Space Microgravity to Disrupt GBM Mechanotransduction

Funding or Partner Organisation: Charlie Teo Foundation (Charlie Teo Foundation Research Fellowship)
Charlie Teo Foundation (Charlie Teo Foundation Research Fellowship)

Start year: 2020

Summary: Tumour cells subjected to very weak gravity (microgravity) have been shown to have an altered cell cycle as well as a decreased migratory response (Arun et al., 2017; Kumari et al., 2009; Li et al., 2018; Plett et al., 2004; Tan et al., 2018). As such, microgravity has been thought to have anti-tumor potential through growth inhibition. Takeda et. Al (2009) have shown that microgravity inhibits proliferation and increases the chemosensitivity to cisplatin of malignant glioma. Thus, by subjecting glial tumour cells to microgravity I aim to further characterise the underlying fundamental molecular mechanisms that determine the aggressiveness of high-grade gliomas and identify novel therapeutic targets that are critical drivers of glioblastoma growth, highlighting a new direction and era for brain cancer therapies.

Publications:

Silvani, G, Basirun, C, Wu, H, Mehner, C, Poole, K, Bradbury, P & Chou, J 2021, 'A 3D‐Bioprinted Vascularized Glioblastoma‐on‐a‐Chip for Studying the Impact of Simulated Microgravity as a Novel Pre‐Clinical Approach in Brain Tumor Therapy (Adv. Therap. 11/2021)', Wiley, pp. 2170033-2170033.
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FOR Codes: Biomaterials , Cancer and Related Disorders, Biomaterials, Clinical health