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Bridgewater State University

2020

Cancer

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Small Heat Shock Protein Αb-Crystallin Is Critical To Cell Survival In Response To The Phytochemical Withaferin A In Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells, Melissa Carmichael May 2020

The Small Heat Shock Protein Αb-Crystallin Is Critical To Cell Survival In Response To The Phytochemical Withaferin A In Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells, Melissa Carmichael

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Withaferin A (WA), the active-phytochemical of the medicinal plant Withania somnifera, promotes apoptosis in cancer cells. Although its mechanism remains unclear, WA has been shown to upregulate heat shock proteins (Hsps) which protect against diverse cellular insults. The small Hsps, αB-Crystallin and Hsp27, confer resistance to chemotherapy in several cancer cell lines, however, the role of WA on αB-Crystallin and Hsp27 expression in drug resistance remains unknown. Since the majority of ovarian tumors eventually recur in a drug-resistant form leaving patients few treatment options, the goal of this study is to explore the molecular mechanism induced by WA in a …