Cancerous cells are characterized by genomic instability, DNA damage and a breakdown of the molecular network controlling the cell cycle. One potentially useful difference in most cancerous cells is an increased concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), perhaps reflecting the increase in cellular respiration required for rapid cell growth and division. Efforts to develop drugs that increase ROS, thus pushing cancerous cells over the redox brink are ongoing. Naphthoquinone derivatives, in particular, have been shown to effectively raise ROS levels in cancerous human cell lines, offering the ability to selectively target cancerous cells for programmed cell death while mildly stressing normal cells. We have synthesized novel naphthoquinone analogues and are currently investigating their molecular and genetic effects. This is done by measuring changes to DNA and proteins, focusing on factors associated with redox imbalance, cell cycle disruption and apoptotic induction. This work will help us understand the exact mechanisms by which these chemotherapeutic agents induce cell death in colon cancer cells.

Mechanistic study of genetic response induced by novel naphthoquinone analogues

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.