nfluence of Geopropolis combined with paclitaxel on the migratory profile of ovarian tumor cells

• Grant number: 22/12131-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Flávia Karina Delella
• Grantee: Sara Costa da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer among women and has the worst prognosis. Additionally, it is a neoplasm that tends to be discovered at a later stage, and this can directly affect the treatment model to be used. Among the treatments used, there are cytoreductive surgeries in conjunction with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is used both in treatments in advanced stages and in early stages, which is composed of platinum and taxanes. However, some studies have shown neoplastic cells resistant to the action of these drugs. Therefore, new lines of studies should be outlined, such as the use of natural products associated with classic chemotherapeutics, aiming at their optimization. Among the candidates are those natural products from stingless bees, such as geopropolis. The combination of this product with Paclitaxel affects cellular morphological changes, such as cell roundness, cell retraction and decreased density. Therefore, it is necessary to collaborate scientifically with studies that test the potentiating capacity of the cytotoxic activity of Paclitaxel combined with Geo in ovarian tumor cells, as well as its isolated use. Investigating the cell viability, migration and invasion of CO cells and comparing the activity of MMPs in tumor cells exposed and unexposed to the compound. Thus, an anticancer action of the natural compound is expected in isolated use and along with the chemotherapeutic agent, acting, mainly, in the reduction of the proliferation of ovarian tumor cells and an improvement in the chemo-antitumor responses in the long term. Thus, this study collaborates to find new treatments that can prolong life expectancy, with quality, of patients affected by this carcinoma.