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University

Shawnee State University

Major

Biomedical Sciences / Pre-Med

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Presentation Types

Oral Presentation

Keywords:

metformin, AML, leukemia, cancer

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly deadly cancer which is characterized by an over-proliferation of immature white blood cells, leading to crowding out of functional cells. Our research focuses on the effects that metformin, a drug used to treat type II diabetes, has on AML cells. The primary hypothesis being tested is that metformin will decrease the survivability of these leukemia cells. To that end, two lines of AML cells are being used as a model system to test our hypothesis, THP-1 and HL-60. We have demonstrated that metformin kills these cells in a dosage dependent manner. To determine a mechanism of action, we plan to examine proteins using western blotting. Two target proteins that we will measure expression of are Cdk2, which is a protein that is involved in the cell cycle, and Caspase-3, a protein that is involved in apoptosis.

Human Subjects

no

IRB Approval

no

Faculty Mentor Name

Dr. Jennifer Napper

Faculty Mentor Title

Associate Professor of Biology

Faculty Mentor Academic Department

Natural Sciences

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Effect of Metformin on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly deadly cancer which is characterized by an over-proliferation of immature white blood cells, leading to crowding out of functional cells. Our research focuses on the effects that metformin, a drug used to treat type II diabetes, has on AML cells. The primary hypothesis being tested is that metformin will decrease the survivability of these leukemia cells. To that end, two lines of AML cells are being used as a model system to test our hypothesis, THP-1 and HL-60. We have demonstrated that metformin kills these cells in a dosage dependent manner. To determine a mechanism of action, we plan to examine proteins using western blotting. Two target proteins that we will measure expression of are Cdk2, which is a protein that is involved in the cell cycle, and Caspase-3, a protein that is involved in apoptosis.