Evaluation of association between expression of the gene PAD4 and coagulation markers in patients with Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia

• Grant number: 14/19482-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2015
• End date: March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Erich Vinicius de Paula
• Grantee: Thamires Branco da Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Thrombosis is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients. Thrombophilic state in cancer patients is multifactorial and involves factors of cancer itself, the interaction between cancer cells and normal cells, and treatments performed. Recently, the formation of NETs, neutrophils extracellular traps, was identified as a new factor related to higher risk of thrombosis in cancer patients. Data obtained from animal models show that NET formation results from the expression of an enzyme called PAD 4, derived from a gene with the same name. More recent data show that activation of this enzyme is a critical step in formation of venous thrombosis. Little is known about the causes of increased risk of thrombosis in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia), but the fact that the increase in neutrophils represent a risk factor for this complication suggests that the formation of NETs and activation of PAD4 may be involved. In this context, the aim of this study is evaluate the association between PAD4 expression with activation markers of coagulation in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera or Essential thrombocythemia followed at Onco-Hematology Clinic, in Unicamp Blood Center. Blood samples will be obtained from these patients and compared to healthy donors about the PAD4 gene expression and coagulation biomarkers.