Modulation of NODAL expression in cancer models in vitro/cell lines

• Grant number: 18/15868-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: November 11, 2018
• End date: May 10, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Edna Teruko Kimura
• Grantee: Paola Marino Dantonio
• Supervisor: Lynne-Marie Postovit
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Alberta, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/04639-7 - Influence of Notch/Nodal signalling pathways cross-talk and microRNAs in thyroid cancer, BP.MS

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine neoplasia and fifth most incident cancer in women. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) comprises 90% of thyroid cancer cases and presents good prognosis and curative treatment options. However, undifferentiated PTC and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) are marked by loss of differentiation, i.e. loss of thyroid markers such as NIS, TPO, Tg and TSHR. It is increasingly accepted that dedifferentiation and stem cell-like phenotype observed in cancer cells may be related to reactivation of embryonic signaling. Nodal embryonic signaling pathway has been reported as reactivated in many cancers, therefore we sought to investigate the status and the role of this pathway in thyroid cancer, mainly in ATC. However, we have been facing challenges in modulating Nodal expression in order to study its effect in thyroid cancer cell lines. In deed, Nodal is a complex molecule to work with, as discussed in the literature. Therefore, we reached out to one of the most experienced researchers working with Nodal in cancer, Dr Lynne-Marie Postovit, who has kindly agreed to receive Paola Dantonio for a 6-month training in which she will learn how to modulate (overexpress and silence) NODAL, as well as analyze its expression in both gene and protein levels. This exchange program will definitely contribute to Paola's MSc project and bring know-how into Dr Kimura's lab and consequently to Brazilian science.