Ahmed Rezk
Cairo University, Egypt
Title: Testing the effect of novel molecules on glioblastoma cells
Biography
Biography: Ahmed Rezk
Abstract
Introducton: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most abundant malignant tumor in adults (McDowell et al., 2011, Bush et al., 2016) with an incidence of 3.19 cases per 100,000 person/year (Dolecek et al., 2012). GBM is the most aggressive brain neoplasm, with a high probability of recurrence. The pattern of growth of GBM is highly infiltrative which minimize chances for total resection of tumor. The traditional treatment for glioblastoma includes surgical removal followed by chemotherapy and
radiotherapy depending on clinical condiUon (Stupp et al., 2005). However, the recurrence rate is high and oXen resistance to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy ensues. In addition, it may affect the deeper brain tissues, thus preventing surgical option as an initial step for treatment (Weller et al., 2013). Therefore, new therapeutic tools are needed.
Aim of the study: The current study aims at assessing the effect on the human U87 glioma cell line of novel substances, synthesized by Prof. Zago<o’s laboratory, that can be used as promising therapeutic agents. The substances were chosen for showing some similarity in their structure with a component of the bee’s propolis and some plants, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which has been shown to have some effect in different cancer types (Chung et al. 2004).
Materials & methods:
• Cell culture techniques according to lab protocol
• Cells were treated for 24 or 72 hours with one of the 10 substances (see below)
• Wright staining, count cells to determine the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells
• Measurement of cell migration by In Vitro Scratch Assay (wound healing experiment)
• Statistical analysis: t-test, each treatment vs. control (DMSO at the same concentration used for treatments).
Results: Among 10 different novel substances tested, substances 5, 7, 8 and 9 showed variable effects, indicated by morphological and molecular evaluation. Effect ranges from apoptosis, necrosis and cytostatic effect on GBM cells.
Conclusions & future works: In conclusion, an initial screening of 10 substances, different in their molecular properties, highlighted a promising scaffold that will be explored in future works. More information will be added from ongoing experiments on the expression of various proteins