Response of the tumor microenvironment to neoadjuvant therapy in women with breast carcinoma

• Grant number: 18/07913-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Sophie Françoise Mauricette Derchain
• Grantee: Deayra Emyle Figueira
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents an important element for the development and progression of breast cancer. Various components of the breast cancer microenvironment, such as fibroblasts associated with cancer (CAFs), lymphocytes tumour infiltration (TILs), endothelial cells, macrophages associated with the tumor, (TAMs), adipocytes associated with cancer (CAAs), in addition to other components cellular and acellular, act coordinately to modulate the effective antitumor immunity or promoting the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. They may be related to the response to chemotherapy neoadjuvant in women with breast cancer. The objective of this study is to compare the expression profiles of the tumor cells in the tumor of women with breast carcinoma, before and after neoadjuvant therapy, and their relationship with response to therapy and other clinical and pathology parameters. Subjects and methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Our hypothesis is that there is a reduction in the expression of TILS in all the molecular subtypes after the neoadjuvant; taking as basis the different cutting points (10% and 50%) in the luminal-like and triple-negative tumors. For the purposes of calculating sample size, we expect a reduction of 25% to 10% in proportion of positive TILs tumors, with a 5% alpha error and a 20% beta error. In this way, we reach the sample size of 65 patients with luminary-like tumors and 65 with triple-negative tumors. The collection of the biological material of women with breast carcinoma for the Biobanco of the Integral Care Center for the Health of the woman (Caism-UNICAMP) (CONEP B-056) is a routine established in the hospital. Thus, in this research project, the researcher will use the samples stored in the Biobanco after women accept to concede the material of biological origin and sign the term of free and clarified consent of the said Biobank during the realization of the research. The indication of treatment is carried out according to the Service's assistance protocol and this project will not interfere in clinical conduct. The performances of the different variables will be analyzed by calculating the averages and standard deviations and their respective confidence intervals 95% and the over-life curves through the Kaplan-Meier method.