Cancer Biology Commons^™

Cell Cycle Inhibition: Illudin S And Its Effects On Cdk2 In Ewing Sarcoma, Stephanie Diez, Natalie Flores, Alexandria Hernandez, Viviana Palacios, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcomas are aggressive round cell mesenchymal neoplasmas that have a high occurrence in children and young adults. CDK2 is a protein that is involved in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, which promotes the transition to the S phase. CDK2 kinase activation is mainly observed in the G1/S-phase transition.3 CDK2 binds to Cyclin proteins is responsible for entry and progression, thereby leading to maximal apoptosis activity in the S-phase. Illudin S is a drug that has been known to target cancer-specific cells, such as leukemia. Illudin S, in general are a cytotoxic metabolite that comes from plants, specifically …

Yap1 Knockdown And Panobinostat Treatment Increase Apoptotic Response And Decrease Gene Expression In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Luna Collazo-Garcia, Alejandra Favela Santos, Madeline Torres-Salazar, Isabella Toscano, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is considered to be one of the most aggressive pediatric malignancies, often characterized by its dysregulated gene expression driven by oncogenic fusion proteins. The Hippo signaling effector Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) has been known in promoting cell proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance in multiple cancers. However, its role in Ewing sarcoma response to treatment remains unclear. This study investigated whether YAP1 knockdown enhances the sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma cells to the histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat. Ewing sarcoma, ES8, cells were transfected with a YAP1-targeting siRNA (siYAP1) or a non-targeting control (siControl) and treated with DMSO, 0.1 μM, …

Everolimus Treatment Combined With Akt1 Knockdown Increased Apoptosis And Decreased Cell Proliferation In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Arisha Arif, Alfie Barcenez, Sophia Ruter, Nicole Vanegas-Riddick, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

The purpose of this study is to use the gene AKT1, due to the interest in AKT1’s role in cancer cell proliferation, and the drug Everolimus, to determine if combined targeted therapy works as a more efficient therapeutic approach. Ewing Sarcoma has been connected to chromosomal translocations and is most common in pediatric patients. It is most often treated with chemotherapy and local treatments. It may be connected to the gene AKT1 due to how it regulates cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation. The gene mTOR is similarly connected to cell metabolism and proliferation, and is inhibited by the drug Everolimus. …

Sirna Knockdown Of Rptor Reduces Rptor Expression, Increases Brd4 Expression, And Alters Proliferation And Apoptosis In Ewing's Sarcoma Cells, Sergio Cipriano, David Leavitt, Michael Olivia, Liam Valdez, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. Although treatment options exist, many patients do not respond effectively, showing the need for improved targeted therapies. RPTOR is a key in mTORC1 complex which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and survival. LY2874455 is a selective pan-FGFR inhibitor that targets growth factor signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, and FGFR signaling interacts with pathways such as mTOR, making it a potential target for combination therapies. We hypothesized that silencing RPTOR in Ewing sarcoma cells would disrupt mTOR signaling and alter expression of genes linked to cell survival …

Everolimus And Sirna-Mediated Mtor Inhibition Reduces Proliferation And Promotes Apoptosis In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Dylan Calvert, Malorie Martinez, Alexa Miner, Ellis Quiroga, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive pediatric bone cancer characterized by rapid cell proliferation and poor prognosis, making the identification of therapeutic targets critical. One of  the mechanistic targets is rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which is critical for regulating cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Abnormal activation of the mTOR signaling pathway has been linked to the progression of ES, as it drives uncontrolled cell growth and apoptosis resistance. Because mTOR represents a promising therapeutic target for ES treatment, we hypothesized that inhibiting mTOR activity through an siRNA-mediated knockdown or through Everolimus drug treatment, would reduce cell proliferation and promote ES …

Antiestrogens As Bone Protective Therapeutics For Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer In The Presence Of Osteoporosis, Faith E. Parker, Emily K. Zboril, David C. Boyd, Rachel Myrick, J. Chuck Harrell

Undergraduate Research Posters

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most significant causes of mortality among women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The estrogen receptor (ER) is a key oncogenic driver in the majority of breast cancer. ER+ BC is the most common molecular subtype of BC. Management of ER+ breast cancer varies depending on menopausal status. For premenopausal women, the goal is to suppress estradiol production from the ovaries with surgical oophorectomy and/or aromatase inhibitors. In postmenopausal women, endocrine therapy (ET) serves to suppress estradiol production from sources other than the ovaries. During the menopausal transition, estradiol …

Determining Genes Involved In Recovery From Chemotherapy In 4t1, Emt6, And Eo771 Breast Cancer Cells, Akash Jagdeesh, Joseph Landry Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Posters

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and often has poor prognosis. Traditional treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, which involves a chemical attack on all growing cells within the body. However, these treatments are not 100% effective, and patients might experience recurrence in their cancer months or years after achieving remission. Cancer cells can evade chemotherapy through five mechanisms: senescence, quiescence, cytoprotective autophagy, and apoptosis/necroptosis suppression. Prior studies have conducted CRISPR screens and experiments involving inhibition of epigenetic regulators, to alter the regulation of genes that can contribute to breast cancer chemotherapy resistance. This study …

Evaluating The Sna1 Gene Using Crispr Mediated Knockdown In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Rosanna Jees, Sonia Cerrillo, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric cancer with limited therapeutic options and poor long-term survival. CRISPR–Cas9–mediated gene editing provides a powerful tool for investigating tumor molecular behavior and identifying potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we worked with CRISPR–Cas9 in Ewing sarcoma ES8 cells to evaluate the roles of the transcription factors SNAI1 and SNAI2, both implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer progression. Using guide RNAs targeting each gene, we assessed proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and long-term survival through Incucyte live-cell imaging and colony-formation assays. Knockout of SNAI1 resulted in decreased cell proliferation and reduced migratory capacity compared with controls, suggesting a …

Effects Of Ptk2 Knockdown On Key Cellular Processes In Es8 Cells, Adrian Cruz, Emiliano Rueda, Dylan Andrews, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive form of pediatric cancer characterized by rapid growth and metastatic potential, with limited treatment options available. PTK2 is a key regulator of many pathways involved in tumor behavior, including integrin-mediated adhesion, survival, and migration. This research lab investigated how CRISPR-Cas9 knockdown of PTK2 can affect cellular processes in ES8 Ewing sarcoma cells. To assess the effectiveness of reducing PTK2 expression, we utilized live-cell imaging, wound-healing assays, measurements of caspase activity, colony formation, and qRT-PCR. Our results showed that incomplete knockdown decreased cell proliferation and colony formation, while also increasing apoptotic activity. Additionally, migratory ability was …

How Cxcr4 Knockdown Affects Tumorigenic Properties In Es8 Cells, Gabriella Galdeano, Damon James, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a seven-transmembrane G-protein–coupled receptor (GPCR). When activated by its ligand SDF-1 (CXCL12), CXCR4 triggers signaling pathways that promote cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis. Many cancers exploit the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis to support tumor growth and metastasis. Ewing sarcoma (ES8) is an aggressive pediatric bone and soft-tissue cancer, and elevated CXCR4 signaling has been linked to increased migration and metastatic behavior. ES8 cells, a well-established ES8 cell line, provided a model to study how CXCR4contributes to tumor progression. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing was used to knock down CXCR4 in ES8 cells, delivered through lipid-based transfection. …

Investigating The Role Of Twist1 In Cancer Progression Using Crispr Knockdown, Abby Guerrero, Sofia Perez, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

TWIST1 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that promotes cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. This study investigates the functional role of TWIST1 in cancer progression by using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown to examine its effects on apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. TWIST1 was knocked down in cancer cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 assay. Knockdown efficiency and changes in genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Functional assays included caspase assays for apoptosis, MTT assays for proliferation, wound-healing assays for migration, Matrigel invasion assays, and colony formation assays to assess long-term growth and invasive potential. Across …

Itgb1 Knockdown Alters Apoptosis And Proliferation In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Aditi Kumar, Magdalena Saad, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) is an adhesion receptor that link cells to the extracellular matrix and regulates pathways involved in survival, proliferation, and migration. In order to understand its role in Ewing Sarcoma, we applied CRISPR-Cas9 with two guide RNAs to knock down ITGB1 in ES8 cells. We then assessed changes in cell growth, death, movement, and gene expression using Incucyte live-cell imaging, colony formation assays, wound healing assays, and qRT-PCR. qRT-PCR showed partial ITGB1 reduction, with ITGB1_gRNA2 producing the strongest decrease. ITGB1_gRNA2 also led to a small increase in caspase activity and a 20-30% increase in proliferation at the …

A Molecular Mechanism Of Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (Emt): An Evidence Based Lesson Applying Molecular Biology Through The Lens Of Cancer, Sophie Hasson, Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith

Open Educational Resources

This lesson aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking and molecular biology data analysis skills as well as their understanding of concepts related to the hallmark of cancer: tissue invasion and metastasis. Students begin by learning about the invasion of cancer cells, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and an important protein involved in EMT: E-cadherin. They then apply molecular biology knowledge to analyze data from multiple papers to infer the relationship between Snail and E-cadherin in different types of cancers. Next, they continue to interpret data from many papers to determine that a repressor transcription factor is present during EMT in cancer cells …

A Bitter Brew For Cancer: Egcg’S Impact On Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Lizzeth Holguin, Mary-Esther Leblanc, Mariana Reyes, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant found in green tea, is an abundant treatment to treat Ewing Sarcoma cells, a pediatric cancer affecting the skeletal system. Given EGCG’s known role in other cancer treatments, these tests aim to investigate its effects as a standalone natural compound on Ewing Sarcoma cells. Focusing on the PI3K/AKT pathway, if the PI3K/AKT pathway is inhibited by EGCG, then it will lead to reduced cell survival and proliferation of EW8 cells. Using cell culture techniques, IncuCyte-based IC50 analysis, caspase 3/7, RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, and qRT-PCR, EGCG’s impact was assessed on cell apoptosis and gene …

The Effect Of Epigallocatechin Gallate (Egcg) And Alpha L-Mangostin On Tp53, Bax, And Vim Gene Expression And Apoptosis In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Victoria Valdez, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is a malignant pediatric bone tumor driven by chromosomal translocations and fusion oncogenes with limited targeted treatment options. This study investigated the chemopreventive potential of two natural compounds, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) found in green tea, and Alpha L-Mangostin from mangosteen, on apoptosis and gene expression in ES cells. We hypothesized that EGCG and Alpha L-Mangostin treatment would induce apoptosis and downregulate cancer-promoting genes. To test this, we performed tissue culture, IC50 assays, caspase-based apoptosis detection, RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, and qRT-PCR on ES cell lines treated with a high and low concentration of the two compounds. Our …

Minimal Anti-Cancer Effects Of Mushroom-Derived Compounds Hispidin And Chaga Extract On Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Jordan Cosgrove, Fiona Coulbourne, Iris Reyna, Giselle Serna-Flores, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer of adolescents and young adults driven by the EWSR1–FLI1 gene fusion. Standard treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, though survival rates remain low. Natural compounds such as hispidin, derived from fungi, and Chaga mushroom extract have shown potential anti-cancer effects by disrupting cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis in other cancer models. In this study, we tested the effects of hispidin and Chaga extract on Ewing sarcoma cells to evaluate their ability to suppress cell growth and identify potential therapeutic benefits.

The Effects Of Panobinostat On Cellular Signaling Pathways And How It Relates To Antitumor Activities In Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Cells, Crystal Valenzuela, Andrew Martini, Hannah Navarro, Mario Flores, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects the bones and surrounding soft tissues, most commonly in children and young adults. Although the exact etiology remains unclear, a well-documented cause involves a chromosomal translocation resulting in the fusion of the EWSR1 and FLI1 genes. This fusion produces abnormal proteins that disrupt normal gene expression, cell signaling, and RNA processing, contributing to tumorigenesis. Prognosis varies significantly depending on the extent of metastasis, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 82% in localized cases to 39% in metastatic cases. Standard treatments include chemotherapy typically involving vincristine, doxorubicin, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide—surgical …

The Effects Of Hispidin And Eribulin Mesylate On Cell Proliferation Of Ewing Sarcoma Cell Lines, Elena Mares, Angelina Juarrita, Sierra Munoz, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is a type of cancer that targets the cells within bones and soft tissue and is most prevalent in younger populations. It is important to look at this specific cancer because there is no cure yet, and the risks increase, even after a patient has completed their treatment. We hypothesize that if we treat Ewing sarcoma cell lines with natural compounds, specifically Hispidin and Eribulin Mesylate, then the cell lines will decrease in cell viability and there will be an increase in apoptosis of the cancerous cell lines. We performed a series of experiments, which included IC50 analysis, …

Chilling Insights: A Comparative Study Of Cancer Tissue Preservation, Rebecca Bascom, Paige Nelson, Jacob Harris, Jack Davis, Mackenzie Burr, Jeffrey Okojie, David Booker, Ken Dixon, Jared Barrott

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

It is a fact that personalized cancer treatment leads to better patient outcomes. But what if the current treatments aren't as personalized as they could be?

Clinical cancer tissue samples are typically sent to labs as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. A recent study4 indicates that cryo-preserved (CP) tissues offer significantly better DNA quality and quantity than FFPE samples, suggesting a need to reevaluate preservation methods. We aim to expand this research by comparing protein expression in FFPE and CP samples.

Specifically, we will focus on PD-L1, a protein that inhibits T-cells and is overexpressed in all cancer cells. The …

Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression In Androgen-Independent Clones Derived From The Mycap Pca Cell Line, Jessie L. Tignor, Melanie Sinanian, Richard Inho Joh, David Gewirtz, Jason Reed

Undergraduate Research Posters

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment strategy for prostate cancer (PCa), yet many tumors eventually develop androgen independence, leading to treatment resistance. To investigate the molecular changes underlying this transition, we analyzed differential gene expression in four androgen-independent (AI) clones derived from the Myc-CaP prostate cancer cell line using RNA sequencing. Gene expression profiles were compared to the parental Myc-CaP line, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2 and edgeR. The AI clones exhibited significant downregulation of senescence-associated genes, including Ezh2 and lamin B1, suggesting a loss of senescence-related chromatin repression. Additionally, upregulation of Wnt pathway …

Exploration In Cell Growth: Rac3 And Its Effect On Ewing Sarcomas Tumorigenic Properties, Allie Woods, Samuel De La Cruz, Catherine Garcia, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Multiple experiments were conducted to measure the effectiveness of certain genes on cell growth. In the exploration of this process, RAC3 acted as the target gene and was applied to both SOX18 overexpressing and normal expressing cells (control). RAC3 is a gene that typically controls the intercellular signaling pathway of a cell. This means it helps with the movement of cells and allows for migration.The purpose of these experiments were to determine how the gene RAC3 would work when introduced to carcinogenic cells, specifically Ewing Sarcoma. Typically, RAC3 acts as a messenger for the cell, but when in conjunction with …

The Effect Of Knockdown Of Gene Kit On Sox18 Gene Expression Through The Jak2/Stat3 Signaling Pathway Within An Ewing Sarcoma Cell, Samantha Aragon, Cristina Herrera, Felicity Rodriguez, Riley Smith, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that affects children & adolescents. Common treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, yet individuals have a poor survival rate and often develop side effects from treatment, including fertility issues, secondary cancer, heart problems, and growth abnormalities.1SOX18 is a gene identified to aid in cell proliferation and cell differentiation, leading to the development of several cancers, such as gastric, bladder, and lung cancer.2,3 SOX18 resides in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway as a regulator, along with another gene named KIT that instigates the formation of the cell signaling pathway.4KIT is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, which instigates cell …

The Effects Of Ewing Sarcoma Through The Overexpression And Knockdown Of Transcription Factors Sox18 And Stat1, Victoria Castillo, Melany Cervantes, Nicole Robles, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

SOX18, a transcription factor with a DNA-binding HMG domain, plays a critical role in regulatory processes linked to cancer progression. Exhibiting oncogenic properties, SOX18 has been linked to various cancers, where it promotes tumor growth by enhancing cell invasion, uncontrolled proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis through dysregulated signaling pathways. STAT1, a protein crucial for immune system regulation, is prominently expressed in immune-associated tissues like the lymph nodes, and bone marrow, suggesting it could play a role in tumor growth. Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive cancer that targets bone and soft tissue, carries a high mortality rate of 90% without treatment …

Cellular Glycosphingolipid Imbalance Modulates Emt In Cancer Cells, Laura E. Clark, Amanda Dickinson, Santiago Lima

Undergraduate Research Posters

Sphingolipids are key components of the plasma membrane and are regulators of complex biological processes often altered in cancer cells. In human tumors, genes of key enzymes that regulate levels of glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide are often amplified. However, it is unknown why these traits are positively selected in transformed cells. In this work, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to knockout two key enzymes amplified in tumors in HeLa and H1703 tumor-derived cell-lines. As expected, the knockout lines had dramatic accumulation of GlcCer and LacCer. However, unexpectedly, they showed significantly decreased in-vitro wound-healing capacity and an almost complete loss of in-vitro extra-cellular matrix …

Identification Of Lipid Species: Potential Biomarkers For Early Detection Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Kit Yee Leung, Kaylee Freitas

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. HCC is associated with cirrhosis. Poor survival rate of HCC is due to diagnosis of HCC at late stage.

Evaluation Of Cell-Matrix Interactions In K14+ Leader Cells On Caf-Modulated Matrix, Trey P. Redman, Jessanne Y. Lichtenberg, Priscilla Y. Hwang

Summer REU Program

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Monovalent And Divalent Ions In The Conformational Change Of Caspase-Cleaved Par-4 (Cl-Par-4) Tumor Suppressor Protein, Krishna K. Raut, Komala Ponniah, Steven M. Pascal

College of Sciences Posters

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) is a pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor protein. We have shown that this 38 kDa full-length Par-4 (Fl-Par-4) protein is predominantly intrinsically disordered in vitro. In vivo, Par-4 is cleaved by caspase-3 at Asp-131 to generate a 24 kDa functionally active cleaved Par-4 (cl-Par-4) fragment. The cl-Par-4 protein inhibits the NF-κB-mediated cell survival pathway and causes selective apoptosis in various tumor cells. Our laboratory is interested in how the disorder-order balance within Fl-Par-4 and cl-Par-4 may be related to the balance between cell survival and cell death. Currently, we are using biophysical techniques such as circular …

Effect Of Cyclooxygenase-2 Glycosylation On Downstream Expression Of E-Cadherin And Β-Catenin In Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Genna Roan, Grace Alexander, Klarisse Cruz, Janelle Nguyen, Mary B. Sevigny

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Faculty Research Posters

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that helps catalyze the formation of prostaglandins, which promote inflammation, pain, and fever and maintain other normal physiological functions throughout the body. However, the overexpression of COX-2 has been found to play a role in various diseases including breast cancer. COX-2 exists as two major glycoforms— 72 kDa and 74 kDa— due to the glycosylation site Asn580 which is glycosylated 50% of the time. Past studies from our lab have shown that this glycosylation regulates COX-2 protein turnover in the cell3. The proteins E-cadherin— a tumor suppressor— and β-catenin— a tumor driver— can be regulated …

A Qualitative Review On Mammography Interventions Among Asian American Women, Sayeda Tazim Zaidi, Raisa Kabir, Chia-Liang Dai

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading type of malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women around the world. The occurrence of BC has been increasing in Asian American (AA) women. Early detection through mammography is an effective means to reduce mortality associated with BC. However, there is a paucity of data and interventions regarding mammography promotion interventions among AA women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate current interventions for promoting mammography among AA women and suggest recommendations for designing successful interventions. A review for peer-reviewed journal articles in PubMed Central, MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, …

Identifying Determinants Of Breast Cancer Screening Through Mammography Among Asian American Women, Sayeda Tazim Zaidi, Raisa Kabir, Chia-Liang Dai

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women around the world. In the US, approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. There is a growing incidence of breast cancer among Asian American (AA) women. Breast cancer screening by mammography is the most effective early detection method to reduce mortality but AA women have the lowest utilization rates. This study aims to identify the determinants affecting mammography among AA women. A literature search in PubMed Central, MEDLINE, and CINAHL was undertaken to include all peer-reviewed studies published within the past 20 years …