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Area Engineering
Interactions of tumor-treating fields with cancer cells and their intracellular structures
keywords CANCER CELLS, CELL SURVIVAL, ELECTRIC FIELD, MICROTUBULES, TUMOR TREATING FIELDS
Reference persons JACEK ADAM TUSZYNSKI
External reference persons Prof. Karthik Shankar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Research Groups 28- biomedica
Thesis type EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY
Description Tumor-treating fields (TTFields) are low-intensity alternating electric fields in the range of 100-300 kHz which have been proven to have beneficial effects on cancer patients, especially those with advanced brain cancer. The mode of action of these fields is still not well established, in spite of 15 years of research in this area. In this project, the student will investigate the effects of TTFields using the device supplied to the University of Alberta by the Israel company called Novocure, which pioneered this method. The device, called inovitro, allows to expose a cancer cell culture to TTFields applied in a controllable manner via specially designed electrodes attached to the Petri dish and connected to a computer that can be programmed for the choice of frequency, intensity and duty cycle type of the electric field. We will use several cancer cell lines to determine their sensitivity to TTFields and will fluorescently label microtubules, actin filaments and mitochondria in separate experimental assay to monitor the response of these structures to TTFields. The aim of the project is to shed light on the molecular mode of action of TTFields.
See also https://www.novocure.com/mechanism-of-action/
Required skills basic laboratory skills involving cell culture and electrical measurements
Notes This project will require the student to travel to Canada for 4-6 months in order to perform these experiments. Thesis writing and analysis can be done in Italy.
Deadline 11/11/2022
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA