000009630 001__ 9630 000009630 005__ 20251007005918.0 000009630 0247_ $$2DOI$$a10.6083/5x21tg304 000009630 037__ $$aETD 000009630 245__ $$aMesenchymal cells of distinct lineages have unique functions in the PDAC microenvironment with implications for treatment efficacy 000009630 260__ $$bOregon Health and Science University 000009630 269__ $$a2022 000009630 336__ $$aThesis 000009630 502__ $$bPh.D. 000009630 520__ $$aThe grim prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients impels an improved understanding of disease biology to facilitate the development of enhanced therapies. PDAC often features a remarkably dense stroma established and populated by a pronounced population of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The overall hypothesis of this dissertation is that pancreatic stellate cells activate to a fibroblast phenotype that plays a significant role in the ECM and tissue stiffness of PDAC. To evaluate this hypothesis we used mouse models, isolated cultured cells, and patient tumor samples as well as clinical RNA sequencing data from PDAC patients. The following chapters will address the following three aims. 000009630 542__ $$fIn copyright - single owner 000009630 650__ $$aExtracellular Matrix$$018796 000009630 650__ $$aFibroblasts$$019020 000009630 650__ $$aPancreatic Stellate Cells$$039425 000009630 6531_ $$afabp4 000009630 6531_ $$astroma 000009630 6531_ $$apancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 000009630 691__ $$aSchool of Medicine$$041369 000009630 692__ $$aDepartment of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology$$041399 000009630 7001_ $$aHelms, Erin$$uOregon Health and Science University$$041354$$10000-0002-9943-8656 000009630 7201_ $$aSherman, Mara$$uOregon Health and Science University$$041354$$7Personal$$eAdvisor 000009630 8564_ $$943de6a6f-87ee-44fb-bcaa-700404b1be72$$s5005269$$uhttps://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/9630/files/Helms.Erin.2022.pdf$$ePublic$$27dbddce72912c64c829efe4818a39fb2$$31 000009630 905__ $$a/rest/prod/5x/21/tg/30/5x21tg304 000009630 909CO $$ooai:digitalcollections.ohsu.edu:9630$$pstudent-work 000009630 980__ $$aTheses and Dissertations