Photo by V. Miller
Jan. 25, 2006
Alternative Therapies for Melanoma
Alternative Therapies for Advance-Stage Melanoma in Lumbricus terrestris
Melanie Kabinoff, 14, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Discovery Education "Educator" Award, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005
Project background: Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can be quite serious. After one of her former teachers developed this disease, Melanie wanted to learn all she could about it. Melanie noticed that many patients had tried alternative treatments, or treatments that have not been officially approved for use. Melanie decided to study a few of these products
Tactics and results: Melanie set up a light box and exposed earthworms to ultraviolet-B radiation. After being exposed to this light, most of the worms developed signs of melanoma. Melanie then immersed the worms in five liquids that preliminary research had shown could be effective melanoma treatments. The liquids were tree oil, echinacea, vitamin D, coffee, and soymilk. Using a microscope, Melanie counted the number of melanoma-like wounds and cells on the worms. She made the counts twice a week for 20 weeks.
 |
| Photo by V. Miller |
Melanie discovered that all the treated worms showed a decrease in melanoma cells. Tree oil and echinacea performed best. The untreated worms had an increase in melanoma cells.
Read the latest science fair news
Get a science fair tip
Browse a list of science fair topics
Talk Back:
Do you have any comments about this ScienceFairZone? Send them
to us using the form below.
|
SNK RSS Feed 
