Growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer by targeted delivery of gemcitabine via fucoidan-coated pH-sensitive liposomes

Polyphenol-based pH-responsive nanoparticles enhance chemo-immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging to treat due to its difficulty in early diagnosis, highly invasive nature, and high metastatic potential. Currently, the primary treatments for PDAC are chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, the abundance of extracellular matrix and immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) severely impedes the effectiveness of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), an immunosuppressive tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme, is upregulated in PDAC and degrades tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn), which is toxic to effector T cells and induces regulatory T cells (Treg) recruitment. Herein, we propose a concise strategy to construct a biocompatible, polyphenol-based, pH-responsive nanoparticle to co-deliver docetaxel (DTX) and NLG919 (an IDO1 inhibitor) to significantly enhance chemo-immunotherapy for PDAC by remodeling the TME. The DTX/NLG919-loaded nanoparticles (FPND) effectively elicited immunogenic cell death (ICD) in PDAC cells while limiting immunosuppressive Kyn production through IDO1 inhibition. FPND triggered an effective anti-tumor immune response, characterized by increased CD8+ T cells infiltration and decreased Treg recruitment, leading to significant inhibition of subcutaneous tumor growth in KPC mice through a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Overall, FPND nanoparticles showed excellent anti-tumor efficacy as a PDAC therapeutic strategy with broad potential in precision medicine.

Synergistic Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth and Migration by Gemcitabine and Withaferin A

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional therapies. This study investigates the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migratory effects of Gemcitabine (GC) and Withaferin A (WFA) on pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1 and Hs766t. The MTS assay revealed that both compounds effectively inhibit cell proliferation, with WFA showing a stronger effect in Hs766t cells. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that GC and WFA, particularly in combination, significantly induce apoptosis in both cell lines. Migration assays confirmed the potent inhibition of cell migration by both compounds, with the combination treatment being the most effective. Furthermore, actin cytoskeleton analysis indicated substantial changes in cell morphology and stiffness, suggesting that GC and WFA disrupt the structural integrity of cancer cells. Additionally, the study highlights a ROS-mediated mechanism underlying the effects of GC and WFA, as evidenced by increased ROS levels following treatment, which were attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. Importantly, NF-κB activity was significantly modulated, with WFA reducing NF-κB activation induced by GC, potentially contributing to the synergistic pro-apoptotic effect of the combination. These findings suggest that the combination of GC and WFA may offer a synergistic therapeutic approach for treating pancreatic cancer by targeting multiple aspects of tumor cell behavior.