Rute Marisa Santos Moreira Pedrosa

Ms. Rute Marisa Santos Moreira Pedrosa


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 June 2021 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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RPRute Marisa Santos Moreira Pedrosa
Rute Marisa Santos Moreira Pedrosa
LWLeonoor Wismans
Leonoor Wismans
RSRenata Sinke
Renata Sinke
MWMarcel van der Weiden
Marcel van der Weiden
Casper Van EijckCasper Van Eijck
Casper Van Eijck
Dana A.M. MustafaDana A.M. Mustafa
Dana A.M. Mustafa
Background: Brain metastasis is considered one of the major causes of mortality in breast cancer patients. To invade the brain, tumor cells need to pass the blood-brain barrier by mechanisms that are partially understood. In primary ER-negative breast cancers that developed brain metastases, we found that some of the differentially expressed genes play roles in the T cell response. The present study aimed to identify genes involved in the formation of brain metastasis independently from the T cell response. Method: Previously profiled primary breast cancer samples were reanalyzed. Genes that were found to be differentially expressed were confirmed by RT-PCR and by immunohistochemistry using an independent cohort of samples. Results: BOC, SPOCK2, and GJD3 were overexpressed in the primary breast tumors that developed brain metastasis. BOC expression was successfully validated at the protein level. SPOCK2 was validated at both mRNA and protein levels. SPOCK2 and GJD3 mRNA overexpression were also found to be associated with cerebral metastasis in an external online database consisting of 204 primary breast cancers. Conclusion: The overexpression of BOC, SPOCK2, and GJD3 is associated with the invasion of breast cancer into the brain. Further studies to determine their specific function and potential value as brain metastasis biomarkers are required.