1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Tu Linh                                                2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: January 15, 1983                                               4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number:

The Decision No. 4374/QĐ-KHTN-CTSV dated on 03/12/2012 by Rector of VNU University of Science

6. Changes in academic process: None

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

8. Major: Anthropology                                     

9. Code: 62420102

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

                        2) Assoc.Prof.Dr. Ta Van To     

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

This is the first thesis in Vietnam which provides systematic data on the alterations of some mitochondrial genes, including mitochondrial DNA copy number, 4977 bp deletion and levels of mitochondrial DNA large deletions, ATP6, tARN, ND3 and ND1 genes in Vietnamese patients with breast cancer.

Results of the study have revealed several novel changes of mitochondrial DNA in breast cancer, including 29 novel large deletions, 9183insC of ATP6 and 3 alterations of tARN coding genes (A5536T of tARNTrp, G5645T of tARNAla and A5724G of tARNAsn).

A model of risk assessment has been developed for breast cancer based on levels of large deletions and mitochondrial DNA copy number, in which mtDNA deletion levels have more effects on breast cancer than mtDNA copy number.

12. Practical applicability:

These results can be further studied for risk assessment, diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer in Vietnam.

13. Further research directions:

Analyzing the levels of mitochondrial DNA deletion and copy number on the larger number of patients.

Analyzing the mtDNA deletion levels and mtDNA copy number in tissues and blood samples of breast cancer patients to investigate the relationship between tissue and blood, thereby identifying the biomarkers for risk assessment of breast cancer in blood samples.

14. Thesis-related publications:

- Nguyen Thi Tu Linh, Nguyen Binh Hieu, Do Minh Ha, Ta Van To, Trinh Hong Thai (2015), “Mitochondrial DNA A10398G alteration in breast cancer patients in Vietnam”, VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 31(2): pp.36-43.

- Luu Huyen Trang, Nguyen Thi Tu Linh, Do Minh Ha, Ta Van To, Trinh Hong Thai (2015), “The mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp  deletion in breast cancer patients”, Journal of Biology, 37(1se): pp.111-116

- To Thi Van Anh, Nguyen Thi Tu Linh, Do Minh Ha, Ta Van To, Trinh Hong Thai (2015), “Mitochondrial ND1 gene alteration in breast cancer patients”, Journal of Biology, 37(1se): pp.143-149.

- Jan Dimberg, Thai Trinh Hong, Linh Tu Thi Nguyen, Marita Skarstedt, Sture Löfgren and Andreas Matussek (2015), “Common 4977 bp deletion and novel alterations in mitochondrial DNA in Vietnamese patients with breast cancer”, Springer Plus, 4:58.

- Linh Thi Tu Nguyen, My Thi Tra Quach, Dung Thi Do, Ha Minh Do, To Van Ta, Thai Hong Trinh (2015), “Novel alteration of mitochondrial tRNATrp in a group of Vietnamese breast cancer patients”, Ann Transl Med, 3(S2): AB110: pp.72-73.