Abstract 2158: Developing therapeutic strategy to address chemoresistance in cervical cancer using 3D <i>ex vivo</i> sensitivity testing drug

Abstract Cervical cancer (CC) is ranked the fourth most common cause of cancer related deaths amongst women. The situation is particularly dire in low to lower middle-income countries. It continues to affect these countries due to poor vaccine coverage and screening. Cervical cancer is mostly detected in the advanced stages leading to poor outcomes. Many different chemotherapy drugs are used to treat recurrent CC, including cisplatin, ifostamide, carboplatin and gemcitabine. These drugs may be used alone or in combination. However, in a country like South Africa limited in resources this has become a challenge. In this study we aimed to develop a new therapuetic strategy that include repurposing current HPV vaccine through immune targeting strategy. The 3D ex vivo cancer cells were used and cells were targeted with neutralizing antibodies from HPV targed with cannabidiol. Following treatement, Cell viability, qPCR, Annexin V, immunocytochemistry and DNA fragmantation was performed. The IC50 was observed to be at 26ug/ml. The DNA fragmentation showed positive apoptosis induction while genes like p53, bax and bak1 were all increased. immunocheckpoint were all down in all treatments. The staining for protein showed increase in proteins associated with apoptosis. The results suggest apoptosis induced mechanism. Citation Format: Lesetja Raymond Motadi. Developing therapeutic strategy to address chemoresistance in cervical cancer using 3D ex vivo sensitivity testing drug. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 2158.