Three Dimensional Models of Glioblastoma Microenvironment with Human Monocyte Derived Macrophages
Emily Levitis
Co-Presenters: Katilyn Sookoo, Eleftheria Mahlis, Jazmin Mendoza-Ortega, Kerlyn Samaniego, Lamont Lee
College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology
Major: Biotechnology/Molecular Biology - STEM 5 Year B.S./M.S.
Faculty Research Mentor: Salvatore Coniglio
Abstract:
Typically experimental anti-cancer drugs and treatments are tested using in-vitro monoculture using established cell lines. However, most of these treatments fail in clinical trials. There are several reasons for this discrepancy including failure to take the local tumor microenvironment into account. Here, we attempt to faithfully establish aspects of the glioblastoma (a high grade brain cancer) microenvironment, in particular tumor associated macrophages. Our overall objective is to create a reproducible platform to test multiple drug combinations using fluorescence imaging. We are able to successfully track the fate of individual cells using a variety of fluorescent proteins and dyes.