DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/TGYV-XE12

Defense Date

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biochemistry

First Advisor

Dr. Paul Dent

Second Advisor

Dr. Laurence Booth

Third Advisor

Dr. Devanand Sarkar

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women and is responsible for the second highest number of cancer-related deaths. Targeted therapeutic agents sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, and celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, have been used individually in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic agents to enhance cell killing in a variety of cancers. Sildenafil when combined with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as the taxanes and anthracyclines, or celecoxib combined with traditional hormone therapies have been used to increase cytotoxicity and cell killing. The data presented here demonstrates that the novel combination of sildenafil and celecoxib work together to enhance cell killing in both receptor positive and triple negative breast cancer through the induction of autophagy, ER stress, as well as both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

11-17-2014

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