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A neuropatia motora multifocal (NMM) é uma neuropatia inflamatória de baixa prevalência, 0,6/100.000 pacientes, caracterizada por uma fraqueza muscular progressiva, assimétrica e distal, sem comprometimento sensitivo. A NMM pode mimetizar a esclerose lateral amiotrófica (ELA), outras variantes da doença do neurônio motor e outras polineuropatias inflamatórias desmielinizantes crônicas, com início assimétrico. A diferenciação é importante, tendo em vista as especificidades da evolução e do tratamento das referidas neuropatias. O principal achado eletrofisiológico é o bloqueio de condução nervosa na ausência de anormalidades sensitivas. A fisiopatogenia da NMM é pouco conhecida. O frequente achado de anticorpos circulantes contra o monoassialogangliosídeo (GM1) é sugestivo de que possa haver seu comprometimento em alterações estruturais nodais e perinodais, com comprometimento multifocal da condução nervosa. O corolário desses distúrbios são paresias e paralisias, também de distribuição multifocal. A Imunoglobulina humana por via endovenosa em altas doses constitui o tratamento de escolha. Novas estratégias de tratamento alternativas são necessárias para prevenir fraqueza muscular permanente e incapacidade. Poucos estudos e revisões bibliográficas têm elucidado as características clínicas da NMM, com a ausência na literatura de publicações de série de casos nacionais. No presente estudo, a partir de uma revisão retrospectiva, serão avaliados os aspectos clínicos- eletrofisiológicos da NMM, a fim de se obter um maior entendimento da evolução da doença. / The multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is an inflammatory neuropathy that has low prevalence (0.6 / 100,000 patients). It is characterized by progressive, asymmetric and distal muscle weakness without sensory impairment. The MMN can mimic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), other motor neuron disease variants and other chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, with asymmetric start. Differentiation is important, given the specificities of the development and treatment of these neuropathies. The main electrophysiological finding is the nerve conduction block in the absence of sensory abnormalities. The pathophysiology of MMN is little known. The frequent finding of circulating antibodies against monoassialogangliosides (GM1) is suggestive that there may be their involvement in nodal and perinodal structural changes with multifocal impairment of nerve conduction. The corollary of these disorders is paresis and paralysis, with also multifocal distribution. The human immunoglobulin intravenously in high doses constitutes the treatment of choice. New alternative treatment strategies are needed to prevent permanent muscle weakness and disability. Few studies and literature reviews have elucidated the clinical features of MMN and there are no case series publications in the national literature. In this study, from a retrospective review, will be assessed clinic and electrophysiological features of MMN in order to obtain a greater understanding of disease progression.

A neuropatia motora multifocal (NMM) é uma neuropatia inflamatória de baixa prevalência, 0,6/100.000 pacientes, caracterizada por uma fraqueza muscular progressiva, assimétrica e distal, sem comprometimento sensitivo. A NMM pode mimetizar a esclerose lateral amiotrófica (ELA), outras variantes da doença do neurônio motor e outras polineuropatias inflamatórias desmielinizantes crônicas, com início assimétrico. A diferenciação é importante, tendo em vista as especificidades da evolução e do tratamento das referidas neuropatias. O principal achado eletrofisiológico é o bloqueio de condução nervosa na ausência de anormalidades sensitivas. A fisiopatogenia da NMM é pouco conhecida. O frequente achado de anticorpos circulantes contra o monoassialogangliosídeo (GM1) é sugestivo de que possa haver seu comprometimento em alterações estruturais nodais e perinodais, com comprometimento multifocal da condução nervosa. O corolário desses distúrbios são paresias e paralisias, também de distribuição multifocal. A Imunoglobulina humana por via endovenosa em altas doses constitui o tratamento de escolha. Novas estratégias de tratamento alternativas são necessárias para prevenir fraqueza muscular permanente e incapacidade. Poucos estudos e revisões bibliográficas têm elucidado as características clínicas da NMM, com a ausência na literatura de publicações de série de casos nacionais. No presente estudo, a partir de uma revisão retrospectiva, serão avaliados os aspectos clínicos- eletrofisiológicos da NMM, a fim de se obter um maior entendimento da evolução da doença. / The multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is an inflammatory neuropathy that has low prevalence (0.6 / 100,000 patients). It is characterized by progressive, asymmetric and distal muscle weakness without sensory impairment. The MMN can mimic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), other motor neuron disease variants and other chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, with asymmetric start. Differentiation is important, given the specificities of the development and treatment of these neuropathies. The main electrophysiological finding is the nerve conduction block in the absence of sensory abnormalities. The pathophysiology of MMN is little known. The frequent finding of circulating antibodies against monoassialogangliosides (GM1) is suggestive that there may be their involvement in nodal and perinodal structural changes with multifocal impairment of nerve conduction. The corollary of these disorders is paresis and paralysis, with also multifocal distribution. The human immunoglobulin intravenously in high doses constitutes the treatment of choice. New alternative treatment strategies are needed to prevent permanent muscle weakness and disability. Few studies and literature reviews have elucidated the clinical features of MMN and there are no case series publications in the national literature. In this study, from a retrospective review, will be assessed clinic and electrophysiological features of MMN in order to obtain a greater understanding of disease progression.

Doenças neurológicas focais em pacientes com aids podem ser causadas por vários patógenos oportunistas. Dentre estas se inclui a encefalite por Toxoplasma gondii, os linfomas primários do sistema nervoso central causados pelo vírus Epstein-Barr, as encefalites virais (CMV, HSV, VZV) e a leucoencefalopatia multifocal progressiva (LEMP), causada pelo vírus JC (VJC). O presente estudo teve por objetivos detectar o DNA do vírus JC em amostras de líquido cefalorraquidiano de pacientes com aids e lesões não expansivas de substância branca do SNC, bem como caracterizar esses pacientes com relação ao número de células TCD4+, sexo, idade e ocorrência de outros diagnósticos etiológicos. A detecção do DNA do VJC foi realizada através da técnica de reação em cadeia por polimerase. O protocolo de PCR empregado, anteriormente descrito, utiliza um par de primers complementar à região precoce do vírus JC (antígeno T), resultando em um fragmento de 173 pb. Todas as amostras positivas foram submetidas a etapa posterior de tipagem com enzima de restrição Bam H1, resultando em dois fragmentos menores (120 e 53 pb), característicos do vírus JC. Com o intuito de estimar a sensibilidade da técnica empregada, um controle positivo qüantificável foi padronizado. O fragmento de 173 pb amplificado de uma das amostras de líquor estudadas foi inserido em plasmídio, e o recombinante obtido foi quantificado através de espectrofotometria, titulado e submetido a PCR. Através desta metodologia foi possível estimar que o teste é capaz de detectar a partir de 200 cópias/ µl. A especificidade do teste foi avaliada através da análise de amostras de líquor de pacientes com e sem aids e outros diagnósticos neurológicos, não compatíveis com LEMP. A pesquisa do DNA do vírus JC foi negativa em 119 de 120 amostras testadas, demonstrando uma especificidade de 99,17%. Foram incluídas no estudo 56 amostras de líquor de pacientes com lesão focal não expansiva de substância branca, compatível com LEMP, sendo positiva em 27/56 (48,2%) e negativa em 29/56 (51,8%). Em 23 dos 29 (79,3%) pacientes negativos para o vírus JC foi possível estabelecer um diagnóstico diferencial para os quadros encefalíticos: Toxoplasma gondii (nove casos), complexo cognitivo motor do HIV (CCMHIV) (cinco casos), tuberculose (três casos) e outros diagnósticos (oito casos). Em seis pacientes DNA-VJC negativos não houve um diagnóstico final. A caracterização da população avaliada, dividida em dois grupos, de acordo com o resultado da PCR (DNA-VJC positivo ou DNA-VJC negativo), não demonstrou diferença estatisticamente significante no que diz respeito ao sexo ou idade. No grupo de pacientes DNA-VJC positivos, o número de células TCD4+ foi significativamente mais baixo. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram uma alta prevalência do DNA do VJC (48,2%) nesse grupo de pacientes. Foi possível concluir também que, em pacientes com aids e encefalite focal com lesões não expansivas de substância branca do sistema nervoso central, com PCR negativa para o VJC, é necessária uma investigação diagnóstica mais aprofundada já que a maioria desses casos apresenta outros agentes etiológicos, na maioria das vezes passíveis de tratamento. / Focal neurological diseases in aids patients can be caused by a range of opportunistic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, EBV-associated primary CNS lymphomas, viral encephalitis (CMV, HSV, VZV) and JC virus causing the progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). In the present study, we evaluated the detection of JC virus DNA in CSF samples from aids patients with white matter non-expansive lesions of CNS by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and characterize this finding in relation to the number of TCD4+, age, gender, and other etiological diagnosis. The primers used to amplify the T antigen region of JC virus resulted in a fragment of 173 base pairs. Since JC virus harbor a BAM H1 restriction site in this region, digestion of the PCR product with the enzyme resulted in two fragments of 120 and 53 base pairs, characteristic of JC virus. To estimate the sensitivity of the assay, the 173 bp fragment obtained from one of the samples was inserted into a plasmid and the recombinant quantified by spectrophotometry. The sensitivity of the PCR was 200 copies / µL. The specificity of the assay was evaluated in CSF samples from patients with and without aids and other neurological conditions, not suggestive of PML. The PCR resulted negative in 119 of the 120 CSF samples tested showing a specificity of 99,17%. In 56 CSF samples from patients with neurological symptoms and radiological signs of PML, JC virus was detected in 27 (48.2%) by PCR. In 23 of the remaining 29 patients (79.3%) other neurological conditions were diagnosed: T. gondii encephalitis (9 cases), HIV encephalitis (5 cases), tuberculosis (3 cases) and other diagnosis (8 cases). In six patients no neurological disease diagnosis could be established. In the group of patients characterized as JC virus-DNA positive the mean number of TCD4+ was significantly lower as compared to the JC virus-DNA negative patients. No statistical difference was seen in relation to gender or age distribution between the two groups. The results of the present study demonstrated a high prevalence of JC virus DNA (48,2%) in patients with clinical and radiological signs of PML. We concluded that the polymerase chain reaction for JC-virus DNA detection can represent an advance in the diagnosis of PML. aids patients with non-expansive focal lesions of CNS white matter and JC virus-DNA negative by PCR probably have other treatable neurological conditions that must be extensively investigated.

Doenças neurológicas focais em pacientes com aids podem ser causadas por vários patógenos oportunistas. Dentre estas se inclui a encefalite por Toxoplasma gondii, os linfomas primários do sistema nervoso central causados pelo vírus Epstein-Barr, as encefalites virais (CMV, HSV, VZV) e a leucoencefalopatia multifocal progressiva (LEMP), causada pelo vírus JC (VJC). O presente estudo teve por objetivos detectar o DNA do vírus JC em amostras de líquido cefalorraquidiano de pacientes com aids e lesões não expansivas de substância branca do SNC, bem como caracterizar esses pacientes com relação ao número de células TCD4+, sexo, idade e ocorrência de outros diagnósticos etiológicos. A detecção do DNA do VJC foi realizada através da técnica de reação em cadeia por polimerase. O protocolo de PCR empregado, anteriormente descrito, utiliza um par de primers complementar à região precoce do vírus JC (antígeno T), resultando em um fragmento de 173 pb. Todas as amostras positivas foram submetidas a etapa posterior de tipagem com enzima de restrição Bam H1, resultando em dois fragmentos menores (120 e 53 pb), característicos do vírus JC. Com o intuito de estimar a sensibilidade da técnica empregada, um controle positivo qüantificável foi padronizado. O fragmento de 173 pb amplificado de uma das amostras de líquor estudadas foi inserido em plasmídio, e o recombinante obtido foi quantificado através de espectrofotometria, titulado e submetido a PCR. Através desta metodologia foi possível estimar que o teste é capaz de detectar a partir de 200 cópias/ µl. A especificidade do teste foi avaliada através da análise de amostras de líquor de pacientes com e sem aids e outros diagnósticos neurológicos, não compatíveis com LEMP. A pesquisa do DNA do vírus JC foi negativa em 119 de 120 amostras testadas, demonstrando uma especificidade de 99,17%. Foram incluídas no estudo 56 amostras de líquor de pacientes com lesão focal não expansiva de substância branca, compatível com LEMP, sendo positiva em 27/56 (48,2%) e negativa em 29/56 (51,8%). Em 23 dos 29 (79,3%) pacientes negativos para o vírus JC foi possível estabelecer um diagnóstico diferencial para os quadros encefalíticos: Toxoplasma gondii (nove casos), complexo cognitivo motor do HIV (CCMHIV) (cinco casos), tuberculose (três casos) e outros diagnósticos (oito casos). Em seis pacientes DNA-VJC negativos não houve um diagnóstico final. A caracterização da população avaliada, dividida em dois grupos, de acordo com o resultado da PCR (DNA-VJC positivo ou DNA-VJC negativo), não demonstrou diferença estatisticamente significante no que diz respeito ao sexo ou idade. No grupo de pacientes DNA-VJC positivos, o número de células TCD4+ foi significativamente mais baixo. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram uma alta prevalência do DNA do VJC (48,2%) nesse grupo de pacientes. Foi possível concluir também que, em pacientes com aids e encefalite focal com lesões não expansivas de substância branca do sistema nervoso central, com PCR negativa para o VJC, é necessária uma investigação diagnóstica mais aprofundada já que a maioria desses casos apresenta outros agentes etiológicos, na maioria das vezes passíveis de tratamento. / Focal neurological diseases in aids patients can be caused by a range of opportunistic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, EBV-associated primary CNS lymphomas, viral encephalitis (CMV, HSV, VZV) and JC virus causing the progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). In the present study, we evaluated the detection of JC virus DNA in CSF samples from aids patients with white matter non-expansive lesions of CNS by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and characterize this finding in relation to the number of TCD4+, age, gender, and other etiological diagnosis. The primers used to amplify the T antigen region of JC virus resulted in a fragment of 173 base pairs. Since JC virus harbor a BAM H1 restriction site in this region, digestion of the PCR product with the enzyme resulted in two fragments of 120 and 53 base pairs, characteristic of JC virus. To estimate the sensitivity of the assay, the 173 bp fragment obtained from one of the samples was inserted into a plasmid and the recombinant quantified by spectrophotometry. The sensitivity of the PCR was 200 copies / µL. The specificity of the assay was evaluated in CSF samples from patients with and without aids and other neurological conditions, not suggestive of PML. The PCR resulted negative in 119 of the 120 CSF samples tested showing a specificity of 99,17%. In 56 CSF samples from patients with neurological symptoms and radiological signs of PML, JC virus was detected in 27 (48.2%) by PCR. In 23 of the remaining 29 patients (79.3%) other neurological conditions were diagnosed: T. gondii encephalitis (9 cases), HIV encephalitis (5 cases), tuberculosis (3 cases) and other diagnosis (8 cases). In six patients no neurological disease diagnosis could be established. In the group of patients characterized as JC virus-DNA positive the mean number of TCD4+ was significantly lower as compared to the JC virus-DNA negative patients. No statistical difference was seen in relation to gender or age distribution between the two groups. The results of the present study demonstrated a high prevalence of JC virus DNA (48,2%) in patients with clinical and radiological signs of PML. We concluded that the polymerase chain reaction for JC-virus DNA detection can represent an advance in the diagnosis of PML. aids patients with non-expansive focal lesions of CNS white matter and JC virus-DNA negative by PCR probably have other treatable neurological conditions that must be extensively investigated.

Studies demonstrate localized neuro-retinal dysfunction in patients with diabetes and no visible diabetic retinopathy (DR). Poor glycemic control is a strong risk factor for DR. We hypothesized that poor glycemic control predicts increased areas of localized neuro-retinal dysfunction in patients with diabetes. Forty-eight adolescents with diabetes and 45 controls were tested using the standard (103 hexagons) multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). Negative binomial regression analysis was conducted with number of abnormal hexagons (delayed responses) as the dependent variable and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), disease duration, age and sex as covariates. Results indicate that a one-unit increase in HbA1c predicts an 80% (p = 0.002) increase in the number of abnormal hexagons when controlling for age. Increased areas of neuro-retinal dysfunction are predicted by worsening glycemic control in patients with no visible DR. Standard mfERG may be useful in monitoring patients with diabetes and identifying those who may be at risk of developing DR.

Studies demonstrate localized neuro-retinal dysfunction in patients with diabetes and no visible diabetic retinopathy (DR). Poor glycemic control is a strong risk factor for DR. We hypothesized that poor glycemic control predicts increased areas of localized neuro-retinal dysfunction in patients with diabetes. Forty-eight adolescents with diabetes and 45 controls were tested using the standard (103 hexagons) multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). Negative binomial regression analysis was conducted with number of abnormal hexagons (delayed responses) as the dependent variable and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), disease duration, age and sex as covariates. Results indicate that a one-unit increase in HbA1c predicts an 80% (p = 0.002) increase in the number of abnormal hexagons when controlling for age. Increased areas of neuro-retinal dysfunction are predicted by worsening glycemic control in patients with no visible DR. Standard mfERG may be useful in monitoring patients with diabetes and identifying those who may be at risk of developing DR.

Simulated images can provide insight into the performance of optical systems, especially those with complicated features. Many modern solutions for presbyopia and cataracts feature sophisticated power geometries or diffractive elements. Some intraocular lenses (IOLs) arrive at multifocality through the use of a diffractive surface and multifocal contact lenses have a radially varying power profile. These type of elements induce simultaneous vision as well as affecting vision much differently than a monofocal ophthalmic appliance. With myriad multifocal ophthalmics available on the market it is difficult to compare or assess performance in ways that effect wearers of such appliances. Here we present software and algorithmic metrics that can be used to qualitatively and quantitatively compare ophthalmic element performance, with specific examples of bifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and multifocal contact lenses. We anticipate this study, methods, and results to serve as a starting point for more complex models of vision and visual acuity in a setting where modeling is advantageous. Generating simulated images of real- scene scenarios is useful for patients in assessing vision quality with a certain appliance. Visual acuity estimation can serve as an important tool for manufacturing and design of ophthalmic appliances.

Preterm birth may lead to complications during the neonatal period that can cause visual dysfunctions. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and neurological complications are well known reasons for visual dysfunctions, but preterm children with no or only mild ROP and no evident neurological problems may also be affected visually when they grow up. Retinal development starts early after gestation and continues long after birth. Major processes are underway during the second half of pregnancy when preterm children are born, and a preterm birth could possibly have a negative effect on normal retinal development. The aims of the studies were to evaluate retinal morphology and function in former preterm children and compare the results with children born at term. Former preterm children aged 5 to 17 years and born in a gestational age (GA) of 32 weeks or less were included in the different study groups. Children of similar ages who were born at term and with normal visual acuity (VA) acted as controls. Best corrected VA and refraction in cycloplegia were assessed in all children. Macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were measured with optical coherent tomography (OCT). Total retinal function was assessed with fullfield electroretinography (ffERG) and central macular function was assessed with multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Preterm children had thicker central maculae than controls. There was a positive correlation between central macular thickness and GA at birth. RNFL thickness was reduced in the preterm children with severe ROP and treated ROP, but children with mild or no ROP did not differ from the fullterm children. The photoreceptor function measured with ffERG and the macular function measured with mfERG were reduced in the preterm group compared to controls. Preterm birth affects the retina both morphologically and functionally, and ROP has been suggested to be a reason for retinal changes. However, the results of this thesis indicate that children with no ROP also have retinal changes, suggesting an effect of prematurity itself. There were no correlations between any retinal changes and VA, but it is possible that larger studies using improved techniques may elucidate this further.

Le cancer du sein est le cancer le plus fréquent chez la femme et représente la principale cause de mortalité liée au cancer. Le décés est habituellement causé par le développement de résistance aux traitements et la propagation métastatique de la maladie. Malgré la pertinence clinique, la complexité moléculaire de la maladie et sa dynamique restent à ce jour peu connues.Depuis longtemps, l’hétérogénéité du cancer du sein a été observée au niveau histologique et du profil évolutif clinique, et ces différences ont servi de base pour la classification de la maladie. Avec le développement des technologies à haut débit, telles que les puces à damier (microarrays) et le séquençage à haut débit, cette classification a été affinée et une complexité génétique jusqu'alors inconnue a été révélée.Des études utilisant ces techniques ont montré que des différences moléculaires existent non seulement entre les différentes patientes atteintes d’un cancer du sein (hétérogénéité inter-tumorale), mais aussi chez la même patiente (hétérogénéité intra-tumorale). En outre, l'hétérogénéité intra-tumorale peut exister non seulement entre les différentes parties d'une tumeur (hétérogénéité intra-tumorale spatiale) mais elle peut aussi résulter de l’évolution moléculaire d'une tumeur au cours du temps (hétérogénéité intra-tumorale temporelle). Cette complexité pourrait avoir un impact important sur la façon dont les patientes atteintes d’un cancer du sein sont prises en charge et traitées.La recherche que j’ai menée dans le Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory sous la direction du Professeur Christos Sotiriou avait deux objectifs principaux. Le premier était de déterminer l'ampleur et les implications cliniques de l'hétérogénéité intra-tumorale dans deux scénarios cliniques courants, à savoir: les cancers du sein multifocaux (MFBCs) et les cancers du sein métastatiques ER positif / HER2 négatif. Le deuxième était d'étudier l'impact de l'édition de l'ARN dans la détermination de l'hétérogénéité inter-tumorale, phénomène encore peu caractérisé. Notre recherche a notamment montré que:1) Les lésions de tous les MFBCs que l’on a étudiés partagent une origine commune. Malgré cela, et malgré des caractéristiques pathologiques similaires, chez un tiers des patientes, les lésions multifocales d’une même patiente ne partageaient aucune substitution et aucune insertion/déletion. De plus, l’hétérogénéité inter-lésion a été observée pour des mutations oncogéniques dans des gènes tels que PIK3CA, TP53, GATA3 et PTEN;2) En se concentrant sur un nombre défini de gènes associés au cancer, une concordance substantielle des mutations et du nombre de copies des gènes a été observée entre les lésions primaires et métastatiques appariées de cancers du sein ER positif / HER2 négatif. Des différences entre les lésions appariées ont cependant été trouvées pour les niveaux d’expression de certains gènes. Dans les lésions primaires, seuls les niveaux d’expression de quelques gènes et un niveau élevé d'amplification de FGFR1 ont été associés à la survie;3) L'édition de l’ARN est une source généralisée de variation du transcriptome dans le cancer du sein. Dans ce cancer, et potentiellement dans tous les cancers, l'édition de l’ARN est principalement contrôlée par deux facteurs, à savoir l'amplification de 1q et l'inflammation, qui sont toutes deux très répandues parmi les cancers humains. La magnitude de l'édition de l’ARN, en combinaison avec la conservation des sites d'édition détectés dans les tissus et les patientes, suggère qu'il pourrait y avoir des implications cliniques et thérapeutiques pour un large éventail de patientes atteintes d’un cancer.Nos résultats suggèrent qu'une caractérisation moléculaire approfondie des cancers du sein multifocaux et métastatiques est importante pour apprécier leur complexité, et que dans la recherche sur le cancer du sein, plus d’importance devrait être accordée à l'édition de l'ARN, un phénomène encore peu étudié qui pourrait influencer notre connaissance sur le développement et l'évolution de la maladie. / Breast cancer still represents the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Death is usually caused by the development of resistance to treatments and the resulting metastatic spread of the disease. Despite the clinical relevance, little is known about the molecular complexity of the disease and its dynamics.Breast tumor heterogeneity has been observed at the level of the histology and the natural history of the disease for a long time, and these differences have served as the basis for disease classification. With the advent of high-throughput technologies, such as gene expression microarrays and massively parallel sequencing, this classification has been refined and a previously unknown genetic complexity has been revealed. Studies implementing these technologies have shown that molecular dif¬ferences exist not only between different breast cancer patients (inter-tumor heterogeneity), but also within the same patient (intra-tumor heterogeneity). Furthermore, intra-tumor heterogeneity could occur either between different regions of a tumor (spatial intra-tumor heterogeneity), or as the result of the molecular evolu¬tion of a tumor over time (temporal intra-tumor heterogeneity). This complexity might have a profound impact on the way breast cancer patients are managed and treated. The research work that I carried out in the Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory under the direction of Prof Christos Sotiriou had two main aims. The first was to determine the extent and the clinical implications of intra-tumor heterogeneity in two common clinical scenarios, namely: multifocal breast cancers (MFBCs) and metastatic ER positive/HER2 negative breast cancers. The second was to investigate the potential impact of yet poorly characterized phenomenon, such as RNA editing, in determining inter-tumor heterogeneity. For this purpose, I have conducted three main projects, which resulted in three manuscripts.We showed that:1) The lesions of all the investigated MFBCs shared a common origin. Despite this, and despite having similar pathological features, in up to a third of the patients the lesions of the same MFBC didn’t share any substitution/indels, and inter-lesion heterogeneity was observed for oncogenic mutation(s) in genes such as PIK3CA, TP53, GATA3, and PTEN; 2) When focusing on a defined number of cancer-associated genes, a substantial concordance for mutations and copy number aberrations could be found between primary and matched metastatic lesions of ER positive/HER2 negative breast cancers. Differences between matched pairs could however be found for the level of expressions of few genes. In primary lesions, only the expression levels of few genes and high FGFR1 amplification levels were associated with OS;3) A-to-I RNA editing is a pervasive source of transcriptome variation in breast cancer. In breast and potentially all cancers, A-to-I editing is mainly controlled by two factors, namely 1q amplification and inflammation, both of which are highly prevalent among human cancers. The wide-spread editing observed, in combination with the conservation of editing sites detected across tissues and patients, suggests that there might be clinical and therapeutic implications for a wide range of cancer patients.Our results suggest both that a thorough molecular characterization of multifocal and metastatic breast cancers is important to appreciate their genomic complexity, and that in breast cancer research more relevance should be given to RNA editing, a yet poorly investigated phenomenon that has the potential to impact the development and the evolution of the disease. / Doctorat en Sciences médicales (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished