Browsing by Author "Martins, Ana Teresa"
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- Expression of EMT-related genes CAMK2N1 and WNT5A is increased in locally invasive and metastatic prostate cancerPublication . Carneiro, Isa; Vieira, Filipa Quintela; Lobo, João; Moreira-Barbosa, Catarina; Menezes, Francisco Duarte; Martins, Ana Teresa; Oliveira, Jorge; Silva, Regina; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, RuiProstate cancer (PCa) varies clinically from very indolent, not requiring therapeutic intervention, to highly aggressive, entailing radical treatment. Currently, stratification of PCa aggressiveness is mostly based on Gleason score, serum PSA and TNM stage, but outcome prediction in an individual basis is suboptimal. Thus, perfecting pre-therapeutic discrimination between indolent and aggressive PCa, avoiding overtreatment is a major challenge. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows epithelial cells to acquire mesenchymal properties, constituting a critical step in tumor invasion and metastization. Thus, we hypothesized that EMT-related markers might allow for improved assessment of PCa aggressiveness. Using RealTime ready Custom Panel 384 assay, 93 EMT-related genes were assessed in normal prostate tissues (NPT, n=5), stage pT2a+b-PCa (n=5) and stage pT3b-PCa (n=5), from which CAMK2N1, CD44, KRT14, TGFβ3 and WNT5A genes emerged as the most significantly altered. Expression levels were then evaluated in a larger series (16 NPT and 94 PCa) of frozen tissues using quantitative RT-PCR. Globally, CAMK2N1, CD44 and WNT5A displayed higher expression levels at higher stages and less differentiated PCa. CAMK2N1 and WNT5A immunoexpression analysis disclosed significantly lower expression in NPT and increasing proportion of high-expression cases from pT2a+b to pT3b and metastatic PCa. Furthermore, higher CAMK2N1 and WNT5A transcript levels associated with shorter disease-free and disease-specific survival. In multivariable analysis, a trend for WNT5A expression levels to independently predict DFS was disclosed (p=0.056). Globally, our findings suggest an association between PCa aggressiveness and increased expression of CAMK2N1 and WNT5A, reflecting the acquisition of effective EMT characteristics by PCa cells.
- GreenFix®: avaliação da morfologia em tecido mamárioPublication . Vieira, Ana Rita; Martins, Ana Teresa; Scigliano, Horácio; Silva, ReginaNa última década têm desenvolvido fixadores para substituição do formol que é tóxico para o homem. O principal objectivo foi avaliar microscopicamente a histomorfologia e as características tintoriais de tecido mamário fixado em GreenFix®, durante 24 e 72 horas, comparativamente ao fixado em formol, através da coloração de Hematoxilina-Eosina. Uma análise global da histomorfologia revelou existir uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a fixação pelo GreenFix® e pelo formol (p=0,050), tendo-se registado uma melhoria da coloração e detalhe nuclear nos tecidos fixados com GreenFix® durante 24 (p=0,007) ou 72 horas(p=0,024). O GreenFix® é um potencial substituto do formol na rotina histológica.
- High immunoexpression of Ki67, EZH2, and SMYD3 in diagnostic prostate biopsies independently predicts outcome in patients with prostate cancerPublication . Lobo, João; Rodrigues, Ângelo; Antunes, Luís; Pinho dos Santos Graça, Maria Inês; Ramalho-Carvalho, João; Quintela Vieira, Ana Filipa; Martins, Ana Teresa; Oliveira, Jorge; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, RuiOvertreatment is a major concern in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Prognostic biomarkers discriminating indolent from aggressive disease in prostate biopsy are urgently needed. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of Ki67, EZH2, LSD1, and SMYD3 immunoexpression in diagnostic biopsies from a cohort of PCa patients with long term follow-up. A series of 189 consecutive prostate biopsies diagnosed with PCa (1997–2001) in a cancer center was included in the study, with follow-up last updated in November 2016. Biopsies were reviewed and graded according to 2016 WHO criteria. Immunohistochemistry was performed in the most representative block. Nuclear staining was assessed using digital image analysis. Study outcomes included disease-specific, disease-free, and progression-free survival. Statistical analysis was tabulated using SPSS version 22.0. Survival curves and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Kaplan-Meyer and Cox-regression models, respectively. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. The proportion of patients who completed the study was 177/189 (94%). In univariable analysis, high Ki67, EZH2, and SMYD3 immunoexpression associated with significantly worse disease-specific survival (HR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.05–3.29; HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.10–3.27; HR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.02–7.92). In multivariable analysis, the 3 biomarkers displayed significantly worse DSS adjusted for CAPRA score (HR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01–3.16; HR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.12–3.32; HR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.04–7.10). Among patients with low/intermediate risk CAPRA score, high Ki67 immunoexpression identified those more prone to experience disease recurrence (HR = 9.20, 95% CI: 1.27–66.44) and progression (HR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.05–8.43). High Ki67, EZH2, and SMYD3 immunoexpression, adjusted for standard clinicopathological parameters, independently predicts outcome in patients with PCa, at diagnosis. This might assist in discriminating indolent from aggressive PCa, improving treatment selection.
- Histone methyltransferase PRMT6 plays an oncogenic role of in prostate cancerPublication . Almeida-Rios, Diogo; Pinho dos Santos Graça, Maria Inês; Quintela Vieira, Ana Filipa; Ramalho-Carvalho, João; Pereira-Silva, Eva; Martins, Ana Teresa; Oliveira, Jorge; Gonçalves, Céline S.; Costa, Bruno M.; Henrique, Rui; Jerónimo, CarmenProstate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Until now the specific role of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) deregulated expression/activity in PCa is poorly understood. Herein we aimed to uncover the potential oncogenic role of PRMT6 in prostate carcinogenesis. PRMT6 overexpression was confirmed in PCa, at transcript and protein level. Stable PRMT6 knockdown in PC-3 cells attenuated malignant phenotype, increasing apoptosis and decreasing cell viability, migration and invasion. PRMT6 silencing was associated with decreased H3R2me2a levels and increased MLL and SMYD3 expression. PRMT6 silencing increased p21, p27 and CD44 and decreased MMP-9 expression and was associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR downregulation and increased AR signaling pathway. In Sh-PRMT6 cells, AR restored expression might re-sensitized cells to androgen deprivation therapy, impacting in clinical management of castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). PRMT6 plays an oncogenic role in PCa and predicts for more clinically aggressive disease, constituting a potential target for patients with CRPC.