Analysis of subpopulation of CD20 positive melanoma cells in response to chemotherapy agents, using radionuclide imaging

• Grant number: 14/27188-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Roger Chammas
• Grantee: Janio da Silva Mororó
• Host Institution: Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira (ICESP). Coordenadoria de Serviços de Saúde (CSS). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive cancer among skin tumors. Both high tumor growth rate and high toxicity caused by the treatment contribute to the lower survival rate of melanoma patients, as compared with patients with other skin cancers. Although various drugs and molecules have been developed over the past few years, little efficiency was obtained in therapy so far. In this context, cancer stem cells seem to play an important role in the resistance of these tumors to chemotherapy. These cells have been identified by several phenotypic characteristics, including the surface cell marker CD20 protein. Thus, it is important to analyze the subpopulation of CD20+ cells in melanoma, to characterize and understand the chemoresistance process of these tumors, and to study this protein as an important target to treat malignant melanomas. Regarding its diagnosis, melanomas can be detected by molecular imaging, using 18Fluor-FDG. However for early detection of these tumors, there have been conflicting results on the efficacy of this radiopharmaceutical product. Therefore, this study aims to examine the CD20+ subpopulation of cancer stem cells in melanoma and the behavior of these cells in different conditions of cellular stress. Furthermore, using an anti-CD20 antibody and versatile techniques of molecular imaging (optical and radioactive), a theragnostic approach will be proposed to control a specific subpopulation of melanoma cells in preclinical models. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MORORÓ, Janio da Silva. Analysis of vascular function of tumors generated with BRAFV600E human melanoma cell line in mice exposed to voluntary physical activity. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.