Xu, Meng. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-129). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

BTBD7 is a newly identified candidate gene for HCC using a high-throughput cDNA/EST microassay. This gene encodes for a protein of 410 amino acid residues. This protein was previously named as the function unknown protein 1 (FUP1) because the biological function of this protein was unknown at that time. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that this protein contains two bric-a-brac, tramtrack, broad-complex (BTB) domains located at amino acid positions 143 to 230 and 274 to 342. In order to reflect its structure and functions, and to be consistent with the GeneBank database (Accession No. NM_018167), we rename it as BTBD7 (BTB domain containing 7). / In conclusion, our study demonstrated that BTBD7 is a novel oncogene, which is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and is essential for the inhibition of cell growth and tumorigenesis. To our knowledge, BTBD7 is the first identified regulator of p16INK4A through inhibiting the promoter activity of p16INK4A. BTBD7 may thus serve as a new tumor marker or as a potential target of treating hepatocellular carcinoma. / In previous studies, the expression of BTBD7 was shown to be tissue-specific as demonstrated by Northern blot. Furthermore, we collected 18-paired HCC samples to further reveal the correlation of BTBD7 gene expression profiles with tumorigenesis. Our data showed that BTBD7 was significantly elevated in 44.4% of the HCC samples. Compared with immortalized hepatocyte cell lines MIHA or LO2, both mRNA level and protein level of BTBD7 were also elevated in the hepatoma cell lines HepG2, BEL7404, Hep3B and Huh7. This gave a due that the expression of BTBD7 may be correlated with carcinogenesis of liver cells. / In the present study, the function of BTBD7 was investigated. We used RNAi approach to silence BTBD7. Compared with the control, siBTBD7 induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and later caused obvious cell death. The cell death was further demonstrated to be apoptosis through activation of caspase 3. Furthermore, we carried out candidate gene search using knockdown of BTBD7. The mRNA level of tumor suppresser p16INK4A was upregulated and hTERT was downregulated in BTBD7 knocked down cells. The other key genes involved in cell growth, cell cycle control, cell death and survival (c-myc, c-fos, c-jun, p21CIP1, p27KIP1, p53, Survivin, E2F, NF-kappaB, Bax, p14ARF, p16INK4A and hTERT) did not respond to the reduced BTBD7 levels. On the other hand, double knockdown of p16INK4A and BTBD7 markedly reduced the effects of cell cycle arrest and the death ratio caused by dysfunction of BTBD7 or overexpression of p16INK4A, suggesting that p16 INK4A is a downstream target of BTBD7. We further adopted a dominant negative approach to confirm these results. / Liu, Zheng. / Advisers: C. H. K. Cheng; Mingliang He. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3449. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-161). / 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, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Gene expression profiles obtained by means of semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that both PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C were frequently silenced in multiple carcinomas. Bisulfite treated tumor DNA was subjected to Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) using primers flanking across the ∼130bp CpG island of the promoter of the particular gene of interest. It was revealed that PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C gene silencing in the carcinoma cell lines were due to promoter CpG island hypermethylation. Such claim was further confirmed by bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS). Treatment with 5' azacytidine and TSA restored PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C expression in carcinoma cells through demethylating the hypermethylated promoter. In terms of cancer growth inhibition, ectopic expression of PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C could significantly inhibit the proliferation of carcinoma cell lines by 40--50% and 50--60%, respectively, according to the result of anchorage-dependent colony formation assay. / Overall, we believed that PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C are the putative tumor suppressor genes in which their expression silencing through promoter CpG island hypermethylation may be strongly linked to the development of cancer. / Protein Phosphatase 1 regulatory subunits are a family of small molecules which define the substrate specificity and subcellular localization of protein phosphatase-1 upon their interactions. Downregulation of Protein Phosphatase 1 regulatory subunits were often associated with tumor initiation and progression, for example, ASPP family (PPP1R13A and PPP1R13B). In the present study, PPP1R1B and PPP1R3C were identified in which their tumor suppressor functions had been investigated. / Reduction in the level of p-ser473 Akt and p-ser552 beta-catenin could be observed when PPP1R1B expression was restored in respective carcinoma cells. In addition, the transcription activity of AP-1 decreased in the presence of full-length PPP1R1B expression as determined by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay system. Ectopic expression of PPP1R3C increased the amount of inactive pSer9-GSK-3beta as shown in the western blot analysis and a concomitant increased in p53 level was observed in colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells. Transcription activity of NF-kappaB in HCT116 cells was increased but decreased in KYSE150 cells (ESCC) in the presence of PPP1R3C expression. Subcellular localization study using the GFP-fusion protein revealed that PPP1R1B protein was distributed throughout the cytoplasm while PPP1R3C protein was mainly localized around the nuclear membrane. / Leung, Ching Hei. / Adviser: Tak Cheung Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-183). / 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, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Tong Hung Man Joanna. / "June 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-149). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Luk, Chun Shui. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-189). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration --- p.I / Acknowledgements --- p.II / Funding Support --- p.IV / Abstract of thesis entitled --- p.V / 論文摘要 --- p.VII / Abbreviations --- p.IX / Table of Contents --- p.XIII / List of Figures --- p.XVIII / List of Tables --- p.XX / List of Appendix --- p.XXI / Chapter Chapter One - --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- History of Knowledge on Human Papillomavirus --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Virology of Human Papillomavirus --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Taxonomic Classification of Human Papillomavirus --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Morphology of Human Papillomavirus --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The Viral Genome --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- The Viral Gene Products --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4.1 --- E1 and E2 Proteins --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4.2 --- E4 Protein --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4.3 --- "E5，E6, E7 Proteins" --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4.4 --- L1 and L2 Proteins --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Evolution of Human Papillomavirus --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Rates of Evolution --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Co-evolution Between Human Papillomavirus and Human --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Human Papillomavirus Infection and Disease --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Disease Burden of Cervical Cancer --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Epidemiology of Cervical Cancer --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- Distribution of HPV types in Cervical Precancerous Lesions --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Human Papillomavirus and Non-cervical Diseases --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- Human Papillomavirus Type 58 --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Biology of Human Papillomavirus Type 58 --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Epidemiology of Human Papillomavirus Type 58 Infections --- p.16 / Chapter Chapter Two - --- Background and Objectives of Study --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Background of study --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- The Need for Research on HPV58 --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Intratypic Classification System for HPV --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Implication and Impact of Study --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Implication on HPV Virology --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- HPV58 Classification --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Improvement on in the Detection of HPV58 --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Implication on Vaccine Development --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Objectives of Study --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- To Generate a Database for Intratypic Variation of Different Gene Regions of HPV58 --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- To Study the Variability of Seven Gene Regions of HPV58 --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- To Study the Geographical Distribution of HPV58 Variants --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- To Study the Phylogeny of HPV58 --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- To Develop an Intratypic Classification System for HPV58 --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- To Predict the Effectiveness of Commonly Used Primers on the Detection of HPV58 --- p.22 / Chapter Chapter Three - --- Materials and Methods --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- Overall Study Design --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2 --- Study Population --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3 --- Sample Processing and Storage --- p.25 / Chapter 3.4 --- Primer Design --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5 --- Specimen Quality Assessment and Sample Selection --- p.30 / Chapter 3.6 --- Amplification of Gene Region --- p.30 / Chapter 3.7 --- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.34 / Chapter 3.8 --- Sequencing Reaction --- p.34 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Purification of PCR Product --- p.34 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Sequencing Reaction --- p.35 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Purification of Fluorescence-labelled Product --- p.35 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Sequence Identification --- p.35 / Chapter 3.9 --- Sequence Analysis --- p.36 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Sequence Editing --- p.36 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Criteria for Confirming the identity of HPV58 --- p.36 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Identification of Variants --- p.38 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Identification of Conserved and Variable Regions --- p.39 / Chapter 3.9.5 --- Phylogenetic Analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 3.9.5.1 --- Construction of Maximum Likelihood Tree --- p.40 / Chapter 3.9.5.2 --- Bootstrap Analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.9.5.3 --- Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 3.9.5.4 --- Non-synonymous to Synonymous Substitution Rate Ratio (dN/dS) --- p.42 / Chapter 3.9.6 --- Evaluation of Performance of Commonly Used Primers --- p.43 / Chapter Chapter Four - --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1 --- Specimen Quality Assessment and HPV58 Confirmation --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2 --- HPV58 Genome Variability --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- E6 Open Reading Frame --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- E7 Open Reading Frame --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- E2 Open Reading Frame --- p.56 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- E4 Open Reading Frame --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- E5 Open Reading Frame --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- L1 Open Reading Frame --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Long Control Region --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Whole HPV genome --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3 --- Evaluation of Commonly Used Primers --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- PGMY09/11 Primers --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- MY09/11 Primers --- p.99 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- GP5+/6+ Primers --- p.100 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- SPF Primers --- p.100 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- L1F/L1R Primers --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter Five - --- Discussion --- p.111 / Chapter 5.1 --- Overall Variation of HPV58 Genome --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2 --- Variability of Each Gene Region --- p.114 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- E6 Open Reading Frame --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- E7 Open Reading Frame --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- E2 Open Reading Frame --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- E4 Open Reading Frame --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- E5 Open Reading Frame --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- L1 Open Reading Frame --- p.120 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- Long Control Region --- p.121 / Chapter 5.3 --- Phylogenetics of HPV58 --- p.122 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Natural Selection Pressure --- p.122 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- HPV58 Lineage Using the L1 Gene --- p.124 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Methods for Lineage Identification --- p.125 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Geographical Distribution of the Four Lineages --- p.126 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Recombination --- p.127 / Chapter 5.4 --- Evaluation of Commonly Used Primers --- p.128 / Chapter 5.5 --- Limitations of the Current Study --- p.129 / Chapter 5.6 --- Future Studies --- p.130 / Appendix --- p.133 / References --- p.174

Liu, Xin. / "December 2009." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-126). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract in English --- p.i / Abstract in Chinese --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / List of abbreviations --- p.vii / List of Tables List of Figures --- p.X xii / List of Publications --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Gastric cancer epidemiology and etiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Molecular carcinogenesis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Tumor suppressor gene and the modes of tumor suppressor gene inactivation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- DNA methylation and carcinogenesis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Identification of tumor suppressor genes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6 --- "Vitamins, vitamin B complex, thiamine transporters and diseases" --- p.18 / Chapter 1.7 --- "Glucose metabolism, glycolysis and carcinogenesis" --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8 --- Clinical implications of DNA methylation --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Research Aim and Procedure --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1 --- Cell lines and human tissue samples --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cell culture --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Reverse transcription (RT) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR --- p.40 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Real time RT-PCR --- p.42 / Chapter 3.6 --- General techniques --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- DNA and RNA quantification --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- LB medium and LB plate preparation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Plasmid DNA extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6.4a --- Plasmid DNA mini extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6.4b --- Plasmid DNA midi extraction --- p.46 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- DNA sequencing --- p.46 / Chapter 3.7 --- Methylation status analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- CpG island analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Sodium bisulfite modification of DNA --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) --- p.50 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS) --- p.53 / Chapter 3.8 --- Construction of expression plasmid DNA --- p.55 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Construction of the SLC19A3-expressing vector --- p.55 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Construction of the FBP1-expressing vector --- p.57 / Chapter 3.9 --- Functional analyses --- p.58 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Monolayer colony formation assay --- p.58 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Cancer cell growth curve analysis --- p.59 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Lactate assay --- p.60 / Chapter 3.10 --- Statistical analysis --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.62 / Chapter 4.1 --- Identification of novel candidate tumor suppressor genes downregulated by DNA methylation --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2 --- Selection of genes for further study --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3 --- Identification of SLC19A3 as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Pharmacological restoration of SLC 19A3 downregulation in gastric cancer --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Methylation analysis of SLC 19A3 promoter region --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Functional analysis of SLC 19A3 in gastric cancer --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Clinicopathologic characteristics of SLC 19A3 promoter methylation in gastric cancer --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Discussion --- p.78 / Chapter 4.4 --- Identification of FBP1 as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene regulated by NF-kB in gastric cancer --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Pharmacological restoration of FBP1 downregulation in gastric cancer --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Methylation analysis of FBP 1 promoter region --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Functional analysis of FBP 1 in gastric cancer --- p.93 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Reduction of lactate generation under FBP1 expression --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Clinicopathologic characteristics of FBP 1 promoter methylation in gastric cancer --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- NF-kB mediated FBP1 promoter hypermethylation in gastric cancer --- p.104 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Discussion --- p.106 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General discussion --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary --- p.117 / Reference list --- p.119

Methionine dependence, the inability of cells to grow when the amino acid methionine is replaced in culture medium by its metabolic precursor homocysteine, is characteristic of many cancer cell lines. Most cells proliferate normally under these conditions. The methionine dependent tumorigenic human melanoma cell line MeWo-LC1 was derived from the methionine independent non-tumorigenic line MeWo. The MeWo-LC1 cell line has been shown to have a cellular phenotype similar to that of cells from patients with the cblC inborn error of cobalamin metabolism, with decreased synthesis of cobalamin coenzymes and decreased activity of the cobalamin dependent enzymes methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Inability of cblC cells to complement the defect in cobalamin metabolism in MeWo-LC1 suggested that the defect was caused by decreased activity of the MMACHC gene product. However, no potentially disease causing mutations could be detected in the coding sequence of MMACHC in MeWo-LC1. No MMACHC expression could be detected in MeWo-LC1, and there was virtually complete methylation of a CpG island at the 5' end of the MMACHC gene in MeWo-LC1, consistent with inactivation of the gene by methylation; the CpG island was partially methylated in MeWo and only lightly methylated in control fibroblasts. Transfection of MeWo-LC1 with wild type MMACHC with a constitutive promoter resulted in correction of the defect in cobalamin metabolism and restoration of the ability of cells to grow in medium containing homocysteine. We conclude that epigenetic inactivation of the MMACHC gene is responsible for methionine dependence in MeWo-LC1.

No description available.

No description available.

O adenocarcinoma pancreático é a neoplasia maligna mais comum do pâncreas. A alta taxa de mortalidade deve-se ao diagnóstico tardio e a alta agressividade do tumor. Freqüentemente observam-se indivíduos com neoplasias de mesmo estadio apresentarem sobrevivência diferente. Isso demonstra a necessidade de incluir mais variáveis na caracterização da doença. O processo de angiogênese é essencial para o crescimento tanto do tumor primário, quanto para o metastático. A medida da densidade intratumoral da microvasculatura (DMV) por imunoistoquímica é o método mais confiável para medir a atividade angiogênica tumoral. A perda da função do gene p53 influencia a resposta à quimio e à radioterapia além de regular a angiogênese. A sobrevivência está inversamente relacionada à positividade do p53 e à DMV em neoplasias de mama, pulmão, ovários, estômago, cólon, laringe e bexiga. No adenocarcinoma pancreático os resultados são controversos. Idealizou-se essa pesquisa retrospectiva analisando-se dados clínicos e os resultados de estudos imunoistoquímicos obtidos de adenocarcinomas de pâncreas ressecados com intenção curativa. Analisou-se dados clínicos, patológicos, re-estadiamento e resultados da DMV e da expressão do gene p53 em 49 pacientes. A densidade média de microvasos foi de 46,2 vasos/mm2 sendo que esse valor foi utilizado para dividir os pacientes em grupos de baixa ou alta densidade de vasos. A coloração para p53 nuclear foi considerada positiva em 20 de 49 pacientes (40,8%). A DMV foi significativamente maior nos pacientes com tumores maiores que 3,0 cm e nos pacientes com ressecções incompletas. A expressão do gene p53 e a DMV, não foram fatores preditivos da sobrevivência pós-operatória. Não foi possível verificar relação entre a expressão do gene p53 e a densidade da microvasculatura tumoral / The prognostic significance of microvessel density and the p53 expression was evaluated. Between 1993 and 2006, 49 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were ressected with curative intention. Specimens were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies anti- p53 anti-CD34. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed scanning ten areas of the tumoral section and counted at a high power in an adequate area. The MVD ranged from 21,2 to 54,2 vessels/mm2 (mean 46,2 vessels/mm2). Specific nuclear staining for p53 was determined positive in 20 patients (40,8%). The overall median survival was 24,1 months after resection and there was no difference in survival rates according to the MVD and p53 positivity. There was also no relation between the MVD and p53 expression. MVD and p53 expression could not predict survival in these patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There was no correlation with p53 expression and intratumoral microvessel density. High MVD was associated with tumor size grater than 3,0 cm and positive margins