PhD Dissertation Defense at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, held the defense of the PhD dissertation submitted by the student Raghad Nafi? Hamid, entitled: “Molecular and Biochemical Evaluation of Caspase-8 and the Calcium-Binding Protein S100P in Breast Cancer.” The dissertation was conducted under joint supervision of: • Prof. Dr. Thanaa Mohammed Joudah • Asst. Prof. Dr. Mushtaq Qahtan Mohammed The defense session was attended by the Head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prof. Dr. Tariq Hussein Mughir, along with a distinguished group of faculty members and postgraduate students. The study focused on evaluating two important biomarkers in breast cancer among a sample of Iraqi women, namely Caspase-8 and S100P, with an in-depth analysis of genetic variations in the CASP8 gene to investigate their role in increasing susceptibility to the disease or providing a protective effect. Key Scientific Findings During her scientific defense, the researcher presented several significant findings, أبرزها: • S100P protein: The results demonstrated a positive correlation between elevated levels of this protein and advancement of disease stages, indicating its role in the aggressive behavior of breast cancer. • Caspase-8: The study showed that alterations in the levels of this enzyme clearly reflect disruption of programmed cell death (apoptosis) pathways, which are mechanisms responsible for eliminating cancer cells. • Genetic mutations: The research identified specific mutations in the CASP8 gene associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while other mutations were found to exert a potential protective effect. The dissertation concluded by emphasizing the importance of integrating molecular and genetic investigations to enhance the accuracy of early diagnosis and prediction of disease progression. It also highlighted that these findings open new horizons for applying the principles of personalized medicine in breast cancer treatment, tailored to the genetic characteristics of each patient.
By: Zahraa Khawwam Abdulwahid
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