Tong, Kit Fong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Cancer --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Tumor development --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Cell cycle --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Apoptosis --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- The extrinsic pathway --- p.14 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- The intrinsic pathway --- p.16 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- The Bcl-2 family proteins --- p.17 / Chapter 1.1.3.4 --- Execution of apoptosis --- p.20 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Melanoma --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2 --- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- "Chemistry, classification, metabolic conversion and sources …" --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Epidemiology studies --- p.27 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) --- p.28 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Sources --- p.28 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- DHA and cancer --- p.29 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1 --- In vitro studies of DHA on growth and survival of human cancer cells --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Cell cultures --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Studies of growth inhibition of DHA on human cancer cells --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- MTT assay --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Chemiluminescent-bromodeoxyuridine (Chemi-BrdU) immunoassay --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Studies of growth inhibitory mechanism of DHA on A375 cells. --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- DNA -flow cytometry analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Western blot analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.3.3 --- Caspase inhibitor studies --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.3.4 --- Mitochondrial membrane potential analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2 --- In vivo study of the anticancer effect of DHA on A375 cells --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Cell inoculation and treatments --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- In vitro studies of DHA on growth and survival of human canccr cells --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- DHA reduced proliferation and survival of human cancer cells --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- DHA modulated cell cycle of A375 cells --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- DHA induced apoptosis in A375 cells --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Caspase activations were involved in the DHA-induced apoptosis in A375 cells --- p.59 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- "Caspase 3´ة 6, 8 and 9 were activated in DHA-induced apoptosis of A375 cells" --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- DHA dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential in A375 cells --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- DHA triggered the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis --- p.68 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- DHA triggered the death receptor pathway of apoptosis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2 --- In vivo study of the anticancer effect of DHA on A375 cells --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effect of DHA on the growth ofA375 xenograft in athymic Bαlb/c mice --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DR4 and TRAIL were upregulated by DHA treatment in A375 solid tumor --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.79 / References --- p.91