Authors: Reno Blackmore, Jacob Mead, Wyatt Legas, Jennifer Meyer. Mentors: Jennifer Meyer. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Introduction: Our research is dedicated to unraveling the mechanisms that drive the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs, with a specific focus on melanoma cases characterized by the BRAF mutation.Objective: Our primary objective is twofold: firstly, to establish a synergy index between pterostilbene and dabrafenib, unearthing their collaborative potential; secondly, to delve deep into the mechanisms using protein characterization and gene expression. This exploration not only has the potential to enable the use of lower drug concentrations for achieving the desired reduction in melanoma cell viability but also offers the prospect of reducing patient stress, as pterostilbene is a naturally occurring plant compound.Preliminary data from our study already suggests a promising synergistic relationship between pterostilbene and dabrafenib, which underscores the significance of further investigation into their combined therapeutic potential.
