BH3 Profiling: A Flow Cytometry Protocol to Determine Apoptotic Competency

A hallmark of cancer growth and progression is the evasion of apoptosis and resistance to treatment in malignant cells. Recent focuses of cancer research have included the development of targeted therapies aimed at increasing a cell’s response to apoptotic stimuli. Join our December edition of the Technical Seminar Series to hear from Ryan Rys, a PhD candidate in the Johnson Lab (Lady Davis Institute), who will highlight a technique for analyzing apoptosis in cancer cells called BH3 profiling. This flow cytometry assay helps to determine whether a cell can undergo apoptosis by assessing the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. A fast and efficient method, Ryan will discuss the protocol and provide examples of how this technique can be used to classify levels apoptotic dysfunction, screen for drugs that are efficient in inducing cell death and identify potential therapeutic targets.

See emgss.org/tss for a link to the webinar.