Medulloblastoma (MB) patients suffer a poor prognosis and limitations of current treatments necessitate development of targeted therapies. TRAIL, a pro-apoptotic protein, targets tumor cells while sparing normal cells; however some tumors remain resistant, including the MB cell line DAOY. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been used for their tumoritropic properties to deliver apoptotic proteins. In this study, a TRAIL-expressing MSC line was investigated for a therapeutic effect on DAOYs in vitro, in the presence or absence of HDAC inhibitor MS-275. Results indicate that DAOYs respond to secreted TRAIL, and that MS-275 enhances this effect. Bioluminescent imaging shows that DAOYs survive and grow in an intracranial xenograft mouse model, allowing for future in vivo studies.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Nesterenko, Irina A

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-011211-222811

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-01-12

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright