Combining Drugs May Improve Ovarian Cancer Survival
5-azacytidine decreased tumor burden in mice
To evaluate how the treatments affect cancer cells on a molecular level, the researchers start off their studies by culturing ovarian cancer cells on a dish. They then expose these cell cultures to a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, which is called 5-azacytidine. This drug works by taking away the methyl groups on DNA, promoting activation of silenced genes. Afterwards, these treated cells are injected into mice, and researchers found that mice with these treated cells had decreased ascites and tumor burden. They also had many more cancer-fighting immune cells in the ascites fluid.
