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Full-Text Articles in Diseases

Investigating Stromal Contributions To The Regulation Of Cancer Progression, Krista M. Vincent Jul 2016

Investigating Stromal Contributions To The Regulation Of Cancer Progression, Krista M. Vincent

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Tumours are not insular masses of proliferating cells, rather tumour cells evolve within a complex local environment complete with matrix, stromal, and immune components. Therefore, successful tumour growth and eventual metastasis is not determined solely by tumour cells themselves, but also by the fitness advantage or disadvantage conferred by their local environment. However, many of our current cancer models are composed solely of tumour cell isolates. As tumour fitness is dependent on the entire local cellular context, we were interested in characterizing the accuracy of cell lines as models of the tumour microenvironment, with a focus on the secreted Frizzled-related …


The Development Of Novel Imaging Modalities & High-Throughput Drug Screening Platforms In The Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Human Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis, Sohrab Naushad Ali Jun 2016

The Development Of Novel Imaging Modalities & High-Throughput Drug Screening Platforms In The Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Human Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis, Sohrab Naushad Ali

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Nephrolithiasis is a common urological disorder. Despite advances in the surgical treatment of kidney stone disease, research into its prevention and medical management remain stagnant. This is due to lack of viable pre-clinical models to study the disorder. In this project, we develop and characterize a robust Drosophila melanogaster model for human calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Using this model, we have developed intravital imaging techniques to study stone formation and novel high-throughput drug screening platforms. We successfully demonstrate calcium oxalate stone formation by sodium oxalate and ethylene glycol supplementation, with subsequent intravital imaging using bisphosphonate based fluorescent probes. Screening of 360 …