Histone deacetylase inhibitors effect on mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell lines treatment, focusing on cancer stem cell markers: in vitro analysis

• Grant number: 18/22132-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Daumas Nunes
• Grantee: Daniele Maria Heguedusch Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the malignant tumors of the salivary gland, mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MUC) is the most prevalent. With a high resistance to conventional antitumor treatment, radiotherapy-associated surgery is the current elective treatment for MUC, leaving severe sequelae and compromising the quality of life of the affected individuals. In general, salivary gland tumors respond poorly to chemotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy is currently used palliatively. Therefore, studies looking for alternative treatments that promote high cytotoxicity to tumor cells, but low cytotoxicity to normal cells, are necessary for MUC and salivary gland tumors. Interesting targets for tumor treatment are cancer stem cells, and recent studies have shown their existence in MUC. These cells express CD44 and ALDH1, are resistant to antitumor treatments and, in vivo, can initiate a new tumor. A previous study from our group found, among 133 chemotherapeutic agents approved by the FDA and tested with the MUC cells, that histone deacetylase inhibitors Panobinostate and Romidepsin are effective. Based on these facts, this project aims to evaluate the in vitro effect of these two chemicals on salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell lines expressing cancer stem markers.