Characterization of markers of aggressiveness and prognosis in oral cancer

Abstract

The aim of this proposal is to receive the Professor Tuula, University of Oulu and University of Helsinki, both in Finland, as Visiting Researcher in the Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba-UNICAMP, with the objective of consolidating our collaboration in the field of aggressiveness and prognostic markers for oral cancer. Oral cancer, represented in more than 90% of cases by oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is among the 10 most frequent tumors in the world population, with about 300,000 new cases each year. Despite advances in research and treatment options, the prognosis of patients with OSCC has remained virtually unchanged over recent decades, at 50% over 5 years. This low survival rate is attributed mainly to late diagnosis, poor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and insufficient biomarkers for early diagnosis and post-therapeutic monitoring. Thus, identifying markers of aggressiveness with prognostic potential, allowing the differentiation of more aggressive tumors from those less aggressive, is essential to the development of novel and individualized therapeutic approaches to the disease, which should provide an important impact on patient's survival. Since 2010 Prof. Salo and I are collaborating in this field and her visit associated with this proposal will allow a refinement of experimental strategies to characterize the prognostic markers of OSCC, as well as to finish some manuscripts generated from previous collaborations. (AU)