We have shown herein that β1 integrin stably depleted PC3 sub-clonal cells confer a trend towards increased survival of mice compared to β1 integrin expressing counterparts when tested in an intracardial bone metastasis model. Therefore, we sought to investigate novel factors that mediate β1 integrin-dependent cellular migration and three dimensional growth of prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro. We show herein that depletion of β1 integrin using siRNA directed techniques results in increased SPARC protein expression. We further show that suppression of SPARC by β1 integrin appears to occur through a JNK dependent mechanism. Moreover, siRNA mediated depletion of β1 integrin results in impaired sphere formation in 3D BME assays. This was mediated in part by the increased production of SPARC. β1 integrin-depleted cells also diminished the enhanced migration of cells on the predominant bone matrix, collagen I. Concomitant SPARC depletion in β1 integrin-depleted cells did not rescue this enhanced migration. These findings suggests that the role of β1 integrin in mediating 3D growth of PC3 cells occurs at least in part through the suppression of SPARC protein expression.

Orientadores: Athanase Billis, Luciana Rodrigues de Meirelles / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T20:47:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brasil_AntonioAugustoAzevedoVital_M.pdf: 4698841 bytes, checksum: 5d8edbe0e4ce7ce977504d4197f2f985 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A relação entre a atrofia inflamatória com a neoplasia intraepitelial alto grau e o carcinoma, é controversa. Tem sido sugerida uma relação topográfica e que o epitélio proliferativo da atrofia inflamatória possa progredir para neoplasia intraepitelial prostática alto grau (NIPAG) e/ou carcinoma (CA). O propósito do nosso estudo foi analisar em espécimes de prostatectomia radical uma possível relação topográfica entre estas lesões. Um total de 3186 quadrantes pertencentes a 100 prostatectomias radicais completamente representadas, foi analisado. Determinou-se a frequência de quadrantes mostrando: somente atrofia inflamatória (AI), AI+CA, AI+NIPAG, ou AI+NIPAG+CA. A extensão e a distância entre as lesões foram avaliadas através de um método semiquantitativo de contagem de pontos previamente descrito. Também foram analisados focos de atrofia completa ou parcial sem inflamação. Os métodos estatísticos empregados foram os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney, e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. A média dos quadrantes exibindo somente AI, AI+CA, AI+NIPAG, e AI+NIPAG+CA foi 3.29, 2.51, 0.77, e 0.44; e a amplitude (0-21), (0-11), (0-6), (0-4), respectivamente (p<0.01). A maioria dos focos de AI estavam a uma distância >5mm dos focos de NIPAG e CA. Não houve correlação significativa entre a extensão da AI (p= 0.64, r= 0.05) com a extensão da NIPAG. Houve uma significativa correlação negativa entre a extensão da AI (p=0.01, r=-0.27) com a extensão do CA. Resultados similares foram encontrados considerando focos de atrofia com ou sem inflamação. Focos de atrofia parcial não evidenciaram inflamação crônica inespecífica. Nosso estudo não evidenciou associação topográfica significativa entre AI, NIPAG e/ou CA / Abstract: It is controversial whether there is any relationship of proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) to high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and cancer (CA). It has been suggested a topographic relation and a potential of the proliferative epithelium in PIA to progress to HGPIN and/or CA. The aim of this study was to analyze in radical prostatectomies a possible topographic relation of the lesions. A total of 3186 quadrants from 100 whole-mount consecutive surgical specimens was examined. The frequency of quadrants showing: only PIA, PIA+CA, PIA+HGPIN, or PIA+HGPIN+CA was determined. Extent and distance between the lesions were evaluated by a semiquantitative point-count method previously described. We also studied foci with partial or complete atrophy without inflammation. The statistical methods included the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney tests and the Spearman correlation coefficient. The mean (range) of quadrants showing only PIA, PIA+CA, PIA+HGPIN, and PIA+HGPIN+CA was 3.29 (0-21), 2.51 (0-11), 0.77 (0-6), and 0.44 (0-4), respectively (p<0.01). Most of the foci of PIA were significantly located in a distance >5mm than <5mm from HGPIN or CA. There was no significant correlation between extent of PIA (p=0.64, r=0.05) with extent of HGPIN. There was a significant negative correlation of extent of PIA (p=0.01, r=-0.27) with extent of CA. Similar results were found considering foci either with or without inflammation. Chronic inespecific inflammation was not seen in foci of partial atrophy. A topographic relation of PIA to HGPIN and/or CA was not supported by our study / Mestrado / Anatomia Patologica / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

Orientadores: Luciana Rodrigues de Meirelles, Athanase Billis / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T03:17:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Noronha_MarceloRamos_M.pdf: 4236927 bytes, checksum: 8e1d5407a5771801d828a3660c398949 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O adenocarcinoma de próstata é a segunda neoplasia maligna que afeta homens, sendo precedida somente pelo cancer de pele. A prostatectomia radical continua sendo a mais aceita estratégia terapêutica para os casos confinado a próstata. Alguns achados clinicopatológicos em pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia radical são controvertidos como tendo valor preditivo de progressão bioquímica pós-cirurgia. O monitoramento da progressão da moléstia pós-prostatectomia radical é feito através de dosagem do PSA sérico cujo aumento pode significar recidiva local e/ou metástases. O valor de corte do PSA sérico indicando progressão é variável entre os autores. Há uma recomendação recente da Associação Americana de Urologia para que este valor seja ?0,2ng/mL com um segundo valor >0,2ng/mL. Não está estabelecido se pacientes mais jovens ou de raça negra mostram taxa de recidiva bioquímica maior. O PSA pré-operatório é um dado de grande importância preditiva, mas não está estabelecido a validade da estratificação dos valores em 3 categorias: 4-10ng/mL, 10-20ng/mL e >20ng/mL. Margens cirúrgicas comprometidas no espécime cirúrgico estão na categoria I (valor preditivo comprovado). É controvertido se a contagem final de Gleason 3+4=7 é semelhante ou não a 4+3=7 como fator preditivo de progressão bioquímica pós-prostatectomia radical. O estudo foi retrospectivo e os dados foram coletados dos prontuários médicos de 300 pacientes submetidos consecutivamente à prostatectomia radical no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, no período de janeiro de 1997 a maio de 2007. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi avaliar a progressão bioquímica (PSA) pós prostatectomia radical de acordo com: raça, idade, margens cirúrgicas comprometidas, invasão microscópica do colo vesical, contagem final de Gleason, extensão do tumor, estádio patológico e PSA pré-operatório. Os dados obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente utilizando-se o teste de Mann-Whitney, o produto limite de Kaplan-Meier utilizando-se o teste do log-rank para comparação entre os grupos e o método de Cox para avaliar risco do tempo de progressão bioquímica (PSA) pós-prostatectomia radical. O nível de significância considerado para rejeição da hipótese nula foi p<0,05 bicaudal. Os resultados mais importantes neste trabalho foram: diferença estatisticamente significante quanto ao tempo de progressão bioquímica de pacientes com PSA pré-operatório ?10ng/mL, margens cirúrgicas comprometidas, invasão microscópica do colo vesical, Gleason 4+3=7, tumores mais extensos e tumores não confinados à próstata. Não houve associação da idade e raça com progressão bioquímica. Em análise univariada, os fatores preditivos significantes do tempo e risco de progressão pós-prostatectomia radical foram o PSA pré-operatório, as margens cirúrgicas positivas, a invasão das vesículas seminais, a invasão microscópica do colo vesical e o Gleason 4+3=7. Em análise multivariada, somente PSA pré-operatório, margens positivas e invasão das vesículas seminais mostraram-se fatores preditivos independentes do tempo e risco de progressão bioquímica pós-prostatectomia radical / Abstract: Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the second malignancy that affects men, being preceded only by skin cancer. Radical prostatectomy remains the most widely accepted treatment strategy for cases confined to the prostate. Some clinical and pathological findings in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy are at issue as having predictive value of biochemical progression after surgery. The monitoring of disease progression after radical prostatectomy is done by measuring concentrations of PSA which can mean increased local recurrence and/or metastases. The cutoff of PSA indicating progression varies among authors. There is a recent recommendation of the American Urological Association that this value is ?0.2ng/mL with a second value >0.2ng/mL. It has not been established whether younger or black patients show higher rate of biochemical recurrence. The preoperative PSA is an important predictive factor for biochemical recurrence, but it has not been established the validity of the stratification of values in three categories: 4-10ng/mL, 10-20ng/mL, and >20ng/mL. Positive surgical margins in the surgical specimen are in category I (proven predictive value). It is controversial whether the final Gleason score 3+4=7 is similar or not to 4+3=7 as a predictor of biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy. The study was based on 300 whole-mount consecutive radical prostatectomies. The aim of this study was to analyse the risk and time for biochemical progression after surgery, according to race, age, positive surgical margins, bladder neck invasion, Gleason score, tumor extension, pathological stage and serum PSA preoperative levels. Time to biochemical progression-free outcome was compared using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit analysis using the log-rank to compare the groups. To assess individual variables for risk and time to biochemical progression, we created a univariate Cox proportional hazards model, and to assess the influence of several variables simultaneously, we developed a final multivariate Cox proportional hazards model of the statistically significant covariates. The most important results were: There was a significant association to time of progression of patients with preoperative PSA ?10ng/mL, positive surgical margins, microscopic invasion of the bladder neck, Gleason 4+3=7, more extensive tumors and non confined tumors. No association of race and age to biochemical progression following radical prostatectomy. On univariate analysis, the significant predictive variables for risk and time to biochemical progression were: preoperative PSA, positive surgical margins, seminal vesicle invasion, microscopic invasion of the bladder neck, and Gleason 4+3=7. On multivariate analysis, only positive surgical margins and seminal vesicle invasion were independent predictive variables / Mestrado / Anatomia Patologica / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

Orientador: Sebastião Roberto Taboga / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T05:29:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_SergioMarcelinode_M.pdf: 12006470 bytes, checksum: 547b281190b6caa03f46345dc834ee3e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A próstata é uma glândula exócrina túbulo-alveolar composta, do sistema genital masculino, que secreta parte do líquido seminal. Sua diferenciação dá-se no início do desenvolvimento embrionário e termina na puberdade, sendo que a testosterona (T) tem papel fundamental no seu desenvolvimento e em sua manutenção, após sua conversão pela enzima 5a.-redutase para uma isoforma cerca de 10 vezes mais potente, a dihidrotestosterona (DHT). Uma série de doenças podem acometer a próstata, dentre elas o câncer e a Hiperplasia Benigna Prostática (HBP), e a principal forma de controle dessas doenças é a diminuição dos níveis séricos de T, que pode ser conseguida através da castração cirúrgica (orquiectomia) e da administração de antiandrógenos (castração química). Algumas das drogas mais usadas na castração química são a flutamida e o acetato de ciproterona. A primeira é um antiandrógeno não-esteroidal que compete com a T e com a DHT pelo receptor de andrógeno (RA) nas células da próstata, e a segunda é uma droga esteroidal que além de competir pelo RA inibe a produção de Hormônio Luteinizante (LH) pela hipófise, o que por sua vez inibe a produção de T pelos testículos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar, morfológica e histoquimicamente o comportamento do tecido prostático regredido após 30 dias de ablação de T, tanto pela orquiectomia quanto pela castração química, ambas seguidas de administração de T exógena e suspensão do tratamento, respectivamente. Para tanto foram usados 40 gerbilos (Meriones unguiculatus, Criscetidae, Gerbilinae) machos adultos, os quais foram divididos em dois grupos experimentais (G.Ex. 01 e G.Ex. 02) e dois grupos controle (G.e. 01 e G.e. 02). G.Ex. 01 foi constituído por 20 animais os quais sOITeramorquiectomia bilateral e após 30 dias receberam doses de cipionato de testosterona (TC) a uma concentração de 25mm/Kg, em intervalos de 48 horas, durante 21 dias, e os animais foram sacrificados após O,7, 14 e 21 dias do inicio do tratamento com Te. G.Ex 02 (20 animais) recebeu doses semanais e alternadas dos antiandrógenos acetato de ciproterona e flutamida (0,3ml/animal/dia numa concentração de 25mgIKg) diluídos em óleo de milho, durante 30 dias, e após a suspensão do tratamento anti-androgênico os animais foram sacrificados após de O,7, 14 e 21 dias. O 8 G.C. 01 foi constituído por 5 animais adultos não castrados e o G.c. 02 por 5 animais adultos castrados que receberam óleo de milho, o veículo de diluição das drogas. Os resultados demonstraram que, tanto a castração cirúrgica quanto a química provocaram uma drástica regressão do peso do complexo prostático após 30 dias quando comparados com o grupo controle. A dosagem hormonal mostrou uma redução na quantidade de T circulante no caso da castração cirúrgica e na castração química e o L.H. apresentou um aumento durante a castração cirúrgica e uma diminuição durante a castração química. Após 30 dias de castração, em ambos os grupos, houve uma drástica diminuição na altura epitelial, que foi mais intensa em G.Ex 02, que, juntamente com a pequena quantidade de retículo endoplasmático rugoso (RER), caracterizou uma pouca atividade secretora dessas células. As células musculares lisas (CML) apresentaram um fenótipo estrelado e irregular, e houve um pregueamento da membrana basal (MB) acompanhada de uma diminuição na quantidade de vesículas secretoras. Após a reposição hormonal, em G.Ex O1 pôde ser notado um aumento na altura epitelial, acompanhado da presença de numerosas e alargadas cisternas de RER. As CML retomaram seu fenótipo característico, mas passaram a apresentar uma enorme quantidade de RER em seu citoplasma, caracterizando uma modulação de seu fenótipo contrátil para um fenótipo secretor. A suspensão do tratamento antiandrogênico em G.Ex 02 promoveu a retomada da altura do epitélio e um aumento na quantidade de RER, e estas células passaram a apresentar uma grande quantidade de vesículas lipídicas em seu citoplasma basal. Como em G.Ex O1 as CML retomaram seu fenótipo característico, e também apresentaram um aumento na quantidade de RER. Assim, estes dados nos permitem assumir que o tecido prostático apresentou uma notável capacidade de involução após supressão androgênica e uma capacidade de reorganização após reposição hormonal, e os eventos decorrentes da orquiectomia e da subseqüente administração de T mostraram mais intensos para o tecido prostático / Abstract: The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male genital system, which secretes part of seminal liquidolts differentiation initiates in the beginning of the embryonic development and finishes during the puberty. Testosterone (T) plays an essential role in prostate maintenance, after transformation, by 5a-reductase enzyme, to dehidrotestostorone (DHT) an more potent isoform. As Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer may attack prostate gland, the down regulation of T levels by surgical castration (orchiectomy) or by the administration of anti-androgens drugs, such as flutamide and cyproterone acetate (chemical castration) have been the principal therapies to control these disease. The nonsteroidal antiandrogen flutamide acts by competitive inhibition of the androgen receptors (AR) in the prostate cells. The cyproterone acetate is a steroidal drug besides competing for the AR inhibits Luteinizant Hormone (LH) production on the pituitary gland that themselves inhibit T production by testis. The aim of this work was to evaluate morphologically and histochemically the behavior of prostatic tissue regression after 30 days of T ablation by orchiectomy and by chemical castration, both followed by T administration and suspension oftreatment, respectively. Two experimental groups (Ex.G. 01 and Ex.G. 02) of 20 adult gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) each were employed. ln the Ex.G.Ol the animais underwent bilateral orchiectomy and after 30 days they received testosterone cipionate (TC) doses (25mm/Kg) during 21 days every 48 hours. They were sacrificed at O, 7, 14 and 21 days of the TC treatment beginning. Ex.G. 02 received altemates doses of cyproterone acetate and flutamide (0,3mI/animaI/day, at 25mg/Kg) dissolved in com oil, during 30 days weekly. They were sacrificed at O,7, 14 and 21 days after treatment interruption. As control group 5 animaIs not castrated (C.G.Ol) and 5 castrated animaIs (C.G.02) received com oil, the drug dilution vehicIe. Results showed that after 30 days of both surgical and chemical castration a drastic regression in the prostate weight occurred. Hormonal dosages reveled serum T leveI reduction in both surgical and chemical castration, while serum LH leveI increased during surgical castration and decreased during chemical castration. After 30 days of castration in both groups there were10 intense decreases of epithelium height, more intensive in EX.G. 02, and notable small amount of rugous endoplasmatic reticulum (RER), which characterized a low secretory activity of those cells. Some smooth muscle cells (SMC) showed a spinous and irregular phenotype along with infolding basal membrane and decrease of secretory vesicle amount. After hormonal replacement in EX.G. 01 were noted an increase in epithelial height and a greater RER quantity. Those altered SMC recovered its normal pattem and the considerable number of RER observed in the cytoplasm suggests a modulation of these cells ITom contractile to secretory phenotype. In EX.G. 02 the treatment interruption promoted an increase in epithelial height and in the amount ofRER, besides lots oflipid vesicles at basal cytoplasm. Like in EX.G. 01 SMC retook its normal phenotype, but showed an increase of RER amount to. These data leads to conclude that prostatic tissue showed a high capacity of involution after androgenic ablation and a capacity or reorganization after hormonal replacement, but the events promoted by orchiectomy and T administration appear to be more aggressive to the tissue / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestre em Ciências Biológicas

Orientador: Hernandes Faustino de Carvalho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T10:11:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Peters_Helene_M.pdf: 3147205 bytes, checksum: 29d84ddab25f17a17efc857545126663 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A próstata tem merecido crescente atenção devido à maior incidência de câncer prostático e outras afecções do órgão, que resultam do aumento na longevidade dos indivíduos do sexo masculino em todo o mundo. Além disto, o desenvolvimento e crescimento prostático normal apresenta regulação androgênica e está sujeito a uma série de disruptores endócrinos que afetam o seu crescimento e função, assim como predispõem ao desenvolvimento tumoral. Nosso interesse reside principalmente na remodelação prostática seguida à castração e nas interações epitélio estroma que ocorrem neste órgão. Neste trabalho, investigamos a expressão do inibidor de metaloproteinases (MMPs) RECK, em nível de RNAm, procurando correlacioná-Io com o desenvolvimento pós-natal e com a regressão prostática seguida à castração. Para isto, foram utilizadas técnicas de RT-PCR semiquantitativo, Real time RT-PCR e de hibridação in situ,pareados sempre que possível com a expressão do RNAm e com a atividade de algumas MMPs. Os resultados demonstram que o gene RECK é expresso na próstata ventral de ratos, que existe uma significativa redução na sua expressão ao longo do desenvolvimento pós-natal, que há mecanismos diferenciados controlando a expressão dos pares RECKlMMP-2 e MMP-7/MMP-14. Foi observado também um crescente aCÚInulo da forma ativa da MMP-9, conforme o animal se aproxima da idade adulta. Utilizando RT-PCR semiquantitativo, pudemos determinar que o conteúdo relativo do RNAm para o RECK após a castração não muda, embora haja uma inversão no balanço entre a expressão epitelial (células epiteliais) e estromal (células musculares lisas e fibroblastos), nesta situação. No conjunto, os resultados sugerem que o RECK é expresso por diferentes tipos celulares da próstata ventral de ratos, com mecanismos de regulação complexos provavelmente oriundos da existência de diferentes compartimentos no órgão, ao contrário do que se observa para células isoladas / Abstract: The prostate has deserved increasingly attention due to the growing incidence of prostatic cancer and other prostatic diseases, which can be related to the longevity increase of men around the world. Besides, the normal prostatic development is under androgen regulation and as so is subject to a series of endocrine disruptors which affect its growth and function and predisposes to prostate cancer. Our interest resides on the prostatic remodelling following castration and on the epithelial-stromal relationships known to occur in the organ. In this work, we have investigated the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor RECK, at the rnRNA leveI, trying to correlate its expression with the post natal prostatic development and regression after castration, using semiquantitative RT-PCR, Real time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, paralleled with the determination of some MMPs expression and activity. Tbe results demonstrate that RECK is expressed in the rat ventral prostate, that there is a significative reduction in its expression during the post natal development, which is paralleled by the expression of some MMPs and that the mechanisms controling the pairs RECKJMMP-2 and MMP-7/MMP-14 are different. It was also observed an increased proportion of the active form of MMP-9, as the animal approaches adulthood. Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, we could determine that the relative content ofRECK rnRNA remains unchanged by castration, spite detecting an inversion in the balance between the epithelial (epithelial cells) and stromal (smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts) in this situation. Taken together, the results indicate that RECK is expressed by different cell types of the rat ventral prostate, with regulatory mechanisms appearing more complex, likely resulting ftom the existence of different compartments in the organ opposing what was seen for isolated cells / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Hernandes Faustino de Carvalho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T16:14:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cardoso_AlexandreBruni_M.pdf: 4634401 bytes, checksum: 2acdad984ee68cea24baf18f92182551 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A próstata ventral (PV) de ratos apresenta um crescimento no período perinatal que é atribuído a um pico de testosterona que ocorre logo após o nascimento. Nesta fase ocorre a ramificação e a canalização ductal, que envolvem proliferação e diferenciação epitelial, e sua projeção em direção ao estroma adjacente. Acredita-se que nesses sítios de "invasão" epitelial haja um rearranjo do estroma para acomodar o crescimento epitelial. Considerando-se o dinamismo dos diferentes componentes prostáticos na primeira semana de desenvolvimento, o objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar aspectos morfólogicos do epitélio em desenvolvimento e da interface epitélio-estroma e investigar a expressão e localização da atividades das gelatinases nesse período. Para isto foram empregadas análises morfológicas, imunocitoquímicas, de atividade gelatinolítica in situ e em zimografia. Foram detectadas a presença e a atividade das MMP-2 e MMP-9. A MMP-2 teve um declínio de quantidade, principalmente de sua forma ativa, com o decorrer dos dias analisados contudo a sua expressão nesse período foi mais alta que nos indivíduos adultos. Os cordões epiteliais em desenvolvimento mostraram forte atividade gelatinolítica in situ, que coincidiu a marcação imunoistoquímica para MMP-2. Observou-se aumento da complexidade da arquitetura histológica da PV. Os cordões se ramificaram e canalizaram. O processo de canalização foi associado à deleção de células por apoptose e à diferenciação das células epiteliais, assim como à secreção de compostos de natureza desconhecida. A diferenciação das células epiteliais incluiu a polarização do epitélio, formação de microvilosidades e de organelas de secreção na região apical, além da organização em camada única, nas regiões de canalização. Concomitante a esses processo, o estroma se organizou e ocorreu a diferenciação de células musculares lisas. Esses resultados sugerem o envolvimento de proliferação celular e de projeção epitelial em direção ao estroma adjacente no desenvolvimento prostático, com participação das MMP-2 e MMP-9 / Abstract: The rat ventral prostate (VP) shows an early postnatal growth period in response to a testosterone peak that takes place after birth. During this period the epithelial structures become branched and canalized, in a process involving proliferation of cells in the epithelium and its projection toward the adjacent stroma. At sites of epithelial ¿invasion¿ there is a rearrangement of the stroma to accommodate the growing epithelium. Given the dynamic of the prostate in this period, the aim of this work was to characterize morphological features of the developing epithelium and of the epithelium/stroma interface and to investigate the expression and localization of the gelatinolitic enzymes. Morphological and immunocytochemical (ICC) analysis, in situ zymography and gelatin zymography were employed. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was found in this period. The activity of MMP-2 showed a significant drop postnatally. Developing epithelial cords showed strong gelatinolytic activity. The localization of this activit y was similar to the distribution of MMP-2 as determined by ICC. A increasingly complexity of prostatic architeture was observed. The canalization process involved the deletion of cells, which accommodate the growing lumen. Structures were observed at the lumen with variable eletrondensity and unknown composition. Epithelial cells became polarized, presented microvilli and secretory organelles at apical region, and were restricted to a single layer. Simultaneously, the stroma became organized and presented smooth muscle cells. These results suggest the involvement of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the ductal branching process, epithelial proliferating and projection into the surrouding stroma / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientadoesr: Wagner Eduardo Matheus, Ubirajara Ferreira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T13:05:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_ElcioDias_D.pdf: 1974038 bytes, checksum: e1e7b084d346a50a85fec60666fbf526 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Objetivo: avaliar a eficácia relativa do leuprolide 3,75 mg, leuprolide 7,5 mg e goserelina 3,6 mg quanto à redução da testosterona sérica, em níveis de castração. Método: foram avaliados 60 pacientes com carcinoma avançado de próstata, com indicação de bloqueio hormonal. Os pacientes foram divididos em 3 grupos de 20: Grupo 1) pacientes que receberam leuprolide na dose 3,75 mg; Grupo 2) receberam leuprolide 7,5 mg, Grupo 3) receberam goserelina 3,6 mg. Todos os grupos foram tratados por aplicação mensal das respectivas medicações. Os pacientes foram avaliados com dosagens de testosterona sérica em 2 momentos: pré-tratamento e após 3 meses de tratamento. Resultados: a idade dos pacientes foi semelhante nos três grupos, com mediana de 72, 70 e 70 anos, respectivamente aos grupos 1, 2 e 3. Dos pacientes que receberam leuprolide 3,75 mg, leuprolide 7,5 mg e goserelina 3,6 mg, 26,3%, 25% e 35%, respectivamente, não obtiveram nível de castração, considerando nível de corte de testosterona ? 50 ng/dl; e 68,4%, 30% e 45%, respectivamente, não obtiveram nível de castração, considerando nível de corte de testosterona ? 20 ng/dl. Conclusão: não houve diferença significativa na obtenção de níveis de castração com leuprolide 3,75 mg, leuprolide 7,5 mg e goserelina 3,6 mg, quando comparadas as três substâncias em conjunto. Quando comparados os grupos dois a dois, houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na análise do leuprolide 3,75 mg com o leuprolide 7,5 mg, havendo maior obtenção de nível de castração com 7,5 mg, quando se considera este nível como igual ou menor que 20 ng/dl. A importância dessa eventual diferença, no entanto, deve ser vista com cautela, já que a comparação dos três grupos simultaneamente, muito embora próximo, não atingiu o nível de significância estabelecido / Abstract: Purpose: to evaluate the relative efficiency of leuprolide 3.75 mg, leuprolide 7.5 mg, and goserelin 3.6 mg in relation to the reduction of serum testosterone, regarding the levels of castration. Methods: we evaluated prospectively 60 randomized patients with advanced prostate carcinoma, with indication for hormone blockade. The patients were divided into 3 groups of 20: Group 1) received leuprolide 3.75 mg; Group 2) received leuprolide 7.5 mg; group 3) received goserelin 3.6 mg. All groups were treated with monthly application of the respective drugs. Results: the patients' ages were similar within the three groups, with a median of 72, 70, and 70 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Of the patients that received leuprolide 3.75 mg, leuprolide 7.5 mg, and goserelin 3.6 mg, 26.3%, 25%, and 35%, respectively, did not reach castration levels, considering a testosterone cut of ?50 ng/dl. 68.4%, 30%, and 45%, respectively, did not reach castration levels, considering a testosterone cut of ?20 ng/dl. Conclusions: There were no statiscally significant differences in the levels of castration when comparing with leuprolide 3.75 mg, leuprolide 7.5 mg, and goserelin 3.6 mg, when comparing the three substances altogether. When compared in groups of two, there was a statiscally significant difference between leuprolide 3.75 mg and leuprolide 7.5 mg, in which the latter presented better results in reaching castration levels, when considered equal or less than 20ng/dl. The importance of this difference, however, must be measured with caution, since the comparison of the three groups simultaneously did not reach the established significance level, even though it came close / Doutorado / Fisiopatologia / Doutor em Ciências

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / This study investigated the effect of the C. capensis extract (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 1000 μg/ml) on LNCaP prostate cancer, TM3 Leydig and TM4 Sertoli cells for 24 and 96 hours. The following parameters were investigated: morphology, cell viability (XTT), testosterone modulation, DNA fragmentation (TUNEL), lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH), testosterone production, anti-cancer drug combination. In a separate set of experiments, parameters affecting the initiation, progression and metastasis of cancer were investigated. These included the ability of the aqueous C. capensis rhizome extract to inhibit of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production, and to inhibit collagenase and elastase activity.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each of these cancers are classified by the type of cell that it initially affects. For the purpose of this research we will be focussing on prostate cancer (PC). Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men around the world and annually approximately 4500 men in South Africa are diagnosed making PC a global epidemic. Prostate cancer is a type of cancer which starts in the prostate it is normally a walnut-sized gland found right below the bladder. PC follows a natural course, starting as a tiny group of cancer cells that can grow into a tumour. In some men if PC is not treated it may spread to surrounding tissue by a process called direct invasion/ spread and could lead to death. Current diagnostic tests for prostate cancer have low specificity and poor sensitivity. Although many PC's are slow growing there is currently no test to distinguish between these and cancers that will become aggressive and life threatening. Therefore the need for a less invasive early detection method with the ability to overcome the lack of specificity and sensitivity of current available diagnostic test is required. Biomarkers have recently been identified as a viable option for early detection of disease for example biological indicators ie. DNA, RNA, proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs). Since first described in the 1990s, circulating miRNAs have provided an active and rapidly evolving area of research that has the potential to transform cancer diagnostics and prognostics. In particular, miRNAs could provide potentially new biomarkers for PC as diagnostic molecules. Circulating miRNAs are highly stable and are both detectable and quantifiable in a range of accessible bio-fluids, having the potential to be useful as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers. In this study we aimed to identify miRNAs as potential biomarkers to detect and distinguish between various types of PC in its earliest stage. The major objectives of the study were to identify miRNAs and their gene targets that play a critical role in disease onset and progression to further understand their mechanism of action in PC using several in silico methods, and to validate the potential diagnostic miRNAs using qRT-PCR in several cell lines. The identification of specific miRNAs and their targets was done using an "in-house" designed pipeline. Bioinformatic analyses was done using a number of databases including STRING, DAVID, DIANA and mFold database, and these combined with programming and statistical analyses was used for the identification of potential miRNAs specific to PC. Our study identified 40 miRNAs associated with PC using our "in-house" parameters in comparison to the 20-30 miRNAs known to be involved in PC found in public databases e.g. miRBase. A comparison between our parameters and those used in public databases showed a higher degree of specificity for the identification PC-associated miRNAs. These selected miRNAs were analysed using different bioinformatics tools, and were confirmed to be novel miRNAs associated with PC. The identified miRNAs were experimentally validated using qRT-PCR to generate expression profiles for PC as well as various other cancers. Prostate lines utilised in this study included PNT2C2 (normal) which was compared to BPH1 (Benign) and LNCaP (Metastatic). In the study the expression profiles of eight potential miRNA biomarkers for the detection of PC was determined using qRT-PCR, and to distinguish PC from other cancers. QRT-PCR data showed that miRNA-3 and -5 were up-regulated in the BPH1 and LNCaP when compared to PNT2C2. In addition miRNA-8 was also shown to be up-regulated in LNCaP. Based on these results it was shown that a miRNA profile could be established to distinguish between BPH1 and the LNCaP prostate cell lines. The results suggest that one miRNA as a diagnostic marker may be sufficient to differentiate between different cancer cell lines. Furthermore by creating a unique profile for each cancer cell line by using a combination of miRNAs could be a suitable approach as well. Finally, it was shown that through the use of a single or combination of all eight miRNAs a unique profile for all the cancer cell lines tested in this study can be created. This is an important finding which could have potential diagnostic or prognostic implications in clinical practice.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common form of cancer in men around the world. In many parts of Africa, data on prostate cancer is sparse. This is attributed to poor access to testing and diagnostics. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN) estimated that 28,000 deaths occurred as a result of PCa in Africa in 2008, 4500 of which were in South Africa. This figure (28,000) is predicated a rise to 57,000 over the next two decades. Currently, the most commonly used diagnostic tests for PCa are the DRE and PSA tests. The former is highly invasive and both have low specificity and poor sensitivity. Therefore, the need for a less invasive early detection method with the ability to overcome the lack of specificity and sensitivity is required. Biomarkers have recently been identified as a viable option for early detection of disease. Examples of biological indicators for disease are miRNAs. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules which play a key role in controlling gene expression and certain biological processes. Studies have shown that aberrantly expressed miRNAs are a hallmark of several diseases like cancer. miRNA expression has been shown to be associated with tumour development, progression and response to therapy, suggesting their possible use as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers. The study aimed to investigate the potential of miRNAs implicated in prostate cancer as putative biomarkers for the disease and evaluating these miRNAs in a panel of prostate as well as several other cancer cell lines using qRT-PCR. An in silico approach was used to identify 13 putative miRNAs implicated in prostate cancer of which 8 were further analysed in a parallel study and 5 in this study. Two publicly available target prediction software were used for target gene prediction of the 5 identified miRNAs. The target genes were subjected to functional analysis using web-based software, DAVID. Functions which were clustered with an enrichment score of 1.3 and greater were considered significant. Targets with gene ontologies linked to “transcription regulation”, “regulation of “apopotosis”, “extracellular region” and “metal ion binding” were considered for further analyses. Protein gene interaction analysis was performed to determine the pathways the target genes are involved in using STRING. Expression profile analysis of the genes in various tissues was also carried out using in silico methods through the TiGER and GeneHub-GEPIS databases. Analysis using DAVID resulted in 9 gene targets for the 5 miRNAs. It was found that miR3 seemed the most promising miRNA for biomarker validation based on the in silico analyses. Its target gene MNT was found to be abundantly expressed in prostate tissue from the TiGER results. The GeneHub-GEPIS results also indicated that the gene’s expression is up-regulated during prostate cancer. The expression levels of the miRNAs analysed using qRT-PCR indicated that miR3 is significantly over-expressed in prostate cancer cells when compared to the other cancer cell lines used in this study, corroborating the results observed from the in silico analyses. Another miRNA with interesting results was miR5. It was predicted to target two genes, YWHAZ and TNFSF13B. In TiGER, both were found to be expressed in prostate tissue. The genes were also found to be up regulated during prostate cancer in GeneHub-GEPIS. The expression level of miR5 in LNCaP was 15.32; it was significantly up-regulated in the cell line using qRT-PCR. However, miR5 was also present in HEPG2-7.06, MCF7-0.79, HT29-1.61 and H157-3.59. Thus, it was concluded it can be used as a biomarker in combination with other miRNAs. The miRNA miR2 was found to target the actin filament protein encoding gene AFAP1. The gene was predicted to be upregulated with a DEU of 33.25 in GeneHuB-GEPIS. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression ratio in LNcaP was 8.79. However, miR2 expression was up-regulated in MCF7-0.85 and HT29-1.09 as well. The expression level of miR1 in BHP1 was found to be 4.85. It can be considered as an indicator for benign prostate hyperplasia. Future work would include investigating the expression of miR3 in a larger panel of cancer cells as well as in patient samples. In addition, analysis of the UTR sequences of the miRNAs targets experimentally to prove that the target genes identified using in silico methods, are indeed regulated by these miRNAs. Furthermore, performing gene “knock-out” studies on the genes that code for the miRNAs to study their roles in prostate cancer development.