Differential gene expression in stromal cells derived from bone marrow involved or uninvolved by malignant cells of breast cancer patients

• Grant number: 06/00543-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2006
• End date: April 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Maria Aparecida Azevedo Koike Folgueira
• Grantee: Bárbara dos Santos Nunes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The inter-relationship between epithelial cells and stromal cells from lymph nodes or bone marrow from patients with breast cancer is an unclear aspect. It is possible that soluble factors produced by fibroblasts from lymph nodes (LN) or bone marrow (BM) may influence the establishment of metastasis. We have initially evaluated the gene expression profile from fibroblasts from involved and uninvolved lymph nodes from breast cancer patients. We have also determined the influence of soluble factors produced by normal or malignant epithelial mammary cells on fibroblasts’ gene expression. Our next objective is to identify genes differentially expressed between stromal cells from involved or uninvolved BM.