David Kachar
Pronouns: He/him/his
Research Mentor(s): Alexander Zaslavsky
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Urology / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors:
Presenter: 10
Abstract
Kidney cancer is one of highest killing cancers by rate in the United States. The progression of the disease is currently unknown, however studies are being conducted to determine the progress. In recent years, the role of the tumor microenvironment has become the primary focus of kidney cancer research. The goal of this project is to investigate and potentially determine the role of platelets on tumor cells and their individual progression. Recent studies have shown that platelets contain growth factors that allow for tumor cells to perform angiogenesis, which may lead to a metastasis into a secondary site. Data will be collected via techniques such as Western blotting, PCR, and flow cytometry. Cells and tissue will come from blood samples, mice tissue, and kidney cell lines such as Caki1 and Caki2. This data will be used to detect proteins and genes that are markers for tumor growth. Data collection has not begun yet due to the cell line still being in too low of a passage to begin work. However, it is expected that treating cells with platelets will cause the cells to proliferate. The findings in this project could be vital to producing an improved anticancer therapy, potentially via a platelet mechanism. Since platelets are critical to the human body, antiplatelet therapy poses new side effects. Thus, investigating the mechanism of tumor proliferation via platelets could allow for a more targeted therapy that is more cost effective, powerful, and safe for patients.
Biomedical Sciences
