Posted: June 3rd, 2015

The effect of glucose on breast cancer cells lines and cancer stem cells.

The effect of glucose on breast cancer cells lines and cancer stem cells.

Meta-analysis has reported breast cancer rates are increased by 23% for women with type 2 diabetes. Metabolically, cancer cells demonstrate increased glycolytic flux and formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). AGEs are a group non-enzymatically glycated heterogeneous macromolecules. Nonenzymatic glycation can result in altered enzyme activity, immunogenicity, decreased ligand binding, and extracellular matrix protein cross-linking. Protein glycation is associated with several age-related, chronic inflammatory diseases including cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, stroke, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cancer. The cellular effects of AGEs are mainly mediated through receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE). RAGE expression is induced by hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress (ROS), hypoxia, pro-inflammatory mediators and AGE. RAGE is expressed on activated immune-, vascular- and cancer cells. AGE-RAGE interactions trigger an array of intracellular pathways, resulting in tumour growth through stimulation of cell proliferation, survival, growth factor and inflammatory cytokine release, and in tumour metastasis through stimulation of cell migration and invasion. Further, RAGE interacts with ligands including, AGEs, S100 and calgranulin. Previous work, demonstrated S100 interacting with RAGE induced the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while knockdown of RAGE attenuated 17-ethinyl-oestrodiol dependent cell proliferation. Cancer stem cells are responsible for tumour initiation, maintenance and metastasis, however the effect of AGEs or inflammatory mediators on this cell type remains to be elucidated. Previous work from our group has demonstrated that platelets are important in the breast cancer metastasis, and that thromboembolism is a significant complication of breast cancer per se and also its treatment. The direct effect of breast cancer cells on platelets however is unknown. In the current round of MSc projects’ we aim to isolate breast cancer stem cells and challenge these with a number of inflammatory or pro-inflammatory stimuli. In addition, we wish to investigate the direct effect of breast cancer cells and cancer stem cells on platelets. Examples of techniques to be used: · Cell culture and isolation · Microscopy · Flow cytometry · Western blotting · Immunoassay and immunohistochemistry · Platelet adhesion and platelet function assays

• Note: this is my supervisor’s explanation, so you can’t use it in the Dissertation

Aim of the project

The aim of the project is to enable you to develop a variety of independent skills. These will involve intellectual, theoretical and/or practical abilities, the input of which must be clearly demonstrated in the final dissertation. The production of well substantiated valid results, within the given time constraint, will be required. It is important to develop investigative ability, to be able to demonstrate a logically reasoned argument and to produce a clear, concise and readable report in conclusion. The project report should be no more than 10,000 words in length.

Objectives

• Identify and understand a well-defined current problem in your chosen field
• Survey and assess relevant literature
• Plan and carry out a programme of experimental/research work using proven methods
• Develop appropriate independent practical and analytical skills using proven methods and techniques
• Recognise the ethical considerations associated with their project area
• Analyse and present the data in an appropriate way
• Interpret the results through comparison and contrasting with other published works
• Present and discuss a poster which summarises your project
• Submit a project dissertation in the appropriate format

 

The project should contain the following major sections:

• Title: The title should be complete, informative, concise (maximum of 20 words) and should relate to the aim of the project.
• Abstract: A summary of the work undertaken and the results obtained (maximum 300 words)
• Introduction: (maximum 4000 words) an up-to-date literature survey which contains a critical review of the topic and which puts the current work in context. There should be a clear set of aims. The introduction should clearly set out the context to your proposed work and should lead up to a statement of your aim. You should demonstrate sufficient background reading of key research papers relating to your project. The research hypothesis should be clearly identified. Aims: Give a clear aim of the project and list the specific objectives.

The introduction should include these 5 headings:

1. Brief introduction about Breast cancer
2. Risk factors for breast cancer ( diabetic , obesity )
3. How these risk factors might cause breast cancer
4. Literature around obesity, diabetic breast cancer
5. Aim and objectives

 

• Note: I would like to have a draft of the introduction part by next Tuesday 9/6/2015
• I want to tell you that we will work on the chapters step by step because I have to meet the supervisor regularly and take some feedback also I will regularly update you about the practical work in the lap.
• Materials and methods: Contains full details of the methods used to achieve the aims. These should be written in the past, impersonal tense. The details should be such that a reader would be able to repeat the work without requiring further information.
• Results: This section should detail the data obtained, where possible in summarised form with appropriate statistical analysis. Graphs and tables should conform to BS 5775: 1979 and BS 4821:1990. You should avoid summarising the same data in more than one form. There must be text within the results section in order to refer to figures and tables and to summarise, briefly, what each figure shows. All figures and tables must be numbered in the text and the figures and tables must have a title and a legend.
• Discussion: This section is a major measure of a candidate’s own intellectual input. The candidate should analyse the results and discuss them critically in the context of the project and in relation to other, published work. Future work should be indicated.
• References: This is a list of references used and quoted throughout the text. Details of how references are quoted are given in Appendix III. Please note that, while the use of internet based material as a source of information, is encouraged, primary, journal-based references to the material should be quoted since these have been subject to peer-review.

Title page  Acknowledgements & declaration  Table of Contents  Abstract  Introduction  Materials & Methods  Results  Discussion  References (Harvard)  Appendices- must include ethical approval letters or equivalent

Abstract 100-300 words
Introduction and Literature Review: 4000 words
materials, study design and Methodology: 1800 or less (as much of the paper that is needed)
Findings and results: 2000

Discussion: 2200
Conclusion: 250-300 words

Study limitation: 250
References: However long that is
Appendices: ~ 2000 – ? they are not included in the word count

Please note: Your project report must give detail of ethical considerations including whether the work required/ was granted, ethical approval.

Assessment Summary

Project Report

Introduction (25-35%)

Critical review of the literature, breadth and relevance of literature referred to; setting the current work in context; clear statement of aims. Clear reference to ethical issues.

Methods and Results (35-40%)

Selection and application of techniques; full description of materials used and methodology employed including details of replication and statistical methods (ie design of study) and to include statements of ethical permissions where appropriate Full and appropriate presentation of results ; use of figures/tables/graphs where necessary for summarising data with descriptive text to guide the reader. No unnecessary presentation of same results in different formats. Details of statistical significance where appropriate.

Discussion of results and conclusions (30-40%)

Full and critical discussion of results obtained including a demonstrated awareness of the value, limitations and applications of the results. Setting results in context of published work. Further work required to verify/extend the work presented. NB Each section to take into account the overall style and presentation.

Agreed Mark     /100

 

The Form of References:

All references are to be quoted using the MMU Harvard system of referencing.

( http://libguides.mmu.ac.uk/content.php?pid=484964&sid=4325239 )

Examples: (Gordon et al., 1973)

… as shown by Herrick (1948) …

(Buhl & Peichl, 1986; Gordon et al., 1973)

The alphabetical list of References must be double-spaced. Each in-text citation must have a corresponding reference must be cited in the text. Brief examples:

Journal Article

Buhl, E.H. & Peichl, L. (1986). Morphology of rabbit retinal ganglion cell projecting to the terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 253, 163- 174.

Book

Herrick, C.J. (1948). The brain of the tiger salamander. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Bonds. A.B. & DeBruyn, E.J. (1986). Inhibition and spatial selectivity in the visual cortex: The cooperative neuronal network revisited. In Models of Visual Cortex, ed. Rose, D. & Dobson, V.G., pp. 292-300. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

How to Lose Marks on Your Report;

Ten easy steps

The following is a list of common errors in MSc Project reports. Each of these will lead to a deduction in marks.

1. Failure to establish a hypothesis
2. Duplication of information throughout the report
3. Failure to include a narrative with your results
4. No legends with your tables and figures
5. Providing little discussion of your results
6. Not referring to future, or others, work in your discussion
7. Not including current references (later than 2000)
8. Placing too much emphasis on your literature review (i.e. introduction)
9. Using the methods section to discuss principles of techniques, rather than the method itself
10. Failure to follow guidance on the layout and binding of the report.

You are strongly advised to ensure that you do not have these errors/ omissions in your report!