How to kill a cancer cell
Poster Number
21
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
For much of the 20th century, treating cancer (tumors that can not be surgically removed and cancers of blood cells) meant targeting their genetic material in the hope that this would lead the cancer cells to initiate self-destruction. Cancer cells are more likely to die from DNA damage because they are multiplying rapidly and have less time for DNA repair. Drugs and radiation which cause DNA damage send many cancers into remission. This happens because the damage activates a series of cellular processes (“pathways”) which lead to an ordered form of self- destruction called “apoptosis”. However, cancers are notorious for having mutations in one or more of the proteins that execute cellular self-destruction, which is the reason why radiation or chemotherapy often fails in advanced cancers. We are studying the mechanisms for how two potential anti-cancer drugs work, because they don’t seem to require DNA damage or follow the classical pathway for inducing the self destruction of cancer cells. Our poster will show examples of our recent research results and work in progress.
Location
Pacific Geosciences Center
Start Date
5-5-2007 1:00 PM
End Date
5-5-2007 3:00 PM
How to kill a cancer cell
Pacific Geosciences Center
For much of the 20th century, treating cancer (tumors that can not be surgically removed and cancers of blood cells) meant targeting their genetic material in the hope that this would lead the cancer cells to initiate self-destruction. Cancer cells are more likely to die from DNA damage because they are multiplying rapidly and have less time for DNA repair. Drugs and radiation which cause DNA damage send many cancers into remission. This happens because the damage activates a series of cellular processes (“pathways”) which lead to an ordered form of self- destruction called “apoptosis”. However, cancers are notorious for having mutations in one or more of the proteins that execute cellular self-destruction, which is the reason why radiation or chemotherapy often fails in advanced cancers. We are studying the mechanisms for how two potential anti-cancer drugs work, because they don’t seem to require DNA damage or follow the classical pathway for inducing the self destruction of cancer cells. Our poster will show examples of our recent research results and work in progress.