Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Spring 2020

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLSA

Department

Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

Program or Major

Biomedical Sciences

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Sarah Walker

Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains a deadly disease for countless women. Recent evidence demonstrates that ovarian cancer cell clusters, spheroids, are important in promoting ovarian recurrence and metastasis. Often these spheroids are resistant to therapy. Therefore, we were interested in identifying drugs that could target ovarian cancer spheroids. Analysis of gene expression identified the STAT3 signaling pathway as a pathway enriched in 3D growing ovarian cancer cells. STAT3 is a transcription factor that is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation in about 70% of high grade serous ovarian cancers. Using shRNA targeting STAT3 and the upstream signaling molecule, GP130, we found that reduction of both STAT3 and its upstream signaling molecule GP130 reduced the growth of spheroids. This suggested that targeting STAT3 or an upstream signaling molecule might be a viable treatment option. Atovaquone, used normally for the treatment of malaria or the prevention of pneumocystic pneumonia, inhibits STAT3 activation by inhibiting the expression of GP130 on the cell surface. Therefore, showing that atovaquone has potential in decreasing viability in ovarian cancer cells.

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