Characterization of a Fibroblast Specific Cre-Recombinase and Its Potential Utilization in the Study of Tumor Progression
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Date
2006-06
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Mammary glands, by the very nature of their post-natal development require dynamic cell interactions and high levels of cellular organization post-partum. The gland can essentially be separated into two main compartments—the epithelial tissue and the supporting stromal fat pad. Since a majority of breast cancers are of epithelial origin and rapid proliferation and apoptosis are typically associated with these cells, most cancer research has primarily focused on understanding the epithelial-component of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Recently, however, there has been increased interest in how the stroma communicates with the epithelia and how the tumor microenvironment might affect the behavior of the tumor itself. Genetic manipulation of the stroma, and more specifically the fibroblasts, has remained difficult until the discovery of the fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP1) and the elucidation of the promoter controlling its expression. Using the FSP1 promoter, a fibroblast-specific cre-recombinase was created to enable genetic manipulation of the stroma in vivo in order to study the importance of the microenvironment on tumor initiation and progression.
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Keywords
fibroblast, fibroblast specific, tumor microenvironment, FSP1