Abstract

The development of multidrug resistance in cancer is one of the leading causes for decreased chemotherapy efficacy and is particularly threatening to aggressive cancers such as that of the pancreas. In cancers where chemotherapy is amongst the few treatment options, it is crucial to develop chemotherapeutics that either bypass or control the development of multidrug resistance. Polymeric nanomaterials such as Pluronics® are of current interest due to their ability to perform these functions in addition to enhancing pro-apoptotic mechanisms. Using the respectively known chemosensitive and chemoresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines MiaPaCa-2 and PANC-1, an in vitro analysis of the synergistic effect using 5-fluorouracil in conjugation with Pluronic® F127 was performed. By monitoring cell viability and regulation of cell cycle, we were able to show that compared to the use of 5-flurouracil alone, there was enhanced cytotoxicity when using drug associated with Pluronic® F127 in MiaPaCa-2 cells. The more chemoresistant cell line PANC-1 showed no significant enhancement of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity when associated with Pluronic® F127. Enhanced cytotoxicity due to the use of Pluronic® F127 may potentially become an exploitable feature for novel chemotherapeutic development in the future.

LLU Discipline

Biochemistry

Department

Basic Sciences

School

School of Medicine

First Advisor

Perry, Christopher

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

January 2011

Date (Title Page)

6-1-2011

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Neoplasms -- Drug therapy;

Subject - Local

Nanomaterials; Multidrug Resistance; Chemotherapy; Cancer

Type

Thesis

Page Count

73 p.

Digital Format

Application/PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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