University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Poster Gallery
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Creation Date
2020
Major
Biomedical Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Lindsay Cormier
Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract
A novel compound entitled Pt-Mal-LHRH was recently developed and synthesized to combat reproductive cancers that overexpress the LHRH receptor. Previous research conducted with Pt-Mal-LHRH has shown that there is increased cellular chemotherapeutic uptake in the cancer cells relative to healthy normal cells. Further, more enhanced platinum cellular uptake was found with Pt-Mal-LHRH compared to other platinum family chemotherapeutics such as Carboplatin. Further, in-vivo Pt-Mal-LHRH was found to decrease tumor size. Taken together our previous data indicated Pt-Ma-LHRH to be a much needed drug candidate that will selectively target cancer cells while reducing side effects. Our next step towards Pt-Mal-LHRH development is determining metabolic breakdown products. Our analytical results indicated that when esterase is applied to Pt-Mal-LHRH the breakdown product is Cisplatin. This indicates that upon cellular uptake of Pt-Mal-LHRH it will be cleaved into cisplatin, which, gives Pt-Mal-LHRH the distinction of a cisplatin prodrug. Next, we wanted to verify our results for Pt-Mal-LHRH when applied to hepatocytes, thus, providing in-vitro results. It is hypothesized that Pt-Mal-LHRH will again break down into the chemical structure of cisplatin, making it more effective against cancer cells. A review of other chemotherapies and hepatocytes was conducted to create a protocol for this experiment. Those results can then lead to further in-vivo studies concerning Pt-Mal-LHRH bioavailability and elimination when applied to the whole body.
