by Ho, Wai Fun. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-87). / LIST OF TABLES --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / ABSTRACT --- p.viii / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- METABOLIC DERANGEMENTS AND CACHEXIA IN CANCER --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- PROTEIN METABOLISM IN MALIGNANCY --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- REVIEW OF REPORTS ON AMINO ACID DISTURBANCES IN MALIGNANCY --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- AMINO ACID ANALYSIS BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Amino Acid Analysis by Ion-Exchange HPLC --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Amino Acid Analysis by Reversed-Phase HPLC --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Derivatizing Agents --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- CHOICE OF CANCER PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY FOR THIS STUDY --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Choice of Cancer Patients --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Methodology Chosen and Its Principle --- p.20 / Chapter 2. --- OBJECTIVES --- p.23 / Chapter 3. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- STUDY SUBJECTS --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Patients --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Control Subjects --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- CLINICAL FEATURES --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3 --- BLOOD COLLECTION --- p.25 / Chapter 3.4 --- GENERAL BIOCHEMICAL TESTS --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5 --- PLASMA AMINO ACID ANALYSIS BY HPLC --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Apparatus --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Reagents --- p.27 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Reagent Preparation --- p.28 / Chapter 3.5.3.1 --- Mobile phase --- p.28 / Chapter 3.5.3.2 --- Derivatizing reagent --- p.29 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Standard Preparation --- p.29 / Chapter 3.5.4.1 --- Internal standard solution --- p.29 / Chapter 3.5.4.2 --- Composite standard solution --- p.30 / Chapter 3.5.4.3 --- Composite standard-internal standard mixture --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Sample Preparation --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.5.1 --- Protein removal --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.5.2 --- Addition of internal standard --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Preparation of Samples for the WISP Sample Processor --- p.33 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Sample Queue for the WISP Sample Processor --- p.33 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- Automated Derivatization Procedure --- p.36 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Chromatographic Conditions --- p.36 / Chapter 3.6 --- STATISTICAL STUDIES --- p.38 / Chapter 4. --- RESULTS --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- ANALYTICAL PERFORMANCES --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Chromatograms --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Precision --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Linearity --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Analytical Recovery --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2 --- DATA DISTRIBUTION STUDIES --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3 --- PATIENTS' ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA AND BLOOD BIOCHEMISTRY --- p.55 / Chapter 4.4 --- FREE PLASMA AMINO ACID CONCENTRATIONS IN NORMAL CONTROLS --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5 --- FREE PLASMA AMINO ACID CONCENTRATIONS IN CANCER PATIENTS --- p.59 / Chapter 5. --- DISCUSSION --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1 --- METHOD ESTABLISHMENT --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2 --- NORMAL CONTROLS --- p.68 / Chapter 5.3 --- CANCER PATIENTS --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Nasopharyngeal Cancer --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Lung Cancer --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Breast Cancer --- p.72 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Colorectal Cancer --- p.74 / Chapter 5.4 --- SUMMARY OF THE PLASMA AMINO ACID PROFILES IN CANCER --- p.75 / Chapter 5.5 --- FURTHER STUDIES --- p.76 / Chapter 6. --- CONCLUSION --- p.78 / Chapter 7. --- REFERENCES --- p.79