Date of Award
Fall 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS) in Biology
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Dr. Lori Hensley
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma is an aggressive pediatric bone cancer that has low five-year survival rates, primarily due to metastatic disease and resistance of recurring tumors to traditional treatment options; therefore, novel treatment options are needed. The compound cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to reduce cell viability, migration, and invasion in several tumor types, though the cellular mechanism of action is not well understood. Our lab has demonstrated the ability of CBD to reduce viability, migration, and invasion of Ewing’s sarcoma cells in vitro and is investigating differential protein and cytokine expression of known mediators of migration, such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), to help elucidate the cellular pathways responsible for these observed effects. Several factors are known to have increased expression in metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma, including ICAM-1 and IL-6. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CBD on expression levels of these proteins in Ewing’s sarcoma cells. This research may lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of CBD and the usefulness of medical cannabis as a potential therapeutic option for aggressive pediatric cancers.
Included in
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins Commons, Cancer Biology Commons, Cell Biology Commons, Therapeutics Commons