In-Vivo Study of Chemotherapeutic Treatment of Human Pancreatic Tumor in Laboratory Mice
Jessica Ramcharan [CUNY Hunter College, Macaulay Honors College], Dr. Carmencita Lavilla [NYU Langone Health]
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal malignancy, but current treatment strategies (i.e. standard chemotherapy and radiation) are largely ineffective. However, emerging evidence suggests that a tumor’s capability to grow and propagate is dependent on a small subset of cells within a tumor called cancer stem cells. Identification of pancreatic cancer stem cells and further elucidation of the signaling pathways that regulate their growth and survival may provide novel therapeutic approaches to treat pancreatic cancer. The overall goal of this work was to identify and therapeutically target the stem cell population and key signaling pathways that promote growth and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. We hypothesized that a combination therapy of test drugs is more effective than a single test drug therapy. We fully expect that tumor growth and metastasis will be suppressed and stabilized using a combination therapy. Presently, the expansion of human tumor tissue can only be accomplished in-vivo. The use of mouse models is necessary in the examination of drug combinations. Laboratory mice were used to understand the biology of the drug in the mouse body. After the drug and mouse were prepped, orthotopic surgery was performed and the development of the tumor was observed via ultrasound. The tumor was allotted time to grow up to 2 centimeters, at which point was considered the humane endpoint. Organ harvests were performed on the mice bodies and in-vitro tests were conducted to assess whether or not the tumor had shrunk after test drug administration. We concluded that the tumor did, in fact, shrink after drug combination therapy, so these test drugs are critical to the development of possible chemotherapeutic treatments to pancreatic cancer. Further insights into and studies on this drug should provide more conclusive data in the designs of new therapies for pancreatic cancer treatments.
Email questions and comments about this abstract to jessica.ramcharan10@myhunter.cuny.edu.
