Specialty:
Medical Oncology
Location:
University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus
Prerequisites:
The student must have completed 3 years of college
Number of Openings: 2
Objective:
The major goals of the ongoing projects are (a) to select DNA probes and optimize a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocols to apply them in rapid and objective laboratorial tests, and (b) to validate these FISH probes as molecular markers for early diagnosis of epithelial neoplasias and for detection of minimal disease in leukemias. Neoplasias more commonly addressed are acute leukemias and squamous cell carcinomas of the respiratory tract (lung and head and neck).
Description:
DNA FISH probes will be used as diagnostic tools to compare tumor, premalignant lesions, and histologically normal sections from patients having the targeted carcinomas, and to quantify minimal disease in leukemia patients who are in clinical and cytogenetic remission.
Students will: a) prepare specimens for analysis, b) perform hybridization assays and troubleshoot the protocol, c) perform analysis using fluorescence microscopes, d) acquire and analyze digital images, e) organize appropriate databases, and f) interpret and discuss results according to the literature.