published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Wong Wai Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iii / Abbreviation --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Classification of common epithelial ovarian tumors --- p.1-2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Serous tumors --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Mucinous tumors --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Endometrioid tumors --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Clear cell tumors --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Cancer staging --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Tumor grading --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Etiology --- p.1-10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Factors associated with increased risks --- p.1-10 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Factors associated with decreased risks --- p.1-12 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Other factors --- p.1-13 / Chapter 1.3 --- Understanding of progression of ovarian carcinoma --- p.1-13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Current screening test for ovarian cancer --- p.1-15 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Transvaginal utrasound --- p.1-15 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Serum tumor markers --- p.1-16 / Chapter 1.5 --- Molecular basis of ovarian cancer --- p.1-18 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Loss of heterozygosity --- p.1-18 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Microsatellite instability --- p.1-19 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Oncogenes --- p.1-19 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Tumor suppressor genes --- p.1-21 / Chapter 1.6 --- Microarray gene expression profiling analysis --- p.1-25 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Princeple of DNA micorarray --- p.1-26 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Types of microarray --- p.1-29 / Chapter 1.7 --- Gene expression profiling of ovarian cancer --- p.1-29 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Up-regulated genes in ovarian cancer --- p.1-30 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Down-regulated genes in ovarian cancer --- p.1-32 / Chapter 1.8 --- Project aims --- p.1-35 / Chapter CHPATER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Patients --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Ovarian tissue specimen --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of OCT-embedded Specimen Sections --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Microdissection of Tumor Cells from Specimen Sections --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Disruption of normal ovarian frozen tissue --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Total RNA Extraction --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- RNA Isolation --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- DNase I Digestion --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- RNA Cleanup and Elution --- p.2-5 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Oligonucleotide Microarray --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.2.5.1 --- Two-Cycle cDNA Synthesis --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.2.5.2 --- Synthesis of Biotin-Labeled cRNA --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.2.5.3 --- Fragmenting the cRNA for Target Preparation --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.2.5.4 --- Target Hybridization --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.2.5.5 --- "Array Washing, Staining, and Scanning" --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.2.5.6 --- Statistical Analysis of Microarray Data --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.2.6.1 --- Primer and Probe --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.2.6.2 --- Reverse-transcription --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.2.6.3 --- Plate Setup --- p.2-14 / Chapter 2.2.6.4 --- Fluocogenic PCR --- p.2-14 / Chapter 2.2.6.5 --- Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Real-time PCR Data --- p.2-15 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1 --- Microarray gene expression data analysis --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Unsupervised Gene Selection --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Supervised Gene Selection --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Gene expression profiles distinguish Serous Epithelial Ovarian Tumor from Normal Ovary and identifydifferentially expressed genes --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Gene expression profiles distinguish Advanced Stage Serous Epithelial Ovarian Tumor from Early Stage Serous Epithelial Ovarian Tumor and identify differentially expressed genes --- p.3-22 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- Gene expression profiles distinguish Metastatic Serous Epithelial Ovarian Tumor from Primary Serous Epithelial Ovarian Tumor and identify differentially expressed genes --- p.3-24 / Chapter 3.2 --- Validation of microarray data by quantitative Real-time PCR --- p.3-27 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Fold change of candidate genes --- p.3-27 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Correlation between microarray and quantitative real-time PCR results --- p.3-29 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Comparison of the expression of candidates genes among the different histological types of epithelial ovarian tumors --- p.3-32 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1 --- Global gene expression profiling using oligonucleotide microarray --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- "Sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray" --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Microarray analysis software --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- DNA-Chip Analyzer software --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Comparison of statistical methods for analysis of Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray data --- p.4-5 / Chapter 4.2 --- Validation of microarray data --- p.4-7 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Advantages of using real-time PCR for mRNA quantification --- p.4-8 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Comparison of mRNA gene expression by RT-PCR and DNA microarray --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.3 --- Gene expression profiling in serous ovarian cancer compared with normal ovarian epithelium --- p.4-10 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.4 --- Gene expression profiling in advanced serous ovarian cancer compared with early ovarian cancer --- p.4-16 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Potential prognostic markers or therapeutic targets in advanced ovarian cancer --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.5 --- Gene expression profiling in metastatic cancer compared with primary ovarian cancer --- p.4-22 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Potential predictive markers or therapeutic targets in metastatic cancer of ovary origin --- p.4-23 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.5-1 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- FUTURE PROSPECT --- p.6-1 / REFERENCES --- p.R-1

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in South African women. Approximately 5¬10% of all breast cancer cases are due to an inherited predisposition, resulting from mutations in tumour suppressor genes. The BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17q is one such tumour suppressor gene, that when mutated confers an increased risk of breast/ovarian cancer in carriers. To date, more than 500 different BRCA 1 mutations have been reported worldwide. Some of these mutations are frequently reported and others occur commonly in certain population groups. These population-specific differences in mutations represent founder effects, whereby a single ancestral mutation accounts for the majority of breast cancer cases. This study was undertaken as the nature and frequency of BRCA1 mutations in South African breast/ovarian cancer families is unknown. Fifty-one breast/ovarian cancer families were screened for three commonly occurring mutations (185deIAG, 4184del4 and 5382insC) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridisation. The protein truncation test (PTT) was utilised to detect truncating mutations in the large exon 11, and the remaining coding exons were screened for mutations using exon-by-exon PCR single strand conformation polymorphism/heteroduplex analysis (SSCP/HA). Seven disease-causing mutations were identified in 15 families, consisting of five different frameshift mutations and two different nonsense mutations. Four Ashkenazi Jewish families were found to harbour the 185delAG mutation; the 5382insC mutation was identified in two Afrikaner families and one Ashkenazi Jewish family. Haplotype analysis revealed that the four Ashkenazi families share the common Ashkenazi Jewish haplotype, suggesting a common ancestor for these families. Similarly, the two Afrikaner families share the same haplotype as families of north and east European ancestry with the 5382insC mutation. The haplotype of the Ashkenazi Jewish family with this mutation was however different to the linked haplotype, indicating a recombination event or an independent mutation. Both these mutations are thought to have occurred in or before the medieval period. Furthermore, four Afrikaner families were found to carry the novel E881X nonsense mutation, which has not been previously described. Haplotype analysis of these families suggested that these patients share a common ancestor, and genealogic studies have identified the founding couple for this mutation, who both arrived in the Cape from France in the late 1600s. Four additional families were found to harbour BRCA1 mutations by SSCP/HA. Three of these mutations have not been previously reported - the S451X nonsense mutation (identified in a family of Scottish origin), the 1493delC mutation identified in an Afrikaner family, and the 4957insC mutation identified in an Indian family. The 448insA mutation was identified in a family of German origin, where the patient had cancer of the fallopian tubes. A number of different described polymorphisms and variants of unknown functional significance were also identified. This is the first study to show that BRCA1 is involved in South African breast/ovarian cancer families, to the extent that 29.4% (15/51) of families have BRCA1 mutations. Furthermore, minor founder effects in the Afrikaner population have been demonstrated. These results enable improved genetic counselling and clinical management of mutation positive families as well as subsequent testing of family members. / Dissertation (MSc (Human Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Genetics / unrestricted

Regulation of gene expression is a complex process in mammalian cells with many levels of control. In recent years non-coding RNAs in the form of microRNAs (miRNA) have surfaced as important regulators of protein coding genes, with biologically important roles in development, differentiation and cell growth. In this dissertation the complex interactions between miRNAs and mRNAs in ovarian cancer are investigated using a combination of computational and experimental techniques. In vitro studies and current models predict that increases in levels of miRNA should result in corresponding decreases in the levels of targeted mRNAs due to miRNA induced degradation. Profiling the global miRNA and mRNA expression patterns in epithelial ovarian cancer cells from patients and surface epithelial cells from normal ovaries reveal only ~11% of predicted targets of miRNAs are inversely correlated in vivo. In an effort to dissect the mechanisms behind these unexpected observations single miRNA transfection experiments are carried out followed by gene expression profiling. Analysis of genes altered following these transfections reveal majority of the altered genes are not direct targets of the miRNAs. Network analysis however suggests that miRNAs may target "hub genes" to cause altered expression in downstream transcripts. Pathway enrichment analysis of altered genes demonstrates miRNAs may regulate specific pathways rather than causing random off-target effects. Finally investigation of miRNA regulation reveals miRNAs may also affect the levels of other miRNAs, which may indirectly affect more genes downstream. Together these results provide a detailed view of the mechanisms employed by miRNAs to regulate the expression of hundreds of genes in ovarian cancer cells.

published_or_final_version / Pathology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-17T19:34:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-02-25. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-06-18T12:46:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000823430.pdf: 3048273 bytes, checksum: 816e4ce5da585b7d134748b9005faa44 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) / Introdução: O câncer epitelial de ovário (CEO) e endometriose apresentam alguns aspectos semelhantes, como infiltração tecidual e capacidade de produzir lesões em órgão adjacentes e a distância, no entanto, diferem de forma marcante em sua evolução. A análise das semelhanças e diferenças do sistema imune e resposta inflamatória relacionados a estas patologias podem permitir um melhor entendimento de seus mecanismos fisiopatológicos e consequentemente contribuir no aprimoramento do rastreamento, diagnóstico e estratégias terapêuticas. O objetivo desde estudo é avaliar e comparar a expressão gênica tecidual , citocinas, quimiocinas e micropartículas no plasma, líquido ascético e lavado peritoneal de pacientes com CEO e endometrioma. Métodos: Foram estudadas 60 pacientes, dividias em 3 grupos: Grupo 1 (CEO): 26 pacientes; Grupo 2 (endometriomas): 18 pacientes; Grupo 3 (controle): 16 pacientes. Todas as pacientes tiveram coletadas amostras de sangue, líquido ascítico ou lavado peritoneal e amostra tecidual das lesões. O material foi estocado para posterior análise. Citocinas e quimiocinas foram dosadas utilizando-se CBA, as amostras teciduais foram avaliadas com técnica de RT-qPCR e as micropartículas com técnica de imunoflorescência modificada para esta análise. Utilizou-se os teste de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis quando apropriados. Para a identificação de associações entre dosagens de líquido ascítico e soro foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Sperman. O valor de p<0,05 foi considerado significativo. Resultados: A idade média das pacientes no grupos CEO, endometrioma e controle foram respectivamente 62, 37 e 40,2 anos. Os pacientes foram estadiados segundo o critérios da FIGO para o câncer de ovário,10 pacientes nos estadios I e II, e 16 no estádio III/IV no grupo de CEO. O estadiamento dos pacientes com endometriomas foram realizados conforme os critérios da ASRM identificando-se ...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-01-26T13:21:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-02-25Bitstream added on 2015-01-26T13:30:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000800374_20150225.pdf: 1573316 bytes, checksum: c476b2a12fd44d90c591ec7fbb40ab85 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2015-02-27T13:20:35Z: 000800374_20150225.pdf,Bitstream added on 2015-02-27T13:21:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000800374.pdf: 4978359 bytes, checksum: 5d98453223363cd41a299c852de7bacd (MD5) / Introdução: O câncer de ovário (CO) é a maior causa de morte por neoplasia ginecológica nos países desenvolvidos. Atualmente, um modelo dualístico de classificação foi proposto, sendo os tumores tipo I de baixo grau, indolentes e com mutações estáveis. Os tumores tipo II são de alto grau e mais agressivos. Além disso, na tentativa de se entender o processo de carcinogênese, vários biomarcadores têm sido estudados como as micropartículas (MPs), as citocinas e as quimiocinas. O objetivo desse estudo é a avaliação de fatores solúveis da resposta inflamatória (MPs, citocinas e quimiocinas) em mulheres com CO e compará-los com os níveis encontrados em mulheres sem malignidade e com parâmetros clínicos. Métodos: Avaliaram-se 26 mulheres com CO e 16 mulheres sem evidência de neoplasia maligna (grupo controle). Foram coletadas amostras de plasma e tecido tumoral. A avaliação dos fatores inflamatórios foi realizada por meio da dosagem de citocinas (IL-1- β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A, TNF e IFN-gama, e quimiocinas (CXCL8, CXCL-9, CXCL 10, CCL 2, CCL5) e das micropartículas (neutrófilos, leucócitos, monócitos, eritrócitos, endotélio, plaquetas e linfócitos) por citometria de fluxo/CBA (Cytometric Bead Array). As diferenças entre os grupos foram avaliadas pelos testes Kruskal- Walis ou Mann-Whitney e a sobrevida por Cox Regression. As diferenças com valor de p<0,05 foram consideradas significativas.Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação à idade, paridade e menopausa. No grupo de mulheres com CO, 10 (38,5%) tinham estadio I/II e 16 (61,5%) tinham estadio III/IV. Em relação ao tipo tumoral, segundo a nova classificação, 8 (30.8%) eram tipo I e 18 foram tipo II (69.2%). Citorredução ótima foi obtida em 15 (57.7%) mulheres com CO. Os valores de CA 125 foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos. Não houve óbito em mulheres com tumores ... / Introduction : Ovarian cancer ( OC) is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in developed countries . Currently , a dualistic classification model was proposed .Type I tumors are low-grade , indolent and have stable mutations . Type II tumors are high grade and more aggressive . Moreover, in an attempt to understand the process of carcinogenesis , several biomarkers have been studied as microparticles (MPs ) , cytokines and chemokines. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the levels of circulating soluble biomarkers-microparticles, cytokines and chemokines- to characterize the pro-inflammatory/modulatory immune response in women with OC. The correlation between the biomarker levels and the clinico-pathological parameters were also analyzed. Methods : We evaluated 26 women with OC and 16 women without evidence of malignancy ( control group ) . Plasma samples and tumor tissue were collected . The assessment of inflammatory markers was performed by measurement of cytokine (IL -1- β , IL-2 , IL-6 , IL-10 , IL-12 , IL -17A , TNF and IFN –gamma), chemokines ( CXCL8 , CXCL -9 , CXCL 10 , CCL 2 , CCL5 ) and microparticles (neutrophils , leukocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, endothelium , platelets and lymphocytes) by flow cytometry / CBA ( cytometric Bead Array) . Differences among groups were evaluated by Kruskal - Wallis or Mann - Whitney and survival by Cox Regression . Differences with p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: There was no difference between groups regarding age , parity and menopause. In the group of women with OC , 10 ( 38.5 % ) were stage I / II and 16 ( 61.5 % ) were stage III / IV . Concerning tumor type , according to the new classification , 8 (30.8 % ) were type I and 18 ( 69.2 % ) were type II . Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 15 ( 57.7 % ) women with OC . CA 125 values were significantly different between groups . There were no deaths in women with type I tumors. Stratifying by ...

Orientador: Paulo Traiman / Coorientador: Andréia Teixeira de Carvalho / Banca: José Ricardo Paciência Rodrigues / Banca: Jorge Nahas Neto / Banca: Jurandyr de Andrade / Banca: Walter Antônio Prata Pace / Resumo: Introdução: O câncer de ovário (CO) é a maior causa de morte por neoplasia ginecológica nos países desenvolvidos. Atualmente, um modelo dualístico de classificação foi proposto, sendo os tumores tipo I de baixo grau, indolentes e com mutações estáveis. Os tumores tipo II são de alto grau e mais agressivos. Além disso, na tentativa de se entender o processo de carcinogênese, vários biomarcadores têm sido estudados como as micropartículas (MPs), as citocinas e as quimiocinas. O objetivo desse estudo é a avaliação de fatores solúveis da resposta inflamatória (MPs, citocinas e quimiocinas) em mulheres com CO e compará-los com os níveis encontrados em mulheres sem malignidade e com parâmetros clínicos. Métodos: Avaliaram-se 26 mulheres com CO e 16 mulheres sem evidência de neoplasia maligna (grupo controle). Foram coletadas amostras de plasma e tecido tumoral. A avaliação dos fatores inflamatórios foi realizada por meio da dosagem de citocinas (IL-1- β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A, TNF e IFN-gama, e quimiocinas (CXCL8, CXCL-9, CXCL 10, CCL 2, CCL5) e das micropartículas (neutrófilos, leucócitos, monócitos, eritrócitos, endotélio, plaquetas e linfócitos) por citometria de fluxo/CBA (Cytometric Bead Array). As diferenças entre os grupos foram avaliadas pelos testes Kruskal- Walis ou Mann-Whitney e a sobrevida por Cox Regression. As diferenças com valor de p<0,05 foram consideradas significativas.Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação à idade, paridade e menopausa. No grupo de mulheres com CO, 10 (38,5%) tinham estadio I/II e 16 (61,5%) tinham estadio III/IV. Em relação ao tipo tumoral, segundo a nova classificação, 8 (30.8%) eram tipo I e 18 foram tipo II (69.2%). Citorredução ótima foi obtida em 15 (57.7%) mulheres com CO. Os valores de CA 125 foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos. Não houve óbito em mulheres com tumores ... / Abstract: Introduction : Ovarian cancer ( OC) is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in developed countries . Currently , a dualistic classification model was proposed .Type I tumors are low-grade , indolent and have stable mutations . Type II tumors are high grade and more aggressive . Moreover, in an attempt to understand the process of carcinogenesis , several biomarkers have been studied as microparticles (MPs ) , cytokines and chemokines. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the levels of circulating soluble biomarkers-microparticles, cytokines and chemokines- to characterize the pro-inflammatory/modulatory immune response in women with OC. The correlation between the biomarker levels and the clinico-pathological parameters were also analyzed. Methods : We evaluated 26 women with OC and 16 women without evidence of malignancy ( control group ) . Plasma samples and tumor tissue were collected . The assessment of inflammatory markers was performed by measurement of cytokine (IL -1- β , IL-2 , IL-6 , IL-10 , IL-12 , IL -17A , TNF and IFN -gamma), chemokines ( CXCL8 , CXCL -9 , CXCL 10 , CCL 2 , CCL5 ) and microparticles (neutrophils , leukocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, endothelium , platelets and lymphocytes) by flow cytometry / CBA ( cytometric Bead Array) . Differences among groups were evaluated by Kruskal - Wallis or Mann - Whitney and survival by Cox Regression . Differences with p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: There was no difference between groups regarding age , parity and menopause. In the group of women with OC , 10 ( 38.5 % ) were stage I / II and 16 ( 61.5 % ) were stage III / IV . Concerning tumor type , according to the new classification , 8 (30.8 % ) were type I and 18 ( 69.2 % ) were type II . Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 15 ( 57.7 % ) women with OC . CA 125 values were significantly different between groups . There were no deaths in women with type I tumors. Stratifying by ... / Doutor