A lipidomics study applied to Rectal Cancer: biochemical-molecular mechanisms and assessment of the response to neoadjuvant therapy

Abstract

The current approach to advanced rectal adenocarcinoma involves total excision of the mesorectum associated to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Patient response to therapy varies and knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the response is incomplete. Metabolic modifications occurring in carcinogenesis demonstrate a relationship with treatment evolution and the response to it and the latter influence the tumor micro-environment. Continuing the studies undertaken by our group, this project sets out to study the biochemical-molecular bases underlying alterations to patient's plasma lipidomic profiles and to evaluate the effect of the response to neoadjuvant therapy by examining the molecular signatures of the plasma of patients resistant to treatment. Chromatography and mass spectrometry will be used to characterize the lipids and biochemical and molecular measurements (ELISA and Western Blot) to quantify the oxidation products and the expressions of enzymes associated to lipid metabolism. The lipidomics study is expected to collaborate towards a better understanding of rectal cancer physiopathology, relating it to a characteristic signature capable of identifying both the presence of rectal cancer and its behavior in response neoadjuvant therapy. (AU)