Synthite Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis) Induces Cell Death in Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Enhances the Efficacy of Common Chemotherapeutics
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Siyaram Pandey
Proposal
While chemotherapeutics revolutionized medicine, their nonselective mechanisms of action cause adverse effects in cancer patients. Attacking both cancerous and healthy cells, these therapies are toxic and unsuitable for long-term use. Most current chemotherapeutics are isolated from natural sources. Certain botanical extracts, referred to as Natural Health Products (NHPs), contain anti-cancer compounds and may selectively target cancer cells. NHPs are categorized as food supplements and are generally safe for long-term use. Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC), such as the MDA-MB 231 cell line, are the most aggressive type of breast cancer (BC). With around 40% of TNBC patients relapsing after treatment with current chemotherapeutics, there is a need to develop safer and more effective anti-cancer therapeutics. Camellia sinensis, or White Tea, is a natural extract whose selective anti-cancer activity has been studied in the past. However, more studies are needed to validate it for use in modern cancer therapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are highly adaptive, tumour-initiating, and self-renewing, thus risking failure of cancer treatments or relapse. Therefore, treatments targeting CSCs may potentially improve patient prognosis. This study is currently in progress and aims to elucidate the ability of Synthite Tea Extract (STE), a formulation of White Tea extract provided by Synthite Industries, to induce cell death in CSCs in MDA-MB 231 cells. CSCs were identified with the expression of CD44 (a CSC marker) by fluorescence microscopy. Our findings could have implications in developing a well-tolerated and powerful cancer treatment with great potential for providing BC patients with long-term care.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Synthite Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis) Induces Cell Death in Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Enhances the Efficacy of Common Chemotherapeutics
While chemotherapeutics revolutionized medicine, their nonselective mechanisms of action cause adverse effects in cancer patients. Attacking both cancerous and healthy cells, these therapies are toxic and unsuitable for long-term use. Most current chemotherapeutics are isolated from natural sources. Certain botanical extracts, referred to as Natural Health Products (NHPs), contain anti-cancer compounds and may selectively target cancer cells. NHPs are categorized as food supplements and are generally safe for long-term use. Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC), such as the MDA-MB 231 cell line, are the most aggressive type of breast cancer (BC). With around 40% of TNBC patients relapsing after treatment with current chemotherapeutics, there is a need to develop safer and more effective anti-cancer therapeutics. Camellia sinensis, or White Tea, is a natural extract whose selective anti-cancer activity has been studied in the past. However, more studies are needed to validate it for use in modern cancer therapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are highly adaptive, tumour-initiating, and self-renewing, thus risking failure of cancer treatments or relapse. Therefore, treatments targeting CSCs may potentially improve patient prognosis. This study is currently in progress and aims to elucidate the ability of Synthite Tea Extract (STE), a formulation of White Tea extract provided by Synthite Industries, to induce cell death in CSCs in MDA-MB 231 cells. CSCs were identified with the expression of CD44 (a CSC marker) by fluorescence microscopy. Our findings could have implications in developing a well-tolerated and powerful cancer treatment with great potential for providing BC patients with long-term care.