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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

The Effects Of Inhibiting Pi3k On Tumor Suppressor Gene P53 And Cell Proliferation, Kelsi Peters Dec 2018

The Effects Of Inhibiting Pi3k On Tumor Suppressor Gene P53 And Cell Proliferation, Kelsi Peters

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

When the cell surface molecule, Human EGF Receptor (HER2), is overexpressed, the cell can become cancerous. MDA-MB-453 is an established breast cancer cell line made cancerous by HER2 overexpression. This mutation that causes HER2 overexpression affects the cell signaling pathway of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, MDM2, and p53. We predicted that PI3K would be inhibited with the compound, LY294002, sending signals for Akt and MDM2 to be deactivated in MDA-MB-453 cells. Deactivated MDM2 signals for p53 to be activated. P53 is a tumor suppressor protein that exists in low quantities in normal cells, but when damage …


Deciphering The Role Of Human Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 1 (Nat1) In Breast Cancer Cell Metabolism Using A Systems Biology Approach., Samantha Marie Carlisle Aug 2018

Deciphering The Role Of Human Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 1 (Nat1) In Breast Cancer Cell Metabolism Using A Systems Biology Approach., Samantha Marie Carlisle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) is a phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme found in almost all tissues. NAT1 can additionally hydrolyze acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) in the absence of an arylamine substrate. NAT1 expression varies inter-individually and is elevated in several cancers including estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers. Additionally, multiple studies have shown the knockdown of NAT1, by both small molecule inhibition and siRNA methods, in breast cancer cells leads to decreased invasive ability and proliferation and decreased anchorage-independent colony formation. However, the exact mechanism by which NAT1 expression affects cancer risk and progression remains unclear. Additionally, consequences …


Clinical And Genetic Predictors Of Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Arthralgia, Adrienne Elizabeth Borrie Jul 2018

Clinical And Genetic Predictors Of Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Arthralgia, Adrienne Elizabeth Borrie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are the most commonly used first-line endocrine treatment for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Significant adverse drug reactions are associated with AIs, the most common being arthralgia. We hypothesized that a comprehensive assessment of pharmacogenetic and clinical variables that affect AI tolerability could improve AI selection and treatment for breast cancer patients. We recruited 196 patients diagnosed with breast cancer initiating AI therapy at the London Regional Cancer Program. Patients completed questionnaires regarding arthralgia symptoms and provided blood samples at baseline, 2 months and 6 months after AI initiation. Plasma letrozole drug concentration was measured …


Alternative Splicing Of Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding Protein 2 Is Modulated Via Serine Arginine Splicing Factor 3 In Cancer Metastasis, James T. Deligio, James Thomas Deligio Jan 2018

Alternative Splicing Of Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding Protein 2 Is Modulated Via Serine Arginine Splicing Factor 3 In Cancer Metastasis, James T. Deligio, James Thomas Deligio

Theses and Dissertations

Our laboratory delineated a role for alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We found the translational regulator cytosolic polyadenylation element binding protein 2 (CPEB2) which has two isoforms, CPEB2A and CPEB2B, is alternatively spliced during acquisition of anoikis resistance (AnR) and metastasis. The splicing event which determines the CPEB2 isoform is via inclusion/ exclusion of exon four in the mature mRNA transcript. The loss of CPEB2A with a concomitant increase in CPEB2B is required for TNBC cells to metastasize in vivo. We examined RNAseq profiles of TNBC cells which had CPEB2 isoforms specifically downregulated to …


Mitochondria-To-Nucleus Retrograde Signaling And Its Role In Cancer, Trevor Carden Jan 2018

Mitochondria-To-Nucleus Retrograde Signaling And Its Role In Cancer, Trevor Carden

All ETDs from UAB

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a hallmark of cancer. Mitochondria are essential, cellular organelles that participate in processes including energy production, calcium homeostasis and steroid metabolism. Mitochondria have been more recently appreciated for their role in cellular signaling, bringing about a greater understanding of their role in many diseases including cancer. Retrograde signaling is a mechanism by which the nucleus responds to mitochondrial dysfunction by modulating its own transcriptional programs to maintain metabolic and cellular processes. Many genes have already been identified as participants in or mediators of this signaling mechanism; these include cell signaling, metabolic and structural genes as well …


Elucidating The Role Of Hedgehog Signaling In Modulating Macrophage Function In Breast Cancer, Ann Hanna Jan 2018

Elucidating The Role Of Hedgehog Signaling In Modulating Macrophage Function In Breast Cancer, Ann Hanna

All ETDs from UAB

In the tumor microenvironment, breast cancer cells participate in crosstalk with the surrounding stroma. This tumoral-stromal interaction forms a balance that dictates tumor suppressing or tumor promoting response mechanisms. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment are plastic and can mediate several functions depending on their activation states. Tumor associated macrophages co-exist as two major phenotypes: anti-tumorigenic and immune-eliciting classically activated M1 as well as tumor-promoting and immune-suppressive alternatively activated M2 macrophages. Alternatively activated macrophages are specifically associated with more aggressive stages and poor clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients as they suppress the tumoricidal properties of the immune system, thus facilitating …