Establishing a 3D culture model for analysis of invasive potential of cancer cells with modulation of EZH2

• Grant number: 23/01260-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Seigi Fuziwara
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Pereira Drumond
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/17282-5 - Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control in aggressive cancer and metastasis, AP.JP

Abstract

The polycomb complex PRC2/EZH2 is an epigenetic modulator that represses gene expression by trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27Me3). In cancer, several studies have reported increased EZH2 expression, especially in aggressive types of cancer. Our previous data show and the literature showed that EZH2 levels are increase in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), the most lethal form of thyroid cancer, and also in metastasis of lung cancer. These carcinomas exhibit a high potential to invade and migrate and is associated to the activation epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. However, the available in vitro models are still deficient to further analyze the invasive process. Thus, this project aims to establish an in vitro 3D culture model for thyroid and lung cancer, and evaluate the effect of EZH2 modulation using a protocol adapted from Lin He's Lab for 3D culture (University of California Berkeley).