Month/Year of Graduation

5-2018

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Pankaj K. Singh, Ph.D.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and 95% of these cases are caused by PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma). Ketone bodies have previously been shown to decrease cell proliferation and cancer-induced cachexia. The molecular mechanism of ketone body-mediated growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells is not well understood. Research conducted thus far has not explored which molecular pathways are affected by ketone body treatment in pancreatic cancer cells. In the current study, the effect of the ketone body sodium hydroxybutyrate on the JAK-STAT and mTOR pathways and cell migration was explored. A decrease in cell migration was observed in a dose dependent manner. Levels of p-STAT3 and p-p70 S6K were decreased after 72 hour treatment with 5 and 10 mM sodium hydroxybutyrate. These proteins regulate transcription and translation of several genes involved in cellular growth and proliferation.

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