Effects of physical activity and jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) peel extract ingestion on steroid hormone signaling during cancer progression in the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model

• Grant number: 24/21109-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Montico
• Grantee: Paloma Felix da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a global health concern, influenced by genetic, age, lifestyle and ethnic factors. Currently, preclinical models, such as the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP), have been used to study the progression of this disease due to its well-characterized tumor progression. It is also known that physical exercise constitutes a preventive strategy to reduce the risk of cancer progression, since regular physical activities seem to modulate serum levels of steroid sex hormones. In addition, the use of natural compounds, such as jabuticaba peel extract (JPE), rich in polyphenols, has also demonstrated chemopreventive potential on the development of prostate lesions, reducing the expression of androgen and estrogen receptors. Thus, the general aim of this study will be to evaluate the antitumor actions of JPE and physical exercise on the progression of PCa in the anterior prostate of the TRAMP model, focusing on the effects of these approaches on the tissue expression of steroid hormone receptors. For this purpose, 32 male TRAMP mice will be divided into four groups: Sedentary TRAMP (SED); Sedentary TRAMP + Jabuticaba (SEDJAB); Exercised TRAMP (EX); and Exercised TRAMP + Jabuticaba (EXJAB). During the experimental period, the animals in the different groups will undergo functional tests to evaluate musculoskeletal parameters. After eight weeks of treatment and/or physical exercise on a treadmill, the animals will be euthanized and samples from the anterior lobe of the prostate, periaortic lymph nodes, and both lungs will be collected and processed for morphological and immunohistochemical analyses.