Master Degree / Yüksek Lisans Tezleri
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/3008
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Master Thesis Investigation of the Interactions Between Cancer Cells and the Microenvironment at the Cellular Level(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2022) Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer type and the first leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Breast tumor mass is not only harboring cancer cells but also several types of stromal cells, including fibroblasts. While all of these stromal cells may have a calamitous effect on cancer progression, fibroblasts which make up nearly 80% of tumor mass present unique characteristics such as extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) production. In the context of tumors, the activated cells are referred to as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), expressing several markers such as αSMA, FSP1, FAP, vimentin, and PDGFRβ. However, an in-depth understanding of the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to CAFs is lacking. ECM components may change when cells become cancerous, which can alter cell behavior, facilitating proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Decellularized ECM(dECM) has recently been considered one of the tools to study in-vitro cell-ECM interaction. In this work, we utilized cancer cell-derived ECM(ccECM) to investigate its effect on the differentiation of the fibroblast to CAFs by compering decellularization methods called the extraction buffer and the freeze-thaw cycle. Our study suggested that ccECM from MDA-MB-231 impacted the fibroblasts' behavior from proliferation to differentiation via its ECM components, including fibronectin and laminin. The fibroblasts cultured on ccECM showed increased CAFs markers indicated above. Overall, ccECM could be one of the intermediate steps in fibroblast differentiation, but in the future, the factors present in ccECM should be scrutinized to understand the mechanisms behind this effect.Master Thesis Investigating Oncogenic Role of Sema6d in Breast Cancer Cells(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Günyüz, Zehra Elif; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer type and the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths, is the major health issue among women worldwide. In many cancer types, the expression of the semaphorins and their receptors such as plexins and neuropilins are dysregulated. SEMA6D is a member of class-6 family transmembrane semaphorin proteins and acts through Plexin-A1 receptor. It was previously shown that overexpression of SEMA6D in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 leads to a reduction in proliferation and an increase in migration. On the other hand, in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, overexpression of SEMA6D had no significant effect on proliferation but enhanced migration. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effects of SEMA6D overexpression in normal breast cell line MCF10A and investigate the invasive behavior and transformation capacity of SEMA6D overexpressing breast cancer cell lines. We demonstrated that overexpression of SEMA6D leads to elevated proliferation, viability and migration in MCF10A cells, whereas it did not trigger their anchorage-independent growth. On the other hand, MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells stably expressing SEMA6D showed reduced colony formation in the soft-agar assay. Furthermore, the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells was elevated with SEMA6D overexpression, whereas SEMA6D overexpression did not stimulate the invasiveness of MCF-7 cells through matrigel microenvironment, whereas slightly trigger invasion through bone microenvironment. In conclusion, SEMA6D overexpression has cell-specific effects on breast cancer. The exact role of SEMA6D in breast cancer development remains undefined and must be further investigated.Master Thesis Increasing Doxorubicin (dox) Release From Liposomes(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Hanoğlu, Berçem Dilan; Özdemir, Ekrem; Özdemir, Ekrem; Altun, Zekiye Sultan; 03.02. Department of Chemical Engineering; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyCancer is the second most common cause of death in the world and its incidence is increasing day by day. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline group drug frequently used in many cancer treatments including breast cancer. However, free DOX has many harmful side effects and need to be encapsulated into nanocarrier such as liposomes. Although liposomal DOX has many advantages over its free form, liposomal DOX has undesirable side effects such as hand and foot syndrome. In this thesis, it was aimed to develop a more effective liposomal DOX delivery and release systems. Liposomes were prepared with alkaline solutions containing tris, sodium carbonate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium sulfate. DOX loading into liposomes and the percentage of release from liposomes were examined. A loading efficiency of about 80% was achieved, while the release was found to be below 13% at room temperature. The release of DOX was found to be enhanced from liposomes in the presence of ammonia (NH3), whose content was dependent on pH. Temperature was also found an important parameter and enhances DOX release at higher temperatures than the phase transition temperature of the lipid. A two-component liposomal system was proposed where ammonia (NH3) would be released from one liposome and enhance the DOX release from other liposomes. It was found that temperature, pH, and ammonia (NH3) concentration affected DOX release from liposomes. As a result, DOX was successfully loaded into liposomes and ready to study their effect on breast cancer cells.Master Thesis Cellular Mechanosensing at a Distance(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Can, Ali; Özçivici, Engin; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Özçivici, Engin; 03.01. Department of Bioengineering; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyThe goal of the project is to determine differences in mechanical sensing at a distance between breast cancer cells and normal mammary epithelial cells. To achieve this goal, we aim to: 1. Optimize the device for mechanical sensing at a distance 2. Determine the effect of mechanical sensing at a distance on cell proliferation 3. Determine the effect of mechanical sensing at a distance on cell migration Breast cancer is one of the cancers with the highest incidence and mortality rates in women in Turkey as well as in the world. Tumor microenvironment comprises of cancer and normal cells, extracellular matrix, soluble biological and chemical factors. Biochemical aspects of the interactions of cancer cells with the constituents of the microenvironment are widely studied whereas biophysical studies are at limited numbers. There is increasing evidence that extracellular matrix can change the mechanics and function of cancer and stroma cells. It has been observed that cancer cells show different responses to soft and stiff tissues they are in direct contact with than normal cells. However, it is not known whether the distance at which cancer cells can feel the stiffness of a distant tissue is longer, the same or shorter than that of normal cells. The hypothesis we will test in this project is as follows: The distance at which cancer cells can feel the stiffness of a distant tissue is shorter than that of normal cells.Master Thesis Determination of Therapeutic Effects of Multifunctional Micelle-Based Nanocarriers on Breast Cancer Cells(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Ulu, Gizem Tuğçe; Baran, Yusuf; Ulu, Gizem Tuğçe; Baran, Yusuf; 01.01. Units Affiliated to the Rectorate; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology; 04. Faculty of ScienceBreast cancer is the most common and frequent cause of death among women composed to all types of cancer. Current treatment protocols do not provide complete cure or selective drug delivery while targeted therapy can provide an important avenue for successful treatment of breast cancer. In this study, therapeutic effects of drug-conjugated nanocarrier system with enhanced stability and double moiety pH-sensitivity on breast cancer (SKBR-3- HER-2- positive), normal breast epithelial (MCF-10A, HER-2-negative) and chronic myeloid leukemia (K562, HER-2-negative) cells were determined. With this approach, SKBR-3 cells were targeted by single nanocarriers having selectivity with unused peptide ligand (HER-2), stability with cross-linking of core moiety, and cleavage by two sites of pHeffect and drug release properties. After physicochemical characterization of micellebased nanocarriers, cytotoxic, apoptotic and cytostatic effects of doxorubicin conjugated micelles were determined. Doxorubicin conjugated micelles with HER-2 peptide (DOX-HER-2-NCs) had more cytotoxic effects on HER-2 positive cells. Additionally, intracellular amounts of doxorubicin is higher in SKBR-3 cells with applied DOX-HER-2-NCs as determined by fluorescence imaging. The apoptosis rate was increased on SKBR-3 at 50% cell growth inhibition (IC50) as determined by Annexin-V/Propidium iodide double staining. However, there was not any significant change in loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, DOX-HER-2-NCs resulted in cell cycle arrest at G2/M-phase in response to IC50 value. Besides, protein level of Bcl-2 did not change while protein level of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased as determined by Western Blotting. This project provides novel and more effective treatment of breast cancer by using multifunctional properties of nanocarriers.Master Thesis Evaluation of Biophysical Aspedts of Cancer Using Lab-On Chip Devices(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Tahmaz, İsmail; Sürmeli, Nur Başak; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Sürmeli, Nur Başak; 03.01. Department of Bioengineering; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer metastasis is really crucial point from cancer related deaths. As cancer cells from primary tumor are travelling through blood, they hang on to blood vessel and finally they exit from blood vessel into secondary site where is extracellular matrix and/or tissue/organ. This process commonly known as extravasation. Cancer cells sometimes can be highly aggressive when it exposed to hypoxia referred low oxygen amount by activating HIF1α. This transcription factor is activated in malignant cells, normal cells and endothelial cells in blood vessel when oxygen amount decreased to certain levels and it induce several genes expression such as VEGF, LOX, Angiopoietin-like-4 etc. In this study we investigated effect of HIF1α which is hypoxia indicator on breast cancer extravasation by comparing to normal oxygen level. This study represents both anemic hypoxia physiologically and lead to understand underlying mechanism of extravasation into extracellular matrix related to low oxygen circulating through blood. In addition to HIF1α effects, dynamic perfusion mimicking blood flow was applied to determine effects on extravasation. For this purpose, lab-on-a chip device was utilized for real time visualization. In conclusion, although hypoxia is giving permission MDAMB231 to extravasate because of reshaping of vascular geometry, less extravasated cancer cells observed in matrix during hypoxia under both static and flow condition when compared to normoxic and static conditions. Moreover, it was shown that flow triggers extravasation distance in normoxia against static condition and normal breast epithelial cells extravasated away in hypoxia comparing breast cancer cells by means of flow.Master Thesis Mimicking the Tumor Microenvironment in Lab-On Devices(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Bilgen, Müge; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Sürmeli, Nur Başak; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Sürmeli, Nur Başak; 03.01. Department of Bioengineering; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer is one of the cancers with the highest incidence and mortality rates in women in the world. The leading cause of death for cancer patients is tumor metastasis. Cancer cells can extravasate the blood vessel, go through the distant organs and form the metastasis. Tumor microenvironment comprises of cancer and normal cells, extracellular matrix, soluble biological and chemical factors. Biochemical aspects of the interactions of cancer cells with the constituents of the microenvironment are widely studied whereas biophysical studies are at limited numbers. There is increasing evidence that extracellular matrix can change the mechanics and function of cancer and stroma cells. It has been observed that cancer cells show different responses to soft and stiff tissues they are in direct contact with than normal cells. New cell culture setups should be developed to better understand the interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment. To develop a three dimensional (3D) in vitro model will allow the study of stiffness which is one of the mechanical features of extracellular matrix features first, 3D (dimensional) Controlled in vitro Microenvironments (CivMs) that mimic a blood vessel and its neighboring tissue in vivo will be fabricated using UV lithography. Monolayer which was formed by endothelial cells play a role in pathophysiological processes, so it shows a barrier role between both blood and tissues. To form a blood vessel bEnd.3 cell line was used. Collagen which is the most abundant protein in connective tissues were used to mimic extracellular matrix. pH value of collagen was changed and represented two different stiffness value. Here, the in vitro model we define as controlled in vitro microenvironments (CivM) is a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) application. In this microenvironment; MDA-MB-231 cells which are known to be invasive and MCF10A which is normal mammary epithelial cells were used as control. LOC devices were used to investigate cancer cell extravasation which is the prominent step of metastasis and extracellular matrix relation.Master Thesis Lab-on-a-chip devices for drug screening(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2019) Gökçe, Begüm; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Çağır, Ali; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Çağır, Ali; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04.01. Department of Chemistry; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer is one of the cancers with the highest incidence and mortality rates in women in Turkey as well as in the world. Tumor micro environment comprises of cancer and normal cells, extracellular matrix, soluble biological and chemical factors. Research has shown that cell shape, adhesion, migration, response to growth factors and drugs are different in 2D and 3D culture. Today, only 8 out of 100 anti-cancer clinical trial gives effective results. 3D cell culture systems have shown to be a necessary step between in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the interactions of cancer cells with their micro environment, for which new cell culture setups are required. The most apparent disadvantage of widely used 3D cell culture setups is the lack of stromal cells. The systems to be developed should both provide a 3D environment and comprise multiple cell types. The drug screen in 3D tri-culture method with a lab-on-a-chip device, that will be developed in this study will be able to answer these needs. Cell lines that represent different breast cancer types alone or together with stromal cells were cultured in 3D in the to be developed lab-on-a-chip; by determining the effects of drugs with different targets on the viability and distribution of cells, a drug screening method is developed.Master Thesis Cyr61-Notch Interaction During Epithelial-To Transition, Migration and Invasion in Breast Cancer Cells(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2017) İlhan, Mustafa; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyNotch signaling is one of the major pathways involved in development and tumorigenesis. Activated Notch is correlated with increased migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) in breast cancer. However, mechanism of Notch-mediated cancer progression is poorly understood. CYR61 is a secreted protein and its upregulation is also related to increased breast tumorigenesis and EMT. Microarray analyses revealed that CYR61 was differentially expressed in response to Notch activation in breast epithelial cells. We hypothesized that CYR61 is a downstream mediator of Notch during EMT, migration and invasion. To test whether Notch requires CYR61 during EMT, migration and invasion, two complementary approaches were followed: (i) CYR61 expression was silenced by using shRNA in MCF10A epithelial breast cell line in the presence of Notch activation, (ii) CYR61 was over-expressed in MDA-MB-231 cancer breast cell line in the absence of Notch activity. Then, expression of EMT markers was analyzed in mRNA and protein levels via RT-qPCR and immuno-blotting, respectively. Migration and invasion ability of cells were investigated by wound healing assay and a lab-on-a-chip-system, respectively. Here, it was shown that CYR61 inhibition decreased Notch-induced EMT, migration and invasion of MCF10A and CYR61 overexpression in the absence of Notch activity partially rescued Notch-mediated invasion in MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Our findings suggest that CYR61 may act in downstream of Notch and is regulated by Notch. When we consider importance of CYR61 in Notch-induced EMT and cancer progression, targeting CYR61 may hold promise to develop novel strategies for treatment of breast cancer in early stages.Master Thesis Role of Sema6d in Proliferation, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Migration of Breast Cancer Cell Lines(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2017) Şahi, Ece; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of TechnologyBreast cancer is one of the most common cancer types around world and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among women. Not the primary tumor but distant metastases are mainly the reason of deaths. For metastasis, the cells may go through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and acquire migration and invasion abilities. SEMA6D is a transmembrane protein that belongs to a large semaphorin family. SEMA6D is involved in the migration of embryonic cardiac cells. Recently it was validated as an oncogene in osteosarcoma. Also, its oncogenic roles were investigated in gastric cancer and mesothelioma. According to in silico analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), high SEMA6D expression level is associated with better survival of triple negative breast cancer patients. However, there is not any published study which investigates roles of SEMA6D in breast cancer yet, other than bioinformatic analysis. Therefore, we aimed to understand role of SEMA6D in proliferation, EMT and migration of breast cancer cells. We observed that overexpression of SEMA6D reduces proliferation but enhances migration in non-invasive breast cancer cell line MCF7. Thereby, SEMA6D may increase metastatic ability of MCF7 cells. Its metastatic ability was also supported by changes in EMT markers. On the other hand, proliferation of metastatic breast cancer cell line MDAMB231 was not significantly changed by overexpression of SEMA6D and migration ability was slightly reduced but mesenchymal markers tended to increase in SEMA6D overexpressing MDAMB231 cells. As a conclusion, SEMA6D tends to enhance proliferation, migration through EMT in MCF7 cell line whereas overexpression of SEMA6D did not demonstrate significant effect on metastatic MDA-MB-231 cell line. Therefore, we should separately evaluate role of SEMA6D in different breast cancer cell lines and further studies are required to understand role of SEMA6D in breast cancer.