Extracellular matrix in pancreatic tumor microenvironment

: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating cancers with a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. This low survival rate is because pancreatic cancer is often only detected when it has already progressed to an advanced stage. Pancreatic cancer is characterized by abundant tumor stroma, which can take upto 90% of the total tumor mass. This excessive tumor stroma, or desmoplasia, acts as a barrier for therapeutics to reach the tumor cells, resulting in poor effectiveness of therapies. A large part of the tumor stroma is composed of extracellular matrix. In this thesis we investigate the role of the extracellular matrix. Collagen I, Collagen III, Fibronectin and Osteonectin were studied for their functions in different cells in vitro in pancreatic tumor cells and stellate cells culture.