Kaycee Khuat
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Erin Giles
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Kinesiology / Kinesiology
Program: UROP
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Authors:
Abstract
Despite the known link between obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer, the mechanisms underlying this association are not completely understood. The goal of this project was to review current published studies that focused on the relationship between cancer and obesity to further understand what is already known about how obesity increases breast cancer risk. We also analyzed tissues from a recently completed study using a rat model of obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer. We performed H&E staining on adipose tissue from lean and obese rats that were either sedentary, exercised, or treated with ibuprofen. We then measured the size of adipocytes in each fat depot, and calculated size frequency distributions and mean adipocyte size. Our goal is to determine if this correlates with tumor growth. We expect to see a reduced risk of breast cancer and improved survival rates when the rats are exercised or treated with ibuprofen. Together these studies will help understand the mechanisms underlying the link between obesity and breast cancer, and will help identify interventions to decrease cancer risk and progression.
