Hello! I’m Niloufar, an MSc student in the Department of Medical Biophysics at Western University. I’m a graduate student of Dr. Eugene Wong, and I perform experiments at Robarts Research Institute and London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) in the labs of Drs. Paula Foster and Fred Dick.
Radiation therapy is the standard treatment option for patients diagnosed with brain metastasis; however, the radiation doses are prescribed to any type of metastasis despite their primary origin. My research focuses on determining the response of brain metastases from the triple-negative breast cancer sub-type to different radiation doses.
Radiation acts by damaging the DNA of tumour cells. In my project, I’m interested to find out how much damage each dose of radiation induces to the DNA in the breast cancers growing in the brain, and I’m also evaluating the treatment response by comparing changes in the tumour volumes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The outcome of this project will yield valuable information for understanding the radiobiology of breast cancer brain metastasis and in making improvements in radiation-dose prescription in the patient clinic.
The multidisciplinary nature of my study allows me to engage in collaborations across London, from Robarts to LRCP, and from physics to cancer biology. It’s a great opportunity to learn from experts in the field!
Thank you to BCSC for your trainee support!
– Niloufar Zarghami
Pamela Greenaway-Kohlmeier Translational Breast Cancer Research Unit, London Health Sciences Centre
