Award Date

1-1-1998

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Committee Member

Stephen W. Carper

Number of Pages

65

Abstract

Cancer occurs when normal cells fail to die in response to various cell death signals. Normal eukaryotic cells exhibit two major forms of cell death--Necrosis and Apoptosis. Apoptosis can be triggered in cells by various agents. Studies have shown that an elevated amount of Hsp 27 protects cells from apoptosis induced by Sodium Butyrate. In this study, we treated estrogen receptor negative human breast cancer cells with apoptotic inducers such as Sodium Butyrate, Staurosporine, Vitamin E Succinate and Cycloheximide. The cells that constitutively expressed Hsp 27 had a higher growth in the presence of Cycloheximide and Vitamin E Succinate and also exhibited lesser apoptosis in the presence of Sodium Butyrate and Staurosporine. This study demonstrates that Hsp 27 blocks cell death in breast cancer cells in the presence of certain cytotoxic drugs and the presence of this protein could serve as a marker for aggressive tumors.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Breast; Cancer; Cells; Heat; Human; Inhibition; Protein; Shock

Controlled Subject

Biochemistry; Cellular biology; Oncology

File Format

pdf

File Size

1208.32 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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