TARGETING HEDGEHOG PATHWAY SIGNALING IN RENAL CANCER CELLS LINES: A CANCER STEM CELL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to confirm the presence and expression of Hedgehog Pathway genes and to determine the effects of inhibition of the Hedgehog Pathway on renal cancer cells. RNA from the chosen renal cancer cell lines will be isolated, and real time RT-PCR will be performed to analyze the expression of Hedgehog pathway genes. Cell proliferation assays will be conducted to determine the effect of exposure to various known Hedgehog Pathway inhibitors on renal cancer cells. The effect of siRNA molecules targeted at Hedgehog Pathway components will be examined in cell viability assays. Apoptosis of renal cancer cells will be detected and evaluated following exposure of the Hedgehog Pathway inhibitors. The data of this study will be used to determine the effectiveness of Hedgehog Pathway targeting therapeutics on renal cancer cells.