IQUIBICEN   23947
INSTITUTO DE QUIMICA BIOLOGICA DE LA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EXACTAS Y NATURALES
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Identification of biomarkers for cancer development and progression
Autor/es:
COTIGNOLA, JAVIER
Lugar:
Mar del Plata
Reunión:
Congreso; LXI Reunion Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Clinica; 2016
Institución organizadora:
Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Clinica
Resumen:
All types of cancer are caused by the existence of genetic abnormalities within the cancerous cells. These abnormalities consist of the cumulative acquisition of genetic changes that make cells to bypass the cell cycle checkpoints that regulate the normal cell proliferation and physiology. These DNA anomalies are usually translated into mutations or altered expression of RNAs and proteins. In Oncology, it is extremely important that tumors are diagnosed during the early stages and to administer the most appropriate treatment because every time treatments fail, tumors become more aggressive and resistant to therapy, jeopardizing patients´ life. Up to date, there are only few validated biomarkers that are strong predictors of tumor development and progression; for example, the hormonal receptors in breast cancers. However, the availability of development/progression predictors is non-existing for most types of cancer, and there is an urgent need to discover such biomarkers. The main aim of the projects is to identify genetic abnormalities (mutations, polymorphisms, gene expression patterns) that allow a better characterization of tumors in order to improve the diagnosis and to develop tailored treatments. We previously reported that polymorphisms in GSTP1, GSTT1 and GSTM1 were associated with the risk of disease relapse and shorter relapse-free survival in prostate cancer and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Currently, we are seeking mutations and gene expression profiles that help to stratify patients into: a) good/bad responders to therapy, b) low/high risk of disease progression, c) low/high risk of developing severe acute therapy-related toxicity. The identification and inclusion of these molecular biomarkers into the clinic will help to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia which, in turn, will increase survival and quality of life of the patients.