University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Utilization of cytotoxicity assays as a technique in determining the IC50 of docetaxel treatment in vitro
Presenter Hometown
Somerset, KY
Major
Biology
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Kendall Simpson
Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Shore, Emily F.; Simpson, Kendall; Kleinman, Emmaline; and Lee-Bush, Madalynn, "Utilization of cytotoxicity assays as a technique in determining the IC50 of docetaxel treatment in vitro" (2026). University Presentation Showcase Event. 4.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2026/undergraduate/4
Abstract
Prostate cancer ranks among the most prevalent cancers in men and is the
second most common cause of cancer-related cases and fatalities globally. African
American men in the United States have significantly higher risk and mortality rates
of prostate cancer (PCa) compared to men of Caucasian descent. This difference
highlights the importance of investigating novel therapeutic strategies because it
reflects underlying issues such as differences in access to healthcare, socioeconomic
factors, and tumor biology. Our lab utilizes in vitro PCa cell models of both Caucasian
(LNCaP) and African American (MDA-PCa-2b) descent to exploit molecular
differences and develop novel therapeutic strategies. The focus of this project is to
increase the efficacy of the current Docetaxel treatment with the addition of Orlistat, a
fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitor. This FDA-approved drug is on the market as an
approved therapy for weight loss; however, the mechanism of action for this FASN
inhibitor is to halt de novo lipogenesis. Recent publications have indicated a stronger
reliance of PCa with African American descent on lipogenesis and may indicate a
vulnerability to these kinds of inhibitors. This project focused on establishing the
standard operating procedure for the lab to perform cytotoxicity assays by treating
LNCaP cells with Docetaxel. Our results indicate an IC50 of 6.32nM which is
consistent with current literature. Future directions involve cytotoxicity assays in
MDA-PCa-2b utilizing Docetaxel and Orlistat mono treatments and in combination to
test synergy.
Presentation format
Poster
Utilization of cytotoxicity assays as a technique in determining the IC50 of docetaxel treatment in vitro
Prostate cancer ranks among the most prevalent cancers in men and is the
second most common cause of cancer-related cases and fatalities globally. African
American men in the United States have significantly higher risk and mortality rates
of prostate cancer (PCa) compared to men of Caucasian descent. This difference
highlights the importance of investigating novel therapeutic strategies because it
reflects underlying issues such as differences in access to healthcare, socioeconomic
factors, and tumor biology. Our lab utilizes in vitro PCa cell models of both Caucasian
(LNCaP) and African American (MDA-PCa-2b) descent to exploit molecular
differences and develop novel therapeutic strategies. The focus of this project is to
increase the efficacy of the current Docetaxel treatment with the addition of Orlistat, a
fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitor. This FDA-approved drug is on the market as an
approved therapy for weight loss; however, the mechanism of action for this FASN
inhibitor is to halt de novo lipogenesis. Recent publications have indicated a stronger
reliance of PCa with African American descent on lipogenesis and may indicate a
vulnerability to these kinds of inhibitors. This project focused on establishing the
standard operating procedure for the lab to perform cytotoxicity assays by treating
LNCaP cells with Docetaxel. Our results indicate an IC50 of 6.32nM which is
consistent with current literature. Future directions involve cytotoxicity assays in
MDA-PCa-2b utilizing Docetaxel and Orlistat mono treatments and in combination to
test synergy.
