Major: Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kevin Houston

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Research Project Summary: 

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are important regulators of breast cancer behavior. In particular, IGFBP4 and IGFBP6 are being studied for their roles in cell-cycle progression, interferon signaling, and tumor cell invasiveness. These effects are examined across breast cancer cell lines including T47D, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231. Techniques such as siRNA-mediated knockdown, quantitative PCR, and western blotting are used to determine how changes in IGFBP levels shape downstream signaling and functional cell behaviors. Overall, the project aims to define the roles of IGFBP4 and IGFBP6 during breast cancer progression.