Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Cancer Research
Natalie White - Alabama State University
Co-Author(s): Sanjay Kumar, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, Karyn Gunn, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, Manoj Mishra, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, Upender Manne, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, Sabita Saldanha, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Colon cancer is a predominant cancer among African American (AA) men as compared to Caucasian men with a higher death rate in AA from the disease. Preventing the progression and metastasis of colon cancer by targeting molecules that contribute to cell survival and proliferation presents a suitable chemotherapeutic approach of the disease. In colon cancer, overexpression of heat shock protein (Hsp70) encourages the progression and metastasis of the disease. Over expression of hsp70 involves anti-apoptotic roles and induce the growth of colon cancer. Therefore, hsp70 has emerged as drug targets for colon cancer therapy. Our studies aimed at looking at the chemotherapeutic effects of naturally occurring molecules resveratrol (RES) and staurosporine (STS) on the expression of Hsp70, which are potent cytotoxic drugs. We hypothesize that the use of natural compounds will block the Hsp70-mediated protection in colon cancer. To accomplish this, HCT116 WT and SW480 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells were treated individually with RES (100μM) and STS (1μM), for 24h, and cell killing, morphology, and expression of hsp70 was studied. Our preliminary results indicated that RES and STS treated cells showed altered cell morphology and enhanced cell killing. Further, results demonstrated that the expression of hsp70 decreased in treated HCT116 WT. Thus, these findings illustrate the importance of these agents as potential therapeutic molecules in controlling colon cancer.
Not SubmittedFunder Acknowledgement(s): This work has been partially supported by National Institutes of Health grants P20CA192976.
Faculty Advisor: Sabita Saldanha, ssaldanha@alasu.edu
Role: The part of the research the I did was the MTT Assay to test the cell viability and I also conducted the western blot to test the up regulation or down regulation of the protein from the treated cells.