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Isolation And Total Synthesis Of Sigma-2 Ligands From Marine Cyanobacteria, Andrea Hough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacteria have been studied for over 50 years as a source of new antibiotics, antiviral, and anticancer drugs. The research described in this dissertation investigates marine cyanobacteria as a source of natural products with activity within the central nervous system and with cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. Barbamide (1) is a known cyanobacterial metabolite that has been re-isolated from a variety of species and collection sites suggesting broad utility as a signaling molecule. Utilizing the psychoactive drug screening program, we screened barbamide for CNS activity and found that barbamide exhibited affinity for the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and …

The Addition Of Melatonin To 17beta-Estradiol And Progesterone Modulated Markers Relevant To Mammary Tumor Development And Modulated Steroid Receptors Relevant To Uterine Protection In A Mouse Model Of Breast Cancer, Corry Dominic Bondi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is important to relieve menopausal symptoms. However, HRT use declined after an increased risk of breast cancer was reported by the Women's Health Initiative. With the ultimate goal of developing a novel replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms without increasing the risk of breast cancer, we postulated that a novel replacement therapy containing 17β-estradiol (E2) and half the recommended dose of progesterone (P4) along with nocturnal melatonin supplementation (EPMRT) would be protective against mammary tumor development. Previously, in a mouse model of HER2+ breast cancer, our laboratory demonstrated that EPMRT was protective against …

Effect Of Acupuncture On Menopausal Memory Changes In Women With Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Cole Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Menopausal symptoms are a concern for peri- and postmenopausal women, and for women who have been treated for breast cancer. Changes in memory are a commonly reported menopausal symptom which can interfere with daily activities, occurring in women who experience natural menopause as well as in women who have an abrupt onset of menopause following treatment for breast cancer. Menopause hormone therapy may be contraindicated or unacceptable for many women, reinforcing the need for well-tolerated, non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of acupuncture to improve the menopausal symptom of memory changes …

P,P' Dde Regulated Gene Expression And Possible Mechanisms Of Action In Breast Tumor, Nakpangi Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: The synthetic insecticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) has been speculated to increase breast cancer risk due to its environmental persistence, levels of bioaccumulation in breast adipose tissue, and endocrine disrupting actions. Epidemiological studies have had inconsistent findings, however a study in MMTV-neu mice determined that localized, developmental exposure to the reported anti-androgen p,p' DDE accelerated mammary tumor development. This study tested the potential cancer-promoting actions of p,p' DDE, the most prevalent and persistent DDT metabolite.

Objectives: To identify and characterize the expression of p,p' DDE -regulated genes to determine how developmental exposure may influence mammary tissue to promote tumor formation. Methods: …

Characterization Of Steroid Sulfatase In Human And Mouse Tissues And In The Mouse Mc3t3-E1 Pre-Osteoblastic Cell Line, Heidi Difrancesca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Steroid sulfatase cleaves the sulfate group from 3Β-hydroxysteroid sulfates. This enzyme is widely distributed among mammalian tissues, and it has been suggested to play a role in the in situ conversion of inactive steroids to active forms in a variety of tissues. Two tissues in which steroid sulfatase may be particularly important are breast cancer and bone. Our laboratory is interested in the role of steroid sulfatase; consequently, I worked on four projects characterizing steroid sulfatase in human and mouse tissues and investigating the role of this enzyme in mouse bone cells. Recent evidence indicates that steroid sulfatase could be …

Regulation Of Steroid Sulfatase In Human Breast Cancer Cells And Screening Of Human Tissues For Steroid Sulfatase Status, Abhinav Chandra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women and is the second leading cause of death. About 40% of breast cancers are hormone-dependent and require estrogen for their growth. The steroid sulfatase pathway is an important means of converting local inactive estrogens to their active forms, thus supporting tumor growth. A substantial amount of research has been performed in the design of steroid sulfatase inhibitors, but the regulation of steroid sulfatase has been largely overlooked. My goal was to study the regulation of steroid sulfatase by different steroid hormones, using two human breast cancer cell lines the hormone-dependent …