Evaluation of placental oxidative and glycolytic metabolism of pregnant Wistar rats Walker 256 tumour-bearing and treated with Doxorubicin chemotherapy and Cyclophosphamide

• Grant number: 23/01811-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes
• Grantee: Beatriz Cassaniga Talassi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/02739-4 - Nutrition and cancer: study of molecular, proteomic and metabolomic aspects of experimental model of cachexia, AP.TEM

Abstract

Problem statement: The incidence of cancer during pregnancy is increasing significantly due to several factors, such as advanced maternal age, cancer treatment, and preservation of fertility. This condition represents a major therapeutic challenge, as maternal and fetal/neonatal health must be taken into consideration. Placental dysfunctions resulting from cancer associated with pregnancy are still little explored, despite the high incidence of complications, such as preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. Given this, elucidating changes in the placenta during neoplastic disease may provide possibilities for better future therapeutic approaches. Objective: To evaluate molecular changes in pathways related to oxidative and glycolytic metabolism in the placenta of rats with Walker 256 carcinosarcoma associated with pregnancy and chemotherapy. Material and methods: Placentas will be collected from healthy pregnant Wistar rats (Control group with and without chemotherapy treatment) and Walker 256 tumour-bearing pregnant rats with and without chemotherapy treatment after the first third of pregnancy (Cancer group and Cancer + Chemotherapy group). The placentas will be evaluated for molecular alterations using molecular biology techniques, such as RT-qPCR (gene expression) and Western Blotting (protein expression), and also immunohistochemical analysis to compare the difference of oxidative and glycolytic activities among the placental zones. To compare the four experimental groups, two-way ANOVA will be used, followed by Tukey's HSD post-test.