Induction of ovarian tumor and the influence of melatonin therapy on the apoptosis of UChB rats

• Grant number: 14/05196-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal researcher: Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa
• Grantee: Michelly da Silva Alves
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ovarian cancer has the highest incidence in women, and due to its late diagnosis and poor prognosis, is the most aggressive of gynecological cancers. Ovarian cancer is initially responsive to chemotherapy, and a considerable reduction of tumor growth is expected; however, many women develop chemoresistance as a result of treatment. It is undisputable that risk factors, such as chronic alcoholism, can facilitates the development of tumors, acting as a co-carcinogenic drug. Interestingly, tumorigenesis and ethanol consumption share common mechanisms related to apoptosis and survival of tumor cells. Because melatonin exert oncostatic and pro-apoptotic functions in solid tumors, the present study aims to investigate the effect of ovarian tumor induction and the influence of therapy with melatonin on apoptosis in the ovaries of ethanol-preferring rats (UChB strain). For this, the following parameters will be investigated: assessment of the estrous cycle during tumor development, evaluation and characterization of the subtypes of ovarian tumor by histopathological analysis, immunolocalization and quantification of the anti-apoptotic proteins(Bcl-2 and survivin) and pro-apoptotic (caspase 3 and BAX) and p53(associated with tumor suppressor induced-cell death) through immunohistochemistry and Western blot. These results will bring new insights into the effects of melatonin on apoptosis, tumor cell survival and chemoresistance to treatments.

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)

CHUFFA, LUIZ GUSTAVO A.; ALVES, MICHELLY S.; MARTINEZ, MARCELO; CAMARGO, ISABEL CRISTINA C.; PINHEIRO, PATRICIA F. F.; DOMENICONI, RAQUEL F.; JUNIOR, LUIZ ANTONIO L.; MARTINEZ, FRANCISCO EDUARDO. Apoptosis is triggered by melatonin in an in vivo model of ovarian carcinoma. Endocrine-Related Cancer, v. 23, n. 2, p. 65-76, FEB 2016. Web of Science Citations: 23.