Benjamin Levy
Research Mentor: Hamadi Madhi
Mentor Department: Internal Medicine, Medicine
Author(s): Benjamin Levy, Rachel Mercer, LiWei Bao, Hamadi Madhi, Nathan Merrill, Sofia Merajver
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 25
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that has limited treatment options, and improving therapies for these patients remains an important goal in cancer research. The aim of our project was to test whether combining two drugs could work better than using each drug alone. To do this, we used mouse models known as patient-derived xenografts (PDX), where tumor tissue taken from breast cancer patients is implanted into mice. These models allow tumors to grow in a way that more closely reflects what happens in patients. During the experiment, we monitored the mice regularly by measuring tumor size, recording body weight, and observing their general health. Tracking these factors helped us follow tumor growth over time and decide the appropriate time to start treatment. Once tumors reached the desired size, mice were treated with either a single drug or a combination of the two drugs, and tumor progression was monitored throughout the study. Our results showed that the combination treatment produced a stronger inhibition of tumor growth compared with either drug alone, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two therapies. Overall, this work highlights the potential value of combination drug therapies as a strategy to improve outcomes for patients with TNBC.
