Do Perturbed Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions Drive Early Stages of Carcinogenesis

摘要

This research project had three specific aims. The first was to determine which tissue in the rat mammary gland was the target of the chemical carcinogen N- nitrosomethylurea. This aim was fulfilled. The second aim included screening and counting lesions and performing morphometric data analysis of whole mounts (branching pattern relative abundance of the different ductal and alveolar structures). These studies aimed at identifying the changes occurring between the time of exposure and the appearance of neoplasias. This aim was also fulfilled. Finally as described for Aim No. 3 during years two and three we explored the specific roles of hyaluronan and emmprin two molecules that are enriched in tumors and involved in tumor-stromal cell interactions as mediators of neoplastic initiation and progression.