Amanda Liu Sciences
Chemical Design, Synthesis, and Clinical Exploitation of Promising Ligands Having High Affinity for the TRP-M8 Receptor of Prostate Cancer Cells
Amanda will investigate a novel method of diagnosing, staging, monitoring, and treating prostate cancer. The specific phases of her investigation include optimizing the design and synthesis of N-radiofluoro or N-radioiodo-aryl-cycloalkylcarboxamides, which have high affinity for the TRP (transient receptor potential)-M8 receptor found in prostate cancer cells; and testing the affinity of the designed ligand for the TRP-M8 receptor in vitro and ultimately in vivo. One of the promising medical applications is the visualization of ligand-TRP-M8-receptor complex with PET or SPECT for diagnosis, staging, and monitoring prostate diseases. In contrast, current diagnostic methods are either inconclusive or painful. The ultimate goal is radiotherapy, a less invasive but more effective alternative to radical prostatectomy and brachytherapy. The process of optimizing the design and synthesis of the ligands and the medical exploitation of them will constitute Amanda’s senior honors thesis in MCB.
