University of Mainz student Leah Marie Decher successfully defended her Bachelor’s degree project on GlioLighT research this month!
During her bachelor’s thesis, Leah investigated the effects of Direct Light Therapy on the murine astrocytoma cell line SMA-560 and demonstrated that multiple applications are more effective than a single treatment exposure. This effect was evidenced by a reduction in metabolic activity in monolayer cultures over the course of 48 hours. Furthermore, it was verified through a decrease in the SMA-560 spheroid’s invasive capacity throughout six days.
Leah’s project was supervised by GlioLighT’s immunologist and experimental expert Sophie Gieß. Her results agree with GlioLighT’s hypothesis that DLT has a toxic effect on brain cancer cells, and highlights interesting findings for potential treatment using multiple applications.
Sophie and the rest of the immunology team at JGU Mainz will make use of these findings as they continue their work identifying the ideal dose for DLT. Leah’s findings have already helped to inform our understanding of the mechanisms of DLT, and will aid the team as they work towards achieving a specific toxic effect on cancer cells in culture.
