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Date of Award

Spring 2004

Document Type

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Valerie M. Kish

Abstract

Gliomas, cancers that originate from the glial support cells of the brain, are the most common type of intracranial tumors in humans (Russell and Rubenstein, 1989). Gliomas are highly invasive and are characterized by the degradation and remodification of the extracellular matrix (ECM). High-grade gliomas are unique in their ability to invade surrounding normal brain tissue cells and proliferate. As a result, the complete surgical removal of infiltrated cells is close to impossible to accomplish successfully. The subsequent poor prognosis and low survival rate of glioma patients necessitates the need for a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie invasive gliomas. An understanding of these mechanisms could lead to the development of non-surgical therapies that might be useful in the treatment of these deadly cancers.

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