IUS Team Leads Innovative Lymphoma Treatment Research
The International University of Sarajevo is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a significant grant to advance the groundbreaking project, "In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Therapeutics in Lymphoma Treatment." The grant, a testament to the unwavering commitment of our esteemed researchers, has been conferred to the team led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić, Senior Assistant Lejla Mahmutović, Dr. Esma Bilajac and Senior Assistant Abas Sezer in collaboration with the colleagues from the University of Sarajevo-Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Split-Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka-Faculty of Medicine.
The project is a remarkable endeavor to propose innovative drug candidates for the further development of potential therapeutics to treat various forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This initiative is an extension of a decade-long research journey that sought to synthesize novel chemical compounds from the xanthene group and elucidate their molecular targets through cutting-edge bioinformatics software.
In the preliminary phase of the research, more than 50 of the most promising candidates were meticulously analyzed. The selected xanthene compounds, exhibiting formidable inhibitory properties, were identified in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) model at nanomolar concentrations. Subsequently, the project seeks to ascertain the most effective concentrations of these compounds using cell viability measurement (CCK-8) and Trypan blue analysis to determine the number of viable cells. The research also entails the evaluation of the compounds' impact on cell proliferation through BrdU analysis, followed by Western blot analysis of the expression of selected protein candidates.
This multidisciplinary collaboration brings together experts from various fields, with a singular goal in mind - the proposal of innovative treatment alternatives for lymphoma patients who have not responded favorably to currently available therapies. Moreover, the study of protein expression is poised to unveil potential new molecular biomarkers within DLBCL signaling pathways.
The project is set to explore the anti-cancer properties of carefully selected xanthene compounds and their effects on the deregulated signaling pathways within DLBCL cell models. The newly discovered xanthene candidates hold the promise of a breakthrough in drug development for the treatment of DLBCL, offering renewed hope for patients.
The International University of Sarajevo is honored to embark on this transformative research journey, thanks to the generous grant received, and is committed to making a significant contribution to the field of lymphoma treatment.