Expression of LASP-1 gene in meduloblastoma tumors samples

• Grant number: 11/04893-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gonzaga Tone
• Grantee: Fernanda Dahrouge Chiarot
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system in children. Its incidence is higher in males, with approximately 75% of the cases involving patients younger than 19 years-old, with a peak incidence of less than 5 years. It has high mortality rate and the lack of successful treatment occurs mainly in children with metastatic tumors, characterized by i(17q) or gain of 17q, a common feature in cases of intermediate and high risk. The LASP-1 gene, mapped at 17q21 has been described to have an increased expression in various tumors such as breast cancer, prostate, bladder and colorectal cancers. Recently, LASP-1 expression in medulloblastoma has been demonstrated to be associated with cell proliferation and malignant cell metastasis, suggesting to be an excellent candidate marker for future specific therapeutic approaches. The present study intends to verify LASP-1 gene expression in medulloblastoma pediatric samples from University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, by means of real time PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis and to establish the correlation between gene expression with clinical and pathological aspects and as well as with patient outcome. (AU)