EFFECT OF MELATONIN ON THE MODULATION OF miRNAS INVOLVED IN BREAST CANCER METASTASIS

• Grant number: 15/20096-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): February 25, 2016
• Effective date (End): February 24, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Grantee: Lívia Carvalho Ferreira
• Supervisor: Daniela Taverna
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO), Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/24612-5 - Melatonin effect on the modulation of miRNAs involved in metastasis of breast cancer, BP.DR

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common tumor type in women, and the leading cause of death of these patients is tumor progression and metastasis. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding mRNA molecules that play a key role in gene regulation. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are directly involved in the initiation and progression of several tumor types, including breast cancer. Several miRNAs have been described as suppressors or promoters of metastases, may be associated with tumor growth and metastasis, so the inhibition of the signaling results in a significant control of cell invasion. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, has presented oncostatic and antimetastatic effects by reducing the ability of migration and invasion in tumor cells. In addition, a recent study demonstrated that melatonin can modulate the expression of miRNAs in breast cancer promoting an antiproliferative action. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential therapeutic value of melatonin in modulating miRNAs in breast cancer, using an in vivo study. Athymic nude mice will receive an intravenous injection of tumor cells to the development of lung metastasis, and the action of candidate miRNAs and their target genes will be proved by using agents that will promote their silencing or overexpression, associated with melatonin treatment. The results achieved will determine the potential action of melatonin in miRNAs involved in the formation of metastasis, preventing their development by controlling miRNAs expression.