Exploring the exome of salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in search of more accurate prognostic markers

• Grant number: 14/06186-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Paulo Kowalski
• Grantee: Ana Flávia de Mattos Costa
• Host Institution: A C Camargo Cancer Center. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland ( CMGS ) has a great variability in the biological behavior and its treatment depends on both clinical and pathological prognostic factors. One the most well-established prognostic factors for CMGS is the histological grade of malignancy, which represents the morphological grading of tumor biological characteristics, despite its subjectivity, has proved to be important in determining tumor behavior. However, some of these tumors are classified as intermediate grade - a heterogeneous group where the behavior can be similar to low-grade, or aggressive as high gradetumors. Clearly , the traditional parameters based on morphological characteristics of the cells and tissues are not accurate enough to allow an adequate prognostic classification of these tumors, often leading to inappropriate treatment. In this sense, molecular tools can help generate information of predictive and prognostic value, and can also identify new therapeutic targets. Molecular assessment of the CMGS exome can help identify genetic variants as DNA polymorphisms, mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, among others, which can assist the histological grading based on differences and similarities among these tumors. In this regard, the alterations found in the DNA of these tumors may lead to more accurate diagnosis and consequently the choice of a more appropriate therapeutic conduct. (AU)