Zainab Taher
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Seema Chugh
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pathology – MCTP / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Zainab Taher, Jennifer Hon, Carson Kenum, Chi-Chiang Li, Xuhong Cao, Jean C. Tien, Seema Chugh , Arul Chinnaiyan
Presenter: 69
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a cancer commonly found on the small adrenal glands located on top of both kidneys. It is predominantly found in children ages five or younger. Evidently, there is a need to further study cancer biology and research how to keep the progression of this cancer in check. This project focuses on the study of an orally active novel compound that is a dual ALK and FAK inhibitor and its ability to be used as an effective therapeutic strategy in neuroblastoma. ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) and FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) are tyrosine kinase receptors that play important roles in brain development and integrin signaling respectively. However, overexpression of ALK and FAK has shown association with increased tumor growth and metastasis. Hence, we hypothesized that the ALK and FAK inhibitor can be used as an effective therapeutic strategy in targeting neuroblastoma, which has activated ALK and FAK. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested various neuroblastoma cell lines and their response to the dual ALK and FAK inhibitor.
Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences
