Adrian Scheibler: Cancer Research, Week Two

This week, I started my own project within the larger umbrella of the work the laboratory does with the prostate and obesity.

Past research has demonstrated that obesity is a significant risk factor for the

progression of prostate cancer and death by the disease. However, there is controversy in the medical community over whether an increased BMI increases the risk of developing cancer. My project entails studying the effects of a lipid treatment on the expression of a protein that, in certain prostate tumors, has been inversely correlated with the activation of a pathway that promotes tumor growth.

Throughout the course of the week, we applied the fatty acids to the three different cell lines, each progressively closer to cancer, doing protein quantification of the samples, and finally completing a Western Blotting Test to examine the effect of the treatment on the cells as compared to the controls. So far, the results are inconclusive, and we will continue with the project next week.

This week, I was also able to see more of the beautiful city of Chicago. There is always something new to see at every corner, and I love simply wandering through its myriad streets. In addition to that, on Wednesday I moved to a new host family as the former would be heading off for their vacation. They are incredibly kind, and have two great dogs that are extremely energetic. They showed me some great places in the city as well as close to their home and my work.

Finally, I concluded my week with two concerts over the weekend. On one occasion, my host family took me to a park performance of the 60’s band The Beach Boys, and on the other I attended a Red Hot Chili Peppers show in the United Center, which was incredible. I look forward to my next week here.