Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2016, Biological Sciences

Metastasis is involved in 90% of cancer deaths. Ionizing radiation (IR), which is a common cancer treatment, has been shown to alter migration and invasive potential in multiple cancer cell lines in previous research. The tumor suppressor protein, p53, is mutated in about 50% cancers. This project investigated the role of p53 mutation in a cancer's migratory response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) after treatment with a single dose of IR (4 Gy or 8 Gy) or with a fractionated treatment (4 treatments of 2 Gy). A single dose of 8 Gy increased migration in H1299 cells expressing p53-R280K and also slightly increased expression of EMT marker proteins. No other significant differences occurred after treatment with 4 Gy or 8 Gy. Fractionated treatment increased migration in H1299 p53-null cells, but did not alter migration or EMT in H1299 cells expressing p53-WT, p53-R175H, or p53-R280K.

Committee: Shiyong Wu Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Biology; Radiation