Lab Report Analysis Essay: Cancer Research

Brandon Valentin

City College of New York

ENGL 21007

Ms. Rodwell

March 3, 2022

Lab Report Analysis Essay: Cancer Research

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world because of the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade parts of the body and spread to other organs; This process is called metastasis. Widespread metastases are the primary cause of death from cancer. This is why cancer needs to be identified quickly, early and safely. Lab report #1 studies the characteristics of cancer tissue, while lab reports #2 and #3 study different techniques and the techniques ability to identify cancer tissues. “Tryptophan as the fingerprint for distinguishing aggressiveness among breast cancer cell lines using native fluorescence spectroscopy,” will be referred to as lab report #1. “Human brain cancer studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy,” will be referred to as lab report #2. “Native fluorescence spectra of human cancerous and normal breast tissues analyzed with non-negative constraint methods,” will be referred to as lab report #3. Lab report #2 is well organized and concise. While, lab reports #1 and #3 are both organized well, lab report #3 is verbose and lab report #1is missing information.  

In lab report #1, a scientist by the name of Lin Zhang believed that tryptophan levels in cells relate to the aggressiveness of the cancer in a patient. Zhang determined the aggressiveness of cancer cells by studying two different breast cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. She measured the tryptophan levels using native fluorescence spectroscopy to compare the aggressiveness of the cells and see if it related to the tryptophan levels. 

In lab report #2, a scientist by the name of Yan Zhou studied a technique called resonance Raman spectroscopy which is used to detect cancer in places such as the skin, breast, esophagus, colorectal, gynecological-cervix, and urogenital tract. Zhou tested the resonance Raman spectroscopy for its ability to detect cancer specifically in the brain by testing six different tissues both malignant tissues and normal tissue. 

In lab report #3, a scientist by the name of Yang Pu studied native fluorescence spectra to determine whether or not this technique can be used to contrast normal breast tissues from normal breast tissues. This purpose of the study is to provide a safe option for cancer patients to be diagnosed with cancer without having to remove tissue samples from the patient. 

The title of a lab report is easy to spot, concise and vague but provides the topic of the study. Each of the titles for all the lab reports are in bold and in larger font than the remainder of the reports so that the title is easily noticed. Lab report #1 and lab report #3 both have long titles that tell the readers what is being tested and the purpose of the lab, which is unnecessary for a title and should be placed in the intro or abstract only. Lab report #2’s title is short and simple and only mentions the topic of the lab report so that the reader can easily understand what the lab report will be about. 

Abstracts are used in lab reports so that the reader can quickly and accurately identify the basic content of the experiment including the question and the result without getting to indepth on the specifics of the paper. Lab report #1’s abstract briefly mentioned that the aggressiveness of breast cancer can be identified by using native fluorescence spectroscopy. Lab report #2’s abstract was long because Zhou points out tools, tissue samples, and the process of how she collected the data for the experiment. Tools, tissue samples, and the process of achieving the data are pieces of information that should be covered in the methods section of the lab report. Lab report #3’s abstract is brief and does not get into specific details about the experiment. Lab report #3 states that native fluorescence can be used to find cancerous breast cancer tissue.

The introduction has three major points to build a proper introduction. That includes clearly stating the aim, why they are doing this experiment, and the background information.  

The introduction to lab report #1 is short and gets the three major points across by starting off with background information and then in the final paragraph of the intro they mention their aim and purpose. However, one important piece that is missing in the background section of the introduction is the explanation of  Raman spectroscopy and native fluorescence spectra. The missing information in the introduction is significant because the reader is forced to do research of their own to understand what both techniques are. Lab report #2’s introduction is long and unlike lab report #1 it has an explanation for the method they use. Also in lab report #2 Zhou acknowledges the cons of using the opposing method to find cancer but does not clearly state the advantages for using the Raman spectroscopy. Zhou’s introduction was supposed to explain the advantages of using optical methods to find cancer. However, Zhou proceeds to go into background information after stating optical methods “offer advantages”(p.2). This leaves the reader confused as to what exactly the advantages are in using optical methods to find cancer.  Lab report #3’s introduction clearly mentions the aim, purpose, and background information. Nevertheless, lab report #3 is long because the writer repeats themselves by mentioning the purpose of the study in the beginning, middle, and end of the introduction. 

The methods section of a lab report is to tell the readers the procedure that was taken and the tools that were used. Both lab report #1 and lab report #2 organize the method section using subtitles. Lab report #3 had no subtitles to the method section, however the information was still in sequence from beginning to end. All lab reports describe the tools used in the experiment and explain how each tool is important to the data collected in the results. Furthermore, each lab report delivers the process of the experiment in chronological order. All lab reports used equations in their methods and explained the importance of the equations and how to use the equations. Having equations in the method section strengthens the results section because it allows the reader to understand how the numbers used in the results section were found.

The results and discussion section of a lab report should clearly state whether the hypothesis was right or wrong and should interpret the data taken. Lab report #1 says Zhang’s hypothesis is correct at the end of the results section. Acknowledging the hypothesis in the results section shows relevance of the data shown in the results to what the scientist is trying to prove. The graphs in lab report #1 did not have titles and only one colored graph had keys, but the second colored graph had no key and the writer left it up to the reader to assume what the colors meant. In figure 3 there are three graphs in the same image with no titles which may lead to readers misinterpreting the data shown in the graphs. Lab report #2 states that Zhou’s hypothesis was correct at the beginning of the results section. Zhou has seven graphs and two tables that all have their own title. Lab report #3 does not say whether Pu’s hypothesis was correct or incorrect which weakens the data in the results section because no one knows what the results proved without acknowledging the hypothesis in the results section. Moreover, Pu repeats the process of the experiment mentioned in the methods section in the results section. Lab report #3 as with lab report #1 fails to show titles for most of the graphs. Lab report #1 and #2 Both organize their results with subtitles and combine their results and discussion section. Lab report #3 divides the discussion section and the results section. In the discussion section Pu shows microscopic visuals in relation to the data in the results so that the reader can compare the image to the graphs.

The conclusion of a lab report should restate the results and what was found. Lab report #1 restates the results and Zhang found that aggressive breast cancer cells have high tryptophan compared to other cells. Lab report #2 restates the results and Zhou found that brain tumors can be identified by Raman spectroscopy and in the future can be a new method for scientists to use regularly to identify brain cancer. Lab report #3 also restates the results and Pu found that native fluorescence has potential to be a new armamentarium. Lab report #2 and #3 mention the future of their studies which helps strengthen the purpose of their experiment.

All lab reports showed a well organized report. However, lab report #1 was missing titles and keys for most of Zhang’s graphs and was also missing explanations of  Raman spectroscopy and native fluorescence spectra in the introduction. Lab report #2 had concise data that was easy to understand and used subtitles as did lab report #1. Lab report #3 showed verbosity in Pu’s writing when he repeated himself in the introduction and the results sections.   

References

Zhang, (2014, March). Tryptophan as the fingerprint for distinguishing aggressiveness among breast cancer cell lines using native fluorescence spectroscopy. Cuny. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/2020-04/2014_Lin%20Zhang%20-%20Tryptophan%20as%20the%20fingerprint%20for%20distinguishing%20aggressiveness%20amoung%20breast%20cancer%20cell%20lines%20using%20native%20fluorescence%20spectroscopy%20-%20J.of%20Biomedical%20Optics%20Vol.19%20No%203%20037005-1.pdf 

Zhou, (2012, November 16). Human brain cancer studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Cuny. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/2020-04/2012_Yan%20Zhou%20-%20Human%20brain%20cancer%20studied%20by%20resonance%20Raman%20spectroscopy%20-%20J%20of%20Biomedical%20Optics%20-Volume%2017%20No%2011%20Page%20116021-1.pdf 

Pu, (2013, February 20). Native fluorescence spectra of human cancerous and normal breast tissues analyzed with non-negative constraint methods. Cuny. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/2020-04/2013_Yang%20Pu%20-%20Native%20fluorescence%20spectra%20of%20human%20cancerous%20and%20normal%20breast%20tissues%20analyzed%20with%20non-negative%20constraint%20methods%20-%20Applied%20Optics%20Vol%2052%20No%206%20Page%201293.pdf