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The Role Of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (Ctgf) In Fibrosis Associated With Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors, Michael David Shapiro

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Carcinoid tumors of the small bowel often present with fibrosis in the peritumoral tissues, distant in the heart or lungs, and locally in the peritoneal cavity. The mechanism of the fibroblastic lesions in patients with small bowel carcinoids is unclear and their timely diagnosis impossible. There exists no test to determine the risk of fibrosis, detect its presence, or monitor its progression once discovered. Furthermore, no current therapy protects against such fibrosis. We have proposed that CTGF, a mediator of the profibrotic activities of TGFâ1 (a known regulator of fibrosis)is directly involved in the genesis of ileal carcinoid-related fibrosis. The …