THE EFFECTS OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-9 ON CAL-27 TUMOR INVASION IN VITRO

Author

Cornell Lee

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Area of Concentration

Natural Sciences

Abstract

Research has shown that there is increased presence of myeloid derived suppressor cells in human tumors of various cancers and that granulytic crd11 MDSC cells show a high expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). MMP9, a matrixin, has been shown to have an effect on tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Its proteolytic qualities suggest that it aids in invasion through degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). A series of in vitro chamber invasion assays were used to duplicate and simplify the tumor microenvironment to determine if invasion of Cal-27 (adenosquamous carcinoma cell line) cancer cells could be facilitated through degradation of the ECM by MMP9. Results from this experiment indicate that MMP9 does not have an effect on the ECM in vitro without the presence of an activator. Further studies should test its effects on Cal-27 proliferation before using a chamber invasion assay to test for its role in tumor invasion.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS