Emmanuel Garcia, M.S., M.P.A.

he/him

Education: Bachelor of Science in kinesiology (May 2016)

Master of Science in kinesiology from Kansas State University

Master of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University

McNair Project: Tumor Host Tissue Vasoreactivity (2015)

Mentor: Brad Behnke, Ph.D.

Studies designed to combat tumor hypoxia have utilized both ectopic and orthotopic tumor models. Preliminary studies from our laboratory found a significant increase in blood flow to orthotopic prostate tumors versus a reduction in blood flow in ectopic tumors during moderate intensity exercise. It was hypothesized that subcutaneous adipose arterioles and skin arterioles (ectopic tumor host tissue) in rats would have greater vasoconstriction versus prostate arterioles (orthotopic host tissue) in response to the alpha-adrenergic agonist norepinephrine (NE). Arterioles from each location were harvested from male Copenhagen rats (n=20). Vasoconstriction to cumulative doses of NE (10-9 – 104 M) were recorded. There was a significantly higher peak vasoconstriction to NE in subcutaneous adipose arterioles (92 ± 7%) versus both skin (59 ± 8%) and prostate (55 ± 7%) arterioles. There were no significant differences in vasoconstriction between skin and prostate arterioles. These data are critical in designing exercise studies using tumor models.