Biomarkers of autophagy and fatty acid synthesis: tracking the response of melanoma spheroids to the drug holiday therapeutic regimen

• Grant number: 20/12828-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2020
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira
• Grantee: Beatriz Aires Lopes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer due to its high proliferative rate and capacity for metastasis. Additionally, this tumor displays low response to treatment, which in part is due to a high basal rate of autophagic flow. Therefore, the study of these cellular mechanisms and for the screening of compounds, the 3D culture models have been shown to be effective, as it allows greater similarity to the tumor in vivo, such as presenting zones (regions) with different gradients of nutrients, pH and oxygenation, and altered microenvironment. With this in mind, and based on the fact that violacein, a pigment derived from the secondary metabolism of Chromobacterium violaceum, inhibits autophagy in melanoma cells and consequently, stimulates death by apoptosis, in this project we will focus on 4 fronts: I) Assess whether the action of violacein is long lasting in 3D culture; II) Assess whether the presence of cells from the microenvironment affects the action of violacein in melanoma cells; III) Check if the Drug holiday therapeutic regimen, in which violacein in combination with Vemurafenib will be employed, is effective; IV) Examine whether violacein interferes with the level of Fatty Acid Synthase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of fatty acidsand considered as relevant in melanoma. Thus, it is expected that violacein will act as a sensitizing agent and, therefore, propiciates the use of lower vemurafenibe concentrations, and guarantees the response rate, which is relevant, regarding the patient's quality of life and the general cost of treatment. In addition, it is also expected that the study will alllow to identify markers (FASN and autophagic pathway proteins) for monitoring the effectiveness of melanoma treatment.

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)

AIRES-LOPES, BEATRIZ; JUSTO, GISELLE ZENKER; CORDEIRO, HELON GUIMARAES; DURAN, N.; AZEVEDO-MARTINS, JORDANA MARIA; HALDER, CARMEN VERISSIMA FERREIRA. Violacein improves vemurafenib response in melanoma spheroids. NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH, v. N/A, p. 4-pg., 2023-08-02. (20/12828-7)