Claire Belay

Date of Award

2018

Type

Thesis

Major

Biology

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Monica Frazier

Second Advisor

Guihong Fan

Third Advisor

Cindy Ticknor

Abstract

Ovarian cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all gynecological cancers [13]. Further knowledge of risk factors for the growth of ovarian tumors would be beneficial in both the treatment and prevention of this type of cancer. Previous research has shown a positive correlation between diabetes and prostate tumor growth [22], The first aim of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes of ovarian tumor growth. The second aim was to develop a model to predict ovarian tumor growth based on the microenvironment within a patient’s body. The hypothesis was that there would be a positive correlation between diabetes and ovarian tumor volume. Data from fifty patients was collected from charts at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Oxygen saturation, tumor volume, blood glucose level, and cancer stage were gathered for each patient. The results contradicted the hypothesis; there was a negative correlation found between blood glucose level and tumor volume. More data is needed to determine if increased blood glucose could be an effective treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly since there other health risks associated with elevated blood glucose levels. The proposed mathematical model also needs modification in order to effectively bridge the gap between the clinical and research aspects of the cancer field.

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