Unraveling the cells and genes uniquely contributing to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Cancer is a devastating disease known to be treated with chemicals causing severe side effects in the advanced stages of the disease. Among these chemicals are a group of antibiotics, called anthracyclines, used to treat a variety of cancers, including breast cancer (BC). Doxorubicin, one of the preferred anthracyclines used in BC treatment, is particularly toxic to cancer cells, but also healthy tissue, leading to multi-organ damage, including damage to the heart. A new technology, called single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), can determine which cells and genes in the heart contribute the most to the damage seen in the heart muscle following doxorubicin treatment, potentially leading to the identification of solutions. Using this technique, combined with advanced computer programs, the student aims to study doxorubicin-induced heart damage in a previously studied tumor-bearing mouse model. Herein, heart tissue will be processed and scRNA-seq performed, before analyzing the data and reporting the findings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Britt Drögemöller;Galen Wright

Student:

Partner:

Stellenbosch University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Pharmaceuticals; Technology

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: