by Lo Hoi Ka Elka. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-181). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES --- p.viii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 : --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1. --- DIFFERENT TREATMENTS OF THE CANCER THERAPY --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER TREATMENT / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Surgery --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Radiotherapy --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Chemotherapy --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3. --- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DOXORUBICIN (DOX) / Chapter 1.3.1. --- The structure of Dox --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- The actions of Dox --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- The adverse side effect of Dox --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4. --- THE RATIONALE OF USING LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (LDL) AS A TARGET CARRIER IN CANCER THERAPY / Chapter 1.4.1. --- The correlation between cholesterol and cancer --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Low density lipoprotein (LDL) as a target carrier --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- The down and up regulation of LDL receptors --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.4. --- The characteristics of Fuctus Craegus (FC) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5. --- DIFFERENT METHODS OF THE PREPARATION OF THE LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN-DRUG (LDL- DRUG) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6. --- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (LDL) / Chapter 1.6.1. --- The structure of LDL --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.2. --- The metabolic pathway of LDL in human bodies --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7. --- THE MULTIDRUGS RESISTANCE IN TUMOR CELLS --- p.25 / Chapter 1.7.1. --- The mechanism of multidrug resistance --- p.27 / Chapter 1.7.2. --- The structure of P-glycoprotein --- p.27 / Chapter 1.7.3. --- The mechanism of P-glycoprotein --- p.30 / Chapter 1.8. --- COMBINED TREATMENT WITH HYPERTHERMIA --- p.31 / Chapter 1.9. --- AIM OF THE STUDY --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 : --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1. --- MATERIALS / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Animals --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Buffers --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Cell culture reagents --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Chemicals --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.5. --- Culture of cells --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2. --- METHODS / Chapter 2.2.1. --- In vitro studies / Chapter 2.2.1.1. --- "LDL, doxorubicin complex formation" --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.1.2. --- Determination of the concentration of LDL-Dox --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.1.3. --- In vitro cytotoxicity --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.1.4. --- The cytotoxicity of the combined treatment with anticancer drugs --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.1.5. --- The preparation of Fructus Crataegus (FC) --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.1.6. --- Western blot --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.1.7. --- Flow cytometry --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1.8. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopy --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- In vivo studies / Chapter 2.2.2.1. --- Subcutaneous injection of R-HepG2 cells in nude mouse --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.2.2. --- Treatment schedules --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.2.3. --- Assay of investigating of the myocardial injury --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2.4. --- Tissue preparation procedure for light microscope (LM) --- p.57 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Statistical analysis in our research --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 : --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1. --- in vitro STUDIES / Chapter 3.1.1. --- The preparation of low density lipoprotein-doxorubicin (LDL-Dox) --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Studies on human hepatoma cells line (HepG2 cells) / Chapter 3.1.2.1. --- The comparison of Dox and LDL-Dox accumulated in HepG2 cells --- p.63 / Chapter 3.1.2.2. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies on the accumulation of Dox and LDL-Dox in HepG2 cells --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.2.3. --- The comparsion of the cytotoxicity of Dox and LDL-Dox on HepG2 cells --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1.2.4. --- The comparison of the cytotoxicty of Dox and LDL-Dox with and without hyperthermia on HepG2 cells --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.2.5. --- The comparison of accumulation of Dox and LDL-Dox in HepG2 cells treated with and without combination of with hyperthermia --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.2.6. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies on the accumulation of Dox and LDL-Dox in HepG2 treated cells with and without hyperthermia --- p.80 / Chapter 3.1.2.7. --- Modulation of LDL receptors on HepG2 cells------Up- regulation of LDL receptors by Fructus Craegtus (FC) / Chapter 3.1.2.7.1. --- The comparsion of LDL receptor expression on HepG2 cells after Fructus Craegtus (FC) pre-treatment --- p.83 / Chapter 3.1.2.7.2. --- The comparison of accumulation of LDL-Dox accumulated in HepG2 cells pre-treated with and without Fructus Craegtus (FC) --- p.85 / Chapter 3.1.2.7.3. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies on the accumulation of LDL-Doxin HepG2 cells after Fructus Craegtus (FC) pre- treatment --- p.88 / Chapter 3.1.2.7.4. --- Cytotoxicity of combined treatment with LDL-Dox and Fructus Craegtus (FC) --- p.91 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Studies on multidrug human resistant hepatoma cell line (R-HepG2 cells) / Chapter 3.1.3.1. --- The overexpression level of P-glycoprotein in resistant cell line R-HepG2 --- p.93 / Chapter 3.1.3.2. --- The comparison of Dox and LDL-Dox accumulated in R- HepG2 cells --- p.95 / Chapter 3.1.3.3. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies on the accumulation of Dox and LDL-Dox in R-HepG2 cells --- p.97 / Chapter 3.1.3.4. --- The comparsion of the cytotoxicity of Dox and LDL-Dox on R-HepG2 cells --- p.99 / Chapter 3.1.3.5. --- The comparison of the cytotoxicty of Dox and LDL-Dox with and without hyperthermia on R-HepG2 cells --- p.109 / Chapter 3.1.3.6. --- The comparison of the accumulation of Dox and LDL- Dox in R-HepG2 cells treated in combination with hyperthermia --- p.113 / Chapter 3.1.3.7. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies on the accumulation of Dox and LDL-Dox in R-HepG2 cells with and without hyperthermia --- p.117 / Chapter 3.1.3.8. --- Modulation of LDL receptors on R-HepG2 cells ------ Up-regulation of LDL receptors by Fructus Craegtus (FC) / Chapter 3.1.3.8.1. --- The comparsion of LDL receptor expression on R-HepG2 cells after Fructus Craegtus (FC) pre-treatment --- p.120 / Chapter 3.1.3.8.2. --- The comparsion of the accumulation of LDL- Dox in R-HepG2 cells after Fructus Craegtus (FC) pre-treatment --- p.122 / Chapter 3.1.3.8.3. --- Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies in the accumulation of LDL-Dox by Fructus Craegtus pre-treatment in R-HepG2 cells --- p.125 / Chapter 3.1.3.8.4. --- The comparison of cytotoxicity of combined treatment with LDL-Dox and Fructus Craegtus (FC) in R-HepG2 cells --- p.128 / Chapter 3.2. --- in vivo STUDIES / Chapter 3.2.1. --- The comparison of Dox and LDL-Dox on reducing the tumor sizes and weight in nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells / Chapter 3.2.1.1. --- The comparison of Dox and LDL-Dox on reducing the tumor size in nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells --- p.130 / Chapter 3.2.1.2. --- The comparison of Dox and LDL-Dox on reducing the tumor weight in nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells --- p.138 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- Myocardial injury measured by Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells treated with Dox and LDL-Dox --- p.140 / Chapter 3.2.3. --- Myocardial injury measured by Creatine kinase (CK) activity in nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells treated with Dox and LDL-Dox --- p.143 / Chapter 3.2.4. --- Histological studies of heart of nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells treated with Dox and LDL-Dox / Chapter 3.2.4.1. --- Heart section of nude mice --- p.146 / Chapter 3.2.4.2. --- Heart section of nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells --- p.148 / Chapter 3.2.4.3. --- Heart section of lmg/kg Dox treated nude mice bearing R- HepG2 cells --- p.150 / Chapter 3.2.4.4. --- Heart section of 2mg/kg Dox treated nude mice bearing R- HepG2 cells --- p.152 / Chapter 3.2.4.5. --- Heart section of lmg/kg LDL-Dox treated nude mice bearing R-HepG2 cells --- p.154 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- : DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1. --- in vitro STUDIES / Chapter 4.1.1. --- The cytotoxicity of Dox and LDL-Dox on HepG2 cells and R- HepG2 cells --- p.156 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- The combined treatment on HepG2 cells and R-HepG2 cells --- p.157 / Chapter 4.1.3. --- The modulation of LDL-R expression --- p.159 / Chapter 4.2. --- in vivo STUDIES --- p.162 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- : CONCLUSION / Chapter 5.1. --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 5.1.1. --- In vitro studies --- p.167 / Chapter 5.1.2. --- In vivo studies --- p.169 / Chapter 5.2. --- FUTURE PROSPECTIVE --- p.170 / REFERENCES --- p.172