Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent malignancies and affects approximately 5% of worldwide population. More than 75% of CRC cases represent sporadic forms. Susceptibility to nonhereditary CRC is significantly influenced by polymorphisms and mutations in low-penetrance genes. Variations in biotransformation and DNA repair genes may result in acumulation of toxins and DNA damage in cells leading to the development of cancer. Furthermore, different gene expression profiles of membrane transporters affecting the accumulation of anticancer drugs in tumour cells, e.g. ABC drug transporters, may largely influence inter-individual variability in drug response and chemotherapy outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of genetic and lifestyle factors in the risk of onset and progression of colorectal cancer. This study followed selected genetic alterations in xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (CYP1B1, GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NQO1 and EPHX1) and genes involved in response to DNA damage (CHEK2 and NBN), as potential CRC susceptibility factors. Another aim of this study was to investigate expression profile of all human ABC transporter genes to follow their prognostic and predictive potential in colorectal carcinoma. Materials and methods: The polymorphisms and other...

Morphine alkaloids and their derivatives are pharmaceutically important substances. Huge production and consumption of these compounds predetermines them to be significant pollutants in the environment. Some of them have been detected in surface waters. The aim of this study was to characterize effects of morphine alkaloids on the physiology of three model organisms: Agrobacterium sp. R89-1, Escherichia coli XL-1 (Blue), and Raoultella sp. kDF8, and elucidation of the mechanisms leading to toxicity. The biotransformation potential and utilization ability were characterized for model organisms. It was demonstrated that the microorganism Agrobacterium sp. R89-1 is capable of rapid biotransformation of codeine to its 14-OH derivatives. The manifestation of morphine compounds toxic effects for the strain R89-1 is the highest. In contrast, microorganism Raoultella sp. KDF8 is able to utilize codeine as a carbon and energy source. The accumulation of 14-OH-derivatives was not observed. Escherichia coli XL-1 (Blue) is not able to biotransform or utilize codeine. Α, β-unsaturated ketones (morphinone, codeinone, 14-OH-morphinone and 14-OH-codeinone) were found as a most toxic intermediates of codeine metabolism. Bacterial cell growth (strains R89-1 and KDF8) in the presence of codeine is characteristic with...

In recent years, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been widely used for the treatment of certain tumors as so-called targeted therapy. Many studies are concerned with their metabolism and the role of enzymes in the biotransformation process, but very little is known about the impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the expression and activity of biotransformation enzymes. Nevertheless modification of the expression and activity of enzymes may cause adverse interactions of co-administered drugs and their negative impact on the human body. This diploma thesis studies the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors vandetanib and lenvatinib and cytotoxic alkaloid ellipticine on biotransformation enzymes in a rat model organism in vivo. The aim was to characterize the effect of the investigated compounds on gene expression, protein expression and activity of cytochromes P450 (CYP) 1A1, 1A2 and 1B1 and flavin-containing monooxygenases FMO1 and FMO3 in renal and hepatic microsomes. Microsomes and RNA were isolated from kidneys of control rats and the pretreated rats. Western blot and immunodetection was used to compare the protein expression levels of studied enzymes in kidney and liver. By reverse transcription, cDNA was prepared from isolated RNA and used as a template for quantitative PCR to compare the...

Xenobiotic biotransformation process and its capacity is crucial for xenobiotic chemicals elimination that may cause damage toward cell structures. The effectiveness of the enzymes included in this process depends on the gene variants that encodes them. The aim of this work was to compare certain polymorphisms of selected genes between cases and control groups. Studied polymorphisms were null genotypes of the glutathione S-transferase gene M1 and T1 and the insertion of TA dinucleotide in the promotor region of UDP-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1. The number of cases group was six included patients with colorectal, lung, prostate, breast, pancreatic and head and neck cancer. Total number of analysed individuals was 1 118 for cancer cases and 470 for healthy controls. The control group was divided into two groups, the first one was called general and the second one was called special included healthy individuals with no cancer history in their closest family members. Gilbert syndrome (GS) is caused by homozygous insertion of the TA dinucleotide in the TATA box of the gene UGT1A1 and it causes elevated bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a potent antioxidant in human body, so the aim was to attest its protective effect toward cancer. We expected lower frequency of GS as a protective factor in the cases groups compared with controls. This hypothesis was confirmed in the breast cancer group (GS frequency 10,0 %) and pancreatic cancer group (GS frequency 11,1 %). In the general and special control groups the frequency of GS was 16,0 % and 15,4 % respectively. Although the other case groups show lower frequency of GS, the results weren´t statistically significant. Null GSTM1 genotype was observed with 50,4 % frequency in the general control groups and with 55,3 % frequency in the special control group. Neither the one of the cases groups hasn´t showed significantly lower percentage of null genotype. Despite expectation we observed statistically significant lower frequency of null genotype in the group of lung and pancreatic cancer group (37,4 % and 39,3 % respectively). According to this study, we can say that the lack of glutathione S-transferase M1 activity is not a risk factor for cancer development. Null genotype of GSTT1 wasn´t identified in both control groups at all. In case groups of breast and prostate cancer, there was only one individual carrying the null GSTT1 genotype. Statistically significant higher frequency of this polymorphism was observed in patients with colorectal cancer (9,7 %), lung cancer (17,2 %), pancreatic cancer (3,0 %) and head and neck cancer (15,9 %). In these groups the lack of glutathion S-transferase T1 activity might be considered as risk factor for cancer development. Nevertheless, for further verification it needs to take more investigation in this field, especially enlarge the number of patient in the case groups of head and neck, lung and pancreatic cancer.