Doctoral Research
To learn more about potential precursors to mutations, I joined Dr. Hecht’s
laboratory at University of Minnesota Cancer Center to conduct my Ph.D. research on
DNA and protein adducts derived from the tobacco-specific nitrosamines and
benzo[a]pyrene. The primary goal of my doctoral research was to determine the effects of
isothiocyanates (ITC) on metabolic activation of tobacco specific carcinogens using DNA
and protein adducts as biomarkers for internal formation of activated metabolites. These
experiments demonstrated that the preventive mechanism by which ITCs inhibit
carcinogenesis is only in part due to inhibition of carcinogen metabolism and DNA adduct
formation (1).

Abstract

Kurzfassung in deutsch

Publications from doctoral work

1. Boysen G and Hecht SS Analysis of DNA and protein adducts of benzo[a]pyrene in human
tissues using structure-specific methods. Mutation Research, 2003,543, 17-30

2. Boysen G, Kenney PMJ, Upadhyaya P, Wang M and Hecht SS Effects of benzyl
isothiocyanate and 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate on benzo[a]pyrene and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-
1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone metabolism in F-344 Rats. Carcinogenesis. 2003, 24, 517-525

2. Sticha KR, Kenney PM, Boysen G, Liang H, Su X, Wang M, Upadhyaya P and Hecht SS
Effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate on DNA adduct formation by a
mixture of benzo[a]pyrene and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in A/J mouse
lung. Carcinogenesis, 2002, 23, 1433-1439