Immunohistochemical analysis of proteins involved in metastasis of breast Cancer: search of prognostic markers

• Grant number: 11/20578-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Grantee: Jenifer Bottino
• 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

Breast Cancer is cancer that affects more women in the world, and the intense proliferation and tumor metastasis, are the main factors responsible for the high mortality of this Cancer. The skeleton of metastatic cells is poorly structured, and low anchor, which allows more invasive cells. Both cell migration and anchorage in the substrate occurs through rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and cell processes are regulated by external signals and intracellular effectors. One of the main intracellular effectors is the protein associated with the Rho kinase (ROCK), and the increased expression of ROCK1 is related to tumor metastasis. Another process intrinsically related to the evolution of tumor formation and metastasis is the degradation of the extracellular matrix. This process is influenced primarily by proteinases, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) the largest class of proteases in the human genome, and MMP9 has great invasive capacity. This study aims to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of protein kinase associated with Rho (ROCK1) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9) in tumor tissue of 60 women affected by breast cancer, correlating the results with pathological variables, clinical, treatment, and prognosis. Thus, the evaluation of protein ROCK1 and MMP9 enables progress in the search for new prognostic markers related to tumor invasion and metastasis of breast Cancer.(AU)