Expression of monocarboxylate transporters in penile cancer

• Grant number: 20/11989-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Céline Marques Pinheiro
• Grantee: Leandra Akemi Pistori Ynomoto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos Dr Paulo Prata (FACISB). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Penile cancer is a rare neoplasm, with a higher prevalence in underdeveloped countries. It is more common in men from the sixth decade of life and presents risk factors related to poor hygiene and sexually transmitted infections, such as HPV. In cancer, changes in cell metabolism favor the progression of the disease, and more aggressive neoplasms present an increase in the expression of proteins related to this metabolic reprogramming, such as monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The expression of MCT1 and MCT4 in tumors is associated with aggressiveness in malignant tumors and is related to the decrease in the pH of the extracellular environment, a greater invasive phenotype, the presence of extracellular lactate, favoring the escape of the immune system, and other aspects still under investigation. Although studied in other tumor contexts, MCTs have not yet been described in penile carcinomas. Objective: To evaluate the expression of monocarboxylates transporters in penile cancer and associate their expression with clinical and pathological data of patients. Materials and methods: Using immunohistochemistry, the MCT1 and MCT4 protein expression will be evaluated in a series of around 180 samples of penile carcinoma. The parameters of extension and intensity of the immunohistochemistry expression will be evaluated by a pathologist and associated with the clinical and pathological data of patients using the SPSS.(AU)