The Instituto Mário Penna’s Pink October campaign also has important allies to help fight breast cancer. The Teaching and Research Nucleus (NEP) has a team of researchers who are looking for new ways to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, in addition to the imaging exams currently used. This group has been working to find a more accurate diagnosis.
One of the researches developed is part of Thayse Batista’s doctoral project, supervised by researchers Dr. Andréa Teixeira, from the René Rachou Research Institute – FioCruz Minas, and Dr. Letícia Braga, Coordinator of the Oncology Translational Research Laboratory at Instituto Mário Penna. The research assesses the profile of tumor microvesicles present in the blood of patients with breast cancer treated at Hospital Luxemburgo.
According to doctoral student Thayse, the goal is to develop a diagnosis using microvesicles, which are structures released by the tumor since its formation, when detection by imaging is still difficult, making this method more assertive and efficient in detecting the disease and in monitoring of the treatment.
She also explains that the microvesicles carry several characteristic molecules of the tumor, which allow the identification of its origin and communication with other organs. One of the functions of these microvesicles is to allow the tumor to grow and develop in other organs, causing metastasis, transforming it into a favorable environment for tumor growth.
“Our research results show that breast cancer patients have a higher number of microvesicles in their blood when compared to healthy donors. In addition, the profile of these vesicles is different on some occasions, as in the case of patients with metastasis who have a high number of T lymphocyte microvesicles, a cell type already known to be involved in the progression and response to cancer treatment”; explains Dr. Leticia.
The work developed has the collaboration of the clinical team of mastology and oncology, the NEP researchers and the patients who accept to participate. “This has made it possible to go even further in the search for personalized and quality treatment for everyone, following the motto of this year’s campaign at IMP. Knowing in depth how the tumor relates to the body is a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer and providing this type of personalized treatment for SUS patients is an advance in quality health care for all. ”.
When we say that prevention is of all colors and we give visibility to different aesthetic standards, we are not just embracing the cause of breast cancer, but a whole social issue. Resigning our views and questioning the constructed inequalities is urgent and everyone’s role.
Karla Pimentel, Executive Director of the Swiss bank Arzan Suisse, visited the facilities of the Luxembourg Hospital and also visited the 50th Anniversary Memorial of the Instituto Mário Penna.
The Instituto Mário Penna partners are putting on a show in the Pink October actions. Last Sunday, October 24th, 9 patients who are part of Entrelaçadas (support group formed by women undergoing breast cancer treatment who share their experiences) were received at Galo’s official store and each one was given a gift by the sponsor Betano in an official team shirt.