INCT 2014: on Oncogenomics and Therapeutic Inovations

Abstract

INCiTO-INOTE will continue to support the scientific program previously created by the INCiTO, exploring bench-to-bedside-to-bench concepts, in order to face the challenges that are still limiting cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The Institute will explore its large experience in genetics, epigenetics “comics”, bioinformatics and biomarkers to focus in areas where it can be worldwide competitive and add relevant contribution 10 science and innovation in oncology. Hereditary Cancer Syndromes were one of the major areas studied in the previously project. The present proposal will continue to boost efforts to investigate the clinical, epidemiological and molecular aspects of these syndromes, and also to identify new cancer susceptibility genes. This strategy will allow to proper follow the large percentage of patients; particularly women that are negative for the most frequent mutations but are certainly carriers of genetic alterations that lead to increased cancer risk. INCiTO-INOTE will also address rare tumors, which together represent 22-25% of all cancers and restrict information about their biological and genetic aspects are available. These tumors present worse prognosis when compared to more prevalent tumors, mainly due to the limited knowledge of their biology and the lack of clinical studies that can improve treatment efficiency. Furthermore, the lack of epidemiological studies on this topic results in a blurred picture of the impact of these diseases in our society. Indeed, INCiTO-INOTE will establish the Brazilian Initiative in Rate Tumors (BIRT) and support the Latin American Renal Cancer Group (LARCG) with the aim to organize what could be one of the largest cohorts of rare tumors in the world. The first xenograft bank from rare tumors in South America will be established. Allowing conduct pre-clinical trials and the development of more effective treatments. The study of these tumors offers a unique opportunity in bringing improvements in patient care and produce cutting-edge knowledge. Resistance to cancer treatment is one of the main challenges in current oncology. The absence of predictor biomarkers to access drug resistance hampers efficient treatment and exposes patients to ineffective toxic agents, decreasing their quality of life and increasing the costs of cancer treatment. The INCiTO-INOTE will focus on identifying biomarkers in liquid biopsies obtained from patients receiving chemotherapy or target drugs. These information will be gathered and integrated to generate a very important tool for identification and validation of potential biomarkers for drug resistance. The INCiTO-INOTE established a partnership with the INCT for Diagnostics in Public Health to promote technology transfer, and nationalization of the main genetic diagnostic tests, aiming to reduce costs and the dependence of imported products. In addition, this collaboration will improve patient’s access to personalized medicine. INCT-Open Access Medical Chemistry and The National Institute of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (INBEB) will work with INCiTO-INOTE to perform functional characterization of mutated gene products associated with HCS and rare tumors. A platform that allowed the evaluation of the importance of the microbiome for the effects caused by alcohol and tobacco in the oral mucosa and the disbiosis in rectal carcinomas was developed by INCiTO-INOTE Now, in partnership with the biotechnology company NEOPROSPECTA, the studies on the microbiome of rare tumors will be complemented, by the analysis of protozoa, fungi and viruses and their possible roles in rare tumors, including the possible identification of new etiological entities associated to tumor development. A start-up company at Federal University of Paraná “Imunova Análises Biológicas Ltda.” will be engaged in the generation of immunobiological reagents, including monoclonal antibodies to be employed both in conventional diagnostic routines (immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry) and coupled bioelectrodes to detect tumoral antigens by electrochemical devices (collaborative project with SENAl Institute for Electrochemistry, Curitiba, Paraná). Immunohistochemistry and FISH tests for new biomarkers will be developed in association with Roche-Ventana. INCiTO-INOTE will partner with the INCT in Basic and Applied Optics For Life Science 10 conduct clinical tests for validation of photonic-based devices that will improve cancer diagnosis and treatment with lower cost solutions. The INCiTO-INOTE will expand the contribution in Education for graduate, undergraduate students, professionals, teachers and students from public schools and for the general public. A number of dissemination actions aimed at having an impact both on publicizing scientific excellence and on increasing the public awareness on cancer risk and prevention strategies is in our plans. Our proposal is to use the technological potential in understanding and adoption of concepts of medical needs and products for the benefit of cancer patients and society. (AU)