Our Breast Cancer Biomarker Projects

Fall 2023

Essential Tremor (ET) is disorder of the nervous system primarily characterized by rhythmic shaking which may occur in the hands, but can also be present in the head, arms, or legs. To begin the exploration of ET, we reviewed a study conducted by researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital on Gene expression analysis of the cerebellar cortex within ET patients. See the research paper here.

Spring 2023

Estrogen receptors are important in breast cancer research because they play a key role in the development, growth, and progression of most breast cancers. About 70% of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive, meaning that the cancer cells have receptors on their surface that bind to estrogen and promote their growth. See the research paper here.

SPRING 2023

Part two of the biomarker project involved a lot of discovery and working through challenges. This project was a continuation of the first part of the biomarker project, where we analyzed a breast cancer dataset and discovered an interesting overlap in the HER2 positive and HER2 negative groups that we wanted to explore further. A general outline was supplied, including a skeleton code that would produce relevant material to put into a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis tool. Our goal was to use the GSEA tool to learn more about what the overlap in groups consisted of, such as if any interesting genes were upregulated or downregulated. See the research paper here.

SPRING 2022

Biomarkers are biological molecules that can be found in blood, urine, or other body fluids and can indicate signs of disease. In cancer treatment, biomarker testing is used to help find a treatment that can be effective in treating cancers. See the research paper here.

SPRING 2022

Biomarkers are genes that provide information about cancer and can lead to the progression of tumors in the body. These genes are integral to the understanding and identification of cancer in order to treat the disease. See the research paper here.

Spring 2023

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a form of breast cancer that is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor 2. The lack of receptors makes TNBC particularly difficult to treat, as typical breast cancer treatments often target these receptors via hormone-based therapies and drugs. See the research paper here.

FALL 2022

Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers in women in the United States, with 1 out of 8 women being diagnosed at some point in their life [1]. To effectively treat breast cancer, it is imperative that the diagnosis be made early, potentially by preemptively screening women who may be at high risk. See the research paper here.

SPRING 2022

When treating individuals, researchers pay close attention to biomarkers in cancerous cells. This paper explores the functions, uses, and detections of key biomarkers, in addition to emphasizing the HER2 functions in cancerous cells and their importance. During our research, we used the PUBMED database and analyzed scientific journals. See the research paper here.

SPRING 2022

Breast Cancer is a form of cancer that targets the cells within the breasts. It can affect both men and women, but is significantly more common in women, with 1 out of 8 women being diagnosed at some point in their life. See the research paper here.