Characterization of the expression of monocarboxylate transporters in small cell lung cancer samples preserved in liquid medium

• Grant number: 20/11990-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Céline Marques Pinheiro
• Grantee: Ayra Daneluzzi Quinelato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos Dr Paulo Prata (FACISB). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) affects an average of 200,000 people worldwide each year, accounting for 15-20% of all cases of lung carcinoma. Its main cause is smoking and its diagnosis is usually late, with high mortality. For decades, it has been observed that solid tumors obtain energy mainly from glycolysis, leading to the production of lactate even under aerobic conditions, and, therefore, recently, this deregulation of energy metabolism has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. SCLC presents MYC amplification in 30% to 50% of cases and loss of function of p53 in 90-100% of the cases, being these proteins related to the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. Objectives: To evaluate the expression of proteins related to the glycolytic metabolism in small cell lung cancer obtained by bronchial lavage and stored in Surepath, and associate the results obtained with clinical and pathological data. Methods: The current study is based on a longitudinal design with retrospective data collection. Twenty eight patients with bronchial lavage stored in liquid medium (Surepath) will be included, of which, 20 patients have paired samples from small cell lung cancer and their contralateral lung, 4 patients have only normal samples and 4 patients have only tumor samples, in a total of 48 samples. Clinical and pathological data will be collected for database update, immunocytochemistry (ICC) will be performed to evaluate the expression of the lactate transporters MCT1 and MCT4 and, finally, statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS.