The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) is proud to announce that a new research project led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić has been accepted for co-financing by the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton under its 2026 public research call. The project, "Potential of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Melanoma Therapy" (HMF-MEL), investigates how 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) a compound formed during the thermal breakdown of sugars and commonly found in heated foods like honey, coffee, and baked goods affects melanoma cell lines. While typically used as a food quality indicator, 5-HMF can trigger oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell cycle changes, acting as either cytotoxic or protective depending on concentration, making melanoma known for high oxidative stress and limited treatment response a fitting model to study it.
Treating melanoma cells with varying 5-HMF concentrations, the team will analyze cell viability, oxidative stress, and apoptosis to determine whether the compound promotes or inhibits tumor growth, with implications for both food safety and future melanoma therapies. The project is supported by Dr. Abas Sezer, two graduate research students, and international collaborator Dr. Viktorija Maksimova of Goce Delčev University in North Macedonia, reflecting IUS's ongoing regional research cooperation.
