The University of Toledo Translation Journal of Medical Sciences 
Haematology and Oncology Abstract, Department of Medicine Research Symposium UTJMS 2023 May 5; 11(1):e1-e1 

The Effects of the Chemotherapy Drug Cisplatin on Cell 
Migration 
Rawan Moussa1*, Yusuf Barudi1, Mahasin Osman1 

1Division of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University 
of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614 

*Corresponding author: rawan.moussa@rockets.utoledo.edu

Published: 05 May 2023 

Cell migration is an essential function of all living cells. In mammalian cells, cell migration plays a 
crucial role such as promoting organ development, sperm and egg motility, and wound healing. 
However, in cancer, cell migration promotes metastasis, which is the primary cause of cancer patient 
mortality. The mechanisms that underlie cell promotion are emerging. Our research displayed that the 
scaffold oncoprotein IQGAP1 normally regulates cell migration by controlling kidney epithelial cell 
adhesion. Thirty percent of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy develop acute kidney injury, but 
the mechanism underlying this fatal condition is unknown. We hypothesized that chemotherapy drugs 
displace IQGAP1 from cell junctions and increase cell migration and dissociation of renal cells. Using 
wound healing assays and the model Madin-Darby Canine kidney cells (MDCK), we evaluated the 
effects of the standard-of-care chemotherapy drug cisplatin on cell migration.  

Our results illustrated that cisplatin significantly inhibited cell migration. These results are also 
consistent with our findings that cisplatin inhibits cell proliferation. Furthermore, cisplatin leads to 
treatment-resistant kidney cell injury. Therefore, this data paves the way for our ongoing studies on the 
role of IQGAP1 as a target of cisplatin. 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-737 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-737
mailto:rawan.moussa@rockets.utoledo.edu