By Arvin Santiago
A new hope for breast cancer treatment arrived as students from Quezon City Science High School (QCHS) discovered the significant potential of cassava leaves (kamoteng kahoy).
Student-researchers and incoming Grade 11 students Emmanuelle Reign Tica, Bryce Ethan Cruz, and Gabrielle Ruth Shinyo began their study on cassava leaves in 9th grade. For them, this is not just a typical school requirement but an aspiration to help their friends and family members who are battling breast cancer.
“We’ve had family members and friends with breast cancer, and we wanted to help them out, especially since cancer treatments… are not always safe and [may] have negative effects on the body,” Tica said in an interview with PTV’s morning show, “Rise and Shine Pilipinas”.
Through a combination of lab experiments and computer simulations, the researchers found that “kamoteng kahoy” leaves possess anti-cancer properties.
“We saw that cassava leaves have not just anti-cancer properties, pero marami rin pong ibang medicinal properties like anti-inflammatory… kaya namin napag-isipan na since cassava leaves [are] already native to tropical countries like the Philippines,” Shinyo explained.
Even though they lacked sufficient resources and a suitable laboratory for the experiment, the student-researchers persisted and continued their study by coordinating with experts, as they aspired that one day, their science project might catalyze the battle against breast cancer.
‘We knew that in the future, it could somehow be used for making a safer and more accessible treatment,” student-researcher Tica added.
The group’s determination to find a treatment for breast cancer propelled their study to the international stage. Tica, Cruz, and Sinyo represented the Philippines in the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) forum held in Chicago, United States, from April 20-25.
-jpv
