| Start Date: | 7/7/2016 | Start Time: | 10:00 AM |
| End Date: | 7/7/2016 | End Time: | 12:00 PM |
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Event Description
BIOMED Master's Thesis Defense
Title:
Effect of Type III Collagen Coating of Electrospun Scaffolds on Breast Cancer Cell Apoptosis
Speaker:
Jasthi Sai Mounica, MS Candidate, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Advisors:
Susan W. Volk, PhD, VMD, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Lin Han, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Jaimie Dougherty, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Abstract:
Collagen deposition and remodeling commands a pivotal role in the wound healing-fibrosis-cancer progression triad (WHFC). The Volk Laboratory (University of Pennsylvania) has been investigating the role of Collagen type III (Col 3) in the WHFC triad. Their work has shown that Col 3 promotes a regenerative wound healing response and also inhibits aggressive breast cancer behavior. Published data from the lab shows that diminished Col 3 promotes myofibroblast differentiation and increases scar deposition in cutaneous wounds, thereby showcasing a role for Col 3 in early wound repair. Their data on the direct and indirect effects of Col 3 on tumor progression and fate shows that Col 3 deficiency promotes tumor growth and metastases, promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of breast cancer cells and fosters a procarcinogenic stroma by regulating collagen and myofibroblast density and alignment. In addition, they have also collected data showing that adding Col 3 to the tumor microenvironment leads to suppression of aggressive breast cancer behavior.
In recent studies, the Volk Laboratory has also collected data showing that resection of mammary tumors in Col 3-haploinsufficient (Col 3 +/-) mice is associated with an increased incidence and volume of tumor recurrence. Based on this data and other research which shows that poor healing in breast cancer resection/biopsy sites drives aggressive tumor behaviors, we hypothesized that application of Col 3 coated biomaterials to such sites would potentially promote an optimal wound healing response and would also potentially suppress aggressive breast cancer behavior and invoke a pro-apoptotic response in residual breast cancer cells. This could reduce morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients by improving healing and preventing local cancer recurrence and metastasis.
In the scope of this project, we decided to focus our investigation towards in vitro studies on the direct effect of such Col 3 coated electrospun (fibrous) biomaterials on the apoptosis of MDA MB 231, a human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line. In this investigation, we sought to determine if the architectural makeup of these Col 3 coated fibrous scaffolds, in terms of fiber orientation, would have a further effect on breast cancer cell morphology and ultimately on breast cancer cell apoptosis. Lastly, we conducted preliminary tests to assess if Col 3 coated substrates could induce significant apoptosis in other cancer cell types (human lung cancer cell line: A549). |
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Location:
Bossone Research Center, Room 709, located at 32nd and Market Streets. |
Audience:
Undergraduate StudentsGraduate StudentsFacultyStaff |
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