Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cell Migration Dynamics After Alteration Of Cell-Cell Contacts In Fibrosarcoma And Glioblastoma Cell Lines, Hassan S. Rizvi, Ronald K. Gary

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Cell migration is a vital component of metastasis. In this study, our intent was to study cell migration by alteration of the Wnt/GSK-3 Pathway. Since BeSO4 is a known GSK-3 kinase inhibitor, we hypothesized that this agent would cause cell migration to decrease as a result of β-catenin stabilization. Two human cell lines, HT-1080 (fibrosarcoma) and A172 (glioblastoma), were used to observe migration levels in the presence and absence of BeSO4. Our results show that cell migration is diminished for cells that were pre-treated with BeSO4, in comparison to the untreated (control) cells.

Synthesis Of Novel Aromatic Quinols For Colon And Renal Cancers, Bradley J. Davey, Tae Soo Jo, Pradip K. Bhowmik

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Colon Cancer: The third most common cancer in USA. More than 1 million Americans currently living with colon cancer. 148,810 new cases expected in 2010. 50,000 deaths annually.

Renal Cancer: Approximately 58,000 people diagnosed in USA annually. Seventh most common cancer and tenth most common cause of cancer related death in men.

Aromatic quinols have demonstrated in vitro antitumor activity. Three heteroaromatic quinols show antitumor activity.

Pdest Fg12-Cmv Dsred Vector, Jarod Wolffis, Sheri L. Holmen

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Melanoma is the most rapidly increasing malignancy among young people in the United States. If detected early, the disease is easily treated; however, once the disease has metastasized it is largely refractory to conventional therapies and is associated with a high mortality rate. The development of human cancer from a pre-malignant primary tumor to a metastatic lesion that develops at secondary sites is thought to be a multi-step process, requiring many genetic and epigenetic events that provide a growth advantage to cells. It is still unclear which of the many genetic changes in human cancers are required for metastasis. Therefore, …

Expression Of An Alternate Splice Form Of Bmi-1 In Multiple Myeloma, Adam Austin, Kristine Veys, Debbie Wong, James Tung

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The concept of “tumor stem cells” has garnered much attention in the last few years. Tumor stem cells are believed to exist among a heterogeneous group of cells that constitute a tumor. These tumor stem cells often express genes that are important for stem cell function, cell division, and maintenance of pluripotent state in stem cells. Stem cell or stem cell maintenance genes such as SALL 4 and Bmi-1 are often seen in these cancer cells and contribute to self-renewing divisions and cancer cell survival. In particular, high expression of Bmi-1 (B lymphoma mouse Moloney leukemia virus insertion region), a …

Characterizing And Inhibiting Two Pathways Activated In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Andrea Jydstrup, Sheri L. Holmen

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Despite major improvements in imaging, radiation, and surgery, the prognosis for patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains clinically challenging. New treatment strategies are badly needed to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with this disease. The resistance of these tumors to conventional treatments makes GBM patients ideal candidates for molecularly targeted therapies and several agents are currently being developed(1). Because GBM is genetically heterogeneous, combination therapies or the use of multikinase inhibitors are more likely to achieve the greatest therapeutic benefit(2,3). However, genes that can be productively targeted for effective therapies in patients remain to be identified. The overall objective …