Seneca Cox's blog

Breast Cancer Spreading: A Team Effort?

Seneca Cox's picture

Approximately every 13 minutes, in the United States alone, one woman will die of breast cancer. Metastasis, the main cause of patient death, is the process by which breast cancer cells spread throughout the body by means of blood and lymphatic vessels. Breast cancer cells metastasize primarily via the lymphatic vasculature, which is lined by endothelial cells. Previous research suggests that lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) help tumors grow more quickly, but there is little information on whether, or how, the metabolism of breast cancer cells is impacted by the LECs. Unlike normal cell metabolism, which relies on oxidative phosphorylation, breast cancer cell metabolism relies on glycolysis and therefore consumes more glucose.

Metabo-whaaat?

Seneca Cox's picture

Most people are surprised to hear that I am a physics and mathematics major at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. I love mathematics and have research experience in mathematics, but I decided I am more interested in a career doing physics research. One of my main interests in physics is materials science, and I thought an REU in soft matter would be a good way to explore that interest. I learned about this internship at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez from the chair of the physics department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and applied immediately. I got accepted in April, and the excitement of getting to do physics research in Puerto Rico got me through my finals.

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