Evaluation of PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment in patients that went through physical training

• Grant number: 20/08749-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2020
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Marilia Cerqueira Leite Seelaender
• Grantee: Alyssa El Chihimi de Andrade
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer affects millions of people and presents high mortality rates. One of the treatments proposed is based on immunotherapy, which stimulates the patient's immune system to fight the disease. However, the hostility of the tumor microenvironment, characterized by hypoxic regions and immunosuppression, proves to be a challenge for the success of the intervention. The low levels of oxygen, in addition to being related to an aggressive tumor phenotype by promoting several adaptive alterations, is associated to the expression of PD-L1 in the tumor site, yielding immune tolerance. Conversely, physical exercise may alter the tumor microenvironment by increasing vascular density, maturity and perfusion. Thus, it is intended to analyze through Real Time Quantitative PCR and Western Blotting if physical training could enhance the immune system antitumor activity, by modulating the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2. Besides, it will be done a meta-analysis in order to identify the molecular alterations in tumor microenvironment resulted from exercise. (AU)