Aarohi Usapkar
Class of 2026San Ramon, CA
About
Hi! My name is Aarohi, and my project was on the genetic correlates of colorectal cancer. I chose to research this because of the importance of gene mutations in cancer development. I used statistical analysis to investigate the effects of specific mutations on patient survival and published my paper in the American Journal of Student Research.Projects
- "What are the effects of genetic mutations on patient survival in colorectal cancer cases?" with mentor Connor (Mar. 14, 2025)
Aarohi's Symposium Presentation
Project Portfolio
What are the effects of genetic mutations on patient survival in colorectal cancer cases?
Started Nov. 21, 2023
Abstract or project description
Colorectal cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, is caused by an overgrowth of cells in the colon or rectum. It typically appears as polyps, abnormal growths that develop in the lining of the large intestine. It can occur due to inherited germline mutations or acquired somatic mutations that affect oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. This leaves the body unable to control tumor growth, resulting in invasive malignancies which are commonly treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted radiation. There are many genes associated with CRC. The four genes explored in this study are APC, KRAS, BRAF, and RNF43. These genes were selected due to their established or emerging relevance as prognostic biomarkers. This study investigates the impact of mutations in these genes* *on survival time using the analysis of patient data sourced from Cercek et al. [1] through cBioPortal. The results revealed that APC mutations were positively correlated with survival time, while *KRAS, BRAF, *and RNF43 were negatively correlated with survival time. These findings are consistent with previous literature and the roles of these genes in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Further research on the importance of genetic mutations and prognostic biomarkers can improve targeted therapies and personalized treatments for colorectal cancer patients, leading to improved clinical outcomes.