O exercício físico tem sido proposto como uma terapia não farmacológica eficaz para a prevenção e tratamento de neoplasias, com destaque ao câncer de cólon. O presente estudo visa investigar o papel da glândula pineal sobre carcinogênese colônica experimental de ratos submetidos ao exercício físico Dessa forma, propusemos investigar os biomarcadores colônicos de câncer, foco de cripta aberrante (FCA), antígeno nuclear de proliferação nuclear (PCNA), expressão de ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) e Caspase 3. Além de parâmetros oxidativos hepáticos de peroxidaçao lipídica e gluationa reduzida (GSH). O Estudo foi conduzido através dos grupos experimentais controle (C), luz contínua (L), Exercício (E) e luz contínua associada ao Exercício (LE) e os mesmos grupos expostos ao carcinógeno químico 1,2-Dimetilhidrazina (DMH). Exercício físico foi realizado pelo modelo de natação, 5 dias por semana durante 10 semanas. Após o periodo de treinamento, os animais foram sacrificados, sendo coletadas amostras de sangue e fígado e colón para análises. O estudo do fígado revelou uma significativa influência do DMH na modulação dos parâmetros oxidativos. Já as análises colônicas dos FCAs e do PCNA mostraram-se controlados pelo exercício físico realizado em condições de normais do ritmo circadiano ao passo que em condições de desbalanço fisiológico da glândula pineal pela exposição luz constante, esses mesmos efeitos foram revertidos em comparação ao demais grupos (LED>LD>D>ED=p<0.001), aumento este acompanhado pela redução dos níveis plasmáticos de melatonina neste grupo. Em conclusão, nossos dados alertam para a forte influência da glândula pineal sobre o complexo de adapatações do exercício físico no tecido colônico de ratos expostos a um carcinógeno químico. / Physical activity has been proposed as a nonpharmacologic therapy for the prevention and treatment of cancer patients, with emphasis on colon cancer. The current study aims to investigate the role of the pineal gland on experimental colon carcinogenesis in rats submitted to physical exercise. We proposed to analyze cancer colonics biomarkers, Aberrant Foci Crypt (ACFs), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Caspase-3, inflammation parameters cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) and liver oxidative enzymes reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA). Experimental design was constructed by control group (C), continuous light (L), exercise (E) and continuous light plus exercise (LE) and the same groups with chemical carcinogen 1,2 dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH). Exercise training groups were performed swimming exercise 5 d-wk1 for 10 wk. After training period rats were sacrificed. Blood samples and liver were collected to analyses and colon was processed for histological and immunohistochemistry examination. The study of the liver revealed a significant effect of DMH in the modulation of oxidative parameters. Since the analysis of colonic FCAs and PCNA were shown to be controlled by exercise carried out with a normal circadian rhythm while in conditions of physiological imbalance of the pineal gland by constant light exposure, these effects were reversed in comparison to other groups (LED> LD> D> ED = p <0.001), increase accompanied by reduced plasma levels of melatonin in this group. In conclusion, our data call attention to the strong influence of the pineal gland on the complex adaptations of physical exercise on colonic mucosa of rats exposed to a chemical carcinogen.

Estudos têm demonstrado que o microambiente tumoral é rico em ATP e adenosina, sugerindo o envolvimento da sinalização purinérgica no desenvolvimento e/ou manutenção do câncer. Ainda, o receptor purinérgico P2X7, conhecido pelo seu papel na indução de apoptose, encontra-se reduzido em alguns tecidos tumorais em comparação aos tecidos saudáveis, indicando que a sua redução possa ser um mecanismo de resistência celular à apoptose. Dessa forma, compreender o papel da sinalização purinérgica no contexto do câncer se torna indispensável e permite que novas abordagens terapêuticas sejam implementadas. Nesse trabalho, avaliamos a função dos nucleotídeos e nucleosídeos da adenina, bem como do receptor P2X7 na indução da morte celular em células de câncer cervical. Também verificamos o efeito do heat shock na potencialização da atividade do receptor P2X7 frente à curta exposição ao ATP em células de câncer de cólon. De acordo com os nossos resultados, o efeito citotóxico do ATP extracelular nas linhagens de câncer cervical é mediado principalmente pela ação do seu metabólito adenosina, que ao entrar no interior das células, promove o aumento dos níveis intracelulares de AMP, ativação de AMPK, aumento da p53 e indução de autofagia. O papel do receptor P2X7 nesse contexto parece ser apenas coadjuvante, visto que o seu bloqueio ou silenciamento impediu em apenas 20% a morte celular. Além disso, utilizando células de câncer de cólon, nós demonstramos que o heat shock aumenta a funcionalidade do receptor P2X7, independente da interação com heat shock proteins ou canais do tipo conexina/panexina, potencializando o efeito citotóxico do ATP. Esse efeito parece estar relacionado à mudanças na composição e arquitetura da membrana celular, visto que o uso do agente fluidizador de membrana benzil álcool foi capaz de mimetizar o efeito do heat shock na potencialização do receptor P2X7 a 37ºC. Este estudo fornece evidências adicionais sobre o papel da sinalização purinérgica no contexto da biologia celular tumoral e abre novas perspectivas para o uso dos nucleotídeos de adenina associados a hipertermia como agentes adjuvantes na terapia do câncer. / The tumor microenvironment is rich in ATP and adenosine, suggesting an involvement for purinergic signaling in cancer development and surveillance. The P2X7 receptor, among the P2 purinergic receptors, is broadly recognized as the “death receptor”, because it promotes cell apoptosis when exposed to high levels of extracellular ATP. Researches have been shown that P2X7 protein levels are decreased at the tumor site in comparison to adjacent healthy tissue, suggesting a mechanism of tumor escape to cell death. Thus, understanding purinergic signaling in a cancer context becomes urgent and opens a new field for therapeutic strategies. Here, we evaluated adenine nucleotides and nucleosides cytotoxicity, as well as P2X7 role in cell death induction using cervical cancer cell lines. Indeed, we investigated heat shock effect on P2X7 functionality through exposing colon cancer cell shortly to ATP at 40ºC. According to our data, adenosine uptake formed from ATP metabolism is the main responsible for the extracellular ATP cytotoxicity in cervical cancer cells. While inside of the cell, adenosine is converted to AMP, leading to AMPK activation, p53 increase and autophagy induction. ATP induced cell death per se through P2X7 in this context seems to be less important, since P2X7 blockage or knocking down reduced only 20% of cell death. In colon cancer cells, we found that heat shock stress was able to increase P2X7 pore formation independently of heat shock protein interaction or native pore-forming transporters association (e.g pannexin-or connexin-type channels), thus leading to an increase ATP cytotoxicity. The mechanism enrolled in this process seems to be related to changes in the lipid composition and architecture of membrane, as the membrane fluidizer benzyl alcohol could reproduce heat stress effect in potentiating P2X7 activation at 37ºC. In conclusion, our work provides further evidence for a purinergic signaling role in the cancer biology context and opens new perspectives for the utility of purine-based drugs associated to hypertermia as adjunctive agents in cancer therapy.

O exercício físico tem sido proposto como uma terapia não farmacológica eficaz para a prevenção e tratamento de neoplasias, com destaque ao câncer de cólon. O presente estudo visa investigar o papel da glândula pineal sobre carcinogênese colônica experimental de ratos submetidos ao exercício físico Dessa forma, propusemos investigar os biomarcadores colônicos de câncer, foco de cripta aberrante (FCA), antígeno nuclear de proliferação nuclear (PCNA), expressão de ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) e Caspase 3. Além de parâmetros oxidativos hepáticos de peroxidaçao lipídica e gluationa reduzida (GSH). O Estudo foi conduzido através dos grupos experimentais controle (C), luz contínua (L), Exercício (E) e luz contínua associada ao Exercício (LE) e os mesmos grupos expostos ao carcinógeno químico 1,2-Dimetilhidrazina (DMH). Exercício físico foi realizado pelo modelo de natação, 5 dias por semana durante 10 semanas. Após o periodo de treinamento, os animais foram sacrificados, sendo coletadas amostras de sangue e fígado e colón para análises. O estudo do fígado revelou uma significativa influência do DMH na modulação dos parâmetros oxidativos. Já as análises colônicas dos FCAs e do PCNA mostraram-se controlados pelo exercício físico realizado em condições de normais do ritmo circadiano ao passo que em condições de desbalanço fisiológico da glândula pineal pela exposição luz constante, esses mesmos efeitos foram revertidos em comparação ao demais grupos (LED>LD>D>ED=p<0.001), aumento este acompanhado pela redução dos níveis plasmáticos de melatonina neste grupo. Em conclusão, nossos dados alertam para a forte influência da glândula pineal sobre o complexo de adapatações do exercício físico no tecido colônico de ratos expostos a um carcinógeno químico. / Physical activity has been proposed as a nonpharmacologic therapy for the prevention and treatment of cancer patients, with emphasis on colon cancer. The current study aims to investigate the role of the pineal gland on experimental colon carcinogenesis in rats submitted to physical exercise. We proposed to analyze cancer colonics biomarkers, Aberrant Foci Crypt (ACFs), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Caspase-3, inflammation parameters cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) and liver oxidative enzymes reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA). Experimental design was constructed by control group (C), continuous light (L), exercise (E) and continuous light plus exercise (LE) and the same groups with chemical carcinogen 1,2 dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH). Exercise training groups were performed swimming exercise 5 d-wk1 for 10 wk. After training period rats were sacrificed. Blood samples and liver were collected to analyses and colon was processed for histological and immunohistochemistry examination. The study of the liver revealed a significant effect of DMH in the modulation of oxidative parameters. Since the analysis of colonic FCAs and PCNA were shown to be controlled by exercise carried out with a normal circadian rhythm while in conditions of physiological imbalance of the pineal gland by constant light exposure, these effects were reversed in comparison to other groups (LED> LD> D> ED = p <0.001), increase accompanied by reduced plasma levels of melatonin in this group. In conclusion, our data call attention to the strong influence of the pineal gland on the complex adaptations of physical exercise on colonic mucosa of rats exposed to a chemical carcinogen.

The second most common cause of cancer deaths in the developed world is bowel cancer. Improving the ability to detect and classify lesions as early as possible, allows treatment earlier. The work presented in this thesis is structured around the following detailed aims:Development of high frequency, broadband µUS (micro-ultrasound) imaging transducers through optimization of ultra-thinning processes for lithium niobate (LNO) and fabrication of novel ‘mass-spring’ matching layers using carefully controlled vacuum deposition is demonstrated. The effectiveness of this technique was quantified by applying multiple matching layers to 3 mm diameter 45 MHz LNO µUS transducers using carefully controlled vacuum deposition. The bandwidth of single mass-spring layer µUS transducer was measured to be 46% with an insertion loss of 21 dB. The bandwidth and insertion loss of a multiple matching layer µUS transducer was measured to be 59% and 18 dB respectively. The values were compared with an unmatched transducer which had a bandwidth and insertion loss of 28% and 34 dB respectively. All the experimentally measured values were in agreement with unidimensional acoustic model predictions. µUS tools that can detect and measure microscopic changes in precancerous tissue using a mouse small bowel model with an oncogenic mutation was developed. µUS transducer was used to test the hypothesis that the intestinal tissue morphology of WT (wild type) and ApcMin/+ (adenomatous polyposis coli) diverges with progressing age intervals (60, 90 and 120 days) of mice. A high frequency ultrasound scanning system was designed and the experiments were performed ex vivo using a focused 45 MHz, f-# = 2.85, µUS transducer. The data collected by scanning was used to compute the backscatter coefficients (BSC) and acoustic impedance (Z) of WT and ApcMin/+ mice. The 2D and 3D ultrasound images showed that µUS detects polyps < 500 µm in the scan plane. The measured values of BSC and Z showed differences between normal and precancerous tissue. The differences detected in precancerous murine intestine and human tissue using µUS were correlated with high resolution 3D optical imaging. This novel approach may provide a powerful adjunct to screening endoscopy for improved identification and monitoring, allowing earlier treatment of otherwise undetectable lesions.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2017-02-08T15:54:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Angela Cristina Weissheimer_.pdf: 211763 bytes, checksum: 94a696250d65339dc7adc2dad25d303d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-08T15:54:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Angela Cristina Weissheimer_.pdf: 211763 bytes, checksum: 94a696250d65339dc7adc2dad25d303d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-10 / Nenhuma / Este trabalho tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de um protocolo de condutas e rotinas de terapia nutricional para pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer cólon retal (CCR) no Hospital do Câncer de Francisco Beltrão, buscando melhorar o atendimento, avaliação e acompanhamento nutricional dos pacientes, atuando de forma preventiva e imediata na intervenção nutricional necessária e de forma individualizada. O emprego deste protocolo volta-se aos profissionais nutricionistas, para ser aplicado especificamente aos pacientes com câncer colorretal. Tal utilização torna indispensável a compreensão dos métodos e técnicas aqui determinados, a rigorosidade do preenchimento de todos os dados e condutas para que esse acompanhamento permita uma avaliação minuciosa da evolução nutricional do paciente. A utilização efetiva do protocolo de padronização de condutas e rotinas de terapia nutricional é o início de um formato diferenciado no atendimento aos pacientes, buscando agilidade, confiança e segurança nas informações prestadas, garantindo à equipe multidisciplinar dados atuais em relação a situação nutricional do paciente para melhor desempenho nas suas respectivas áreas. Sua implantação trará maior individualidade na atenção as necessidades de cada paciente e acompanhamento de forma contínua, buscando atender as necessidades atuais e individuais de cada paciente durante o todo o tratamento, do diagnóstico a alta hospitalar. / This work aims to develop a protocol for conducts and nutritional therapy routines for patients with diagnosis of rectal colon cancer (CCR) in the Francisco Beltrão Cancer Hospital, seeking to improve the care, evaluation and nutritional follow-up of patients, acting in Preventive and immediate way in the necessary nutritional intervention and in an individualized way. The use of this protocol turns to nutritionists, to be applied specifically to patients with colorectal cancer. Such use makes it indispensable to understand the methods and techniques determined here, the accuracy of filling all data and conduct so that this monitoring allows a thorough evaluation of the nutritional evolution of the patient. The effective use of the standardization protocol for nutritional therapy routines and routines is the beginning of a differentiated format in patient care, seeking agility, confidence and security in the information provided, guaranteeing to the multidisciplinary team current data regarding the patient's nutritional status for Performance in their respective areas. Its implementation will bring greater individuality in the attention to the needs of each patient and continuous follow-up, seeking to meet the current and individual needs of each patient during the entire treatment, from diagnosis to hospital discharge.

Over 4,000 flavonoids have been identified, and among these, many of them are known to possess cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor effects. However, most of these properties have yet to be fully understood. In this study, extracts from Gnaphalium gracile, thought to possess a mixture of flavonoids, have been tested for cytotoxic activity on pancreatic (MiaPaca, Panc28), colon (HCT-116, Caco-2), and prostate (PC3, LNCaP), cancer cell lines. Polar extracts from the leaves of G. gracile have the most cytotoxic effect on these cancer cell lines, particularly the prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and LNCaP. Evidence suggests the extracts have antineoplastic effects on these cancer cells lines possibly due to differentiation status on pancreatic and colon cancer, but not prostate cancer. Cytotoxic activity is not dependent on tumorigenic potential. Further research is needed to identify the bioactive compounds within these extracts.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants that have bioactive properties including antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer. Two isomeric flavone were extracted from Gnaphalium elegans and Achyrocline bogotensis, plants used by the people from the Andean region of South America as remedies for cancer. 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6,8-trimethoxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (5, 7–dihydroxy- 3, 6, 8 trimethoxy flavone/ flavone A) and 3,5-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (3, 5–dihydroxy-6, 7, 8–trimethoxy flavone/ flavone B) have shown antineoplastic activity against colon cancer cell lines dependent upon their differentiation status. Pharmacokinetic studies reported herein were used to determine dosing for antitumor assays, as well as determine target tissue concentration. These included the development of methods to extract the flavones from plasma or colon tissue and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography methods for quantification. Quantification methods were linear (r2 ≥ 0.99) with plasma calibration curves ranging from 250 - 2,500 ng/mL and 2,500 - 100,000 ng/mL for both flavones and colon calibration curves ranging from 250 – 100,000 ng/g (flavone A) and 1,000-25,000 ng/g (flavone B). Intravenous administration of a 20 mg/kg dose in rats yielded half-lives of 83.68 ± 56.61 and 107.45 ± 53.31 minutes with clearance values of 12.99 ± 13.78 and 80.79 ± 35.06 mL/min/kg for flavones A and B, respectively. Analysis of colon tissue yielded concentrations of 1639 ± 601 ng/g (flavone A) and 5975 ± 2480 ng/g (flavone B), suggesting both may be good candidate for individual or adjunct therapy for colon cancer due to distribution to the target tissue. Preliminary studies in colon cancer cells CaCo 2 and HCT 116 using either flavone in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) suggested synergistic activity of these compounds. The combination treatment increased induction of apoptosis by enhancing the DNA damaging mechanism of 5-FU. In vivo, preliminary xenograft experiments using HCT 116 cells showed smaller tumors in mice dosed with flavone B as compared to the 5-FU or combination treatment. Further experiments are warranted to confirm these observations.

No description available.

Metastasis is a feared aspect of cancer and little is known about the underlying mechanisms. It is proposed that metastasis is caused by cell fusion between tumour and immune active phagocyte cells, for example macrophages. Such hybrid cells could then develop immortality and chemo tactic mobility. In two different systems it was examined whether it is possible to detect variation in cancer cells that would explain an initial fusion between tumour cells and leukocyte cells. Both systems included use of STR markers. Human colon carcinoma cells, which originally had been grown in nude mice, were investigated with mouse specific primers. These showed no trace of mouse DNA, which they most probably would have if cell fusion had occurred. Human breast cancer cells grown in nude mice, that had received injection of stem cell from male blood, showed no presence of Y-chromosomes. Blood, which was analyzed from one of the mice, showed a weak presence of something else than just mouse DNA. The result was however vague and hard to evaluate, and tries to reproduce the positive outcome failed. No evidence, which indicated that cell fusion occurred, was possible to demonstrate. On the other hand, there are previous studies that show how metastases can express macrophage specific properties, which gives all reason for further investigations.

Colon cancer and obesity are two significant and related pathological states with multiple etiological factors. In this dissertation, it was hypothesized that tumor growth is accelerated in the altered state of obesity due to their resistance towards tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mediated cytotoxicity. Physiologically elevated TNF-alpha in an obese state induces increased nuclear transcription factor-kB (NF-kB) activity, known to transcribe genes crucial to cell survival. Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and a pro-inflammatory environment are few of the biological consequences of TNF-alpha and NF-kB pathway activation, and further contribute to disease progression. <br /><br /> Three major studies were conducted to investigate phenotypical changes in obesity associated tumors. Firstly, characteristics of the TNF-alpha resistant phenotype were preliminarily assessed by evaluating the effects of exogenous TNF-alpha treatment to HT-29 cells. Elevated levels of NF-kB in response to exogenous TNF-alpha gave an indication that this pathway is critical for cell survival. Furthermore, upregulation of TNF-alpha receptor 2 (TNFR2) suggested another strategy by which the cells were utilizing exogenous TNF-alpha for a survival advantage. Inhibition of NF-kB via St. John?s Wort treatment demonstrated that HT-29 cells may be sensitized towards TNF-alpha mediated cytotoxicity. <br /><br /> Zucker obese (Zk-Ob), Zucker lean (Zk-Ln), and Sprague Dawley (SD) animal models were used to assess tumor phenotype <em>in vivo</em>. Remarkable physiological differences between genotypes were observed. Zk-Ob rats had significantly higher body and organ weights as well as plasma TNF- alpha, insulin, leptin, and oxidative markers than Zk-Ln and SD animals. Tumor incidence and multiplicity were also notably higher in Zk-Ob rats. Protein analyses demonstrated increased levels of TNF-alpha, TNFR2, NF-kB, IkB kinase beta (IKKbeta), insulin receptor (IR), insulin like growth factor-I-receptor (IGF-IR), and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Zk-Ob tumors than Zk-Ln counterparts. In all groups, tumors generally had higher protein expression than surrounding, normal appearing colonic mucosa. It is well known that these molecules are involved in signaling pathways that influence and co-operate with each other in rendering growth autonomy to tumor tissue. <br /><br /> A higher number of lesions in the distal than proximal colon in Zk-Ob rats was observed, supporting the emerging concept that genotype/physiological state of the host affects development and distribution of tumors. Thus, a third study was conducted to explore differences between distal and proximal tumor phenotype. Results demonstrated that expression of TNFR2, NF-kB, IR, IGF-IR, and MAPK p44 were significantly higher in distal than proximal tumors. This observation suggested that development of tumors in different regions of the colon varied under the same physiological conditions. Moreover, phenotype of distal tumors appeared to be upregulating survival pathways in comparison to proximal lesions, possibly explaining the higher tumor incidence in the distal colon. <br /><br /> Research documented in this thesis supported the hypothesis that the physiological status of the host intricately affects tumor phenotype. In particular, the TNF-alpha resistant phenotype was most prominent in Zk-Ob tumors, and appeared to be associated with upregulation of multiple signaling pathways cooperating towards tumorigenesis.