ELANA SIMON

• She is 18 years old and in high school
• Elana survived a rare liver cancer
• She lives in New York City
• Simon was diagnosed at age 12
• Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma is the cancer's name

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• The cancer that Elana had is very rare
• After some research scientists found a flaw in one of the genes
• This could've have caused the tumor
• One gene's head could've been fused to the body of another making an odd protein

TUMOR TESTS

• Elana wanted to tested other tissue samples for this odd protein
• Dr. Michael LaQuaglia agreed to help her spread the word
• They were able to get ahold of some samples to test
• Other groups affirmed that this protein is active inside tumor cells
• Using a computer, Simon was able to examine different tumors

Now that scientists are on the case to study this odd gene Elana plans to attend college at Harvard and study computer science.