The impact of selected sesquiterpenes on the effectiveness of anticancer therapy in MDA-MB-231 cell line

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biochemical Sciences Title, Name, Surname of candidate: Veronika Tůmová Title, Name, Surname of tutor: PharmDr. Hana Bártíková, Ph.D Title of a diploma work: The influence of selected sesquiterpenes on the effect of cytostatics for the cell line MDA-MB-231 Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. It makes up approximately one quarter of cancer cases amongst women. The rise in the incidence of this disease in western countries has, over recent years, been linked to a lifestyle that characteristically involves a sedentary way of life and a diet rich in animal fats. There are currently many therapeutic regimes available for the treatment of breast cancer which are increasingly adapted to the individual needs of the patient and their specific tumor subtype. In spite of the wide range of treatments with a variety of mechanisms of effects on cancer tissues, current treatments are limited by inadequate effectiveness, serious undesirable side effects or the occurrence of resistance. Scientists have therefore been attempting to uncover ways to prevent these undesired effects. Sesquiterpenes α humulene and trans-nerolidol are naturally-occuring substances that, through their biochemical effects, act cytotoxically..