The Effect Of The Drug α-Cyano-4-Hydroxycinnamate (CHC)

Date

2016-05-10

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Abstract

Cancer can be considered a heterogeneous disease, in which tumor cells are well diversified in the metabolic pathways that they utilize to obtain the energy needed for their proper function and proliferation1. However, previous studies have indicated that the hypoxic conditions that normally persist in malignant cells result in an increase in glycolysis2, and leads to tumors that are more dependent on the glycolytic metabolic pathway. Thus, in this study it was postulated that glycolysis, through the production of lactic acid, is very important in tumor cells, as it serves as a means for maintaining an acidic extracellular environment, as well as promoting tumor metastasis, and proliferation. To test the hypothesis that glycolysis may serve as a source of lactic acid needed for reducing the extracellular environment in cancer cells, Granta cells, which are large B cell lymphomas, were used as the model cell line. An important component of this study included treating the Granta cells with the monocarboxylate transport inhibitor, α -cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC), which stops the transport of lactic acid outside the cell. Collectively, the findings from this study suggest that Granta cells are not using the glycolytic pathway as a means for obtaining energy or for maintaining an acidic extracellular environment. The research limitations and suggestions for further research are addressed later in this document.

Description

Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Alfred University Honors Program.

Keywords

Honors thesis, Cancer, Biology, Granta cells

Citation

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