Author
McLane, Joshua
Other Contributors
Ligon, Lee; Gilbert, Ryan; Maxwell, Patrick H.; Plopper, George E.;
Date Issued
2015-05
Subject
Biology
Degree
PhD;
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.;
Abstract
Cancer progression is no longer thought of as being an independent event that is regulated by only the uncontrolled growth and genetic abnormalities of tumor cells. It has become increasingly apparent that differential biochemical signals from the tissue that surrounds the tumor, the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as changes in the biophysical properties of the TME play important regulatory roles in the malignant progression of cancers. These extracellular cues alter intracellular signaling and gene expression leading to reciprocal alterations in the effect of tumor cells upon the microenvironment itself, furthering a vicious cycle of dysregulation in the cancer and the TME. This destabilization of tissue homeostasis induces behavioral changes in the cancerous cells, which eventually, inevitably, lead to metastatic disease. The work presented in this thesis examines the effect of specific alterations in the biophysical properties of the TME of breast cancer, upon both tumor cells and tumor associated cells.;
Description
May 2015; School of Science
Department
Dept. of Biological Sciences;
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection;
Access
Restricted to current Rensselaer faculty, staff and students. Access inquiries may be directed to the Rensselaer Libraries.;