Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Reinisch, I.
Starvation-mediated p53 stabilization to support chemotherapy in liver cancer.
[ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] University of Graz; 2018.
FullText
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Krstic Jelena
- Prokesch Andreas
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- Abstract:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. HCC is characterized by rapid development and early metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. Short-term fasting has been intensively studied as an adjuvant in cancer therapy since it exhibits a protective effect on non-transformed cells while sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy, a cellular response termed differential stress resistance. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of p53 in differential stress resistance of HCC-derived HepG2 cells to the chemotherapeutic agent sorafenib. We found that starvation-induced sensitization of HepG2 cells to sorafenib is highly p53-dependent as well as that sorafenib effects are limited under growth medium conditions. In addition, we showed that ERK1/2 signaling is activated under starvation, along with p53 stabilization, allowing for a proper sorafenib effect resulting in reduced viability of HepG2 cells.