Therapeutic Potential of Tumor Metabolism in Aggressive Salivary Gland Tumors

• Grant number: 24/18069-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Viviane Mariano Brum Corrêa
• Grantee: Raisa Ferreira Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The research group has been studying salivary gland tumours (SGT) for 15 years, focusing on the transition from pleomorphic adenoma (PA) to carcinoma ex-PA (CXAP). Although previous research has contributed to the understanding of these tumours, it has also highlighted the promising prospect of using metabolic reprogramming (MR) as a therapeutic target. In this project, we aim to evaluate the therapeutic potential of MR in patients with salivary gland carcinoma (SC), based on previous genetic and immunohistochemical findings in a large cohort of patients with CXAP. CXAP can present under different phenotypes of SGT, making it a valuable tool to understand the behaviour of these tumours. To achieve this goal, we will evaluate the protein expression of several MR markers including INPPL1, PIK3R2, NUP88, TP53, ARG1, FASN and GLUT-1 in a heterogeneous sample of different SC. Markers showing significant expression changes will be selected for therapeutic evaluation (if a drug target is available) in available cell lines of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MC) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), two of the most common malignant SC in clinical practice. This project represents a continuation of the group's line of research and will contribute to the advancement of translational research. In the era of personalised medicine, the lack of effective targeted therapy for CS is an unmet challenge. Our results may pave the way for the development of new therapies, providing a valuable alternative for patients who often face disfiguring surgery and are resistant to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.