Biological Sciences Undergraduate Works
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Browsing Biological Sciences Undergraduate Works by Author "Daou, Roy"
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- ItemOpen AccessElectrochemical Detection of Platinum-Based Chemoresistance and Correlation with MEK1 Activity in Living Cancer Cells(2024-07-04) Daou, Roy; Whyhard, Steve (Biological Sciences); Doering, Jennifer (Biological Sciences); Lee, Jae-Hyeok (Biological Sciences); Kuss, SabineDrug resistance is responsible for most chemotherapy failures, making it an urgent issue in modern oncology. In ovarian cancer, resistance to platinum-based chemotherapeutics, such as carboplatin, is common. However, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. A mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, MEK1, may play a role in the development of this resistance mechanism. This project aims to understand this mechanism by using western blots to measure MEK1 activity in patient-obtained living ovarian cancer cells, comparing between carboplatin-susceptible and carboplatin-resistant cells. Moreover, early detection of chemoresistance can improve treatment outcomes. However, current detection methods are inefficient and time-consuming. To address this, the project also proposes an unconventional approach to identifying chemoresistance. This involves the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy for the rapid and accurate quantification of glutathione, a prominent antioxidant that may serve as a biomarker for platinum-based resistance mechanisms, in both cell lines. The findings suggest a correlation between lower MEK1 activity and increased glutathione levels in the resistant cells. This research may contribute to the development of an efficient and reliable method for detecting chemoresistance, with the potential of significantly improving cancer treatment outcomes.