Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Cells

Advisor(s)

Tong-Chuan He, The University of Chicago

Ling Zhao, The University of Chicago

Location

Room B108-1

Start Date

26-4-2019 10:05 AM

End Date

26-4-2019 10:20 AM

Abstract

Among cancer deaths in women, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in lethality. Survivors often experience relapse where the cancer comes back due to chemoresistant cells, allowing some cells to survive the initial treatment. The overall goal of this study is to research the IL-13Ra1 gene and its role in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), we know that IL-13Ra1 is highly expressed in chemoresistant cell lines and tissues. To test the significance of IL-13Ra1 in ovarian cancer, we will construct a plasmid, a strand of DNA found commonly in bacteria that can replicate without the chromosomal DNA, with a sequence inserted that can suppresses the expression of IL-13Ra1. The fragment silencing IL-13Ra1 expression will be inserted into another plasmid that can be packaged into adenovirus. Using adenovirus, we can infect the cancer cell lines and treat them with paclitaxel–a drug used to treat ovarian cancer–to determine if IL-13Ra1 plays a significant role in the survival of ovarian cancer cells.

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Apr 26th, 10:05 AM Apr 26th, 10:20 AM

Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Cells

Room B108-1

Among cancer deaths in women, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in lethality. Survivors often experience relapse where the cancer comes back due to chemoresistant cells, allowing some cells to survive the initial treatment. The overall goal of this study is to research the IL-13Ra1 gene and its role in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), we know that IL-13Ra1 is highly expressed in chemoresistant cell lines and tissues. To test the significance of IL-13Ra1 in ovarian cancer, we will construct a plasmid, a strand of DNA found commonly in bacteria that can replicate without the chromosomal DNA, with a sequence inserted that can suppresses the expression of IL-13Ra1. The fragment silencing IL-13Ra1 expression will be inserted into another plasmid that can be packaged into adenovirus. Using adenovirus, we can infect the cancer cell lines and treat them with paclitaxel–a drug used to treat ovarian cancer–to determine if IL-13Ra1 plays a significant role in the survival of ovarian cancer cells.