Submission Type

Poster

Start Date

April 2020

Abstract

Vulvar cancer is rare, mostly afflicting women aged 60 and older. The cancer is often preceded by a common vulvar rash, Lichen sclerosis, that is usually treated with the ultra-potent corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate. This treatment may, in turn, be associated with vulvar carcinogenesis. Quiescence, a common characteristic of stem cells, is a reversible state of growth arrest. Our results suggest that clobetasol is causing UMSCV-4 vulvar carcinoma cells to enter quiescence, and may allow them to evade the standard treatments that target rapidly proliferating populations. Furthermore, when these cells are removed from clobetasol and re-exposed, they proliferate at higher levels. This suggests that the initial clobetasol treatment selects for cells that are now unable to enter quiescence when re-exposed to clobetasol.

Comments

Faculty Sponsor: Jani Lewis, Biology

Selected for presentation at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

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Apr 22nd, 12:00 AM

365— Clobetasol-induced Quiescence in the Vulvar Carcinoma Cell Line UMSCV-4 Can Be Overcome by Repeated Removal and Re-exposure to this Ultrapotent Corticosteroid

Vulvar cancer is rare, mostly afflicting women aged 60 and older. The cancer is often preceded by a common vulvar rash, Lichen sclerosis, that is usually treated with the ultra-potent corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate. This treatment may, in turn, be associated with vulvar carcinogenesis. Quiescence, a common characteristic of stem cells, is a reversible state of growth arrest. Our results suggest that clobetasol is causing UMSCV-4 vulvar carcinoma cells to enter quiescence, and may allow them to evade the standard treatments that target rapidly proliferating populations. Furthermore, when these cells are removed from clobetasol and re-exposed, they proliferate at higher levels. This suggests that the initial clobetasol treatment selects for cells that are now unable to enter quiescence when re-exposed to clobetasol.

 

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