Two OSSM students, senior Eesha K. (Lawton) and junior Chaezell H. (Oklahoma City), have co-authored a mini-review published in the international, peer-reviewed journal Current Cancer Therapy Reviews, published by Bentham Science Publishers.  Theodore Mathuram, Ph.D., is their mentor. 

Their article, “Unraveling the Pleiotropic Role of Aquaporins in Redox and Cancer,” examines aquaporins, proteins in cells that transport water and small molecules, and their role in cell signaling and cancer progression. By reviewing current studies, Eesha and Chaezell explored how specific aquaporins may influence tumor growth and spread. They also researched potential drugs that target the same channels. The review also discusses emerging tools, such as artificial intelligence, that could help design more precise cancer therapies in the future.  

“This publication shows what highly motivated high school students can accomplish when they are trusted with real problems in molecular medicine and oncology,” said Tony Cornforth, president of OSSM.   

The paper was accepted without collaboration from a university partner, which is a very rare accomplishment for high school students publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.  

Reflecting on the experience, Eesha and Chaezell said the project required reading dozens of scientific articles, checking every claim, and responding to reviewer feedback. They described the process as a valuable lesson in how research develops over time through careful study, critical thinking, and persistence.