Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3 in cancer: in vivo analysis of inflammatory and autophagic pathways markers in subcutaneous white adipose tissue.

• Grant number: 22/06116-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Lila Missae Oyama
• Grantee: Gustavo Oliveira Lima
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer is one of the diseases that affects the world's population the most, showing high mortality rate. Various pathological conditions are associated with both morbidity and mortality of cancer, including inflammatory processes and anorexia-cachexia syndrome. These conditions lead to the worsening on the clinical framework, promoting growth of tumour cells, therefore resulting in poor prognosis.In addition to these conditions, the cellular processes of autophagy and apoptosis are altered in the process of carcinogenesis, which support cancer progression. These alterations are inherent of the physiology of tumour, substances produced by it and the inflammatory process involved. Tissues adjacent to the tumour such as adipose and muscle tissue are involved with the process of evolution, where physical and morphological changes occur increasing the production of pro-inflammatory proteins and growth factors that contribute to the evolution of the framework. This process most likely occurs through the crosstalk between these three tissues.There are several conventional therapies used in the treatment of cancer, but there is a growing need for searching methods that potentiates those already standardized therapies, resulting in a more effective treatment with fewer side effects. Among these therapies, the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cancer can be highlighted. In addition to being an anti-inflammatory agent, the polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3 appears to be involved in modulation of the process of autophagy and apoptosis of tumour cells, and its role in these mechanisms seems to be very important in contributing to the reversal of the carcinogenesis process. However, these mechanisms are not entirely elucidated and there are many divergences regarding therapeutic doses and safety over their use in cancer patients.As the cross talk among different tissues to promote homeostasis is well setting down, we proposed study the inflammatory, apoptosis and autophagia markers profile in different white adipose tissue depots and possible relation with tumour evolution in mice treated with polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3.