Browsing by Author "Arroja, Raquel Esteves"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Studying the role of hypoxia in GlioblastomaPublication . Arroja, Raquel Esteves; Madureira, Patrícia; Ferreira, BibianaGlioblastoma (GBM), a grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common type of brain tumour. It is considered one of the most lethal of all cancers and the deadliest among primary brain tumours. It is highly aggressive and invasive, and usually diagnosed among the elderly. GBM is characterised by the presence of hypoxic regions (low oxygen levels with around 1-3% O2 depending on the tissue, pO2 < 10 mmHg) and by the existence of a necrotic foci with pseudopalisades and microvascular hyperplasia in its surroundings. As the tumour grows its centre has less access to oxygen and nutrients provenient from the vasculature surrounding the outer layer. To address their needs, cancer cells activate several mechanisms in order to survive. Hypoxia is known to regulate several genes that are associated with angiogenesis, invasion, metabolic changes, and tumour progression. Previous results from our laboratory identified two proteins, ADM and TFRC, that are over- and under-expressed, respectively, in hypoxic GBM cells. To better understand their role in hypoxic GBM, this study consisted in performing the knockout of ADM and TFRC in GBM biopsy-derived cell lines – UP-029 and SEBTA-023. The knockout was performed using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and the cells were analysed under normoxic and hypoxic (1% O2) conditions. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the research facilities were closed, and the experiments could not be concluded. Thus, the role of ADM and TFRC in hypoxic GBM could not be understood. It is necessary in the future, to continue this study in order to have a better insight of their function in GBM progression. The discovery of new molecular markers and therapeutic targets is crucial in order to fight this deadly type of tumour.