Le cancer est une pathologie complexe causée par plusieurs facteurs génétiques et environnementaux. Aux États-Unis seulement, près de 1 400 000 cas de cancer seront diagnostiqués en 2006 et plus de 500 000 personnes en mourront. Encore aujourd'hui, plusieurs types de cancer sont incurables et la plupart des traitements existants ne sont malheureusement pas curatifs. Cette maladie est caractérisée par une croissance cellulaire incontrôlée ainsi qu'une dissémination des cellules anormales. La prolifération accrue des cellules cancéreuses mène à l'apparition de régions hypoxiques chez plusieurs tumeurs solides. Un grand nombre de molécules participent aux différents stades de la progression tumorale et permettent à la tumeur de s'adapter à son microenvironnement. Plusieurs de ces dernières sont synthétisées sous forme de pro-peptides nécessitant un clivage enzymatique ciblé afin d'acquérir leur activité. Il a été démontré que la furine, le prototype de la famille des convertases de proprotéines, joue un rôle important dans la progression tumorale. La furine est surexprimée chez plusieurs types de tumeurs et elle est nécessaire à l'activation de substrats protéiques dont les rôles dans la croissance tumorale ainsi que dans la formation des métastases sont répertoriés. Dernièrement, l'étude des différents promoteurs de la furine a révélé qu'elle pouvait être induite en hypoxie, et. ce, via le facteur de transcription HIF-1. Notre étude avait pour but d'étudier l'implication de la régulation hypoxique de la furine dans le développement du cancer. Nous avons démontré, par immunohistochimie, la présence de régions hypoxiques dans les xénogreffes formées à partir de fibrosarcomes humains ainsi qu'une surexpression de la furine dans ces régions. Afin d'inhiber cette induction dans les régions hypoxiques tumorales, nous avons construit des vecteurs plasmidiques contenant un inhibiteur de la furine, soit l'[alpha]1-AT-PDX, sous le contrôle d'un promoteur inductible en hypoxie. Ces vecteurs possèdent 3 ou 6 répétitions d'une séquence du gène de l'érythropoïétine contenant un site de reconnaissance pour le HIF-1. Nous avons démontré que ces vecteurs augmentent les niveaux de PDX chez les cellules HT1080 cultivées en hypoxie. De plus, nous avons établi que l'augmentation de PDX en hypoxie est principalement due à la présence de HIF-1 dans la cellule. Nous avons aussi observé une diminution de la maturation de la MT1-MMP ainsi que de l'IGF-IR[bêta], deux substrats de la furine. Dans le but de vérifier la possibilité qu'une inhibition de la furine induite en hypoxie puisse affecter la croissance tumorale, nous avons par la suite transfecté les cellules HT1080 afin d'obtenir une population de cellules exprimant de façon stable les plasmides 3HRE-PDX et 6HRE-PDX. Nous avons démontré que, suite à l'implantation de ces cellules chez des souris immunodéficientes, la croissance des tumeurs exprimant du PDX en hypoxie est diminuée de façon significative. Nous avons également démontré, par immunobuvardage de type Western, la présence de PDX à l'intérieur de ces tumeurs. De plus, des expériences d'immunohistochimie ont révélé que l'expression de PDX était principalement située dans les régions hypoxiques des tumeurs. La furine est une enzyme ubiquiste, impliquée dans le maintien physiologique des fonctions cellulaires. Nos résultats démontrent pour la première fois la faisabilité d'inhiber de façon ciblée la furine, soit dans les zones hypoxiques de tumeurs. Cette inhibition diminue la maturation de substrats impliqués dans la modification du microenvironnemt des tumeurs et par conséquent, diminue la progression tumorale.

Les cellules souches cancéreuses mammaires sont considérées d'initier et d'être responsable du développement des tumeurs. Un certain nombre de marqueurs ont été proposées, mais la question sur la définition de la CSC dans les cancers du sein RE+ reste ouverte. Nous avons utilisé les lignées MCF7 et T47D comme modèles RE+ et les SUM159 comme RE- pour rechercher les fractions cellulaires enrichies des CSC. Nous avons utilisé un panel de marqueurs tels qu'ALDH, CD44/CD24, combiné avec la formation de mammosphères. Les xénogreffes dérivées de patients (PDXs) de cancer du sein ont également été analysées. ALDH+ et/ou CD44+/CD24- définie des fractions cellulaires enrichies en cellules initiatrices de mammosphères et la capacité de différenciation dans les SUM159 et T47D, mais pas dans les MCF7. Nous avons demandé si cela pourrait être lié à différents statuts de p53. Dans ce but, nous avons généré des cellules MCF7shP53 et a montré une augmentation nette de fraction CD44+/CD24- dans ces cellules et une formation accrue de mammosphères. Cependant, les fractions triées ALDH+ ou CD44+/CD24- ont augmenté la formation de mammosphères d'un facteur 2 maximal. Nous voulions enrichir les CSC (basées sur l'initiation de mammosphères), les cellules en monocouche et en mammosphères sont exposées sous faible tension d'oxygène (<2%) pendant 7 jours, elles sont ensuite caractérisées sur la base de leur expression d'un certain nombre de marqueurs de différenciation soit par FACS soit par immunofluorescence. Dans les mammosphères des lignées RE+, les cellules ont passé à un phénotype bipotent CK5+/CK8+ et augmenté la fraction CD24+/CD44-. La même tendance a été observée parallèlement dans les cellules incubées en hypoxie. En outre, les sphères ne portent pas d'augmentation de la tumorigénicité. En conclusion, les cellules formant les mammosphères correspondent à un sous-ensemble avec un phénotype spécifique qui ne portent pas d'augmentation de la tumorigénicité. / Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are believed to initiate and sustain tumor development. A number of markers have been proposed but open questions remain on the definition of CSC in ER+ breast cancer. We used MCF7 and T47D BCCL as ER+ models and the SUM159 BCCL for ER- to search for BCSC enriched subpopulations. We used a panel of markers such as ALDH, CD44/CD24, combined with mammosphere formation. Breast patient derived xenografts (PDX) were also analyzed. ALDH+ and/or CD44+/CD24- define fractions of cells enriched in mammosphere initiation and differentiation capacity in SUM159 and T47D, but not in MCF7. We asked whether this could be linked to different p53 statuses. To this aim, we generated MCF7-shp53 cells and showed a net increase in CD44+/CD24- in these cells and increased mammosphere formation. However, sorted ALDH+ or CD44+/CD24- cells increased mammosphere formation at most by a factor 2. We wanted to further enrich for CSC (based on mammosphere initiation), cultured 2D and mammosphere cells to low oxygen (<2%) for 7 days and characterized the cells on the basis of their expression of a number of differentiation markers by either FACS or immunofluorescence. In mammosphere of ER+ BCCL cells switched to a bipotent CK5+/CK8+ phenotype and increased the CD24+/CD44- fraction. Parallel findings were made with cells incubated under low O2. Furthermore, spheres do not bear increased tumorigenicity. In conclusion mammosphere forming cells correspond to a specific phenotypic subset of breast cancer cells that do not bear increased tumorigenicity.

Parmi les sous-types moléculaires de cancers du sein, le cancer du sein triple-négatif (TNBC) est caractérisé par un très mauvais pronostic et ne bénéficie actuellement d’aucune thérapie ciblée efficace. Dans ce projet, nous avons analysé le profil de certaines altérations oncogéniques dans les tumeurs TNBC et évalué le potentiel thérapeutique de leur ciblage à l’aide des modèles de xénogreffes (PDX).Nous avons d'abord démontré que le récepteur à activité tyrosine kinase RET est surexprimé dans une sous-population de tumeurs du sein TN et HER2+. Le ciblage de RET par son inhibiteur Vandetanib a été testé in vivo dans trois modèles de PDX TNBC et un modèle de PDX HER2+ caractérisés par des niveaux différents d’expression de RET et d’EGFR (les cibles principales du Vandetanib). Le Vandetanib a induit une régression tumorale dans les trois modèles de PDX surexprimant RET ou EGFR. L’effet du Vandetanib a été associé à une inhibition de la voie MAPK, une inhibition de l'angiogenèse et une induction de la nécrose.Nous avons également étudié les altérations de la voie PI3K/AKT/mTOR dans une large série de PDX de cancers du sein incluant des PDX TNBC. La voie PI3K/AKT/mTOR a été trouvée activée dans le cancer du sein triple-négatif. L’altération principalement retrouvée dans cette voie est la perte des deux suppresseurs de la voie, PTEN et/ou INPP4B. Sept des quinze modèles de PDX triple-négatifs testés ont montré une réponse à l’Everolimus. L'analyse des tumeurs traitées a montré que la phosphorylation post-traitement d’AKT est significativement plus fréquente dans les modèles répondeurs par rapport aux non-répondeurs. En conclusion, mon travail de thèse a permis de montrer que le Vandetanib et l'Everolimus pourraient être efficaces pour traiter le cancer du sein triple-négatif. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires pour valider les biomarqueurs prédictifs de réponse à ces deux thérapies ciblées. / Among breast cancer subtypes, Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a very poor prognosis. There are currently no known targeted therapies for this subgroup of patients. In this project, we analyzed the profile of certain oncogenic alterations in the TN tumors and evaluated in vivo the therapeutic potential of targeting these alterations in TNBC.We first demonstrated that the tyrosine kinase receptor RET is overexpressed in a subset of TN and HER2+ tumors. Targeting RET by his inhibitor Vandetanib was tested in vivo in three PDX models of TNBC and one model of HER2+ BC with different expression levels of RET and EGFR. Vandetanib induced tumor regression in the three PDX models with high expression of RET or EGFR. Vandetanib effect was associated with inhibition of MAPK pathway, inhibition of angiogenesis and induction of necrosis. PI3K pathway alterations were investigated in an important number of BC PDX including TNBC PDX. PI3K pathway was shown to be activated in TNBC PDX possibly by the loss of the two pathway suppressors, PTEN and/or INPP4B. Treatment by Everolimus induced response in seven among the fifteen TNBC PDX tested. Analysis of treated tumors showed that post-treatment phosphorylation of AKT was more pronounced in responder PDX. The combination of Everolimus with chemotherapy was tested in one PDX and resulted in increased efficacy.In conclusion, in this work we showed that Vandetanib and Everolimus could be effective in treating TNBC. Further investigations are still needed to validate response related biomarkers.

Heterogeneity within tumors has long been studied as a potential confounding factor for effective therapies, with recent studies pointing to heterogeneity resulting in distinct clonal subtypes, each with varying degrees of fitness and metastatic potential. Studies of heterogeneity have previously been limited to microscopy observations, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Recently, however, it has become possible to examine heterogeneity at a previously unexplored level: the transcriptome of individual cells. Osteosarcomas have been known to be highly heterogeneous, so we have selected osteosarcoma as our primary tumor to study as a proof-of-concept. Additionally, we have elected to create a murine patient derived xenograft (PDX) model from a primary osteosarcoma tumor and examine differences between the primary tumor and resulting xenograft at the single-cell level. Through this, we hope to better understand tumor heterogeneity and add to the current discussion in the scientific community regarding the relevance of PDX models for testing promising new therapies and personalized medicine. Through our examination of single-cell heterogeneity in osteosarcomas, we have confirmed the extensive heterogeneity previously reported, but this time at the level of mRNA. The osteosarcomas were so hetereogeneous that our resulting dataset of over 1,000 cells still did not have enough resolution to generate highly differentiated and separate groupings of cells. Upon examining inter-tumor heterogeneity, we observed the cells from different tumors to generally cluster separately. However, there were certain populations of cells from all tumors that clustered together. We also generated a PDX model and sequenced the resulting tumor, observing markedly reduced heterogeneity as compared to the original primary tumor. Importantly, the cells from the PDX model clustered within the larger group of cells from the original tumor, lending credence to the theory of clonal selection. This work presents evidence of extensive intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity at the mRNA level within osteosarcoma tumors. This heterogeneity requires further single cell sampling to shed light on the biology of tumor diversity. Further, this heterogeneity is significantly reduced in a generated murine PDX model. This difference should serve as a potential warning about additional factors to take into account when evaluating therapies in PDX models, and suggests that further studies examining cause and effect of this observed heterogeneity are warranted.

Le cancer du sein est le cancer le plus fréquent chez la femme. Malgré la chimiothérapie, certaines patientes ont une réponse incomplète et récidivent quelques années plus tard. Le but de ce travail était d’étudier les mécanismes moléculaires mis en place par les cellules tumorales en réponse aux traitements et leur rôle éventuel dans la récidive. La modélisation de ces événements a d’abord été réalisée grâce à des modèles expérimentaux appelés PDX (pour patient derived xenograft) impliquant la greffe de tumeurs de patientes chez la souris immunodéficiente. Une analyse transcriptomique a permis de mettre en évidence, au sein des PDXs qui répondent à la chimiothérapie, la surexpression précoce de gènes cibles de la voie interféron (IFN)/STAT1, suggérant que cette signature moléculaire pourrait être utilisée comme biomarqueur prédictif de la réponse initiale au traitement. Cette signature persiste néanmoins dans les cellules tumorales résiduelles, suggérant qu’elle pourrait également avoir un rôle dans la récidive observée pour l’ensemble des PDX étudiées. L’analyse fonctionnelle de cette signature IFN/STAT1 a été réalisée in vitro, en traitant diverses lignées de cancer du sein par du mafosfamide, principe actif d’une chimiothérapie classique induisant des dommages à l’ADN. Nos résultats montrent que, sous chimiothérapie, certaines lignées (dont les cellules MFC7) sont capables d’exprimer des IFNs de type I conduisant à l’activation autocrine/paracrine de la voie IFN/STAT1. Une étude mécanistique a mis en évidence l’implication du détecteur de l’ADN STING (stimulator of IFN genes) en amont de la production d’IFN, comme cela a été bien décrit dans des cellules immunitaires en présence de pathogènes. Nous avons montré que l’inhibition individuelle de l’expression de différents acteurs de la voie STING/IFN/STAT1 potentialise l’effet de la chimiothérapie, impliquant cette cascade dans la résistance au traitement. En résumé, notre travail suggère que l’activation de la voie STING/IFN/STAT1 dans les cellules tumorales mammaires traitées par chimiothérapie pourrait jouer un double rôle : biomarqueur de la réponse dans un premier temps, puis acteur de résistance dans un second temps. Ce travail ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pronostiques et thérapeutiques pour la prise en charge du cancer du sein. / Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women. Despite chemotherapy, tumor response is often incomplete, and relapse is frequently observed. The aim of this work was to analyze the molecular mechanisms triggered in breast cancer cells in response to chemotherapy. These events were modeled using breast cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), i.e. samples of human tumors engrafted into immunodeficient mice. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted precocious induction of the interferon (IFN)/STAT1 pathway in response to chemotherapy only in tumors responding to treatment, suggesting that this molecular signature could be used as a biomarker of the initial response. The activation of this pathway persisted in residual tumor cells, suggesting that it could also play a role in cancer recurrence observed in all PDX models that we investigated. Functional deciphering of the IFN/STAT1 pathway was performed in vitro by stimulating breast cancer cell lines with mafosfamide, the active principle of a classical chemotherapy inducing DNA damage. In some cell lines, e.g. MCF-7 cells, this treatment triggered the upregulation of type I IFN expression leading to cell-autonomous activation of the IFN/STAT1 signaling pathway. A mechanistic study revealed the involvement of the DNA sensor STING (stimulator of IFN genes) upstream of the IFN production, mimicking what happens in immune cells facing pathogen infection. Individual silencing of various actors of the STING/IFN/STAT1 pathway potentiated genotoxic treatment efficacy, indicating that this cascade may be involved in tumor resistance to treatment. In summary, our study suggests that cell-intrinsic activation of STING/IFN/STAT1 pathway in response to chemotherapy could play a dual role: first, it may be used as a predictive biomarker of initial response; second, it may act as a resistance mechanism to treatment. This work opens new prognostic and therapeutic perspectives for the clinical management of breast cancer.

L’infection chronique par Helicobacter pylori touche plus de la moitié de la population mondiale et est la principale cause connue de l’adénocarcinome gastrique. La metformine, un antidiabétique oral, est de plus en plus étudiée pour ses propriétés antitumorales dans de nombreux types de cancers. Cependant, ses effets potentiels ont très peu été étudiés dans le cancer gastrique. Des expériences réalisées sur des lignées cellulaires cancéreuses gastriques et des tumeurs de patients amplifiées par xénogreffe chez la souris (PDX), ont permis de confirmer les propriétés antitumorales de la metformine. La metformine, en traitement préventif et curatif, diminue la capacité de formation des tumorsphères, l’expression des marqueurs de CSC gastriques, et la capacité d’auto-renouvellement propre aux CSC. Dans un second temps, nous avons montré que la metformine est capable d’inhiber la croissance bactérienne de H. pylori invitro et in vivo. Enfin, les effets de l’infection par H. pylori ont été étudiés sur la voie de signalisation mTOR par la réalisation d’une analyse transcriptomique et de western-blots sur des lignées cellulaires gastriques. Ceci a permis de démontrer que H. pylori inhibe le complexe mTORC1.Pour conclure, ce travail de thèse a permis i) de démontrer la capacité de la metformine à cibler les CSC gastriques, ii) de découvrir une nouvelle propriété antibactérienne de la metformine vis-à-vis de H. pylori, iii) de démontrer que H. pylori inhibe la voie de signalisation mTOR. / Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori affects more than half of the world's population and is the main known cause of gastric adenocarcinoma. Metformin is an oral antidiabetic drug used to treat type 2 diabetes patients, and is being increasingly studied for its antitumoral properties in several cancer types. However, its potential effects in gastric cancer have not been thoroughly studied. Experiments performed on gastric cancer cell lines and patient-derived gastric carcinoma xenografts (PDX), have confirmed the antitumoral properties of metformin. Metformin, in preventive and curative treatment, decreases the tumorsphere formation, the expression of gastric CSC markers and the self-renewal capacity of CSC. In a second time, we have shown that metformin is able to inhibit the bacterial growth of H. pylori in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the effects of the H. pylori infection have been studied on the mTOR signaling pathway using a transcriptomic analysis and western blots, performed on gastric cancer cell lines. These show the ability of H. pylori to inhibit mTORC1.To conclude, this thesis work allowed i) to demonstrate the ability of metformin to target gastric CSCs, ii) to discover a new antimicrobial property of metformin against H. pylori, iii) to demonstrate that H. pylori inhibits the mTOR signaling pathway.

Introdução: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) representa 7% de todos os novos casos de câncer no mundo, sendo o carcinoma espinocelular o tipo mais frequente. Tanto o comportamento biológico quanto o crescimento dos tumores devem ser melhores entendidos, uma vez que a sobrevida dos pacientes apresentou discreta melhora nas últimas décadas. Os modelos PDX foram desenvolvidos para estudar a biologia tumoral e principalmente os mecanismos de crescimento e proliferação através da manutenção da arquitetura e microambiente tumoral do tumor original. Os retinóides possuem a capacidade de restaurar o crescimento e a diferenciação de células normais através da ação dos receptores retinóides nucleares (RARs e RXRs) que são os principais mediadores destas ações que ao sofrerem alterações na sua expressão podem levar ao desenvolvimento e manutenção de tumores. No estudo da carcinogênese o modelo PDX é uma importante ferramenta pois mantém a arquitetura e microambiente do tumor original melhorando a compreensão de algumas vias, entre estas o processo de EMT/MET, na diferenciação das células tronco tumorais e quais receptores nucleares podem estar influenciando nestas vias. Objetivos: Analisar os padrões de comportamento biológico - tempo de formação e expansão do tumor e a manutenção dos padrões histológicos e de arquitetura do tumor original - em F0 e F1 no modelo PDX (xenoenxerto derivado de paciente) das amostras de centro de tumor e epitélio adjacente em camundongos Balb C/nude e avaliar a expressão gênica dos receptores retinóides, ALDH1 e marcadores do processo de EMT/MET por RT-PCR em PDX de carcinoma espinocelular oral em comparação com a amostra dos pacientes doadores nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Método: 24 camundongos Balb C/Nude, divididos em 2 grupos TG(I) – tumor graft paciente (I) e TG(II) – tumor graft paciente (II), subdivididos em 4 grupos de 3 animais: (A) – receberam PDX do centro do tumor; (B) – receberam PDX de epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica); (C) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (A); (D) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (B). E Após estas fases, as amostras coletadas serão avaliadas por RT-PCR para comparação das expressões gênicas entre a amostra original (CT e EA) com os PDX´s nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Resultados: formação de tumores em todos os grupos – tanto do PDX de fragmento de centro do tumor quanto do PDX do epitélio adjacente. E A expressão gênica dos parâmetros observados não diferem no tumor original e passagem F(0) significativamente diferentes em F(1) (p<0,05). Conclusões: A técnida do PDX para o CEC é possível de ser realizada em menor tempo com a implantação de apenas um fragmento do tumor. Os tumores resultantes do PDX apresentaram tamanho suficiente para novas passagens, bem como para seu 6 uso em estudos de comportamento biológico das células neoplásicas. Quanto ao epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica) constatou-se a presença de células tumorais com potencial de promover o crescimento de tumores devendo portanto ser melhor observada nas ressecções. O PDX de primeira passagem F(0) é o que mais se assemelha com o tumor original sendo o melhor para testes terapêuticos e estudos da carcinogênese do CEC oral. Keywords: CECP, modelo PDX, xenoenxerto, margem de segurança cirúrgica, , receptores retinóides, microdissecção a laser. / Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents 7% of all new cases of cancer in the world, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most frequent type. Both the biological behavior and the growth of the patients should be better understood, since the patients' survival show unobtrusive improvement in the last decades. PDX models were developed to study a tumor biology and especially the mechanisms of growth and proliferation through maintenance of the architecture and tumor microenvironment of the original tumor. Retinoids have a capacity to restore normal cell growth and differentiation through the action of nuclear retinoid receptors (RARs and RXRs) that are the main mediators and maintenance actions of tumors. In the study of carcinogenesis, the PDX model is an important tool because it maintains an architecture and microenvironment of the original tumor, improving an understanding of some pathways, among them in the EMT / MET process, the difference in tumor stem cells and which nuclear receptors may be influencing these routes. Objectives: To analyze changes in methodology and patterns of biological behavior - time of tumor formation and expansion and maintenance of histological and architectural patterns of the original tumor - in F0 and F1 without PDX model (patient derived xenograft) tumor and adjacent epithelium in Balb C / nude mice and to evaluate the gene expression of retinoid receptors, ALDH1 and EMT / MET process markers by RT-PCR in PDX of oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to a sample of donor patients in F ( 0) and F (1). Method: 24 Balb C / Nude mice, divided into 2 groups TG (I) - patient tumor graft (I) and TG (II) - patient tumor graft (II) subdivided into 4 groups of 3 animals: (A) - received PDX from the center of the tumor; (B) - received epithelial PDX adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety); (C) received PDX from one animal of group (A); (D) received PDX from one animal of group (B). E After these phases, as samples collected for RT-PCR evaluation for comparison of gene expressions between an original sample (CT and EA) with F passages of PDX F (0) and F (1). Results: tumor formation in all groups - both the PDX of the tumor center fragment and the PDX of the adjacent epithelium. E The gene expression of the observed parameters did not differ without original tumor and F (0) differential passage in F (1) (p <0.05). Conclusions: The PDX technique for CPB is possible to be performed in a shorter time with a tumor fragment implantation. Tumors resulting from PDX presented the solution for new passages, as well as for their use in studies of the biological behavior of neoplastic cells. As for the epithelium adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety), a presence of tumor cells with the potential to promote the growth of tumors has been observed and should therefore be better observed in the resections. The first pass PDX F (0) is the one that most closely resembles the 8 original tumor being the best for therapeutic tests and studies of oral SCC carcinogenesis.

Introdução: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) representa 7% de todos os novos casos de câncer no mundo, sendo o carcinoma espinocelular o tipo mais frequente. Tanto o comportamento biológico quanto o crescimento dos tumores devem ser melhores entendidos, uma vez que a sobrevida dos pacientes apresentou discreta melhora nas últimas décadas. Os modelos PDX foram desenvolvidos para estudar a biologia tumoral e principalmente os mecanismos de crescimento e proliferação através da manutenção da arquitetura e microambiente tumoral do tumor original. Os retinóides possuem a capacidade de restaurar o crescimento e a diferenciação de células normais através da ação dos receptores retinóides nucleares (RARs e RXRs) que são os principais mediadores destas ações que ao sofrerem alterações na sua expressão podem levar ao desenvolvimento e manutenção de tumores. No estudo da carcinogênese o modelo PDX é uma importante ferramenta pois mantém a arquitetura e microambiente do tumor original melhorando a compreensão de algumas vias, entre estas o processo de EMT/MET, na diferenciação das células tronco tumorais e quais receptores nucleares podem estar influenciando nestas vias. Objetivos: Analisar os padrões de comportamento biológico - tempo de formação e expansão do tumor e a manutenção dos padrões histológicos e de arquitetura do tumor original - em F0 e F1 no modelo PDX (xenoenxerto derivado de paciente) das amostras de centro de tumor e epitélio adjacente em camundongos Balb C/nude e avaliar a expressão gênica dos receptores retinóides, ALDH1 e marcadores do processo de EMT/MET por RT-PCR em PDX de carcinoma espinocelular oral em comparação com a amostra dos pacientes doadores nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Método: 24 camundongos Balb C/Nude, divididos em 2 grupos TG(I) – tumor graft paciente (I) e TG(II) – tumor graft paciente (II), subdivididos em 4 grupos de 3 animais: (A) – receberam PDX do centro do tumor; (B) – receberam PDX de epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica); (C) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (A); (D) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (B). E Após estas fases, as amostras coletadas serão avaliadas por RT-PCR para comparação das expressões gênicas entre a amostra original (CT e EA) com os PDX´s nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Resultados: formação de tumores em todos os grupos – tanto do PDX de fragmento de centro do tumor quanto do PDX do epitélio adjacente. E A expressão gênica dos parâmetros observados não diferem no tumor original e passagem F(0) significativamente diferentes em F(1) (p<0,05). Conclusões: A técnida do PDX para o CEC é possível de ser realizada em menor tempo com a implantação de apenas um fragmento do tumor. Os tumores resultantes do PDX apresentaram tamanho suficiente para novas passagens, bem como para seu 6 uso em estudos de comportamento biológico das células neoplásicas. Quanto ao epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica) constatou-se a presença de células tumorais com potencial de promover o crescimento de tumores devendo portanto ser melhor observada nas ressecções. O PDX de primeira passagem F(0) é o que mais se assemelha com o tumor original sendo o melhor para testes terapêuticos e estudos da carcinogênese do CEC oral. Keywords: CECP, modelo PDX, xenoenxerto, margem de segurança cirúrgica, , receptores retinóides, microdissecção a laser. / Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents 7% of all new cases of cancer in the world, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most frequent type. Both the biological behavior and the growth of the patients should be better understood, since the patients' survival show unobtrusive improvement in the last decades. PDX models were developed to study a tumor biology and especially the mechanisms of growth and proliferation through maintenance of the architecture and tumor microenvironment of the original tumor. Retinoids have a capacity to restore normal cell growth and differentiation through the action of nuclear retinoid receptors (RARs and RXRs) that are the main mediators and maintenance actions of tumors. In the study of carcinogenesis, the PDX model is an important tool because it maintains an architecture and microenvironment of the original tumor, improving an understanding of some pathways, among them in the EMT / MET process, the difference in tumor stem cells and which nuclear receptors may be influencing these routes. Objectives: To analyze changes in methodology and patterns of biological behavior - time of tumor formation and expansion and maintenance of histological and architectural patterns of the original tumor - in F0 and F1 without PDX model (patient derived xenograft) tumor and adjacent epithelium in Balb C / nude mice and to evaluate the gene expression of retinoid receptors, ALDH1 and EMT / MET process markers by RT-PCR in PDX of oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to a sample of donor patients in F ( 0) and F (1). Method: 24 Balb C / Nude mice, divided into 2 groups TG (I) - patient tumor graft (I) and TG (II) - patient tumor graft (II) subdivided into 4 groups of 3 animals: (A) - received PDX from the center of the tumor; (B) - received epithelial PDX adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety); (C) received PDX from one animal of group (A); (D) received PDX from one animal of group (B). E After these phases, as samples collected for RT-PCR evaluation for comparison of gene expressions between an original sample (CT and EA) with F passages of PDX F (0) and F (1). Results: tumor formation in all groups - both the PDX of the tumor center fragment and the PDX of the adjacent epithelium. E The gene expression of the observed parameters did not differ without original tumor and F (0) differential passage in F (1) (p <0.05). Conclusions: The PDX technique for CPB is possible to be performed in a shorter time with a tumor fragment implantation. Tumors resulting from PDX presented the solution for new passages, as well as for their use in studies of the biological behavior of neoplastic cells. As for the epithelium adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety), a presence of tumor cells with the potential to promote the growth of tumors has been observed and should therefore be better observed in the resections. The first pass PDX F (0) is the one that most closely resembles the 8 original tumor being the best for therapeutic tests and studies of oral SCC carcinogenesis.

Introdução: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) representa 7% de todos os novos casos de câncer no mundo, sendo o carcinoma espinocelular o tipo mais frequente. Tanto o comportamento biológico quanto o crescimento dos tumores devem ser melhores entendidos, uma vez que a sobrevida dos pacientes apresentou discreta melhora nas últimas décadas. Os modelos PDX foram desenvolvidos para estudar a biologia tumoral e principalmente os mecanismos de crescimento e proliferação através da manutenção da arquitetura e microambiente tumoral do tumor original. Os retinóides possuem a capacidade de restaurar o crescimento e a diferenciação de células normais através da ação dos receptores retinóides nucleares (RARs e RXRs) que são os principais mediadores destas ações que ao sofrerem alterações na sua expressão podem levar ao desenvolvimento e manutenção de tumores. No estudo da carcinogênese o modelo PDX é uma importante ferramenta pois mantém a arquitetura e microambiente do tumor original melhorando a compreensão de algumas vias, entre estas o processo de EMT/MET, na diferenciação das células tronco tumorais e quais receptores nucleares podem estar influenciando nestas vias. Objetivos: Analisar os padrões de comportamento biológico - tempo de formação e expansão do tumor e a manutenção dos padrões histológicos e de arquitetura do tumor original - em F0 e F1 no modelo PDX (xenoenxerto derivado de paciente) das amostras de centro de tumor e epitélio adjacente em camundongos Balb C/nude e avaliar a expressão gênica dos receptores retinóides, ALDH1 e marcadores do processo de EMT/MET por RT-PCR em PDX de carcinoma espinocelular oral em comparação com a amostra dos pacientes doadores nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Método: 24 camundongos Balb C/Nude, divididos em 2 grupos TG(I) – tumor graft paciente (I) e TG(II) – tumor graft paciente (II), subdivididos em 4 grupos de 3 animais: (A) – receberam PDX do centro do tumor; (B) – receberam PDX de epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica); (C) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (A); (D) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (B). E Após estas fases, as amostras coletadas serão avaliadas por RT-PCR para comparação das expressões gênicas entre a amostra original (CT e EA) com os PDX´s nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Resultados: formação de tumores em todos os grupos – tanto do PDX de fragmento de centro do tumor quanto do PDX do epitélio adjacente. E A expressão gênica dos parâmetros observados não diferem no tumor original e passagem F(0) significativamente diferentes em F(1) (p<0,05). Conclusões: A técnida do PDX para o CEC é possível de ser realizada em menor tempo com a implantação de apenas um fragmento do tumor. Os tumores resultantes do PDX apresentaram tamanho suficiente para novas passagens, bem como para seu 6 uso em estudos de comportamento biológico das células neoplásicas. Quanto ao epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica) constatou-se a presença de células tumorais com potencial de promover o crescimento de tumores devendo portanto ser melhor observada nas ressecções. O PDX de primeira passagem F(0) é o que mais se assemelha com o tumor original sendo o melhor para testes terapêuticos e estudos da carcinogênese do CEC oral. Keywords: CECP, modelo PDX, xenoenxerto, margem de segurança cirúrgica, , receptores retinóides, microdissecção a laser. / Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents 7% of all new cases of cancer in the world, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most frequent type. Both the biological behavior and the growth of the patients should be better understood, since the patients' survival show unobtrusive improvement in the last decades. PDX models were developed to study a tumor biology and especially the mechanisms of growth and proliferation through maintenance of the architecture and tumor microenvironment of the original tumor. Retinoids have a capacity to restore normal cell growth and differentiation through the action of nuclear retinoid receptors (RARs and RXRs) that are the main mediators and maintenance actions of tumors. In the study of carcinogenesis, the PDX model is an important tool because it maintains an architecture and microenvironment of the original tumor, improving an understanding of some pathways, among them in the EMT / MET process, the difference in tumor stem cells and which nuclear receptors may be influencing these routes. Objectives: To analyze changes in methodology and patterns of biological behavior - time of tumor formation and expansion and maintenance of histological and architectural patterns of the original tumor - in F0 and F1 without PDX model (patient derived xenograft) tumor and adjacent epithelium in Balb C / nude mice and to evaluate the gene expression of retinoid receptors, ALDH1 and EMT / MET process markers by RT-PCR in PDX of oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to a sample of donor patients in F ( 0) and F (1). Method: 24 Balb C / Nude mice, divided into 2 groups TG (I) - patient tumor graft (I) and TG (II) - patient tumor graft (II) subdivided into 4 groups of 3 animals: (A) - received PDX from the center of the tumor; (B) - received epithelial PDX adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety); (C) received PDX from one animal of group (A); (D) received PDX from one animal of group (B). E After these phases, as samples collected for RT-PCR evaluation for comparison of gene expressions between an original sample (CT and EA) with F passages of PDX F (0) and F (1). Results: tumor formation in all groups - both the PDX of the tumor center fragment and the PDX of the adjacent epithelium. E The gene expression of the observed parameters did not differ without original tumor and F (0) differential passage in F (1) (p <0.05). Conclusions: The PDX technique for CPB is possible to be performed in a shorter time with a tumor fragment implantation. Tumors resulting from PDX presented the solution for new passages, as well as for their use in studies of the biological behavior of neoplastic cells. As for the epithelium adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety), a presence of tumor cells with the potential to promote the growth of tumors has been observed and should therefore be better observed in the resections. The first pass PDX F (0) is the one that most closely resembles the 8 original tumor being the best for therapeutic tests and studies of oral SCC carcinogenesis.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.