Nucleotide excision repair pathway modulating both cancer risk and therapy [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Rashda Abbasi

Dissertation submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematics of the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany For the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences Presented by M.Phil - Rashda Abbasi Born in Karachi, Pakistan Oral-examination:…………………………… I II Nucleotide excision repair pathway modulating both cancer risk and therapy Referees: Prof. Dr. Thomas Efferth PD Dr. Rajiv Kumar III IV Division: Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors Head of the division: Prof. Dr. Christoph Plass Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) in the Helmholtz Association Heidelberg V VI DECLARATION This thesis is a presentation of my original research work and that it has not been submitted anywhere for any award. Wherever contributions of others are involved, every effort is made to indicate this clearly, with due reference to the literature. stHeidelberg, 1 December, 2009 Rashda Abbasi VII VIII In The Name Of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful IX X Summary Summary Nucleotide excision repair (NER) plays a key role in repairing a wide variety of DNA damage including bulky DNA adducts caused by ultraviolet radiation and exposure to harmful substances like tobacco smoke and alcohol. Genetic variations and somatic mutations in NER genes might affect cancer risk and therapy.