How did you get interested in your subject and choose your project?

Cancer research has always interested me since, unfortunately, many people suffer physically and emotionally from this terrible disease. I have always hoped to bring science researchers closer to finding more effective treatments against cancer, so I applied for a summer student internship at City of Hope.

Since I had lab experience in a biotechnology boot camp at a local community college, I got the internship and an opportunity of doing cancer research. I worked in a molecular medicine lab at City of Hope that researches breast cancer cells and their abilities to develop resistance to drugs. I studied breast tumor cells that contain a gene called Her-2. Normally, physicians treat these tumors with a drug called Herceptin. However, studies have shown that about 50 – 70 percent of these tumors can develop resistance to Herceptin, and these cancer cells also contain a neuronal protein called t-Darpp that is not present in Herceptin-sensitive cells. In my project, I studied the effects of t-Darpp on breast tumor cells. I wanted to determine if and how t-Darpp could cause Herceptin-resistance.

How did you do your project?

A previous student had cloned t-Darpp DNA from breast tumor cell lines as two separate strands. I used processes such as digestions, gel purifications, ligations, and transformations to combine these two strands together in a vector. I then transfected or inserted the DNA into Herceptin-sensitive breast tumor cells containing the Her-2 gene. Once I had cell clones both with (experimental) and without (control) t-Darpp, I was able to experiment on them. I grew both the experimental and control clones in the presence and absence of Herceptin and measured their cell growth.

What did you find out (or create)?

I found that t-Darpp can lead to Herceptin resistance since the experimental cells continued to grow in both the presence and absence of Herceptin, while the cells without t-Darpp only grew in Herceptin's absence.

Did it take much money or special equipment to do your project or your research? If so, how did you get it?

Since this project involves DNA and cell cultures, I had to do this study in City of Hope's molecular medicine lab. The lab contained the equipment needed for the project, such as cell culture hoods, waterbaths, incubators, pipettes, and more.

How long did you work on your project?

I have been working on this project for three summers. I also continue my work during my winter and spring breaks.

Did you work with a mentor? If you did, how did you find your mentor?

I worked with Dr. Susan Kane, a breast cancer researcher at City of Hope. The summer student internship at City of Hope allows students to participate in projects that interest them, and since I was interested in breast cancer research, I received the opportunity to work with Dr. Kane.

Are you still working on this project? What will happen with your results?

I am still working on this project to further understand t-Darpp's mechanisms and how they can be blocked. Dr. Kane is planning to publish my results in the future.

What advice do you have for students now in a science fair?

I would advise students to continuously read published articles that discuss projects similar to their own. This will give them more knowledge about their topic and a broader perspective that could lead to more ideas for future steps in their projects.

What advice can you give students who want to get involved in research?

I suggest that students who want to do research should try to get lab experience before applying to research internships.

Where do you plan to attend college?

Since I want to become a physician, I hope to attend a college with a good medical program, such as Brown University or Johns Hopkins University.