Cancer and pregnancy: Assessment of placental oxidative and glycolytic metabolism in patients with breast cancer submitted to chemotherapy.

Abstract

Problem statement: The incidence of cancer during pregnancy is increasing significantly, due to a number of factors, such as advanced maternal age. Among the types of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, breast cancer is the most frequent. This condition represents a major challenge for diagnosis, as morphological and physiological changes occur in the breast tissue during pregnancy.That can make the diagnosis difficult. In addition, there is the therapeutic challenge, since maternal and fetal health must be considered. In cases of cancer during pregnancy, there are high incidences of complications, such as premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction. In this sense, knowing that the placenta is the main organ responsible for the success of pregnancy, it is dysfunctions in this organ that lead to these complications. However, placental changes resulting from cancer associated with pregnancy are still little explored. In view of this, the elucidation of changes in the placenta during the development of breast cancer, associated with chemotherapy treatment, may bring possibilities for a better future therapeutic approach. Objective: To evaluate molecular changes in pathways related to oxidative and glycolytic metabolism in the placenta of patients with breast cancer associated with pregnancy and chemotherapy. Material and methods: Placentas from the CAISM Biobank of patients with breast cancer during pregnancy who received chemotherapy (case group) and patients at normal risk (control group) will be used. The placentas will be evaluated for molecular alterations through molecular biology techniques, such as RT-qPCR (gene expression) and Western Blotting (protein expression) and also for the differences in glycolytic and oxidative activity in different placental regions. To compare the two experimental groups, Student's t test will be used. P values less than 0.05 will be considered significant.