E-Thesis 36 views 6 downloads
The Role of Adipocytes and Tumour Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer Progression / SAMUEL OLIVER
Swansea University Author: SAMUEL OLIVER
-
PDF | E-Thesis – open access
Copyright: the author, Samuel Mark Oliver, 2025. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Download (25MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71341
Abstract
As the leading cause of death amongst all gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer research is an increasingly important area of study. Patients of the disease continue to suffer from significant challenges despite receiving the best treatment currently available. Throughout the past, treatments deemed...
| Published: |
Swansea University
2025
|
|---|---|
| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Powathil, G., Picco, N., and Gonzalez, D. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71341 |
| Abstract: |
As the leading cause of death amongst all gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer research is an increasingly important area of study. Patients of the disease continue to suffer from significant challenges despite receiving the best treatment currently available. Throughout the past, treatments deemed optimal have been done so based on results from in vivo or in vitro experiments using physical cells.Advancements in the availability and capability of technology now allows in silico experiments to provide alternative methods and insights into tumour growth.A key aspect of ovarian cancer progression is its tenancy to metastasise. Sur-rounded by the peritoneal cavity and omentum, the ovaries provide an ideal lo-cation for the spread of malignant neoplasms. This, along with the lack of early symptoms exhibited in the majority of cases, causes ovarian cancer to maintain a 5 year survival rate of under 50%. With the help of mathematical models, the scientific community is aiming to increase this statistic by optimising new treatments and preventative approaches.In this study, we take key aspects of ovarian cancer progression and inhibition and develop multiscale mathematical models to investigate the role of these processes.We begin by exploring the role of adipose tissue found in the omentum. Adipose tissue is home to adipocytes, a cell found to secrete substrates such as leptin and interleukin-6, proven to promote proliferation in cancer tumours. Metastasis occurs as a result of a phenotypic change encouraged by this adipose derived media.The transition between these states, known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is also studied in detail, along with the ability of cisplatin to impede the overall growth of the tumour, with relevant parameters optimised using experimental data. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
Mathematical Oncology, Agent-Based Modelling, Ovarian Cancer, Adipocytes, Modelling chemotherapies |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
EPSRC doctoral training grant |