Protein expression encoded by TMPRSS11A gene and its involvement in the formation of carcinoma

• Grant number: 16/13343-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Katiuchia Uzzun Sales
• Grantee: Manuella Cazelato Pires
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/06316-2 - Genetic epistasis analysis of matriptase-depedent proteolytic pathway in head and neck cancer, AP.JP

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is ranked fifth most common neoplasia worldwide, accounting for 750,000 new cases per year. Despite all the scientific advances that happened in recent years, there is still no specific therapy for HNSCC. It has already been described that type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPII), such as matriptase, are essential for development and progression of oral carcinomas. Moreover, TMPRSS11A, a recently described TTSPII that belongs to the newly discovered HAT / DESC family, is deleted / mutated in 2% of oral cancers (obtained in CBioPortal dates de base). This protocol aims to investigate the tissue expression of TMPRSS11A and its role in squamous cell carcinoma using a transgenic mouse model for HNSCC. Finally, although very little is known about this enzyme, its localization in the plasma membrane and extracellular activity, places TMPRSS11A among the important candidate genes for developing more specific therapies in the near future.