UH assistant professor discusses her cancer research

Humble resident Cecilia Williams, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, conducted studies on the effects of estrogen receptors on two different forms of cancer. Williams spoke with reporter Mauricio Guerrero about what this new knowledge will do for future cancer research and treatments. ERbeta manages to inhibit the cell growth and to some degree protects other cells from being affected from colon cancer. ERalpha had the opposite effect on our cell lines of breast cancer, and accelerates the growth. [...] if the ion channel, KCNK5, is removed from the receptor, the cell growth is slowed down. Breast cancer is the biggest killer of women and colon cancer would be in the top 5 for both men and women. Tumors were taken from cancer patients, and we stimulated the growth of each sample for a cell line (immortal cells). What advice do you have for any considering a career in cancer research?