1. Full name: Pham Thi Bich                                                       2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: May 18, 1985                                                    4. Place of birth: Hai Duong

5. Admission decision number: The Decision No. 3944/QĐ-SDH, dated on 26/10/2012 by Rector of VNU University of Science.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision No. 441/QĐ-ĐHKHTN, dated on 26/02/2014 by Rector of VNU University of Science on changing supervisor

7. Official thesis title: “Alterations of some mitochondrial genes in colorectal cancer”.

8. Major: Human and animal physiology                        

9. Code: 62420104

10. Supervisors:            1) Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Hong Thai

                                    2) Dr. To Thanh Thuy

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

This thesis is the first and systematized work in Vietnam that provides data on 4977 bp deletion, levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions, mitochondrial DNA copy number and alterations of some mitochondrial genes such as ND1 (A4164G), ND3 (A10398G), COX-1 (C6340T) and COX-2 (G7853A) as well as the relationship between these changes with the clinical-pathological characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in Vietnam.

The thesis revealed 3 novel large deletions: 5093 bp, 5167 bp and 5104 bp of mitochondrial DNA in CRC.

In particular, the study showed that levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions and mitochondrial DNA copy number tend to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Moreover, there was positive association between levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions, A10398G alteration and lymph node metastases. Besides a negative correlation between levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions and mitochondrial DNA copy number in tissues of CRC patients was also founded.

12. Practical applicability:

  The levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions and mitochondrial DNA copy number can be further studied to develop the biomarker for risk assessment, diagnosis of colorectal cancer in Vietnam.

13. Further research directions:

 Screening alterations in other mitochondrial genes of colorectal cancer patients to fulfil mtDNAvariant database and develop a model to predict the risk of cancer and the progression of cancer.

 Screening alterations on the larger number of patients to define more clearly the relationship between these changes and the clinical-pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer, and risk of colorectal cancer.

14. Thesis-related publications:

- Pham Thi Bich, Hoang Thi Chang, Do Minh Ha, Pham Kim Binh, Trinh Hong Thai (2014), “A4164G alteration of mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene in colorectal cancer patients”, VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology  30 (6s),  pp.626-633.

- Pham Thi Bich, Dang Thi Len,  Do Minh Ha, Ta Van To, Trinh Hong Thai (2015), “Large deletions of mitochondrial DNA in colorectal carcinoma”, VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 31(4s), pp.16-23.

- Pham Thi Bich, Nguyen Thi Tuoi, Trinh Hong Thai (2016), “Alteration of mitochondrial COX-2 gene in colorectal cancer patients”, Vietnam Journal of Physiology 20(4), pp. 40-46.

- Pham Thi Bich, Le Thi Quynh Tho, Trinh Hong Thai (2016), "Alteration of mitochondrial COX-1 gene in colorectal cancer patients" VNU Journal of Science: Medical and Pharmaceutical science 32 (2), pp.17-25.

- Pham Thi Bich, Hoang Thi Chang, Do Minh Ha, Ta Van To, Trinh Hong Thai (2015), "A4164G alteration of mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene in a Vietnamese patient group with colorectal cancer" Annals of Translational Medicine, Vol 3, Suppl 2 September 2015 (11th Asia Pacific Conference on Human Genetics, Hanoi, Vietnam).