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published_or_final_version / Pathology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Pathology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Pathology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the western world. In order to treat various types of cancer, platinum-based drugs are most widely employed as metal-containing chemotherapeutic agents. However, their clinical usage is hindered by toxic side effects, and by the emergence of drug resistance. Our focus was to replace platinum with less toxic metal like tin which can give better alternatives for cancer treatment. The major aim of our study was to synthesize novel organotin polyethers (Sn-O) which can be used to combat cancer. Preliminary results from our laboratory using organotin polyethers, that were synthesized by varying the structure of diols showed growth inhibition in Balb-3T3 cells. This study directly led us to hypothesize the two structural windows, first by changing the distance between diol and second, by presence of unsaturation in diols, the biological activity of organotin polyethers (Sn-O) can be enhanced significantly. Different series of polymeric compounds were synthesized based upon these two structural windows and the formation of products was validated using standard techniques like infrared spectroscopy (IR), light scattering photometer, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The synthesized polymers arrested the growth of cancer cell lines including bone, prostate, colon, breast, pancreas and lung cancer derived cell lines in vitro. In number of instances where chemotherapeutic index values of two and greater were found that these polymers are significantly more active against cancer cells than non-cancerous cells in culture. / These results support the starting premise that the polymers may exhibit cancer cell selectivity. In general, it was found that the presence of unsaturation increased the probability that the polyether would inhibit the growth of various cancer cell lines. Further, in some cases, polyethers with short distances between the oxygen atoms showed a superior ability to inhibit the growth of various cancer cell lines in comparison to those with longer distances between the oxygen atoms. These results provide a framework for the discovery of novel cancer therapeutics. / by Girish Vallabhbhai Barot. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Li, Sai Kam. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-200). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Tsang, Ling Ming . / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-104). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- Molecular systematics --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Molecular markers as a tool for identification of cryptic species --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Molecular markers for delineating species and morphotypes --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4 --- Molecular markers for identification of hybrids --- p.12 / Chapter 2.5 --- Phylogeography of the marine biota through Pleistocene glaciations --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- "Cryptic Diversity of the Acorn Barnacle, Tetraclita squamosa Species Complex in East Asia" / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- "DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing" --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Sequence analysis --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.23 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.28 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Genetic variations of Tetraclita squamosa --- p.28 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Identification of new species --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Biogeography and distribution patterns --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- "Lack of Genetic Differentiation among Acorn Barnacles Tetraclita japonica and Tetraclita formosana Populations in Mitochondrial COI, Control Region and Nuclear ITS1 Sequences" / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.36 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Samples collection --- p.36 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- "DNA extraction, PCR and DNA sequencing" --- p.38 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Sequence analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Genetic divergence --- p.40 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Phylogenetic and population genetic analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Molecular variation between Tetraclita japonica and T. formosana --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Population structure in East Asia --- p.49 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Geographical variation in parietes color: environmental or genetic? --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Genetic Differentiation and Hybridization between T. japonica and T. formosana revealed by Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism Analysis: Incipient Speciation in Glaciation Refugia? / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- AFLP analysis --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Statistical data analyses --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- AFLP pattern and genetic diversity --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Genetic variation between the two species and among different populations --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Assessing population clustering by Bayesian analyses and admixture analyses --- p.67 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Genetic differentiation and proposed subspecies designation --- p.71 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Evolutionary history of the two species in relation to Pleistocene glaciation --- p.72 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Hybridization between the two species and population structuring --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General Conclusions --- p.81 / References --- p.84