Title of the Thesis “Peptide Mediated Macrophage Polarization for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer”

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment, but emerging drug resistance and relapse of tumors highlight the need for combination therapies, such as immunotherapy, to improve chemotherapeutics efficacies and outcomes. Our research investigates the mechanism of action of synthetic macrocyclic host defense peptides and nanoparticles, in stimulating both naïve and tumor-associated macrophages, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophage monoculture and in co-culture model with TNBC cells. Our findings indicate that mCA4 and its nanoparticles bind with toll-like receptors on macrophages, activating downstream signaling pathways in both naïve and IL-4-stimulated macrophages, which promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators by macrophages. When combined with the chemotherapeutic agents, peptide nanoparticles enhanced chemotherapeutics effectiveness, suggesting their role as an immuno-adjuvant in TNBC treatment.

October 28, 2025, 1:00 pm via Web Conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome to attend!