Childhood cancers are the third leading cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 4, and the second leading cause of death among children aged 5-14 years. Biologically, it has been demonstrated that tumour aggressiveness and invasive capacity are caused by genetic modifications and cellular microenvironmental factors in a sequential and multifactorial process. The search for genetic alterations, proteins, or entire intracellular signalling pathways involved in the process of carcinogenesis and metastatisation is always evolving in order to identify new prognostic factors or potential therapeutic targets. In recent years, β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) have been associated with tumour progression. This is a multicentre biological samples study which main aim is to evaluate the β3 receptor expression in the peripheral blood of patients with solid tumours compared to a healthy control group. The biological samples collected during the study are: peripheral blood sample, bone marrow aspirate and fresh or fresh paraffin biopsy tumour.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Peripheral blood sample will be acquired in excess to the last scheduled control sample according to clinical practice.
peripheral blood sample, bone marrow aspirate and fresh or paraffin biopsia tissutale will be collected for the substudy
sample of peripheral blood and bone marrow blood for the substudy, derived from paediatric or young adult leukaemia patients
Ospedale San Donato di Arezzo
Arezzo, Italy
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMeyer Children's Hospital IRCCS
Florence, Italy
RECRUITINGAzienda Ospedaliera Pisana
Pisa, Italy
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGEvaluation of β3 receptor expression in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and bioptic samples of patients with solid tumours compared to a healthy control group
Cytofluorimetric data following labelling with specific fluorescent antibodies and after specific gating strategy, specific for each tumour or healthy cell, will be reported as a percentage (%), mean or median expression on the viable population of cells expressing the receptor. Data will be acquired at the MacsQuant Miltenyi Biotech cytofluorometer and analysed withFlowLogic® software programme.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Assessment of oxidative stress in peripheral blood samples from enrolled patients
Oxidative stress in the peripheral blood of patients enrolled in the main study will be assessed and healthy subjects, through the use of the Callegari instrument by measuring the amount of free radicals and antioxidants in the sample under analysis using specific detection kits.
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Evaluation of the role of the β3 receptor in apoptosis resistance (substudy)
Cells properly isolated and resuspended in PBS (phosphate buffered saline) will be incubated at room temperature with specific antibodies for Annessin V and Propidium Iodide (PI) compound and subsequently evaluated by flow cytometry (FACS).
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
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