Evaluation of inductor factors in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in germ cell tumors

• Grant number: 18/15065-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Tomazini Pinto
• Grantee: Clara Fernanda Barbosa Alves
• Host Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Fundação Pio XII (FP). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which epithelial cells lose their intercellular junctions and epithelial markers, acquire mesenchymal phenotype, as well as invasive and migratory properties. EMT is involved in several pathological conditions, including fibrosis, inflammation, and cancer development and metastasis. EMT has been demonstrated in several tumor types, however, few studies have evaluated EMT in germ cell tumors (GCTs). GCTs are neoplasms that can be classified as benign and malignant, derived from germ cells, arising from gonadal or extragonadal sites present in children, adolescents and adults. Some growth factors such as TGF-² as well as the transcription factors Snail, Slug, Zeb1/2, Twist are known to induce EMT. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in EMT induction in the GCTs have not been elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the inducing factors of EMT in GCTs. Initially, an in silico analysis of the EMT markers on GCTs will be performed using the Oncomine and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Next, the EMT-inducing mechanisms that show differentiated expression in the in silico analysis will be evaluated in the GCTs cell lines by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that induce EMTs in GCTs will allow a better understanding of cancer development and metastasis, as well as contribute to future therapeutic approaches.