The Morning After: Oral Contraceptive Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Growth Rate and Morphology
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Breast Cancer, Contraceptives, Freedom Of Choice
Abstract
Oral contraceptives have empowered women globally and provided reproductive choice. Research indicates that over 60 percent of sexually-active women in the US alone use some form of oral contraceptive. When making a choice, many women balance the freedom that contraceptives provide with potential biological consequences. This study investigated the effects of three oral contraceptives and determined their quantitative impact on MCF-7 human breast cancer proliferation rate and cellular morphology. Results showed that the combination pill (estrogen and progesterone) showed the least, mini pill (estrogen) showed the most, and plan B (progesterone) showed intermediate cancer growth rates. Morphological changes occurred between control and oral contraceptive-treated MCF-7 cells but fewer structural differences were observed across all three experimental conditions. Based on our results, we conclude that oral contraceptives with higher estrogen levels produce higher growth rates in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We recommend that women considering oral contraception should carefully weigh the benefits against potential risks associated with using this form of birth control.
Recommended Citation
Marzano, Jami; Waters, Kaitlin; Heyano, Mindy; Clark, Jane; and Johnson, Samantha, "The Morning After: Oral Contraceptive Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Growth Rate and Morphology" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 30.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/30
Poster Number
21
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
The Morning After: Oral Contraceptive Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Growth Rate and Morphology
SURC Ballroom C/D
Oral contraceptives have empowered women globally and provided reproductive choice. Research indicates that over 60 percent of sexually-active women in the US alone use some form of oral contraceptive. When making a choice, many women balance the freedom that contraceptives provide with potential biological consequences. This study investigated the effects of three oral contraceptives and determined their quantitative impact on MCF-7 human breast cancer proliferation rate and cellular morphology. Results showed that the combination pill (estrogen and progesterone) showed the least, mini pill (estrogen) showed the most, and plan B (progesterone) showed intermediate cancer growth rates. Morphological changes occurred between control and oral contraceptive-treated MCF-7 cells but fewer structural differences were observed across all three experimental conditions. Based on our results, we conclude that oral contraceptives with higher estrogen levels produce higher growth rates in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We recommend that women considering oral contraception should carefully weigh the benefits against potential risks associated with using this form of birth control.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Quitadamo, Ian