Layah A. Khalif

90% of all cancer related deaths are attributed to tumor burden at sites of metastatic lesions. Metastatic cancer cells, often correlating to stage IV (four) cancer, are characterized by their (1) rapid and uncontrolled growth, (2) ability to invade surrounding tissues, and (3) ability to spread to distant sites (metastasis). There is currently no satisfactory treatment for metastatic cancer.

​

Prior research connects specialized intracellular structures, invadopodia, to cancer invasion and metastasis. These small finger-like projections, found selectively in invasive cancer cells, extend from the cell into the extracellular matrix via integrins. These integrins facilitate cell-to-extracellular matrix adhesion and attachment and the activation of these integrin binding pathways result in an increase in cell survival and proliferation, promoting tumor formation.

​

The purpose of this research is to quantify the morphological differences of metastatic cancer cells on differing extracellular matrices in order to analyze how morphology correlates to adhesion and proliferation. Cell lines representing different breast cancer cell types are grown on various extracellular matrix substrates (fibronectin, collagen, and laminin) and visualized after undergoing fluorescent staining (Phalloidian, DAPI and Ki67 stains colorize actin ECM filaments, nucleic acid and nuclear proliferative protein respectively).

​

This research aims to identify how characteristic matrix components induce a more aggressive phenotype for each breast cancer subtype to better understand how tumor environment differentially affects cancer proliferation. This research is currently in the preliminary stages of imaging and will evolve into quantitative differentiation through analysis of parameters such as cell length, diameter, height, projection area and volume.

​

​

This topic was presented to LSU students, faculty and staff and visitors at LSU Discover Day 2018.