UKZN STUDENT AWARDED PHD FOR RESEARCH ON CANCER TREATMENT
University of KwaZulu-Natal student Leigh André Hunter (33), who graduated with a PhD in chemistry yesterday, hopes that his research will help in the treatment of breast cancer.
Hunter’s research, which he has been developing since his honours, has been on the use of copper metals in the treatment of cancer.
Hunter’s university journey started with a course in mathematics, before finding his true love in chemistry. Both subjects are a passion of his as they fall into Hunter’s desire to “learn how things work”.
“I came from Carter High and when I found out I could study at UKZN, I wanted to study mathematics,” Hunter said. “But chemistry showed me the large and small scales and, in my degree, I could swap to chemistry.”
Hunter’s research topic stemmed from his honours degree, where he researched the role of copper metals in the treatment of cancer.
“I enjoyed the project and took it to masters and now as a PhD,” he said. “I focused on copper rather than the other aspects in the drugs used.”
Hunter’s work has reached testing trials at the moment, using rat test subjects injected with small doses of radioactive copper. They are then screened to watch how the copper reacts.
“We saw that the copper moved directly to the cancer cells in the rats,” he said.
During the testing, Hunter noticed that his compound with copper reacted positively with triple-negative breast cancer.
“The cancer was most responsive with the compound,” he said. “[This is why] I’m focused on breast cancer.”
Hunter explained that triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most drug-resistant and aggressive cancers.
“It is not receptive and cannot be easily found in patients,” he said.
In the lead-up to his graduation, Hunter said he has been emotionally overwhelmed with joy and had shed some tears.
“This is a huge milestone to get and I’m elated as not everyone gets to experience this.”
Hunter revealed that there were times when he wanted to give up but the mental, physical and emotional support from his friends helped motivate him.