Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women with 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 43,250 deaths reported in 2022. In fact, 75% of these deaths aren’t from the initial tumor but due to the spread of breast cancer tumors to other sites, also known as metastases. Breast cancer occurs when breast tissue cells mutate and proliferate uncontrollably, resulting in a lump or mass. In breast cancer, the origin of proliferation, or the primary site, for cancer cells is mostly within the milk ducts. Then, tumor cells can start migrating away from its primary site into other parts of the body, where a secondary site will be developed. This is known as metastasis. Recent studies have shown fat metabolism to be a potential contribute to metastasis in breast cancer cells. Fat metabolism utilizes fatty acids, which are considered an important energy source for tumor cells to proliferate. Recently, there is a novel molecule, Valerobetaine, that can inhibit fat metabolism and does not produce toxic side effects in vivo. Therefore, Valerobetaine can potentially reduce the proliferation rates induced by fat metabolism in breast cancer. To test this, we incubated breast cancer cells in a high-fat environment with the fatty acid, oleate, and performed flow cytometry to measure and compare the cell’s proliferation in relation to the distribution of Valerobetaine. We hope to show evidence that Valerobetaine can be a potential therapeutic to decrease breast cancer metastasis in order to improve patient outcomes.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Joshua Owens
Recommended Citation
Tran, Carolyn; Mina, Maryam; and Fadhil, Diyar, "Effects of Valerobetaine in Fatty-Acid Induced Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 69.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/69
Included in
Effects of Valerobetaine in Fatty-Acid Induced Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women with 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 43,250 deaths reported in 2022. In fact, 75% of these deaths aren’t from the initial tumor but due to the spread of breast cancer tumors to other sites, also known as metastases. Breast cancer occurs when breast tissue cells mutate and proliferate uncontrollably, resulting in a lump or mass. In breast cancer, the origin of proliferation, or the primary site, for cancer cells is mostly within the milk ducts. Then, tumor cells can start migrating away from its primary site into other parts of the body, where a secondary site will be developed. This is known as metastasis. Recent studies have shown fat metabolism to be a potential contribute to metastasis in breast cancer cells. Fat metabolism utilizes fatty acids, which are considered an important energy source for tumor cells to proliferate. Recently, there is a novel molecule, Valerobetaine, that can inhibit fat metabolism and does not produce toxic side effects in vivo. Therefore, Valerobetaine can potentially reduce the proliferation rates induced by fat metabolism in breast cancer. To test this, we incubated breast cancer cells in a high-fat environment with the fatty acid, oleate, and performed flow cytometry to measure and compare the cell’s proliferation in relation to the distribution of Valerobetaine. We hope to show evidence that Valerobetaine can be a potential therapeutic to decrease breast cancer metastasis in order to improve patient outcomes.