Uncovering the role of metabolomic alterations associated with malignant phenotype acquisition in pleomorphic adenoma

• Grant number: 23/01150-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 31, 2023
• End date: October 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Viviane Mariano Brum Corrêa
• Grantee: Reydson Alcides de Lima Souza
• Supervisor: Alena Skalova
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Charles University, Pilsen (CU), Czech Republic
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/08431-4 - METABOLOMIC PROFILING ANALYSIS IN THE MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA, BP.DR

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland tumor. Despite its benign nature, such a tumor is prone to recurrence and malignant transformation to a carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA). CXPA is divided regarding invasiveness to the capsule and histological subtype. The etiopathogenic events associated with this event are still poorly understood, but the accumulation of molecular alterations is believed to be responsible for this process. Considering the metabolic alterations associated with carcinogenesis, metabolomic studies emerge as a valuable tool for a better understanding of this process. Several factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, are associated with the formation of metabolites, thus, the study of the metabolome concerns both the genotype and phenotype of a system. Such methodology proves even more relevant concerning the malignant transformation of PA, given that this lesion exhibits a wide range of cellular phenotypes. However, being a poorly explored area in salivary gland tumors, the interpretation of the results proves to be a remarkable challenge. Given this, the present study aims to unravel the role of metabolites, identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), in the malignant transformation of PA. Thus, we hope that the interpretation and validation of the results can provide more information about the genesis of these tumors, as well as the creation of molecular signatures in order to be translated into clinically applicable therapies to treat patients affected by these neoplasms. (AU)