Application of RNA aptamers in diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer

• Grant number: 12/24911-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Laura Sterian
• Grantee: Karina Marangoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Many studies have been done in an attempt to understand the complex molecular mechanisms involved in oncogenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). The current biotechnological methods, especially genomic studies are adding important aspects in this area. The recent identification of new classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in important steps of cancer formation and progression, emphasizes the role of these transcripts in the tumorigenesis process. The prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) gene is specifically expressed in prostate and presents overexpressed in CaP compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and normal tissues. The fact that PCA3 is a prostate-specific ncRNA, makes it a promising marker for the early diagnosis of prostate tumor, and provides powerful tool for the development of new treatment strategies for PCa patients. However, this transcript functions in the CaP development and progression are unknown. The discovery of aptamers whose affinity and specificity similar to those antibodies will have an impact on future diagnoses. These are artificial specific modulators of biological processes, mimicking the behavior of antisense sequences. The aim of this study is to investigate new molecular targets for prostate cancer therapeutic and diagnostic, through validation of RNA aptamers specific binding to the native non-coding RNA PCA3 transcript. (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)

MARANGONI, KARINA; NEVES, ADRIANA F.; ROCHA, RAFAEL M.; FARIA, PAULO R.; ALVES, PATRICIA T.; SOUZA, ALINE G.; FUJIMURA, PATRICIA T.; SANTOS, FABIANA A. A.; ARAUJO, THAISE G.; WARD, LAURA S.; et al. Prostate-specific RNA aptamer: promising nucleic acid antibody-like cancer detection. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 5, JUL 15 2015. (12/24911-0)