The Biomechanical Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts In Tumor-Stroma Reciprocity
type: CreativeWork
description: Mechanical stimuli have been found to influence tumor cell proliferation and metastasis with increased stiffening of the extracellular matrix being a hallmark of tumorigenesis. This thesis examines the role of the extracellular environment surrounding tumors, the tumor stroma, and investigates what effects the components within the stroma have on tumorigenesis. In addition, which components of the extracellular matrix contribute to that stiffening and how those components contribute to tumorigenesis will also be discussed. The cancer-associated fibroblast and the tumor-associated macrophage intimately influence the homeostasis between the tumor and extracellular matrix and can affect the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. This review will address how mechanical alterations in the reactive stroma contribute to tumorigenesis through their effects on cancer-associated fibroblasts. These cells sense and respond to mechanical changes in the extracellular environment as tumorigenesis occurs, and how they respond can affect tumor development.
abstract: Mechanical stimuli have been found to influence tumor cell proliferation and metastasis with increased stiffening of the extracellular matrix being a hallmark of tumorigenesis. This thesis examines the role of the extracellular environment surrounding tumors, the tumor stroma, and investigates what effects the components within the stroma have on tumorigenesis. In addition, which components of the extracellular matrix contribute to that stiffening and how those components contribute to tumorigenesis will also be discussed. The cancer-associated fibroblast and the tumor-associated macrophage intimately influence the homeostasis between the tumor and extracellular matrix and can affect the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. This review will address how mechanical alterations in the reactive stroma contribute to tumorigenesis through their effects on cancer-associated fibroblasts. These cells sense and respond to mechanical changes in the extracellular environment as tumorigenesis occurs, and how they respond can affect tumor development.
author: Massengill, Nathan Wasson
keywords: Biomedical, Chemicals and Drugs, Medicine and Health Sciences, Biomechanics, Cancer, Fibroblast, reciprocity, stroma
date published: 2012-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:38:23Z
provider: University of South Carolina
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of South Carolina