Sara Mikhael

Title : Outlining the synergistic effects of combining Metformin and Simvastatin in ovarian cancer cells

Abstract:

Improving response rates in Ovarian cancer is an urgent clinical issue. Drug repurposing offers a safe and a relatively fast alternative to the conventional methods for oncological drug discovery. Both, metformin, a biguanide approved to treat diabetes, and simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor approved for hypercholesterolemia, are currently being researched in oncology. However, in vitro and in vivo studies have not yet been implemented on this combination (or any kind of statin) in ovarian cancer. The aim of the study is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the potential synergy of combining the metabolic altering drugs, metformin and simvastatin, in ovarian cancer cells.

Biography:

Sara Mikhael obtained her bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the Lebanese American University. With high distinction, she obtained her Master's degree in Cancer and Therapeutics at the Barts Cancer Institute in London with a thesis entitled "Impact of tumor heterogeneity on the response to kinase targeted therapies". She is currently completing her doctoral studies in medical and biological sciences at L’Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth (USJ) in collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB). Her project focuses on the use of metabolism-altering drugs, simvastatin and metformin, in ovarian cancer, drugs that are not typically used in cancer therapy.