Professor Heather Wilkins and Kristin
Doucet '07: Finding the Perfect Balance
by
Stacey MacDonald '06
 July,
2005—Dr. Heather Wilkins, assistant professor of
Biology, and Kristin Doucet ’07 of Leominster,
MA, have a great balanced working relationship. However, the colon
cancer cells they are studying do not share the same equilibrium;
they exhibit abnormal growth, which is typical of many cancer cells.
Dr. Wilkins and Doucet are investigating the effect of estrogen
on the death of a colon cancer cell line known as Colo205. Their
hypothesis is that higher amounts of estrogen will lead to more
colon cancer cell death. They have been performing tests to see
if their findings corroborate with previous research, which shows
that increased levels of estrogen in the body may decrease the risk
of colon cancer.
How does estrogen cause the death of colon cancer cells? Why have
pre-menopausal women been found to have a lower risk of colon cancer
than men? Wilkins and Doucet hope to gain some insight into these
questions by focusing specifically on the multi-drug resistance
(MDR) proteins in colon cells. Doucet explains, “Colon cancer
cells that have the MDR protein (a channel in the membrane) are
more resistant to some chemotherapy treatments. Through our research,
we hope to find out how estrogen affects this resistance.”
Wilkins and Doucet’s experiments may shed light on the treatment
of colon cancer cells. However, Wilkins states, “We are only
investigating a small piece of the puzzle. Colon cancer research
is a large field; there is always more to be done.”
Wilkins has had a long-standing interest in cell death and division.
She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland researching the
development, maintenance, and loss of receptor cells in the ear.
She then began her work with colon cells, while doing research at
the University of North Carolina. Her interest in the current project
was sparked by those two experiences. “In many healthy organs,
there is a balance between the production and the death of cells,”
she states. “Cancer sometimes occurs when this balance does
not exist and the body produces more cells than it needs.”
Wilkins’ summer research will try to account some of the reasons
for the imbalance between cell death and division in the colon cancer
cells.
A biology major, Kristin plans to attend graduate school for a career
in occupational therapy. Her interests in gerontology and aging
led her to become involved in cancer research. Wilkins chose Kristin
as her summer intern because “she showed a genuine interest
in the position, posed interesting questions, and above all, had
outstanding recommendations.” Wilkins also adds, “In
addition, we had a good rapport right from the start, which is important.”
|
