Diffusion in directed networks in a triple-negative breast cancer study

• Grant number: 19/03615-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: André Fujita
• Grantee: Vinícius Jardim Carvalho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Matemática e Estatística (IME). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The high number of deaths due to breast cancer shows the importance of the studies carried out in the area. Among the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, the World Health Organization associates triple-negative with the more aggressive form and, since it does not have specific treatments, presents the worst prognoses. Given the importance of cancer studies, multi-omic databases provide a large amount of data, which requires tools capable of performing its processing and analysis. The network approach (graphs) is a theory widely used in large-scale data analysis. Network theory allows modeling interactions (network edges) between elements (nodes) by adding a systemic view to the object of study and simplifying the analysis of complex data. We can also consider that the nodes of the network have their features, such as gene expression levels. In this case, we can use the theory of Graph Signal Processing (GSP). The GSP is a promising area and is a powerful tool in data analysis. However, there are a few applications in gene expression data. Taking into account that healthy cells stimulated by changes in the expression patterns of few genes form tumor tissues, we propose to develop a diffusion model for directed networks (gene regulation networks) and non-temporal data (diseased and healthy). Thus, we hope to contribute to the understanding of breast cancer of the triple-negative subtype by identifying the key genes in the development of this disease, which will help to improve the prognosis, since the treatments currently used are unspecific and have several side effects.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CUNHA, MATEUS TRINCONI; DE SOUZA BORGES, ANA PAULA; JARDIM, VINICIUS CARVALHO; FUJITA, ANDRE; DE CASTRO JR, GILBERTO. Predicting survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with poor ECOG-PS: A single-arm prospective study. CANCER MEDICINE, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2022-09-26. (15/22814-5, 16/20187-6, 18/21934-5, 19/03615-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CARVALHO, Vinícius Jardim. Epiregulin expression and the dual role of pro-inflammatory macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Matemática e Estatística (IME/SBI) São Paulo.