1. Early Detection of Recurrent Breast Cancer Using Metabolite Profiling
During October 6, 2011 we had the opportunity to share some time with Leiddy Z.
Alvarado, chemistry alumnus of UPR Cayey. She shared with us her experience during her
investigation in Purdue University. Her main topic was Breast Cancer, the leading cause of
death among women worldwide. To determine if a person has cancer they need to get a
diagnostic through a mammogram or clinical breast exam. Neither of these are 100% reliable
because of their lack of specificity and sensitivity. That’s why the researcher’s goal was to
develop methods to detect cancer as early as possible. She will need to use the study of
metabolomics to identify some biomarkers. For the development of this study she used some
analytical tools like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
NMR has quantitative advantages but some limitations like low sensitivity and MS has high
sensitivity and large dynamic range. She wanted to know how sensitive and specific a
method is. Sensitivity refers to the ability of the tests to find a disease and specificity to the
ability of identifying people who don’t have the disease. After all, they found a great
improvement in the sensitivity, permitting them predict cancer 13 months earlier.
The speaker was very inspiring and her study is a great contribution to every person in
the world. She said: “Take risks if you want to be a successful person”. I will never forget
these words and I will apply them to every single thing I’ll develop through my college and
professional years.