This summer, I researched colorectal cancer at Duke in Dr. Christine E. Eyler’s lab as a Dean’s Summer Research Fellow. My project involved two parts- the first involved creating isogenic cell lines with clinically relevant colorectal cancer mutations. We then irradiated these at varying doses, hoping to assess whether there is genotype-specific epigenetic re-organization. I was able to utilize CRISPR-Cas9 and electroporation techniques to do gene editing. Long term, we’re planning to do drug screens post-radiation treatment to identify susceptibility factors and improve patient outcomes.
The second part of my project involved established colorectal cancer cell lines. In other cancer types, markers of enhancers are often increased near certain genes after radiation treatment. However, this epigenetic organization remains uncharacterized in colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, we wanted to investigate its presence in colorectal cancer. To do so, we ran triplicate RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq analyses and protocols using 4 cell culture lines. These 4 cell culture lines have various permutations of colorectal cancer cell drivers and have been shown to be radioresistant and radiosensitive. Ultimately, I’m hoping my data will indicate gene regulatory alterations to indicate a change in gene expression level post-radiation.
I loved my summer research experience- I got to learn some computation, wet lab, and scientific writing skills. I plan to continue working on this in the school year, and am hoping to submit for publication!
