019. (11/04538-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FERRAO, Juliana Shimara Pires. VEGFC treatment for lymphatic revascularization of mice hindlimb. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.