Best Poster in Health Sciences, 2026 TSC Symposium
Every glioblastoma tumor is different from one another. The researcher wants treatment to keep up with the variations.
Glioblastoma is the most prevalent aggressive brain tumor in adults, according to aspiring neuroscientist [Redacted pending Auth.], who took one patient and compared his chromosomal changes with the data obtained from other patients in order to demonstrate that when it comes to treatment, the “one-size-fits-all” approach is not ideal.
The Precision Gap in Glioblastoma: A Case Study Highlighting Chromosomal Instability and Its Potential Implications for Individualized Treatment
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a Grade IV astrocytoma and is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Glioblastoma tumors have been shown to exhibit changes in gene expression and chromosomal instability, including segmental deletions and duplications that can vary broadly from patient to patient. Given these individual differences, and the severity of GBM, the development of individualized treatment plans are necessary but can be quite challenging. This study aims to compare a visual representation of chromosomal deletion and duplication hotspots with an individual case study to highlight this challenge. Using a SNP microarray analysis from a real-life patient and gene expression data from public database, it is possible to visually connect the disease landscape across chromosomes. The goal of this study is to highlight the need for individualized consideration in therapeutic practices for GBM treatment alongside metanalyses that identify generalized patterns of disease progression.
[Redacted pending Auth.] · Faculty mentor: Dr. Katherine Easterling
Presented at the 2026 TSC Undergraduate Research Symposium