Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
12-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Subhash Chauhan
Second Advisor
Dr. Sheema Khan
Third Advisor
Dr. Murali Yallapu
Abstract
Pancreatic Cancer is the 3rd lethal causing cancers in United States with a survival rate less than 5-7%. In advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer, treatment options are restrained to surgery because of its extreme aggressiveness. Immunotherapy, one of the current advanced treatments has shown promising response in other cancers. However, this therapy is limited in pancreatic cancer due to desmoplasia and fibrotic tumor microenvironment (TME).
Our superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONS) of curcumin (Curcuma longa, principal curcuminoid of turmeric) have potential ability to inhibit desmoplasia and tumor stroma with an increased bioavailability. This would soften up the tumors for therapies resulting in improved response to immune checkpoint therapies. Development of this novel combination therapy with (a) MUC13 conjugated SPION formulation of curcumin and (b) Checkpoint inhibitors (PDL-1, CTLA-4) has shown less tumor progression when compared to alone treatments in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. This could alleviate morbidity and mortality caused by the disease.
Recommended Citation
Shaji, Poornima Devi, "Development of a Novel Strategy to Improve Checkpoint Immune Response in Pancreatic Cancer" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 966.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/966
Included in
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons
Comments
Copyright 2021 Poornima Devi Shaji. All Rights Reserved.
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