A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine in Genetic Counselling Johannesburg, 2013 / Five to ten percent of both breast and ovarian cancer cases are attributable to dominantly inherited mutations in genes that predispose to cancer, with a large proportion caused by mutations in the breast and ovarian cancer predisposing genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Testing for these inherited cancers is indicated for individuals identified as being at high risk, or moderate to high risk, of having a cancer syndrome based on their family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Screening for high-risk individuals through services such as genetic counselling, has the potential to improve outcomes for these individuals and lower mortality rates. This study focused on individuals who attended genetic counselling for breast and/or ovarian cancer at the Genetic Counselling Clinics of the Division of Human Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg from 2001 to 2010. The study was divided into a file review on 218 counsellees and a telephonic interview of 50 counsellees. Focusing on breast and/or ovarian cancer, the study aimed to review who attends genetic counselling and why; who is offered genetic testing; what testing is offered and performed and; who pays for the testing, as well as gain a better understanding of how the service is received by counsellees. The study found that the majority of counsellees are white females, at a high risk of inherited breast and/or ovarian cancer, attend the genetic counselling session alone and are self-referred. There is an under representation of the black and coloured populations and an over representation of the Ashkenazi Jewish population in the cohort. The study‟s findings showed that a main motivator for individuals attending genetic counselling was for BRCA mutation testing, with the majority of testing offered being nationally based testing. The study also demonstrated that the service is generally well received and counsellees reported having a positive experience. Overall, the study pointed to the general lack of understanding and public awareness of genetic counselling, with suggestions to market to both the general population and to other medical professionals in order to reach more high risk individuals. On a practical level, a follow up service was suggested to ensure counsellees adhered to screening measures, informing counsellees on changes to testing protocols and identifying family members who may be at an increased risk of inherited breast and/or ovarian cancer.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Introduction: Ionising radiation can cause DNA double strand breaks (DSB), that result in chromosomal aberrations if un- or mis-repaired. Individuals with compromised DNA damage repair mechanisms display increased chromosomal radiosensitivity. The G0-micronucleus assay (MN assay) and the γ-H2AX assay are two assays used in radiobiology to study DNA DSB and repair. Breast cancer is the leading cancer amongst South African women, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 34. Since most cancer patients in South Africa present with late-stage disease, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly-used treatments. Several international studies have shown breast cancer patients to be more chromosomally radiosensitive than healthy controls. These studies have not been confirmed on a cancer population living in South Africa. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in South Africa; however, it is the leading cancer amongst black women with a lifetime risk of 1/35 compared to 1/82 in white women. Studies show a genetic link to cervical cancer susceptibility and DNA damage repair genes. International studies on radiation-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes of cervical cancer patients remain inconclusive and have never been performed on a South African population. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), HPV and cervical cancer are epidemiologically linked. Due to the high rate of HIV in South Africa, a significant proportion of cervical cancer patients receiving radiotherapy treatment will be HIV-positive. Studies show an effect of HIV on chromosomal radiosensitivity, however this has not been confirmed on a cancer population. The MN assay on the biopsies and exfoliated cervical cells of cervical cancer

Ip Toi Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-105). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / CONTENTS --- p.i-iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / ABSTRACT --- p.v-vi / Chapter Chapter One --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1-2 / Chapter Chapter Two --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.3-37 / Chapter 2.1 --- Epidemiology and Etiology of Cervical and Endometrial Cancers --- p.3-4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Epidemiology and Etiology of Cervical cancer --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Incidence and Mortality --- p.4-6 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Etiology --- p.6-8 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Epidemiology and Etiology of Endometrial Cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Incidence and Mortality --- p.9-11 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Rick Factors --- p.11-14 / Chapter 2.2 --- Pathology of Cervical and Endometrial Cancers --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Pathology of Cervical Cancer --- p.14-15 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Macroscopic Appearance --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Histology --- p.15-18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Staging of Cervical Cancer --- p.19-21 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Pathology of Endometrial Cancer --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Macroscopic Appearance --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Histology --- p.22-24 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Staging of Endometrial Cancer --- p.24-25 / Chapter 2.2 --- Introduction to Microsatellite Instability (MI) --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- DNA structure --- p.25-27 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Microsatellite --- p.27-28 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Mismatch Repair (MMR) --- p.28-29 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Microsatellite Instability (MI) --- p.30-33 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Microsatellite Instability in various cancers --- p.33-37 / Chapter Chapter Three --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.38-50 / Chapter 3.1 --- Materials --- p.38 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Patients and Specimens --- p.38-39 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Chemicals and Reagents --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Chemicals --- p.39-40 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Solution --- p.40-41 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- Microsatellite Markers --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Major Equipment --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- DNA Extraction --- p.43-45 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DNA Amplification --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- End-labeling of Primer --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Electrophoresis of PCR Products and Autoradiography --- p.46-49 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Determination Of Microsatellite Instability (MI) --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Statistical Analyses --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Result --- p.51-66 / Chapter 4.1 --- Microsatellite Instability in Cervical Cancer --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Prevalence of MI in Cervical Cancer --- p.51 -54 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- MI and Age in Cervical Cancer --- p.55 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- MI and Histological Type in Cervical Cancer --- p.55-56 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- MI and Histologic Grades in Cervical Cancer --- p.56-57 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- MI and Clinical stage in Cervical Cancer --- p.57-58 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- MI and Clinical Status in Cervical Cancer --- p.58-59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Microsatellite Instability in Endometrial Cancer --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Prevalence of MI in Endometrial Cancer --- p.59-62 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- MI and Age Groups in Endometrial Cancer --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- MI and Histological Type in Endometrial Cancer --- p.63-64 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- MI and Histologic Grades in Endometrial Cancer --- p.64-65 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- MI and Clinical stage of Endometrial Cancer --- p.65 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- MI and Clinical Status in Endometrial Cancer --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Discussion --- p.67-77 / Chapter 5.1 --- MI detection --- p.67-71 / Chapter 5.2 --- MI of Cervical Cancer --- p.71 -74 / Chapter 5.3 --- MI of Endometrial Cancer --- p.74-77 / Chapter Chapter Six --- Conclusions --- p.78-80 / Reference --- p.81-112 / Appendix --- p.113-114

by Ng Mei Yu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-183). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.2 / Abbreviations --- p.3 / Abstracts --- p.4 / List of figures and tables --- p.7 / Contents Page No / General Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- Biological Characterization of A431 Cells & SiHa Cells Under Different Microenvironments --- p.16 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.17 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Microenvironment Surrounding Tumor Cells --- p.18 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Hypoxic Environment --- p.20 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- The Hypoxic Chamber --- p.20 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Reoxygenation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Acidic Environment --- p.23 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Glucose Depletion --- p.24 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Irradiation --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives --- p.26 / Chapter 1.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Materials --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Methods --- p.29 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Cell Lines --- p.29 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- The Working Procedure for the Hypoxic Chamber --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- "Aerobic, Hypoxic and Reoxygenated Conditions" --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.4 --- Acidic Condition --- p.35 / Chapter 1.3.2.5 --- Glucose Depleted Condition --- p.36 / Chapter 1.3.2.6 --- Gamma-Irradiation --- p.37 / Chapter 1.3.2.7 --- Analysis of the Growth Pattern by MTT Assay and Cell Counting --- p.38 / Chapter 1.3.2.8 --- Cell Cycle Analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 1.3.2.9 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 1.3.2.10 --- DNA Fragmentation Analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 1.4 --- Results --- p.43 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Cell Proliferation Profile by MTT Assay --- p.43 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Proliferation of cells under hypoxia --- p.43 / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Proliferation of cells under acidic pH environments --- p.49 / Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- Proliferation of cells under glucose depleted environment --- p.52 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Distribution of cell cycles under different micro environments --- p.54 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- General Protein Expression Pattern by Western Blot Analysis --- p.57 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Detection of Apoptosis by DNA Fragmentation Assay --- p.59 / Chapter 1.5 --- Discussion --- p.58 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- REACTION KINETICS OF A431 CELLS AND SiHa CELLS INDUCED BY EGF --- p.71 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Structure of EGF and EGFR --- p.74 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- EGF Signaling Pathway --- p.76 / Chapter 2.2 --- Objectives --- p.79 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.80 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Materials --- p.80 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Methods --- p.82 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Cell Lines --- p.82 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- EGF Sensitivity Assay --- p.83 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Combination Effect of Hypoxia and EGF --- p.83 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Early Kinetics Analysis by Low EGF Concentration Treatment --- p.84 / Chapter 2.3.2.5 --- Late Kinetics Analysis by High EGF Concentration Treatment --- p.85 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results --- p.86 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Sensitivity of A431 cells and SiHa cells to EGF by MTT Assay --- p.86 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Early/Late Kinetics of EGF induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation Pattern --- p.90 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Raf protein expression --- p.96 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- EGFR expression level --- p.100 / Chapter 2.5 --- Discussions --- p.104 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED GENES IN A431 CELLS BY DIFFERENTIAL DISPLAY UNDER DIFFERENT TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENTS --- p.107 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.108 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.112 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.112 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.114 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Spheroid Cells --- p.114 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Identification of Differentally Expressed Genes by RT-PCR --- p.117 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Ligation and Cloning of Differentially Expressed cDNA --- p.120 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Screening and Sequencing of the cDNA Inserts --- p.121 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Northern Blot Analysis --- p.123 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.124 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussions --- p.161 / GENERAL CONCLUSION --- p.165 / REFERENCES --- p.167

by Choy Kwong Wai. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-138). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3545. Adviser: Leona K. Bartholomew. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-160).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-165). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online through Digital Dissertations.