Investigation of the effects of dichloroacetate sodium (DCA) and metformin in the treatment of canine melanoma

• Grant number: 15/25058-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli
• Grantee: Gabriela Fernandes de Toledo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays, cancer represents one of the biggest challenges for science and medical practice in humans. Dichloroacetic acid, often abbreviated DCA, is an analogue of acetic acid in which two of the three hydrogen atoms of the methyl group have been replaced by chlorine atoms. The salt and esters of dichloroacetic acid are called dichloroacetates. The sodium dichloroacetate is under investigation as a possible treatment for cancer. The present project aims to investigate the sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) as a possible new anticancer therapy to melanomas. To do so, the canine melanoma model will be used. Neoplastic canine melanoma cells will be cultivated in vitro. This will be followed by treatment with DCA and Metformin at doses referred to in the literature 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mM during 7 days, respectively. Both the proliferation and the cell death will be quantified. We hope, this way, advance in new antineoplastic therapies lowering the cost for canine patients.