Prostate Cancer (PC) is associated with disease- and treatment-related side effects that can compromise quality of life (QoL). Psychosocial interventions designed to improve adjustment and quality of life (QoL) for post-treatment PC patients have been conducted with mixed results. Intervention effects are typically analyzed using either mean difference scores or a single estimate of growth parameters (e.g., intercept and slope factors) across groups. These methods assume homogeneity within groups. Evidence suggests, however, considerable variability both in the experience of disease-specific outcomes and in the long-term adjustment and emotional well-being of men with PC. The present study used growth mixture modeling (GMM) to explore the effects of a cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on emotional well-being among men recently treated for localized PC. This methodology allowed examination of intervention effects across unobserved subgroups characterized by different trajectories of emotional well-being and identified factors associated with intervention efficacy.

Evidence exists that epidermal growth factor (EGF) and alpha transforming growth factor (αTGF) are important in breast cancer. An inverse relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and oestrogen receptor (ER) has been reported by some, (1) but not all workers (2). The aim in this thesis was to develop assays to measure, levels of EGF, and determine EGF-R status in human breast tumours. These results were then correlated with each other, with ER and node status and histological grade (Bloom & Richardson). An additional aim in this thesis was to develop a source of αTGF in conditioned median (CM) from a transformed cell line. After extraction and purification, the αTGF was intended for use as an immunogen to produce a polyclonal antiserum which could be used in either an RIA or ELISA. EGF was measured by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) utilising a rabbit antimouse EGF antiserum. This assay (sensitivity 0.1ng/ml) was demonstrated to have no cross reactivity with αTGF. The EGF-R assay was similar to that described by Sainsbury. (1) In a series of 88 human breast tumours 47 (53.4%) were found to contain extractable EGF. Forty eight (54.5%) were EGF-R positive and 39 (44.3%) were ER positive. A direct relationship between EGF and ER+ ve status was found (p < 0.01). Significantly higher levels of EGF were extracted from ER+ ve tumours (p = 0.049) compared with that from ER-ve tumours. However no relationship between EGF-R and EGF or ER status was found, or between EGF levels and histological grade or node status. A suitable cell line which produced αTGF, was obtained and culture conditions optimised. Alpha-TGF was assayed by a radioreceptor assay which utilised a cell line rich in EGF-R (A431). Extraction of αTGF was based on the principles of molecular grading by gel filtration (Sephadex G50), and ion exchange (Sephadex CM C25). By this process the αTGF was purified and separated it from any EGF present. By this method 20μg of αTGF was produced from 61t of CM. 1) Sainsbury JRC, Farndon JR, Serbet GV, Harris AL. Epidermal-growth-factor-receptors and oestrogen receptors in human breast cancer. Lancet 1985; <i>1</i>: 364-368. 2) Fitzpatrick SL, Brightwell J, Wattliff JL, Barrows GH, Schultz GS. Epidermal growth factor binding by breast tumour biopsies and relationship to oestrogen receptor and progestin receptor levels. Cancer Res 1984; <i>44</i>: 3448-3453.

No description available.

根據文獻研究記載，化療藥物可誘導癌細胞的凋亡，這是公認的化療療法的主要治療效果。作為一種程式性細胞死亡，積累的實驗證據表明，誘導所致的細胞凋亡是可逆轉的。這就引出了對於細胞凋亡恢復及其調節機制的相關問題。 / 在這項研究中，我們證明了在質膜不對稱的散失和半胱天冬酶（caspase）啟動後，HeLa細胞的凋亡的啟動可逆轉。我們發現，除了被廣泛研究的抗增殖作用外，金雀異黃素(genistein)可抑制細胞凋亡的復蘇。即時定量PCR發現抗凋亡基因MDM2和XIAP在凋亡逆轉過程中表達水準上調，金雀異黃素可抑制其表達水準的上調。金雀異黃素，MDM2蛋白抑制劑和XIAP抑制劑的利用，造成復原細胞內持續的半胱天冬酶活性和增強的細胞死亡效果。然而，半胱天冬酶抑制劑並不能挽救金雀異黃素的抑制作用。流式細胞儀的研究表明，金雀異黃素可以導致凋亡逆轉細胞持久磷脂醯絲氨酸（PS）外化和逆轉細胞的細胞壞死。抑制半胱天冬酶活性將金雀異黃素的主要作用轉移到壞死效果。這些結果揭示了金雀異黃素抑制細胞凋亡逆轉的兩個可能的機制。 / 金雀異黃素能維持現有的細胞凋亡信號從而增強細胞凋亡。它也可以破壞凋亡恢復過程，導致繼發性壞死。金雀異黃素對於細胞凋亡逆轉的抑制可與常規化療相結合，以提高治療結果. / It is well documented that chemotherapeutical agents could induce apoptosis of cancer cells, which is recognized as a major treatment effect of chemotherapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that chemopreventive agents like soybean isoflavone genistein could potentiate the antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic drugs both in vivo and in vitro. The mechanistic basis of this augmentation effect by genistein remains to be fully elucidated. / In this study, we demonstrated while low-concentration ethanol stressed cancer cells could recover, the presence of genistein promoted the cell death of stressed cancer cells that displayed apoptotic features. In HeLa cells, quantitative real-time PCR revealed the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes MDM2 and XIAP during the recovery process, and genistein suppressed their expression. The application of genistein, MDM2 inhibitor and XIAP inhibitor to the recovering HeLa cells caused persistent caspase activity and enhanced cell death. However, the death-promoting effect of genistein was not rescued by caspase inhibitor. Flow cytometry study indicated that genistein treatment could lead to persistent phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and necrotic events in the recovering HeLa cells. Caspase activity inhibition shifted the major effect of genistein to secondary necrosis. / These results suggested two possible mechanisms through which genistein promoted cell death in stressed HeLa cells. Genistein could maintain the existing apoptotic signal to enhance apoptotic cell death. It could also disrupt the recovering process in caspase-independent manner, which lead to secondary necrosis. These effects may account for the enhanced antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic drugs when they were combined with genistein. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Xie, Xin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-90). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in also in Chinese. / Cover Page / Statement --- p.i / Thesis Committee members --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.iv / Table of contents --- p.vi / List of abbreviations --- p.ix / List of figures and tables --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction to general cancer biology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Overview of cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1.1 --- Classification of cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1.2 --- Risk factors of carcinogenesis --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1.3 --- Cancer prevention and therapies --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Models of cancer development --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Multistage model of carcinogenesis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Colorectal cancer as an example of multistep / multigene carcinogenesis --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Driving force for cancer development --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Properties of cancer cells --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2 --- Apoptosis and its roles in cancer development and treatment --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Overview of apoptosis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Molecular mechanism of apoptosis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Positive and negative regulation of apoptosis --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Apoptotic defects in cancer development --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Apoptosis in cancer treatment --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3 --- The reversibility of apoptotic events --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4 --- Genistein and its relevance to cancer therapy --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives of the study --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Cancer cell lines --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Cell culture media and additives --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Biochemical kits --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Chemicals and reagents --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Antibodies --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Primers used for quantitative real-time PCR --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Buffers and solutions --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods and procedures --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Cell culture establishment and cryopreservation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Living cell staining and imaging --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- MTT cell viability assay --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- BrdU cell proliferation assay --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- LDH cytotoxicity assay --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Quantitative real-time PCR --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Western blotting --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Annexin V/ Propidium Iodide Assay --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Trypan Blue Dye Exclusion Assay --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Cleaved-Caspase 3 Immunostaining --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Low concentration ethanol stressed cancer cells displayed apoptotic features and the stressed cell could recover after stress removal --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Morphological changes and apoptotic marker activation in low concentration ethanol stress --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- In situ study of morphological changes and caspase 3 activation in HeLa --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Genistein promoted the cell death of stressed cancer cells at non-cytotoxic concentration towards unstressed cells --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Dose-dependent response of genistein on stressed and unstressed cells --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- In HeLa cells, genistein suppressed the recovery from stress treatment at non-cytotoxic concentration --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Genistein promoted both apoptosis and necrosis in stressed cells. . --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Genes involved in the recovery from stress treatment were influenced by genistein --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Stressed HeLa cells were more sensitive to the inhibition of de novo synthesis --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Expression profiles of genes involved in recovery and the influence of genistein --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4 --- Like genistein, MDM2 and XIAP inhibitor potentiated the cell death and caused persistent caspase-3 activity in stressed cells --- p.58 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Stressed HeLa cells were much more sensitive to the inhibition of XIAP and MDM2 --- p.58 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The presence of inhibitor at non-cytotoxic concentration to unstressed cells suppressed the recovery of the stressed cells --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Genistein, MDM2 inhibitor and XIAP inhibitor caused persistent apoptotic signals in recovering cells. --- p.61 / Chapter 3.5 --- The death-promoting effect by genistein could be caspase-independent --- p.64 / Chapter 3.6 --- Caspase activity abrogation shifted genistein’s action profile --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion and prospect --- p.70 / Chapter 4.1 --- The apoptotic features were induced by low concentration ethanol stress --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2 --- The apoptotic features caused by ethanol stress were reversible --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3 --- Genistein showed death-promoting effects on the recovering cells --- p.72 / Chapter 4.4 --- The genes (XIAP and MDM2) that were involved in the recovery process may function to terminate apoptotic signal --- p.73 / Chapter 4.5 --- Genistein suppressed the upregulation of anti-apoptotic genes and promoted the expression of pro-apoptotic genes --- p.74 / Chapter 4.6 --- The XIAP and MDM2 activity were essential for the recovery from stress --- p.75 / Chapter 4.7 --- Caspase inhibition increased the secondary necrosis in recovering cells with genistein treatment --- p.76 / Chapter 4.8 --- Hypothetic mechanism of genistein’s inhibitory effect on the recovery of stressed cells --- p.77 / Chapter 4.9 --- Summary and prospects --- p.78 / Reference list --- p.79

published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

Les thérapies anti-angiogéniques actuelles sont limitées, et cibler le métabolisme endothélial représente une nouvelle stratégie prometteuse. Parmi la famille de glycomimétiques Phostines, le composé PST 3.1a possède des propriétés anti-tumorales contre le glioblastome à la fois in vitro et in vivo. L’objectif de ce projet est d’étudier l’impact de PST3.1a sur l’angiogenèse et le métabolisme endothélial. L’angiogenèse est un processus complexe décrivant la formation de nouveaux vaisseaux sanguins à partir d’une vasculature préexistante, dirigée par des facteurs pro-angiogéniques locaux tel que le facteur de croissance endothélial vasculaire (VEGF). L’angiogenèse intervient dans différentes conditions pathologiques, et notamment la croissance tumorale. PST 3.1a (10 μM) inhibe les principales étapes menant à l’angiogenèse in vitro, parmi lesquelles la migration, la prolifération, l’adhésion et la formation de tubes. PST 3.1a réduit également l’angiogenèse in vivo dans les modèles murins et du poisson zèbre, ainsi que l’angiogenèse tumorale et la progression du glioblastome. En particulier nos résultats démontrent une diminution d’interaction entre le récepteur au VEGF 2 et la galectine 1, cette interaction étant décrite comme cruciale dans le cadre des résistances tumorales face aux thérapies anti-angiogéniques actuelles. Ces résultats fournissent une ouverture thérapeutique sur une approche innovante et originale contre les pathologies associées à une angiogenèse excessive, tel que le cancer. / Actual anti-angiogenic therapies are limited, and targeting endothelial metabolism is a new promising strategy. One of the lead compound of the Phostin family, PST 3.1a has anti-glioblastoma properties both in vitro and in vivo. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of PST3.1a on angiogenesis and endothelial metabolism. Angiogenesis is a complex process describing the growth of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, triggered by local pro-angiogenic factors such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Angiogenesis takes part in various pathological conditions and particularly in tumor growth. PST 3.1a (10 μM) inhibited the main steps leading to angiogenesis in vitro including migration, proliferation, adhesion and tube formation. PST 3.1a also reduced physiological angiogenesis in both mice and zebrafish models, and pathological angiogenesis and glioblastoma progression in vivo. In addition, our results highlight the alteration of the interaction between VEGF receptor 2 and galectin-1, a binding known as a key component of the regulation of angiogenesis associated to tumor resistance.These results provide a new route towards an innovative and original approach to target angiogenesis related diseases, including cancer.

No description available.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of growth factors which includes twenty three proteins. FGFs work as modulators for various cellular activities like mitosis, differentiation and survival. Among the FGF family, human fibroblast growth factor-1 (hFGF-1), which is also known as acidic fibroblast growth factor, is a potent angiogenic agent, involved in the formation of new blood vessels in various tissues. hFGF-1 is regarded as a prototype of the FGF family. It serves as one of the potential targets in tumor inhibition and obesity due to its involvement in new blood vessel formation in cancerous regions and adipose tissues. In general, FGFs exert their action by binding to heparin, forming FGF-heparin complex, which can then bind to fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). Inhibition of FGF dependent signal transduction by heparin mimicking compounds has shown promising results in control and treatment of tumor growth. Naturally occurring glycoside called phloridzin found to have anticancer property. Phloridzin (2-glucoside of phloretin) has structural resemblance to heparin; it is a natural antioxidant, widely known for its antidiabetic activity, besides controlling tumor growth. Phloridzin can mimic heparin and compete with it for FGF binding. This binding can be agonistic or antagonistic in nature on FGF signal transduction. In the present study, we investigated the molecular level interaction between phloridzin and hFGF-1 using various biophysical techniques like steady state fluorescence, limited trypsin digestion and protein-NMR spectroscopy. hFGF-1 needed for the study was expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli cells. The expressed protein was then purified using heparin sepharose affinity chromatography. Both expression and purification were monitored using SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Conformational stability of purified hFGF-1 was assessed through steady state fluorescence. Purified hFGF-1 is in, its native, properly folded conformation. Interaction studies, such as thermal unfolding and limited trypsin digestion were performed to assess the thermal stability and solvent accessibility of hFGF-1 in the presence of phloridzin respectively. It was found from interaction studies that hFGF-1 in the presence of phloridzin shown increased thermal stability and increased resistance against trypsin digestion. In order to locate the sites of interaction on hFGF-1 surface, a protein-NMR study was performed. Exact sites of interaction of phloridzin on hFGF-1 surface were found. In future, isothermal titration calorimetry will be performed to determine kinetics of the enthalpy change and dissociation constant of phloridzin-hFGF-1 interaction. In vivo studies will also be performed after completion of in vitro studies, which will give an insight about possibility of phloridzin and hFGF-1 interaction under physiological condition

Micro (mi)RNAs have recently been found to play an important role in cancer biology. In order to further understand how miRNAs affect prostate tumour progression, we evaluated miRNA expression in two invasive prostate tumour lines, PC3 and DU145. We then focused our evaluation on a novel miRNA, miR-105, whose levels were significantly decreased in both tumour cell lines as compared to normal prostate epithelial cells. As miR-105 levels were reduced in prostate tumour cell lines, we restored its expression following transfection of cells with mimic constructs to over-express miR-105 in both cell lines, in order to determine its effect on various tumourigenic properties. Over-expression caused decreased tumour cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in vivo. We further identified CDK6 as a putative target of miR-105, which likely contributed to its inhibition of tumour cell growth. Our results suggest that miR-105 inhibits tumour cell proliferation and may be an interesting target to regulate tumour growth or potentially used as a biomarker to differentiate between less and more aggressive tumours in patients.

Micro (mi)RNAs have recently been found to play an important role in cancer biology. In order to further understand how miRNAs affect prostate tumour progression, we evaluated miRNA expression in two invasive prostate tumour lines, PC3 and DU145. We then focused our evaluation on a novel miRNA, miR-105, whose levels were significantly decreased in both tumour cell lines as compared to normal prostate epithelial cells. As miR-105 levels were reduced in prostate tumour cell lines, we restored its expression following transfection of cells with mimic constructs to over-express miR-105 in both cell lines, in order to determine its effect on various tumourigenic properties. Over-expression caused decreased tumour cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in vivo. We further identified CDK6 as a putative target of miR-105, which likely contributed to its inhibition of tumour cell growth. Our results suggest that miR-105 inhibits tumour cell proliferation and may be an interesting target to regulate tumour growth or potentially used as a biomarker to differentiate between less and more aggressive tumours in patients.