Improving the response to molecular targeting of the TRAIL death receptors in colon cancer cells

PhD ceremony: Mr. B.E. Pennarun, 13.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Improving the response to molecular targeting of the TRAIL death receptors in colon cancer cells

Promotor(s): prof. J.H. Kleibeuker, prof. E.G.E. de Vries

Faculty: Medical Sciences

It is important to develop new therapeutic options that will contribute to the improvement of colorectal cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells. The apoptotic pathway, which is mediated by the mitochondria, is often disrupted in therapy-resistant cancer cells. An alternate route can be used to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, by using tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to activate the so-called “death receptors “at the cell membrane. In this thesis, we investigate which chemotherapeutic agents can increase the response to TRAIL in cancer cells, and the role played by the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 in these effects.