Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING / Bibliography: leaves 90-91. / by Brij Mohan Masand. / M.S.

Includes bibliographical references. / 1 v. (various foliations) : ill. (some col) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1994

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2008. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, page: . Advisers: Robert E. Roberts; Michele Forman. Includes bibliographical references.

Leung, Jackie. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-131). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 論文摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / List of publications --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Liver cancer --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2. --- Lung Cancer --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3. --- Pteris semipinnata L --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4. --- Extract of PsL: 5F --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5. --- Animal models in chemotherapy researches --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Model of HCC --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Model of lung cancer --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6. --- Apoptosis: Significance of programmed cell death --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- The extrinsic pathway --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.2. --- The intrinsic pathway --- p.19 / Chapter 1.7. --- Apoptotic molecules related to this study --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7.1. --- Bcl-2 family --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7.1.1. --- Bax --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7.1.2. --- Bcl-2 --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7.2. --- Nuclear factor kappa B --- p.25 / Chapter 1.7.3. --- Inducible nitric oxide synthase --- p.27 / Chapter 1.8. --- Side-effects of chemotherapy --- p.29 / Chapter 1.8.1. --- Chemotherapy and liver dysfunction --- p.30 / Chapter 1.8.2. --- Nephrotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents --- p.31 / Chapter 1.9. --- Aim of study --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Materials and Methodology --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1. --- Animals --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- HCC model --- p.34 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Lung cancer model --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2. --- Tumors induction --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- HCC induction in C3H/HeJ mice --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Lung cancer induction in A/J mice --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3. --- 5F preparation --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4. --- 5F treatment --- p.39 / Chapter 2.5. --- Harvest of samples and tissues --- p.41 / Chapter 2.6. --- Tumor assessment --- p.43 / Chapter 2.7. --- Investigation of apoptosis and cell proliferation --- p.44 / Chapter 2.8. --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.47 / Chapter 2.9. --- Biochemical test --- p.51 / Chapter 2.9.1. --- Liver Function Tests (LFT) --- p.52 / Chapter 2.9.1.1. --- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) & Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) --- p.52 / Chapter 2.9.2. --- Renal Function Test (RFT) --- p.53 / Chapter 2.9.2.1. --- Serum creatinine level (CRE) --- p.53 / Chapter 2.9.2.2. --- Blood Urea Nitrogen index (BUN) --- p.54 / Chapter 2.10. --- Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1. --- Anti-tumor effect of 5F is dose- dependent --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2. --- 5F reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in-vivo --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3. --- Effects of 5F on apoptotic signaling molecules --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- 5F up-regulates pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- 5F down-regulates anti-apoptotic NF-kappa B and Bcl-2 --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- 5F up-regulated iNOS in HCC but not in lung cancer --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- Regulation on Erk1/2 was associated with treatment of 5F --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4. --- Side-effect studies of 5F --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.116 / Bibliography --- p.117

[Truncated abstract] For this thesis, the molecular biology of cancer was approached from two directions. Firstly, an investigation was conducted on the role of growth factor receptor-bound protein 7 (Grb7) in breast cancer. Grb7 is an adapter molecule that binds to a variety of proteins, including the growth factor receptor and proto-oncogene, ErbB2, and mediates signalling to downstream pathways. It has been linked to cell migration and an invasive phenotype, and is of interest as a therapeutic target. To investigate the role of Grb7 in breast cancer, preliminary experiments were performed that, firstly, determined the expression of wild-type Grb7 and a splice variant, Grb7V, in a range of cell lines, and secondly, aided the development of a protocol for treating cells with short interfering RNA (siRNA) against Grb7 and the ErbB ligand, heregulin (HRG), in a cell system appropriate for measuring the functional outcomes. Using this protocol in conjunction with CellTitre (CT) proliferation assays, it was demonstrated that Grb7 does not play a role in the proliferation of either unstimulated or HRG-stimulated SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, using the protocol in conjunction with Boyden chamber migration assays, it was shown that inhibition of Grb7 expression has a slight stimulatory effect on HRG-stimulated SK-BR-3 cell migration. Thus, Grb7 was found to play only a minor role in the migration of SK-BR-3 cells, suggesting that it is not an ideal anti-cancer target for breast cancers modelled by this cell system. Concurrently, a second investigation was conducted, which similarly sought insight into the molecular biology of cancer, but adopted a more strategic approach. ... These results provide evidence for a biologically significant role for the miR-7-mediated regulation of EGFR expression. A microarray experiment was also performed to identify genes that were down-regulated following treatment with miR-7 compared to NS precursor. Of 248 down-regulated genes, including EGFR, 37 promising new miR-7 target candidates were identified. Functional clustering of down-regulated genes and promising target candidates suggested that miR-7 may have functionally-related targets involved in processes including cell motility and brain-associated functions. This investigation thus yielded a program capable of accurately predicting a miRNA target not predicted by any other target prediction program, verified a previously unknown miRNA:target interaction with functional consequences in cancer cells and provided the first steps towards investigating miR-7-mediated regulation in greater depth. Furthermore, EGFR was, to our knowledge, the first example of a verified miRNA target with target sites that are not conserved across mammals, an observation with important implications for computational target prediction and the evolution of miRNA regulatory systems. In addition, the demonstrated growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of miR-7 on lung cancer cells raise the possibility of a miR-7-based therapeutic for the treatment of EGFR-overexpressing tumours.

Introdução: A definição do volume-alvo macroscópico, principalmente referente a casos de câncer de pulmão, exige o maior número de informações possíveis no que diz respeito à localização, extensão e mobilidade tumoral. A literatura demonstra um importante avanço quando utilizada imagens metabólicas como é o caso da tomografia por emissão de pósitron/tomografia computadorizada (PET/CT), porém a sua aplicação nos planejamentos radioterápicos ainda é muito discutida devido ao seu grau de complexidade. Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto da PET/CT no delineamento tumoral em casos de câncer de pulmão não-pequenas células (CPNPC) e linfonodos regionais. Materiais e Métodos: Foram selecionados retrospectivamente estudos de PET/CT de 26 casos de câncer de pulmão. Todos foram confirmados por biópsia, sendo em sua totalidade CPNPC. Todos os estudos foram realizados em um equipamento de PET/CT dedicado com parâmetros de aquisição idênticos. A interpretação das imagens e posterior delineamento foram realizados por dois médicos experientes, um radioterapeuta e um nuclear/radiologista. Os parâmetros ótimos de visualização foram pré-definidos, sendo mandatórios para os delineamentos. Os delineamentos foram realizados em duas etapas principais. A primeira relacionada ao desenho tumoral somente pela CT e a segunda, após no mínimo duas semanas de descanso visual, referindo-se ao desenho tumoral pela PET/CT. Somente o volume tumoral macroscópico (GTV) e os linfonodos regionais aumentados ou PET positivos foram delineados. Índices de conformidades (IC) foram calculados, tanto interobservadores (11 casos), quanto intra-observador (26 casos). Para a comparação entre observadores e entre delineamentos em relação ao volume, foi considerado o teste não-paramétrico de Wilcoxon. As comparações em relação ao IC foram feitas usando-se o teste t de Student para amostras pareadas. Em todos os testes, valores de p <0,05 indicaram significância estatística. Os dados foram analisados com o programa computacional SPSS® Statistics 17.0 (EUA). Resultados: A análise dos dados demonstrou diferença significativa entre os volumes médios delineados na CT e na PET/CT (p = 0,02), com evidente redução volumétrica no delineamnto por PET/CT. Houve diferença significativa entre os volumes CT delineados pelos dois observadores (p = 0,03) e uma tendência a apresentar diferença significativa entre volumes PET/CT (p = 0,05). A avaliação volumétrica intraobservador foi significativa (p < 0,01) apenas para o médico nuclear/radiologista, com redução de até 51% do volume CT e uma relação entre modalidades de 2,11 ± 0,22. Na análise dos IC, não houveram diferenças significativas entre as duas modalidades de imagem (p = 0,598). A análise dos IC intra-observadores demonstrou que para o radioterapeuta a PET/CT apresenta um impacto de 46% (IC médio = 0,54 ± 0,06), já para o nuclear/radiologista, o impacto foi de 65% (IC médio = 0,35 ± 0,06), representando uma diferença significativa (p = 0,03) em relação ao IC entre o médicos observadores. Para a análise linfonodal a PET/CT apresentou importante diferença na visualização de linfonodos, alterando 10 dos 26 casos, sendo 9 para a positividade apenas na fusão. Conclusão: A PET/CT apresentou significativo impacto no desenho do GTV e linfonodos regionais para casos de CPNPC. / Introduction: The definition of gross target volume, especially concerning cases of lung cancer, requires the greatest amount of information possible with regard to location, tumor size and tumor mobility. The literature demonstrates an important advancement using metabolic images such as PET/CT, however, its application in radiotherapy planning is still controversial due to its complexity. Objectives: To assess the impact of PET/CT in tumor delineation in cases of non-small cell lung cancer and regional lymph nodes as additional findings. Materials and Methods: Retrospectively studies of PET/CT of 26 lung cancer cases were selected. All were confirmed by biopsy, in its entirety NSCLC. All studies were performed on a PET/CT with dedicated acquisition identical parameters. Image interpretation and subsequent delineation were performed by two experienced physicians, one radiotherapist and the another nuclear/radiologist. The optimal parameters display were pre-defined, being mandatory for the designs. Each case received an identification of three random letters to access the medical images to be analyzed. The delineation was made in two main steps. The first reference to the drawing only in tumor CT and the second, after two weeks of visual rest, referring to the drawing on tumor PET/CT. Only the gross tumor volume (GTV) and regional lymph nodes were enlarged or PET + outlined. Conformity index (CI) were calculated both interobserver (11 cases), and intra-observer (26 cases). For comparison between observers and between designs in relation to the volume, was considered the nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Comparisons regarding the conformity index were made using the Student t test for paired samples. To assess the degree of agreement regarding positive lymph nodes were estimated with kappa coefficients of agreement. In all tests, p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed with the software SPSS Statistics 17.0 (USA). Results: Data analysis showed significant difference between the average volumes delineated on CT and PET/CT (p = 0.02), with obvious volume reduction. Significant difference between the volumes delineated by CT observars medical distinct classes (p = 0.03) and a tendency to present significant difference between volumes PET / CT (p = 0.05). The intraobserver volumetric evaluation was significant (p <0.001) only for observer 2, being the nuclear medicine physician / radiologist, reducing up to 51% of the volume CT and a relationship between methods of 2.11 ± 0.22. In the analysis of CI, there were no significant differences between the two imaging modalities (p = 0.598).CI analysis showed that intra-observer to observer 1 PET / CT has an impact of 46% (average CI = 0.54 ± 0.06). The viewer 2, the impact was greater, 46% (average IC = 0.39 ± 0.03), representing a difference of opinion regarding the CI (p = 0.03) between the medical classes. To regional lymph nodes with PET/CT revealed an important difference in the visualization of lymph nodes, changing 10 of the 26 cases, 9 to positivity only in the image fusion.Conclusion: PET/CT has a significant impact on the design of the GTV and regional lymph nodes in cases of NSCLC.

Introdução: A definição do volume-alvo macroscópico, principalmente referente a casos de câncer de pulmão, exige o maior número de informações possíveis no que diz respeito à localização, extensão e mobilidade tumoral. A literatura demonstra um importante avanço quando utilizada imagens metabólicas como é o caso da tomografia por emissão de pósitron/tomografia computadorizada (PET/CT), porém a sua aplicação nos planejamentos radioterápicos ainda é muito discutida devido ao seu grau de complexidade. Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto da PET/CT no delineamento tumoral em casos de câncer de pulmão não-pequenas células (CPNPC) e linfonodos regionais. Materiais e Métodos: Foram selecionados retrospectivamente estudos de PET/CT de 26 casos de câncer de pulmão. Todos foram confirmados por biópsia, sendo em sua totalidade CPNPC. Todos os estudos foram realizados em um equipamento de PET/CT dedicado com parâmetros de aquisição idênticos. A interpretação das imagens e posterior delineamento foram realizados por dois médicos experientes, um radioterapeuta e um nuclear/radiologista. Os parâmetros ótimos de visualização foram pré-definidos, sendo mandatórios para os delineamentos. Os delineamentos foram realizados em duas etapas principais. A primeira relacionada ao desenho tumoral somente pela CT e a segunda, após no mínimo duas semanas de descanso visual, referindo-se ao desenho tumoral pela PET/CT. Somente o volume tumoral macroscópico (GTV) e os linfonodos regionais aumentados ou PET positivos foram delineados. Índices de conformidades (IC) foram calculados, tanto interobservadores (11 casos), quanto intra-observador (26 casos). Para a comparação entre observadores e entre delineamentos em relação ao volume, foi considerado o teste não-paramétrico de Wilcoxon. As comparações em relação ao IC foram feitas usando-se o teste t de Student para amostras pareadas. Em todos os testes, valores de p <0,05 indicaram significância estatística. Os dados foram analisados com o programa computacional SPSS® Statistics 17.0 (EUA). Resultados: A análise dos dados demonstrou diferença significativa entre os volumes médios delineados na CT e na PET/CT (p = 0,02), com evidente redução volumétrica no delineamnto por PET/CT. Houve diferença significativa entre os volumes CT delineados pelos dois observadores (p = 0,03) e uma tendência a apresentar diferença significativa entre volumes PET/CT (p = 0,05). A avaliação volumétrica intraobservador foi significativa (p < 0,01) apenas para o médico nuclear/radiologista, com redução de até 51% do volume CT e uma relação entre modalidades de 2,11 ± 0,22. Na análise dos IC, não houveram diferenças significativas entre as duas modalidades de imagem (p = 0,598). A análise dos IC intra-observadores demonstrou que para o radioterapeuta a PET/CT apresenta um impacto de 46% (IC médio = 0,54 ± 0,06), já para o nuclear/radiologista, o impacto foi de 65% (IC médio = 0,35 ± 0,06), representando uma diferença significativa (p = 0,03) em relação ao IC entre o médicos observadores. Para a análise linfonodal a PET/CT apresentou importante diferença na visualização de linfonodos, alterando 10 dos 26 casos, sendo 9 para a positividade apenas na fusão. Conclusão: A PET/CT apresentou significativo impacto no desenho do GTV e linfonodos regionais para casos de CPNPC. / Introduction: The definition of gross target volume, especially concerning cases of lung cancer, requires the greatest amount of information possible with regard to location, tumor size and tumor mobility. The literature demonstrates an important advancement using metabolic images such as PET/CT, however, its application in radiotherapy planning is still controversial due to its complexity. Objectives: To assess the impact of PET/CT in tumor delineation in cases of non-small cell lung cancer and regional lymph nodes as additional findings. Materials and Methods: Retrospectively studies of PET/CT of 26 lung cancer cases were selected. All were confirmed by biopsy, in its entirety NSCLC. All studies were performed on a PET/CT with dedicated acquisition identical parameters. Image interpretation and subsequent delineation were performed by two experienced physicians, one radiotherapist and the another nuclear/radiologist. The optimal parameters display were pre-defined, being mandatory for the designs. Each case received an identification of three random letters to access the medical images to be analyzed. The delineation was made in two main steps. The first reference to the drawing only in tumor CT and the second, after two weeks of visual rest, referring to the drawing on tumor PET/CT. Only the gross tumor volume (GTV) and regional lymph nodes were enlarged or PET + outlined. Conformity index (CI) were calculated both interobserver (11 cases), and intra-observer (26 cases). For comparison between observers and between designs in relation to the volume, was considered the nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Comparisons regarding the conformity index were made using the Student t test for paired samples. To assess the degree of agreement regarding positive lymph nodes were estimated with kappa coefficients of agreement. In all tests, p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed with the software SPSS Statistics 17.0 (USA). Results: Data analysis showed significant difference between the average volumes delineated on CT and PET/CT (p = 0.02), with obvious volume reduction. Significant difference between the volumes delineated by CT observars medical distinct classes (p = 0.03) and a tendency to present significant difference between volumes PET / CT (p = 0.05). The intraobserver volumetric evaluation was significant (p <0.001) only for observer 2, being the nuclear medicine physician / radiologist, reducing up to 51% of the volume CT and a relationship between methods of 2.11 ± 0.22. In the analysis of CI, there were no significant differences between the two imaging modalities (p = 0.598).CI analysis showed that intra-observer to observer 1 PET / CT has an impact of 46% (average CI = 0.54 ± 0.06). The viewer 2, the impact was greater, 46% (average IC = 0.39 ± 0.03), representing a difference of opinion regarding the CI (p = 0.03) between the medical classes. To regional lymph nodes with PET/CT revealed an important difference in the visualization of lymph nodes, changing 10 of the 26 cases, 9 to positivity only in the image fusion.Conclusion: PET/CT has a significant impact on the design of the GTV and regional lymph nodes in cases of NSCLC.

Background: Effective information exchange is an asset to effective lung cancer care. Although a considerable body of evidence informs the approaches to ‘diagnostic bad news delivery’, the exchange of information that takes place between patients with cancer and professionals with whom they interact thereafter is less well documented. Information exchange has an influential role throughout the lung cancer care continuum, providing patients and professionals with details relative to the cancer diagnosis and the subsequent choices to be made in its management. Information on disease extent, treatment and related side-effects, rehabilitation and prognosis are judged by patients as the most prominent for them. Despite awareness of the specific categories relevant to information exchange needs, there is little evidence available exploring the information exchange process, per se, within cancer generally and even less within the lung cancer context. Aim: To investigate information exchange processes during lung cancer consultations, specifically exploring information content which is both exchanged and not exchanged. Design: Qualitative, multiple case study design. Methods: A case centred on a patient with lung cancer. Within the case were the patients, the health professionals they consulted with and accompanying companions. Seven cases were recruited, which included 12 companions. Data were collected in outpatient clinics between 2010 and 2011. Data were digital recordings of consultations; debrief interviews immediately post-consultation and later in-depth patient interviews. All interviews were transcribed and analysed for pattern matching and coding. Findings: Analysis of categorical data indicated cases were typical of the Scottish lung cancer population across all demographic domains, accept age and performance status. The preliminary analysis showed across cases, almost universal satisfaction with the level and content of information exchange for the main a priori categories of diagnosis, treatment and treatment outcome. Substantive analysis revealed that information content across the a priori categories was influenced by the presence of the accompanying companion. Within the clinical consultation, companion influence on information exchange was shown to be mediating, moderating or neutral. A key finding which emerged showed companion accompaniment to be a negotiated process, with three identifying levels of accompaniment. Non-negotiated companion presence at the clinic was associated with influential and expert companions who significantly moderated the content, direction and flow of information exchange, using the constructs of companion control, companion agenda and companion as expert. Persuasive influences further shaped non-negotiated accompaniment and were identified as demographic characteristics and relationship alliances. Patient and professional perspective regarding companion accompaniment was shown to be discordant. Conclusions: The level of negotiated companion presence at lung cancer clinics has direct implications for clinical care. There needs to be greater understanding among professionals of ways in which information exchange can be influenced by companions.

Chiu Yuk Lan. / "December 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-185) / 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 Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis is aimed at creating a pipeline for analyzing DNA methylation epigenetics data and creating a data model structured well enough to store the analysis results of the pipeline. In addition to storing the results, the model is also designed to hold information which will help researchers to decipher a meaningful epigenetics sense from the results made available. Current major epigenetics resources such as PubMeth, MethyCancer, MethDB and NCBI’s Epigenomics database fail to provide holistic view of epigenetics. They provide datasets produced from different analysis techniques which raises an important issue of data integration. The resources also fail to include numerous factors defining the epigenetic nature of a gene. Some of the resources are also struggling to keep the data stored in their databases up-to-date. This has diminished their validity and coverage of epigenetics data. In this thesis we have tackled a major branch of epigenetics: DNA methylation. As a case study to prove the effectiveness of our pipeline, we have used stage-wise DNA methylation and expression raw data for Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) from TCGA data repository. The pipeline helped us to identify progressive methylation patterns across different stages of LUAD. It also identified some key targets which have a potential for being a drug target. Along with the results from methylation data analysis pipeline we combined data from various online data reserves such as KEGG database, GO database, UCSC database and BioGRID database which helped us to overcome the shortcomings of existing data collections and present a resource as complete solution for studying DNA methylation epigenetics data.