A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG 2014 / Breast tumour progression involves complex interactions between malignant cells and the tumour microenvironment. It is increasingly apparent that immunity is a critical determinant for tumour progression. T regulatory (TREG) lymphocytes, which dominate tumour infiltrating lymphocyte populations, are implicated in facilitating tumour immunoediting processes and suppressing Natural Killer (NK) cell anti-tumour function. To investigate such cellular interaction, experimentation traditionally involves using reductionist 2-dimensional culture systems that do not recapitulate the spatial dimensions of the in vivo microenvironment. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, conversely, recreate these dimensions, allowing tumour cells to assume a phenotype more representative of the tumour microenvironment. Given that immunity is a critical factor in determining tumour progression, a novel 3D culture system was established to investigate the interactions between TREG lymphocytes, NK cells and hormone-dependent (MCF-7) or hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. Lymphocyte subpopulations were magnetically isolated, with the efficacy of the sorting procedure verified using flow cytometry. To generate 3D cultures, cell populations were resuspended in growth factor-reduced Matrigel and cultured for 72 hours. This culture system proved effective for RNA extraction for downstream applications; for immunolocalisation of selected tumour biomarkers (ER-α, TGF-β, MUC-1 and EGFR) for qualitative analysis; and for acquisition of cytokine data (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-, CCL2, CCL4 and CXCL8) for quantitative multivariate statistical analysis. Immune mediation was shown to induce the disruption of cell-cell associations, altering the expression of biomarkers and secreted cytokine profiles. Collectively, these results reflect tumour cell subversion of NK cell and/or TREG lymphocyte function to promote tumour progression by generating an inflammatory microenvironment. While hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cells differed in their specific response to immune mediation, the mechanisms by which they elicited responses resulted in similar outcomes – that of enhanced evasive and invasive capacity. It is necessary to further elucidate the relationship between the investigated cytokines, biomarkers and immune cells, to understand their interactions and potentially provide more information for therapeutic intervention, given that these factors may contribute to tumours not responding favourably to combined modalities of therapy.

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

Le cancer du sein reste la principale cause de décès par cancer chez les femmes et est connu pour la divergence des comportements cliniques et des résultats pour les patientes, malgré les caractéristiques histopathologiques courantes au moment du diagnostic. Cela s'explique par la grande hétérogénéité histologique et moléculaire de la maladie, qui rend difficile le choix d'une thérapie adaptée à chaque patient.L'épigénétique se rapporte aux modifications du phénotype et de l'expression génique. Les modifications épigénétiques du génome peuvent être acquises de novo et sont potentiellement héritées. Les mécanismes épigénétiques agissent pour modifier l'accessibilité de la chromatine à la régulation de la transcription localement et globalement via des modifications de l'ADN et par des modifications ou des réarrangements de nucléosomes. L'épigénétique consiste en plusieurs mécanismes moléculaires: modifications de l'histone, petits ARN non codants ou anti-sens et méthylation de l'ADN étroitement interconnectés.L'incidence et la mortalité par cancer du sein sont plus élevées (incidence environ trois fois supérieure) dans le monde occidental que dans les pays d'Asie avec des différences régionales dans les pays occidentaux. Plusieurs études impliquant des immigrés des pays occidentaux suggèrent que le mode de vie et l'alimentation sont deux des causes principales de ces différences. Un apport alimentaire élevé en phytoestrogènes, principalement sous forme de produits à base de soja, peut produire des taux circulants de phytoestrogènes à effets œstrogéniques. Des études épidémiologiques et expérimentales suggèrent qu'un régime alimentaire riche en phytoestrogènes pouvait avoir des effets protecteurs contre sur les affections liées aux œstrogènes, telles que le cancer du sein.Sur la base de ces informations, nous avons étudié les effets du traitement par les phytoestrogènes; génistéine, daidzéine et 17-β-estradiol sur la modification post-traductionnelle des histones, telles que la méthylation de la lysine et l’acétylation des histones H3 et H4 dans des lignées cellulaires du cancer du sein. Nous avons ensuite étudié les effets de l'inhibiteur de la méthylation de l'histone et de l'inhibiteur de l'histone désacétylase sur la triméthylation et l'acétylation de l'histone-lysine dans les lignées cellulaires du cancer du sein. Nous avons utilisé deux lignées cellulaires de cancer du sein, MCF-7 et MDA-MB-231, chacune traitée respectivement avec de l'hydrochlorure de 3-désazanule (DZNep) [5 µM] (HMTi), du butyrate de sodium (NaBu) [2 mM] (HDACi) et de l'acide de type Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic (SAHA) [1 µM] (HDACi). Enfin, nous avons mené des études sur toutes les lignées cellulaires atteintes de tumeurs du sein afin d'évaluer l'immunoprécipitation de la chromatine (PIP) de certaines modifications de l'histone dans le cancer. Les niveaux relatifs de trois histones modifiées, y compris H3K27me3 (histone 3 Lysine 27 méthylation), H3K9ac (Histone 3 Lysine 9 acétylation) et H3K4ac (Histone 3 Lysine 4 acétylation) seront déterminés dans les tumeurs du sein par rapport au tissu normal correspondant selon le classement de Saint-Gall. Aujourd'hui, ChIP a été couplé à des puces à ADN de promoteur afin d'évaluer les mécanismes de régulation du gène humain à l'échelle du génome. La technologie de la puce sur puce pourrait être utilisée pour étudier les altérations de l'expression globale des gènes dans la tumorigenèse. Ici, nous avons étudié les gènes exprimés de manière différentielle associés aux histones modifiées H3K27me3, H3K9ac et H3K4ac dans les tumeurs du sein à l'aide de microréseaux Agilent SurePrint G3 400kX2 contenant environ 21 000 transcrits humains. Nous analyserons les régions enrichies de chaque promoteur de gène dans trente tumeurs du sein par rapport à des échantillons de tissus normaux. Les échantillons de tumeurs du sein seront classés en fonction de leur profil clinique, en particulier du statut des récepteurs hormonaux. / Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and is noted for conflicting clinical behaviors and patient outcomes, despite common histopathological features at diagnosis. This can be explained by the high histological and molecular heterogeneity of the disease, making it hard to choose a therapy adapted uniquely to each patient. Epigenetics refer to changes in phenotype and gene expression. Epigenetic modifications of the genome can be acquired de novo and are potentially inherited. Epigenetic mechanisms work to change the accessibility of chromatin to transcriptional regulation locally and globally via modifications of the DNA and by modifications or rearrangements of nucleosomes. Epigenetics consist in several molecular mechanisms: histone modifications, small non-coding or antisense RNAs and DNA methylation that are closely interconnected. The incidence and mortality of breast cancer is high in the Western world as compared with countries in Asia. There are also differences in the regional cancer incidence rates in Western countries. Several studies involving immigrants to Western countries suggest that lifestyle and diet are two of the main causes of these differences. In Eastern countries, the incidence of breast cancer is approximately one-third that of Western countries, whilst their high dietary intake of phytoestrogens, mainly in the form of soy products, can produce circulating levels of phytoestrogens that are known experimentally to have estrogenic effects. An increasing number of epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that the consumption of a 4 phytoestrogen-rich diet may have protective effects on estrogen-related conditions, such as breast cancer.Based upon this information, we studied the effects of treatment phytoestrogens; genistein, daidzein and 17-β-estradiol on the post-translational modification of histones such as lysine methylation and acetylation of histones H3 and H4 in breast cancer cell lines. Subsequently, we studied the effects of histone methylation inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitor on histone lysine trimethylation and acetylation in breast cancer cell lines. For this study, we used two breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Each cell line was treated respectively with 3-Deazaneplanocin A hydrochloride (DZNep) [5 μM] (HMTi), Sodium Butyrate (NaBu) [2 mM] (HDACi) and Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic acid (SAHA) [1 μM] (HDACi) for 48 hours. Finally, we completed studies in all cell lines with breast tumors to assess Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) of selected histone modifications in cancer. The relative levels of three modified histones, including H3K27me3 (Histone 3 Lysine 27 Methylation), H3K9ac (Histone 3 Lysine 9 Acetylation), and H3K4ac (Histone 3 Lysine 4 Acetylation) will be determined in breast tumors compared to matched normal tissue according to the classification of Saint Gallen. Today, ChIP has been coupled with promoter DNA microarrays to evaluate the mechanisms of human gene regulation on a genome-wide scale. ChIP-on-chip technology could be used to investigate the alterations of global gene expression in tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated differentially expressed genes associated with modified histones H3K27me3, H3K9ac and H3K4ac in breast tumors by Agilent SurePrint G3 400kX2 microarrays containing approximately 21,000 of human transcripts. We will scan the enriched regions at each gene promoter in thirty breast tumors compared with normal tissue samples. Breast tumor samples will be classified according to their clinical profiles, especially hormone receptor status.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "August 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 240-251). Also issued on the Internet.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

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Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2009. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.