Immunohistochemistry evaluation of PARP and caspase-3 as prognostic markers in prostate cancer

• Grant number: 19/11381-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
• Grantee: Vitoria Acar
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PC) is a neoplasia with high global incidence and variable behaviour, whose progression could lead to letal complications. Due to its heterogeneous character, the therapeutic choices depend on the clinical initial presentation. For this matter, the discovery of predictive biomarkers is of significant importance, intending to improve disease prognosis and its treatment. Oncomolecular analysis é crucial to verify tumor resistance matters and reflects an attempt to personalize patient treatment. Currently, with the knowledge of PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) superfamily of enzymes, it is known that, specially PARP-1, plays an important role in cells genome integrity mantainance, being the most abundant of this class of nuclear proteins. This enzyme is responsible for detecting lesions on DNA strands and consists of a fundamental repair process of DNA damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation. In this context, PARP-1 could be frequently related with tumoral resistance to anti-neoplastic therapy. On the other hand, Caspase 3 is an abundant protein in apoptotic cells, taking part in the majority of cell death events. This retrospective study intends to investigate the correlation between these anti and pro-apoptotic proteins and the prognosis of PC patients. In this way, the present work intends to analyse immunohistochemical expression of PARP and Caspase3 in tumor fragments of patients with prostate cancer in a retrospective study, as well as the correlation between the clinical-pathological factors and the expression of PARP and Caspase 3. The information to be obtained may contribute to indicate these proteins as prognosis biomarkers in PC, and also to guide proper therapeutic strategies.