Sahej Dhaliwal
Research Mentor: Maryam Nakhjiri
Mentor Department: Internal Medicine, Medicine
Author(s): Sahej Dhaliwal, Rhea Raghavan, Maryam Nakhjiri, Aaron Udager, Nathan Merrill, Sofia Merajver
Session: Session 3 (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 58
Abstract
Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy, arising in the mucosal epithelium of the nasal cavity and sinus tissues, often associated with poor clinical outcomes. A subset of SNSCC is driven by mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, which contributes to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Notably, activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, a key downstream effector of EGFR signaling, has been implicated in SNSCC tumor growth, survival, and resistance to targeted therapies. Dysregulation of this pathway has been reported in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, including SNSCC, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. This study evaluates the efficacy of combination therapies targeting the PI3K pathway alongside the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 pathway. We hypothesize that dual inhibition of these pathways will enhance therapeutic response by simultaneously suppressing proliferative signaling and promoting apoptosis. To test this, the SNSCC cell line UM-SCC-112 was treated with PI3K and BCL-2 inhibitors. Cell viability was assessed following drug exposure, and dose-response relationships were analyzed using CompuSyn software. Synergy between drug combinations was evaluated using the Chou-Talalay method. Future studies will expand this analysis to additional SNSCC cell lines (UM-SCC-33, SCCNC4). This work aims to identify synergistic drug combinations that effectively inhibit tumor growth and overcome resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies. These findings may support the development of more effective targeted therapies for patients with SNSCC.
