A New Potential Treatment For Colorectal Cancer

Sona Patel

Overview

Colorectal cancer cells express large amounts of PD-L2, a ligand of PD-1 that binds to PD-1 receptors on T-cells and sends “don’t eat me” signals to the T cells. Anti-PD-L2 monoclonal antibodies (mABs) could prevent PD-L2 from binding and allow the T-cells to properly function. Anti-PD-L2 mABs were tested on colorectal cancer cells to identify if it can cause the cancer’s growth to be inhibited. Doses of 5μl, 8μl, and 10μl of mABs were applied to groups of test tubes containing colorectal cancer cell suspension. One group contained no treatment, acting as the control. Initial cell counts of each tube were taken prior to applying the mABs. Cell counts were then taken from there for five days consecutively. Cell counts of all dose groups increased periodically except the 5μl group. The 5μl dose group contained the lowest cell counts, becoming stagnant towards Days 4 and 5. These results demonstrate that anti-PD-L2 antibodies can be used to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer. The results additionally show that 5μl would be the proper dose of treatment, as the growth of cancer in all 5μl tubes seemed to have stopped. With the results supporting the hypothesis, anti-PD-L2 monoclonal antibodies could act as a less harmful and more effective treatment for colorectal cancer, rather than chemo or radiation therapy.

From the student

I began researching this topic in the summer of 2020. The summer was allocated to just researching and recording down information regarding colorectal cancer, anti-PD-L2 antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, and prior testing done with PD-L monoclonal antibodies. Post-summer, the actual experimenting started in the lab. I conducted this experiment over about a month (a few weeks were needed for just set up and culturing the cancer cells) at my institution, American Heritage School, which contained the lab where I conducted the experiment. During this time, I was also attending the school and dividing my time between research, studies, and extracurricular activities. After completing the experiment, it was time to analyze and make conclusions regarding the data I collected. Conclusions were made and all my research was put together in paper and poster forms. In spring 2021, I was awarded for placing at FJAS and received news in fall 2021 that I was invited to participate in AJAS 2022. Now to present time, I will be presenting this research shortly to other AJAS participants and I am looking forward to being inducted as an AJAS fellow.