| Grant number: | 11/18987-0 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation |
| Start date: | January 01, 2012 |
| End date: | December 31, 2012 |
| Field of knowledge: | Health Sciences - Medicine |
| Principal Investigator: | Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari |
| Grantee: | Verena Benedick Coimbra |
| Host Institution: | Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil |
Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, and the intense tumor growth and metastases still raise the rates of mortality from the disease. The invasiveness, cell migration and tumor implantation are peculiarities of metastatic cells that allow the spreading of the disease and consequent poor prognosis. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, has been proven in some studies to be oncostatic and anti-metastatic due to it's capabilities to reduce migration and cell invasion, and to inhibit cell proliferation. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of treatment with melatonin in breast cancer by checking motility in vitro of metastatic and non-metastatic cell lines by trial of migration and cell invasion. Methods / Procedures: There will be two lines of cultured tumor cells, metastatic (MDA-MB-231) and non-metastatic (MCF-7) breast cancer in appropriate media. The cells will be divided into two groups for each cell line: Group I will be used as control, with its cells grown in the culture medium without any additives, and Group II will be treated with five different concentrations of melatonin, creating a dose-response curve for determining the concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50% (IC50). Tests on migration and invasion of metastatic and non-metastatic lines will be performed in Boyden chamber, a method for evaluating the metastatic potential of tumor cells in vitro. Expected Results: The data obtained in this study may provide clues to the use of melatonin as a therapeutic agent in breast cancer, preventing proliferation and migration with subsequent generation of metastasis and a worse prognosis. | |
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