Angiogênese é o processo de formação de novos vasos sanguíneos a partir dos vasos existentes. É um processo vital, mas muitas doenças também dependem deste mecanismo para obter nutrientes e progredir. Estas \"doenças dependentes de angiogênese\" incluem cânceres, retinopatias e degeneração macular. Alguns inibidores da angiogênese foram desenvolvidos na última década, com o objetivo de auxiliar no manejo dessas doenças e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A maioria destes compostos funciona inibindo a ligação de VEGFA/VEGFR2, que também é um elemento importante para a sobrevivência de células endoteliais quiescentes; e isso pode explicar parcialmente eventos adversos observados em alguns ensaios clínicos. Nossa hipótese é que a melhoria das terapias anti-angiogênicas depende de uma compreensão melhor e mais ampla desse processo, especialmente quando relacionada à progressão das doenças. Utilizando RNA-Seq e um modelo animal bem aceito de angiogênese, o modelo murino de Retinopatia Induzida por Oxigênio, exploramos o transcritoma e identificamos 153 genes diferencialmente expressos durante a angiogênese. Uma extensiva validação de vários genes realizada por qRT-PCR e hibridização in-situ confirmou a superexpressão de Esm1 em células endoteliais de tecidos com angiogênese ativa. A análise de enriquecimento desta lista de genes confirmou a ligação da angiogênese com genes frequentemente mutados em tumores, consistente com a conhecida ligação entre câncer e angiogênese, e forneceu sugestões de fármacos já aprovados que podem ser reutilizados para controlar a angiogênese em circunstâncias patológicas. Finalmente, com base neste panorama amplo da angiogênese, fomos capazes de criar um biomarcador molecular com poder prognóstico para a predição da recidiva de câncer de mama, com aplicações clínicas promissoras. Em resumo, este trabalho revelou com sucesso genes relacionados à angiogênese e forneceu novas alternativas terapêuticas, incluindo potenciais fármacos para reposicionamento. Esse conjunto de genes diferencialmente expressos é também um recurso valioso para investigações futuras. / Angiogenesis is the process of formation of new blood vessels based on existing vessels. It is a vital process but many diseases also rely on this mechanism to get nourishment and progress. These so called angiogenesis-dependent diseases include cancers, retinopathies and macular degeneration. Some angiogenesis inhibitors were developed in the past decade, aiming to help the management of such diseases and improve patients quality of life. Most of these compounds work by inhibiting VEGFA/VEGFR2 binding, which is also a key element to the survival of quiescent endothelial cells; this may partly explain unanticipated adverse events observed in some clinical trials. We hypothesize that the improvement of anti-angiogenesis therapies hinges on a better and broader understanding of the process, especially when related to diseases\' progression. Using RNA-seq and a well accepted animal model of angiogenesis, the murine model of Oxygen Induced Retinopathy, we have explored the transcriptome landscape and identified 153 genes differentially expressed in angiogenesis. An extensive validation of several genes carried out by qRT-PCR and in-situ hybridization confirmed Esm1 overexpression in endothelial cells of tissues with active angiogenesis, providing confidence on the results obtained. Enrichment analysis of this gene list endorsed a narrow link of angiogenesis and frequently mutated genes in tumours, consistent with the known connection between cancer and angiogenesis, and provided suggestions of already approved drugs that may be repurposed to control angiogenesis under pathological circumstances. Finally, based on this comprehensive landscape of angiogenesis, we were able to create a prognostic molecular biomarker for prediction of breast cancer relapse, with promising clinical applications. In summary, this work successfully unveiled angiogenesis-related genes, providing novel therapeutic alternatives, including potential drugs for repositioning. The set of differentially expressed genes is also a valuable resource for further investigations.

INTRODUÇÃO: A poliquimioterapia (PQT-OMS) para tratamento da hanseníase resultou em drástica redução da sua prevalência, mas em limitado impacto na detecção de casos novos (CN), que se manteve estável em Santa Catarina, estado na fase de pós-eliminação. Casos com altos índices baciloscópicos apresentam risco de recidiva tardia e podem consistir em focos persistentes de transmissão da doença. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a recidiva da doença em amostra de pacientes virchowianos regularmente tratados com PQT-OMS 24 doses; ensaios de resistência terapêutica em camundongos para os casos suspeitos; resposta imune específica (celular e humoral) e detecção do DNA do M. leprae nos casos-índices (CI) e seus contatos indradomiciliares (CID); e os achados frente aos indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais de Santa Catarina. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: A partir da busca no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), foram selecionados 46 CI, tratados entre 1990-2000, e 187 CID, dos municípios de Itajaí e Joinville. A avaliação constituiu de: exames dermatoneurológico e anatomopatológico da pele; baciloscopia do esfregaço cutâneo; reação de Mitsuda; sorologia para glicolipídeo fenólico-I (IgM-anti-PGL-I); ensaios de resistência terapêutica em camundongos e de detecção do DNA bacilar no muco nasal por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para as seqüências repetitivas específicas RLEP-130 e RLEP-372. RESULTADOS: Entre os CI após alta por cura (m=11,2 ± 3 anos), a idade média (57,3±14,5 anos) foi superior (p<0,05) comparada aos CID, com predomínio de homens (p=0,001) e Mitsuda-negativos (78,6%). Em quatro casos (8,7%) considerados recidivados, o valor sérico médio (0,365) e as freqüências da positividade do anti-PGL-I e a da RLEP-130 (75%; p=0,03) foram consistentemente elevados, e os testes em camundongos, negativos. Dentre os 187 CID, 22 (11,8%) adoeceram (CIDd), a maioria (10 casos; 45,4%) foi diagnosticada entre 2 a 19 anos; 6 casos (27,3%), no mesmo período do seu respectivo CI; e 6 CN (3 dimorfo-tuberculóides e 3 tuberculóides) foram detectados durante a intervenção. Os CN evidenciaram elevada freqüência da positividade da RLEP-130 (50%) contrastante com a do anti-PGL-I (20%) e seu valor sérico médio (0,075) inferior. Entre os CI após a alta PQT-MB (>10 anos), houve inferioridade da freqüência da positividade (14,3%) e do valor sérico médio do anti-PGL-I (0,072), estabelecendo uma correlação negativa (p=0,038,r=-0,32) com o tempo decorrido. Valores similares da freqüência de positividade para RLEP-130 foram encontrados em: CI com alta por cura (26,7%), em períodos superiores (25%) a 10 anos de conclusão do tratamento e CID saudáveis (20,5%). A positividade para a RLEP-130 foi mais freqüente (p<0,001) comparada à da RLEP-372. CONCLUSÕES: A taxa de recidiva após PQT-MB 24 doses é baixa e prevalece alta percentagem de cura (91,3%). É racional considerar que o anti-PGL-I e a detecção do DNA bacilar por RLEP-130 devam ser analisados em conjunto com os demais achados clínicos e laboratoriais, ainda que nossos resultados possam ter diferenciado os grupos nas distintas condições: recidiva e alta por cura, e identificado doentes, contatos e famílias em risco. O seguimento e o monitoramento clínico e laboratorial por períodos prolongados incrementariam a detecção precoce de novos casos entre os comunicantes, desde que o intervalo para o diagnóstico foi longo para a maioria daqueles que adoeceram. Estas estratégias seriam potencialmente facilitadas em áreas com reduzida prevalência, e particularmente valiosas para a manutenção do controle na fase de pós-eliminação / Introduction: Multidrugtherapy (MDT-WHO) resulted in marked reduction of leprosy prevalence in Brazil, without impact on detection of new cases in Santa Catarina (SC) state in the post-elimination phase. Lepromatous cases with high bacilloscopic index have late relapse risk and can consist in the disease transmission focus. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease recurrence and microbiological resistance in lepromatous leprosy patients regularly treated with MDT-WHO/24 doses; specific immune response (cellular and humoral) and M. leprae DNA detection in index cases (IC) and their household contacts (HHC); and the findings face to the epidemiological and operational indicators of Santa Catarina state. Casuistic and methods: After consulting the Brazilian Information System of Notification (SINAN) database, 46 IC successfully diagnosed and treated between 1990 and 2000, and their 187 HHC from Joinville and Itajaí (SC) municipalities were selected. A dermatoneurological examination was performed, as well as the skin biopsies for histopathology and therapy resistance assay in mouse pads, skin smears for bacilloscopy, anti-PGL-I IgM serology, Mitsuda reaction, polymerase chain reaction for M. leprae DNA detection in nasal secretion based on 130bp and 372bp specific repetitive sequences (RLEP). Results: Cured IC (m=11.2±3 years) had mean age higher ((57.3±14.5 years old; p<0.05) than HHC, most of them were males (p=0.001) and Mitsuda negative (78.6%). In 4 relapsed cases (8.7%) the average anti-PGL-I serum levels (0.365), as well as frequency of positive antibody and RLEP-130 (75%; p=0.03) were consistently high and the mouse footpads assays resulted negative. Among 187 HHC, 22 (11.8%) became sick (sHHC), 10 cases (45.4%) were diagnosed between 2 and 19 years, being 6 cases (27.3%) in the same year of their IC; 6 new cases (3 borderline-tuberculoid and 3 tuberculoid) were detected during the study, with high RLEP-130 positive frequency (50%), as opposed to anti-PGL-I (20%) and low average serum levels (0.075). Among IC with more than 10 years of discharge, frequency of positive anti-PGL-I (14.3%) and average serum levels (0.072) were lower and had negative correlation (p=0.038, r= -0.32) with time after cure. Similar values of frequency of positivity for RLEP-130 were found: IC with discharge by cure (26.7%), when time interval was higher than 10 years (25%) and in healthy HHC (20.5%). RLEP-130 positivity was more frequent (p<0.001) than RLEP-372. Conclusions: Relapse rate after MDT-WHO 24 doses was low, with high cure rate (91.3%). Serology anti-PGL-I and M. leprae DNA detection by RLEP-130 must be analyzed together with other clinical and laboratory findings, though our results had differentiated groups in the following conditions: relapse and discharge by cure, patient identification, HHC and families at risk. Long term follow-up with laboratorial and clinical monitoring could lead to early detection of new cases among HHC, since the period between diagnoses was long for most sHHC. This strategy may be useful in areas with decreased prevalence, and of particular value for maintenance of disease control in the post-elimination phase

L’outil génomique a considérablement modifié notre connaissance des hémopathies malignes, que ce soit sur le plan physiopathologique, diagnostique, pronostique ou thérapeutique. Dans la première partie de ce travail, nous avons travaillé sur une grande cohorte d’anémies réfractaires sidéroblastiques avec thrombocytose (ARS-T). Nous avons démontré qu’il s’agissait d’une entité indépendante, avec une présentation moléculaire particulière associant (i) des mutations de SF3B1 dans plus de 85% des cas, expliquant son versant myélodysplasique et (ii) des anomalies de JAK2 dans plus de 50% des cas, expliquant son versant prolifératif. La perspective de cette première partie est d’identifier la ou les mutation(s) responsables du caractère myéloprolifératif dans les ARS-T JAK2WT. Les lymphomes B-diffus à grandes cellules (LBDGC) représentent les lymphomes malins non-Hodgkiniens les plus fréquents chez l’adulte. Dans la deuxième partie de ce travail, nous avons réalisé l’analyse par SNP-array d’une série homogène d’échantillons issus de la cohorte CORAL, une étude prospective internationale portant sur les LBDGC en rechute. Notre objectif était d’identifier les anomalies de nombre de copies (ANC) associées à chacun des deux types de rechutes, précoces ou tardives. Les rechutes précoces sont associées à une forte proportion d’anomalies affectant les régulateurs du cycle cellulaire, de l’apoptose et de la transcription. Les rechutes tardives sont associées à des anomalies affectant les régulateurs de l’immunité et de la prolifération cellulaire. Cette étude permet de mieux comprendre les déterminants de la rechute dans les LBDGC et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques / Genomics provided new insights in our knowledge of pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, prognosis and therapeutic perspectives in hematological malignancies. In the first part of this work, we studied a large cohort of Refractory Anemia with Ring sideroblasts and marked Thrombocytosis (RARS-T). We demonstrated that RARS-T can be considered as an independent entity, with a specific molecular pattern, associating : (i) SF3B1 mutations in more than 85% of cases, accounting for its myelodysplastic aspect and (ii) JAK2 mutations, accounting for its myeloproliferative aspect in more than 50% of cases. Future prospects of the first part of this work is to identify (the) mutation(s) responsible for the myeloproliferative part of JAK2WT RARS-T. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. In the second part of this work, we performed SNP-array analysis of a homogeneous series of samples from the CORAL cohort, an international prognostic study on relapsed DLBCLs. Our purpose was to identify Copy Number Variations (CNV) associated ER or LR. ER DLBCLs are associated with high rates of CNVs affecting regulators of cell cycle, apoptosis and transcription. In LR DLBCLs, CNVs are related to immune response and cell proliferation. This study provides new insights into the genetic aberrations in relapsed DLBCLs and open up new therapeutic perspectives

Lässt sich Persönlichkeit als Risikofaktor bei Personen mit Alkoholabhängigkeit verstehen? Dies ist die Leitfrage der Studie. In einem Querschnittsdesign werden insgesamt 297 alkoholabhängige Personen untersucht. Es wird eine umfassende Persönlichkeitsdiagnostik (TPF, SKID-II, DITS-40) durchgeführt. In unterschiedlichen Bereichen des Suchtverhaltens (Suchtverlauf, Trinkmenge, Abstinenzverhalten, Rückfall) werden Hochrisikogruppen gebildet und mit der jeweils übrigen Stichprobe mittels binär logistischer Regression verglichen. Die Einflussvariablen der logistischen Modelle werden als Risikofaktoren für Hochrisikoverhalten gedeutet. Es zeigt sich, dass Persönlichkeitsvariablen in vielen Bereichen des Suchtverhaltens eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Insbesondere gilt dies für den Suchtverlauf vor der ersten Entgiftungsbehandlung, die Trinkmenge und das Rückfallverhalten. Für den Suchtverlauf nach der ersten Entgiftungsbehandlung und das Abstinenzverhalten gilt dies weitaus weniger. Insgesamt wird Hochrisikoverhalten in unterschiedlichen Bereichen des Suchtverhaltens stark durch Persönlichkeitsvariablen geprägt. Hierauf sollte in der Praxis jede Therapie adäquat reagieren. / Is it possible to consider personality as a risk factor in people who are alcohol dependent? This is the main question to be addressed in this project. A total of 297 alcohol dependent people are tested in a cross-sectional design. A comprehensive personality diagnosis is undertaken (TPF, SKID-II, DITS-40). In various aspects of alcohol abuse (history of abuse, amount consumed, abstinence behaviour, relapse) high-risk groups are formed and compared with the rest of the sample in each case by means of binary logistic regression. The influencing variables of the logistic models are interpreted as risk factors for high risk behaviour. What this shows is that personality variables play a major role in many areas of abusive behaviour. This applies especially to the history of abuse before the first detoxification treatment, the amount consumed an the relapse behaviour. This applies to a far lesser extent to the history of abuse after the first detoxification treatment and abstinence behaviour. Overall, high-risk behaviour in various aspects of alcohol abuse is strongly influenced by personality. Every therapy should have the appropriate answer to this in practise.

Submitted by SBI Biblioteca Digital (sbi.bibliotecadigital@puc-campinas.edu.br) on 2018-02-15T12:50:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 VANDERLEI JOSE JUNIOR.pdf: 1351825 bytes, checksum: 599d050ec951a6a8e7497a0cea5d2e17 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-15T12:50:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VANDERLEI JOSE JUNIOR.pdf: 1351825 bytes, checksum: 599d050ec951a6a8e7497a0cea5d2e17 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-15 / Introduction: Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the male population, occupying the second position among malignant neoplasms. There are several therapeutic options for the treatment of localized prostate cancer, ranging from conservative behaviors to interventional treatments such as radical prostatectomy or external radiotherapy, associated or not with brachytherapy. Objective: To identify the factors that can predict biochemical recurrence and to evaluate treatment toxicity. METHOD: This is a retrospective and longitudinal study of 162 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer treated with conformational external radiotherapy associated with high dose rate brachytherapy (BTATD) between 2005 and 2014. The database was used of the Radium ? Campinas Oncology Institute, collected prospectively. Results: The mean follow-up time was 57 months. No grade 3 late toxicity was observed in the gastrointestinal tract, with only 1 patient (0.6%) genitourinary tract. The only categorical variable that presented statistical significance for biochemical relapse was the Nadir PSA <1 ng / ml (p = 0.018). The biochemical recurrence rate found was 96.3%, based on the Phoenix criteria (PSA nadir + 2 ng / ml). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that in the treatment of localized prostate cancer, the association of external radiotherapy with BATD is a safe therapeutic option, with a low degree 3 late toxicity and a biochemical recurrence of only 3.7% (with HF = 95 %). / Introdu??o: O c?ncer de pr?stata ? uma das doen?as mais prevalentes na popula??o masculina, ocupando a segunda posi??o entre as neoplasias malignas. H? v?rias op??es terap?uticas para o tratamento do c?ncer de pr?stata localizado, podendo variar de condutas conservadoras ? tratamentos intervencionistas como a prostatectomia radical ou a radioterapia externa, associada ou n?o ? braquiterapia. Objetivo: Identificar os fatores que possam predizer recidiva bioqu?mica e avaliar a toxicidade do tratamento. M?todo: Tratase de um estudo retrospectivo e longitudinal, com 162 pacientes diagnosticados com c?ncer de pr?stata, tratados com radioterapia externa conformacional associada ? braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose (BATD), entre 2005 e 2014. Utilizou-se o banco de dados do Radium - Instituto de Oncologia de Campinas, coletados prospectivamente. Resultados: O tempo m?dio de seguimento foi de 57 meses. N?o foi observada toxicidade tardia grau 3 no trato gastrointestinal, sendo apenas 1 paciente (0,6%) trato genitourin?rio. A ?nica vari?vel categ?rica que apresentou signific?ncia estat?stica para recidiva bioqu?mica foi o PSA Nadir <1 ng/ ml (p = 0,018). A taxa de recidiva bioqu?mica encontrada foi de 96,3%, baseando-se nos crit?rios de Phoenix (PSA nadir + 2 ng/ml). Conclus?es: Esse estudo demonstrou que, no tratamento de c?ncer de pr?stata localizado, a associa??o de radioterapia externa com BATD ? uma op??o terap?utica segura, com baixa taxa de toxicidade tardia grau 3 e recidiva bioqu?mica de apenas 3,7% (com I.C = 95%).

Esse trabalho contribui com o desenvolvimento de um novo modelo para dados de sobrevivência com sobreviventes de longo termo visando uma formulação e interpretação mais realista do que a apresentada pelos modelos com fração de curados usuais. Motivados pelo estudo do tempo de sobrevivência residual para pacientes oncológicos, o modelo usa o processo de nascimento e morte para permitir a variação do número de fatores de risco latentes durante um período precedente ao acompanhamento médico, considerando, então, um cenário de riscos competitivos para obtenção da função da sobrevivência (imprópria) dos pacientes. Simulações a aplicações à dados do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo mostraram vantagens sobre o modelo de tempos de promoção. / This work contributes with a new cure rate survival model developed aiming more realistic formulation and interpretations than the usual long-term survival models. Motivated by studying residual survival times in oncological patients, the model uses birth and death process to allow free variation on the number of latent risk factors during a pre-follow up period, then considers competing risks scenario for accessing the patients survival. Simulations and application to Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo data showed improvement over the promotion time model.

Les cellules tueuses naturelles (NK) sont régulées par des récepteurs activateurs et inhibiteurs. La plupart des récepteurs inhibiteurs reconnaisse des molécules du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilité (CMH) de classe I, et protège les cellules saines des phénomènes d'auto-immunité médiés par les cellules NK. Cependant, certains récepteurs activateurs, incluant le récepteur killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) 2DS1, reconnaissent aussi des ligands CMH de classe I. Cela pose la question de savoir comment les cellules NK qui expriment des récepteurs activateurs deviennent tolérantes au soi. Nous avons cherché à déterminer si la présence de HLA-C2, le ligand du récepteurs 2DS1, peut induire les cellules NK qui expriment le 2DS1 à développer un état de tolérance au soi. Indépendamment de la présence ou de l'absence du ligand HLA-C2 dans le donneur, une activité anti-HLA-C2 a été identifiée in vitro dans certains clones NK 2DS1-positifs. La fréquence des clones NK avec réactivité anti-HLA-C2 était élevée parmi les donneurs homozygotes pour HLA-C1. De façon étonnante, nous n'avons pas constaté de différence statistiquement significative dans la fréquence de cytotoxicité anti-HLA-C2 entre les donneurs HLA-C2 hétérozygotes et les donneurs sans ligand HLA-C2. Par contre, les donneurs HLA-C2 homozygotes montrent une fréquence réduite de clones NK avec réactivité anti-HLA-C2 par rapport aux autres donneurs. Clones 2DS1-positifs qui co-expriment des KIR inhibiteurs spécifiques des molécules HLA de classe I du soi n’étaient pas communément cytotoxiques, et la cytotoxicité anti-HLA-C2 était limité presque exclusivement à des clones positifs seulement pour 2DS1 (« single positive » 2DS1 clones). Nous avons aussi identifié des clones 2DS1 « single positive » avec réactivité anti-HLA-C2 dans des patients recevant une greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques à partir de donneurs 2DS1. Ces résultats montrent que plusieurs cellules NK avec réactivité anti-HLA-C2 sont présentes dans des donneurs 2DS1 soit hétérozygotes soit homozygotes pour HLA-C1. En revanche, les clones 2DS1-positifs obtenus par des donneurs homozygotes pour HLA-C2 sont fréquemment tolérants aux antigènes HLA-C2. / NK cells are regulated by inhibiting and activating cell surface receptors. Most inhibitory receptors recognize MHC-class I antigens, and protect healthy cells from NK cell-mediated auto-aggression. However, certain activating receptors, including the human killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) 2DS1, also recognize MHC-class I. This raises the question of how NK cells expressing such activating receptors are tolerized to host tissues. We investigated whether the presence of HLA-C2, the cognate ligand for 2DS1, induces tolerance in 2DS1-expressing NK cells. Anti-HLA-C2 activity could be detected in vitro in some 2DS1 positive NK clones irrespective of presence or absence of HLA-C2 ligand in the donor. The frequency of anti-HLA-C2 reactivity was high in donors homozygous for HLA-C1. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in frequency of anti-HLA-C2 cytotoxicity in donors heterozygous for HLA-C2 and donors without HLA-C2 ligand. However, donors homozygous for HLA-C2 had significantly reduced frequency of anti-HLA-C2 reactive clones as compared to all other donors. 2DS1 positive clones that express inhibitory KIR for self-HLA class I were commonly non-cytotoxic, and anti-HLA-C2 cytotoxicity was nearly exclusively restricted to 2DS1 single positive clones lacking inhibitory KIR. 2DS1 single positive NK clones with anti-HLA-C2 reactivity were also present post-transplantation in HLA-C2 positive recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants from 2DS1 positive donors. These results demonstrate that many NK cells with anti-HLA-C2 reactivity are present in HLA-C1 homozygous and heterozygous donors with 2DS1. In contrast, 2DS1 positive clones from HLA-C2 homozygous donors are frequently tolerant to HLA-C2.

Esse trabalho contribui com o desenvolvimento de um novo modelo para dados de sobrevivência com sobreviventes de longo termo visando uma formulação e interpretação mais realista do que a apresentada pelos modelos com fração de curados usuais. Motivados pelo estudo do tempo de sobrevivência residual para pacientes oncológicos, o modelo usa o processo de nascimento e morte para permitir a variação do número de fatores de risco latentes durante um período precedente ao acompanhamento médico, considerando, então, um cenário de riscos competitivos para obtenção da função da sobrevivência (imprópria) dos pacientes. Simulações a aplicações à dados do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo mostraram vantagens sobre o modelo de tempos de promoção. / This work contributes with a new cure rate survival model developed aiming more realistic formulation and interpretations than the usual long-term survival models. Motivated by studying residual survival times in oncological patients, the model uses birth and death process to allow free variation on the number of latent risk factors during a pre-follow up period, then considers competing risks scenario for accessing the patients survival. Simulations and application to Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo data showed improvement over the promotion time model.

Angiogênese é o processo de formação de novos vasos sanguíneos a partir dos vasos existentes. É um processo vital, mas muitas doenças também dependem deste mecanismo para obter nutrientes e progredir. Estas \"doenças dependentes de angiogênese\" incluem cânceres, retinopatias e degeneração macular. Alguns inibidores da angiogênese foram desenvolvidos na última década, com o objetivo de auxiliar no manejo dessas doenças e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A maioria destes compostos funciona inibindo a ligação de VEGFA/VEGFR2, que também é um elemento importante para a sobrevivência de células endoteliais quiescentes; e isso pode explicar parcialmente eventos adversos observados em alguns ensaios clínicos. Nossa hipótese é que a melhoria das terapias anti-angiogênicas depende de uma compreensão melhor e mais ampla desse processo, especialmente quando relacionada à progressão das doenças. Utilizando RNA-Seq e um modelo animal bem aceito de angiogênese, o modelo murino de Retinopatia Induzida por Oxigênio, exploramos o transcritoma e identificamos 153 genes diferencialmente expressos durante a angiogênese. Uma extensiva validação de vários genes realizada por qRT-PCR e hibridização in-situ confirmou a superexpressão de Esm1 em células endoteliais de tecidos com angiogênese ativa. A análise de enriquecimento desta lista de genes confirmou a ligação da angiogênese com genes frequentemente mutados em tumores, consistente com a conhecida ligação entre câncer e angiogênese, e forneceu sugestões de fármacos já aprovados que podem ser reutilizados para controlar a angiogênese em circunstâncias patológicas. Finalmente, com base neste panorama amplo da angiogênese, fomos capazes de criar um biomarcador molecular com poder prognóstico para a predição da recidiva de câncer de mama, com aplicações clínicas promissoras. Em resumo, este trabalho revelou com sucesso genes relacionados à angiogênese e forneceu novas alternativas terapêuticas, incluindo potenciais fármacos para reposicionamento. Esse conjunto de genes diferencialmente expressos é também um recurso valioso para investigações futuras. / Angiogenesis is the process of formation of new blood vessels based on existing vessels. It is a vital process but many diseases also rely on this mechanism to get nourishment and progress. These so called angiogenesis-dependent diseases include cancers, retinopathies and macular degeneration. Some angiogenesis inhibitors were developed in the past decade, aiming to help the management of such diseases and improve patients quality of life. Most of these compounds work by inhibiting VEGFA/VEGFR2 binding, which is also a key element to the survival of quiescent endothelial cells; this may partly explain unanticipated adverse events observed in some clinical trials. We hypothesize that the improvement of anti-angiogenesis therapies hinges on a better and broader understanding of the process, especially when related to diseases\' progression. Using RNA-seq and a well accepted animal model of angiogenesis, the murine model of Oxygen Induced Retinopathy, we have explored the transcriptome landscape and identified 153 genes differentially expressed in angiogenesis. An extensive validation of several genes carried out by qRT-PCR and in-situ hybridization confirmed Esm1 overexpression in endothelial cells of tissues with active angiogenesis, providing confidence on the results obtained. Enrichment analysis of this gene list endorsed a narrow link of angiogenesis and frequently mutated genes in tumours, consistent with the known connection between cancer and angiogenesis, and provided suggestions of already approved drugs that may be repurposed to control angiogenesis under pathological circumstances. Finally, based on this comprehensive landscape of angiogenesis, we were able to create a prognostic molecular biomarker for prediction of breast cancer relapse, with promising clinical applications. In summary, this work successfully unveiled angiogenesis-related genes, providing novel therapeutic alternatives, including potential drugs for repositioning. The set of differentially expressed genes is also a valuable resource for further investigations.

Breast cancer mortality is mainly due to distant recurrence of the disease arising from dormant tumor cells established by cancer therapies. Patients who initially respond to cancer therapies often succumb to distant recurrence of the disease. It is not clear why people with the same type of breast cancer respond to treatments differently; some escape from dormancy and relapse earlier than others. In addition, some tumor clones respond to immunotherapy while others do not. We investigated how autophagy plays a role in accelerating or delaying recurrence of neu overexpressing mouse mammary carcinoma (MMC) following adriamycin (ADR) treatment, and in affecting response to immunotherapy. We explored two strategies: 1) transient blockade of autophagy with chloroquine (CQ), which blocks fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes during ADR treatment, and 2) permanent inhibition of autophagy by a stable knockdown of ATG5 (ATG5KD), which inhibits the formation of autophagosomes in MMC during and after ADR treatment. We found that while CQ prolonged tumor dormancy, but that stable knockdown of autophagy resulted in early escape from dormancy and recurrence. Interestingly, ATG5KD MMC contained an increased frequency of ADR-induced polyploid-like cells and rendered MMC resistant to immunotherapy. On the other hand, a transient blockade of autophagy did not affect the sensitivity of MMC to immunotherapy. Our observations suggest that while chemotherapy-induced autophagy may facilitate tumor relapse, cell-intrinsic autophagy delays tumor relapse, in part, by inhibiting the formation of polyploid-like tumor dormancy. Although immunotherapy of breast cancer by means of anti-HER2 antibodies prolongs survival of breast cancer patients, disease recurrence remains a major challenge. On the other hand administration of human vaccines against infectious disease in a preventive setting or during latency/dormancy has been successful in offering a cure. Here, we sought to use adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) at the time of tumor dormancy in order to prevent progression of breast cancer. We used a low dose immunogenic chemotherapy by means of 5-FU, Adriamycin, and Cyclophosphamide (FAC) in order to stabilize tumor progression prior to AIT using autologous tumor-reactive lymphocytes. Low dose FAC established local tumor dormancy, inhibited distant tumor dormancy occurring long before distant metastasis, and induced predominate a Ki67- quiescent type of tumor dormancy, which is less susceptible to tumor immunoediting. Dormant tumor cells expressed the cell survival pathways, including the endothelin receptor/ligand (ETRA, ETRB and ET-1) and PD-L1, thereby protecting them from elimination by AIT. In addition, tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells also produced ET-1 as a survival ligand for ETRA positive tumor cells. A combination of AIT with the blockade of tumor cell survival pathways resulted in a significant improvement of AIT against tumor dormancy. We also showed that the inhibition Bcl-xL downstream of the tumor cell survival pathways is specifically effective against dormant tumor cells, suggesting a combination of AIT with small molecules inhibitors of Bcl-xL. Altogether, we showed that distant tumor dormancy is established long before distant recurrence of breast cancer, and that the expression of several tumor cell survival pathways in dormant cells protects them from immunotherapy. Our results suggest that immunotherapeutic targeting of tumor dormancy combined with the blockade of a common downstream cell survival pathway could prevent tumor progression and recurrence of the disease.