Cancer and pregnancy: Evaluation of miRNAs expression and potential targets (in placenta from pregnant women with breast cancer

Abstract

The association of pregnancy and cancer, followed by chemotherapy treatment, can result in placenta damage and, consequently, in inadequate fetal development. However, changes in the molecular mechanisms responsible for placental damage are still unknown. Thus, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the influence of miRNAs and potential targets in the placenta of pregnant women with breast cancer. Placentas from patients who had pregnancies with complications from breast cancer followed by chemotherapy treatment (case group) and placentas from patients who had normal-risk pregnancies (control group) will be evaluated. Total RNA will be obtained from all samples. The expression of miRNAs will be evaluated for screening (384 miRNAs) and for validation (five main miRNAs) through real-time quantitative PCR. The prediction of potential miRNA targets will be performed by in silico analyses, in order to identify which genes - and their respective pathways of action - are predictive of interaction with miRNAs. In addition, the predictive findings will be compared and validated with data obtained from transcriptomic analyzes (primary mRNA transcripts differentially expressed in case and control groups) of the Young Investigators Grants (FAPESP process number: 2021/08931-0). Differences between groups will be evaluated by Fisher's exact probability test or chi-square, t test and Mann-Whitney. (AU)