October 23, 2015
Pediatric Bone Cancers: Researching Genetic Predispositions to Aid in the Development of Preventative Treatments
Cancer research is on the forefront of modern medicine. Ewing Sarcoma, the second most prevalent bone cancer in children, is no exception to the race for a cure. Physicians and Doctorates at the Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah have invested their time and expertise in finding a cure, and I had the great pleasure of conducting this laboratory work alongside them over the past summer. The search for a cure begins with an in-depth understanding of the internal workings of such a disease—at the molecular level. As a research technician, I was able to extract, purify, and clone DNA samples to determine microsatellite DNA markers associated with an individual’s genetic susceptibility to the development of Ewing Sarcoma. The Schiffman Lab aims to understand who is predisposed to such a condition, and why. With this eventual knowledge doctors hope that treatments will be more precise, directed to the individual, and most importantly treatments will be preventative.
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