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Presenter: Emmanuel Simon

Faculty Sponsor: Stacyann Bailey

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Cancer Studies

Session: Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM, 163, C3

ABSTRACT

Prostate cancer (PCa) has a high propensity to metastasize to bone, leading to poor prognosis. Additionally, bone lesions from metastatic PCa appear radiologically with areas of excessive matrix formation as well as resorption. Hijacked bone-resorbing osteoclasts may be responsible for creating a dysregulated bone tissue microenvironment with variable morphological presentations. This study investigates the effects of cell-to-cell interaction between different PCa cells, each generate distinct types of metastatic bone lesions, human monocyte-derived osteoclasts precursors on osteoclast formation, activation, and subsequent bone resorption. It is hypothesized that human PC-3 PCa cells will show a higher level of influence on osteoclast formation and activation than human MDA-PCa-2b PCa cells connecting metastatic behavior in PCa to observable behaviors in osteoclast activity. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured and differentiated over a 14-day period, and co-cultured with PC-3 or MDA-PCa-2b cells for 5 days. Brightfield microscopy imaging and TRAP enzyme activity in cell culture supernatant were used to record the progression of osteoclast differentiation. At the study endpoint, cell morphology and differentiation were confirmed using brightfield imaging, TRAP staining, and immunocytochemistry. qPCR analysis was used to quantify osteoclastic gene expression. We expect PC-3 cells will increase TRAP activity and markers of osteoclasts differentiation compared to MDA-PCa-2b cells in co-culture groups. This study will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms through which PCa destabilize skeletal homeostasis, allowing for better refinement of intervention strategies and treatment plans.