Study of the expression of genes related to the telomere-telomerase complex in gastric Cancer

• Grant number: 21/08012-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Marilia de Arruda Cardoso Smith
• Grantee: Tandara Jesus dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/25562-0 - Gastric cancer molecular and functional approaches in the Brazilian population, AP.TEM

Abstract

Understanding the biology of the various genes related to the telomere-telomerase complex can help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of telomere maintenance throughout cell divisions, as well as provide valuable information on human genetic diseases, aging and cancer. Moreover, because telomerase is associated with age, health, and telomere length, it becomes an attractive target for the treatment of various diseases, and has been widely studied as an anticancer therapy. Telomerase is expressed in more than 85% of tumors, which makes this therapy widely applicable, as well as having low resistance and toxicity. Our research group previously analyzed the simultaneous expression of 84 genes related to the telomere-telomerase complex in 22 pairs of intestinal and non-tumoral gastric tumor tissue using the RT² Gene Profiler PCR Array System (SABiosciences). Of the 84 genes evaluated, 7 were identified as differentially expressed. The ACD, MUS 82, RAD17, SIRT 2 and SIRT6 genes showed significantly reduced expression in tumor samples compared to adjacent non-tumor samples. On the other hand, HSP90AA1 and NBN genes showed significantly higher expression in tumor samples compared to adjacent non-tumor samples. To our knowledge, the role of most of these genes in gastric tumor tissue samples in the Brazilian population is unknown. Thus, the aim of the present study is to validate the expression findings of these genes in a broader sample consisting of patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and individuals with neoplasia. (AU)