Molecular analysis of BRAF and microsatellite analysis of chromosome 14q in astrocytic tumors.

Chan Ching Yin. ; Thesis submitted in: October 2003. ; Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-221). ; Abstracts in English and Chinese. ; Acknowledgement --- p.i ; Abstract --- p.iii ; Abstract in Chinese --- p.vi ; List of abbreviations --- p.ix ; List of tables --- p.xv ; List of figures --- p.xvi ; Contents --- p.xviii ; Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 ; Chapter 1.1. --- What are astrocytic tumors? --- p.1 ; Chapter 1.1.1. --- Histological characteristics and classification --- p.2 ; Chapter 1.1.2. --- Epidemiology --- p.2 ; Chapter 1.1.3. --- Treatment and patient survival --- p.4 ; Chapter 1.2. --- "Cytogenetics, molecular genetics and epigenetics of astrocytic tumors" --- p.6 ; Chapter 1.2.1. --- Cytogenetics --- p.6 ; Chapter 1.2.2. --- Genetic imbalances --- p.7 ; Chapter 1.2.3. --- Tumor suppressor genes --- p.13 ; Chapter 1.2.4. --- Oncogenes --- p.22 ; Chapter 1.2.5. --- Primary and secondary GBMs --- p.26 ; Chapter 1.3. --- Major pathways involved in astrocytic tumorigenesis --- p.30 ; Chapter 1.3.1. --- Cell cycle dysregulation and suppression of apoptosis --- p.30 ; Chapter 1.3.2. --- Promotion of proliferation and survival --- p.33 ; Chapter 1.4. --- BRAF mutation in human cancers --- p.38 ; Chapter 1.5. --- Other CNS tumors included in the current study --- p.52 ; Chapter 2. --- Aims of study --- p.61 ; Chapter 3. --- Materials and methods --- p.64 ; Chapter 3.1. --- Clinical materials --- p.64 ; Chapter 3.2. --- Cell lines --- p.75 ; Chapter 3.3. --- Cell culture --- p.77 ; Chapter 3.4. --- DNA extraction --- p.78 ; Chapter 3.4.1. --- Pre-treatment of samples --- p.78 ; Chapter 3.4.2. --- Cell lysis and protein removal --- p.80 ; Chapter 3.4.3. --- Precipitation of DNA --- p.81 ; Chapter 3.4.4. --- Determination of DNA concentration --- p.81 ; Chapter 3.5. --- Mutation analysis of BRAF by cycle sequencing --- p.83 ; Chapter 3.5.1. --- Amplification of BRAF exons --- p.83 ; Chapter 3.5.2. --- Cycle sequencing and automated ...