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Li H, Liu D, Li K, Wang Y, Zhang G, Qi L, Xie K. Pancreatic stellate cells and the interleukin family: Linking fibrosis and immunity to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 30:159. [PMID: 38994764 PMCID: PMC11258612 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive form of cancer with a low survival rate. A successful treatment strategy should not be limited to targeting cancer cells alone, but should adopt a more comprehensive approach, taking into account other influential factors. These include the extracellular matrix (ECM) and immune microenvironment, both of which are integral components of the tumor microenvironment. The present review describes the roles of pancreatic stellate cells, differentiated cancer‑associated fibroblasts and the interleukin family, either independently or in combination, in the progression of precursor lesions in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and PDAC. These elements contribute to ECM deposition and immunosuppression in PDAC. Therapeutic strategies that integrate interleukin and/or stromal blockade for PDAC immunomodulation and fibrogenesis have yielded inconsistent results. A deeper comprehension of the intricate interplay between fibrosis, and immune responses could pave the way for more effective treatment targets, by elucidating the mechanisms and causes of ECM fibrosis during PDAC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Li
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Donglian Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Kaishu Li
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Yichen Wang
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Gengqiang Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Ling Qi
- Institute of Digestive Disease, Affiliated Qingyuan Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, Guangdong 511518, P.R. China
| | - Keping Xie
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, P.R. China
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Tsesmelis M, Büttner UFG, Gerstenlauer M, Manfras U, Tsesmelis K, Du Z, Sperb N, Weissinger SE, Möller P, Barth TFE, Maier HJ, Chan LK, Wirth T. NEMO/NF-κB signaling functions as a double-edged sword in PanIN formation versus progression to pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:103. [PMID: 38755681 PMCID: PMC11097402 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01989-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is marked by a dismal survival rate, lacking effective therapeutics due to its aggressive growth, late-stage diagnosis, and chemotherapy resistance. Despite debates on NF-κB targeting for PDAC treatment, no successful approach has emerged. METHODS To elucidate the role of NF-κB, we ablated NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), critical for conventional NF-κB signaling, in the pancreata of mice that develop precancerous lesions (KC mouse model). Secretagogue-induced pancreatitis by cerulein injections was utilized to promote inflammation and accelerate PDAC development. RESULTS NEMO deletion reduced fibrosis and inflammation in young KC mice, resulting in fewer pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) at later stages. Paradoxically, however, NEMO deletion accelerated the progression of these fewer PanINs to PDAC and reduced median lifespan. Further, analysis of tissue microarrays from human PDAC sections highlighted the correlation between reduced NEMO expression in neoplastic cells and poorer prognosis, supporting our observation in mice. Mechanistically, NEMO deletion impeded oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), which is normally active in low-grade PanINs. This blockage resulted in fewer senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, reducing inflammation. However, blocked OIS fostered replication stress and DNA damage accumulation which accelerated PanIN progression to PDAC. Finally, treatment with the DNA damage-inducing reagent etoposide resulted in elevated cell death in NEMO-ablated PDAC cells compared to their NEMO-competent counterparts, indicative of a synthetic lethality paradigm. CONCLUSIONS NEMO exhibited both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive properties during PDAC development. Caution is suggested in therapeutic interventions targeting NF-κB, which may be detrimental during PanIN progression but beneficial post-PDAC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miltiadis Tsesmelis
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike F G Büttner
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Melanie Gerstenlauer
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Uta Manfras
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Tsesmelis
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ziwei Du
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Sperb
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | | | - Peter Möller
- Institute of Pathology, University of Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Thomas F E Barth
- Institute of Pathology, University of Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Harald J Maier
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Novartis Pharma, 4056, Basel, AG, Switzerland
| | - Lap Kwan Chan
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Thomas Wirth
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Ulm, Meyerhofstrasse, 89081, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
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Waldron RT, Lugea A, Chang HH, Su HY, Quiros C, Lewis MS, Che M, Ramanujan VK, Rozengurt E, Eibl G, Pandol SJ. Upregulated Matrisomal Proteins and Extracellular Matrix Mechanosignaling Underlie Obesity-Associated Promotion of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1593. [PMID: 38672675 PMCID: PMC11048773 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diet-induced obesity (DIO) promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in mice expressing KRasG12D in the pancreas (KC mice), but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we performed multiplex quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and further bioinformatic and spatial analysis of pancreas tissues from control-fed versus DIO KC mice after 3, 6, and 9 months. Normal pancreatic parenchyma and associated proteins were steadily eliminated and the novel proteins, phosphoproteins, and signaling pathways associated with PDAC tumorigenesis increased until 6 months, when most males exhibited cancer, but females did not. Differentially expressed proteins and phosphoproteins induced by DIO revealed the crucial functional role of matrisomal proteins, which implies the roles of upstream regulation by TGFβ, extracellular matrix-receptor signaling to downstream PI3K-Akt-mTOR-, MAPK-, and Yap/Taz activation, and crucial effects in the tumor microenvironment such as metabolic alterations and signaling crosstalk between immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor cells. Staining tissues from KC mice localized the expression of several prognostic PDAC biomarkers and elucidated tumorigenic features, such as robust macrophage infiltration, acinar-ductal metaplasia, mucinous PanIN, distinct nonmucinous atypical flat lesions (AFLs) surrounded by smooth muscle actin-positive CAFs, invasive tumors with epithelial-mesenchymal transition arising close to AFLs, and expanding deserted areas by 9 months. We next used Nanostring GeoMX to characterize the early spatial distribution of specific immune cell subtypes in distinct normal, stromal, and PanIN areas. Taken together, these data richly contextualize DIO promotion of Kras-driven PDAC tumorigenesis and provide many novel insights into the signaling pathways and processes involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T. Waldron
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Aurelia Lugea
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Hui-Hua Chang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hsin-Yuan Su
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Crystal Quiros
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Michael S. Lewis
- Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Health System, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA;
| | - Mingtian Che
- Biobank and Research Pathology Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - V. Krishnan Ramanujan
- Biobank and Research Pathology Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Enrique Rozengurt
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Guido Eibl
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Stephen J. Pandol
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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Han HV, Efem R, Rosati B, Lu K, Maimouni S, Jiang YP, Montoya V, Van Der Velden A, Zong WX, Lin RZ. Propionyl-CoA carboxylase subunit B regulates anti-tumor T cells in a pancreatic cancer mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.24.550301. [PMID: 37546948 PMCID: PMC10402106 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.24.550301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Most human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not infiltrated with cytotoxic T cells and are highly resistant to immunotherapy. Over 90% of PDAC have oncogenic KRAS mutations, and phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are direct effectors of KRAS. Our previous study demonstrated that ablation of Pik3ca in KPC (KrasG12D; Trp53R172H; Pdx1-Cre) pancreatic cancer cells induced host T cells to infiltrate and completely eliminate the tumors in a syngeneic orthotopic implantation mouse model. Now, we show that implantation of Pik3ca-/- KPC (named αKO) cancer cells induces clonal expansion of cytotoxic T cells infiltrating the pancreatic tumors. To identify potential molecules that can regulate the activity of these anti-tumor T cells, we conducted an in vivo genome-wide gene-deletion screen using αKO cells implanted in the mouse pancreas. The result shows that deletion of propionyl-CoA carboxylase subunit B gene (Pccb) in αKO cells (named p-αKO) leads to immune evasion, tumor progression and death of host mice. Surprisingly, p-αKO tumors are still infiltrated with clonally expanded CD8+ T cells but they are inactive against tumor cells. However, blockade of PD-L1/PD1 interaction reactivated these clonally expanded T cells infiltrating p-αKO tumors, leading to slower tumor progression and improve survival of host mice. These results indicate that Pccb can modulate the activity of cytotoxic T cells infiltrating some pancreatic cancers and this understanding may lead to improvement in immunotherapy for this difficult-to-treat cancer.
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Yin H, Zhang Z, Zhang D, Peng L, Xia C, Yang X, Wang X, Li Z, Chang J, Huang H. A new method for treating chronic pancreatitis and preventing fibrosis using bioactive calcium silicate ion solution. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:9163-9178. [PMID: 37642526 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01287e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a multifactorial fibroinflammatory syndrome. At present, there is no effective way to treat it clinically. In this study, we proposed a new approach by application of a highly active calcium silicate ion solution derived from calcium silicate (CS) bioceramics, which effectively inhibited the development of CP. This bioceramic derived bioactive ionic solution mainly regulated pancreatic acinar cells (PACs), macrophages and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) by SiO32- ions to inhibit inflammation and fibrosis and promote acinar regeneration. The possible mechanism of the therapeutic effect of CS ion solution mainly includes the inhibition of PAC apoptosis by down-regulating the c-caspase3 signal pathway and promotion of the regeneration of PACs by up-regulating the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, the CS ion solution also effectively down-regulated the NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce macrophage infiltration and PAC inflammatory factor secretion, thereby reducing PSC mediated pancreatic fibrosis. This bioceramics-based ion solution provides a new idea for disease treatment using biomaterials, which may have the potential for the development of new therapy for CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, 750004, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaowenbin Zhang
- Joint Centre of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Tissue Repair Materials, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325000, China
- State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, People's Republic of China
| | - Deyu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lisi Peng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chuanchao Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoli Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, 750004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhaoshen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiang Chang
- Joint Centre of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Tissue Repair Materials, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325000, China
- State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, People's Republic of China
| | - Haojie Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Y, Zhang WQ, Liu XY, Zhang Q, Mao T, Li XY. Immune cells and immune cell-targeted therapy in chronic pancreatitis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1151103. [PMID: 36969002 PMCID: PMC10034053 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1151103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, studies have attempted to understand the immune cells and mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) by constructing a model of CP. Based on these studies, the innate immune response is a key factor in disease pathogenesis and inflammation severity. Novel mechanisms of crosstalk between immune and non-immune pancreatic cells, such as pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), have also been explored. Immune cells, immune responses, and signaling pathways in CP are important factors in the development and progression of pancreatitis. Based on these mechanisms, targeted therapy may provide a feasible scheme to stop or reverse the progression of the disease in the future and provide a new direction for the treatment of CP. This review summarizes the recent advances in research on immune mechanisms in CP and the new advances in treatment based on these mechanisms.
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7
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Ye L, Shi S, Chen W. Innate immunity in pancreatic cancer: Lineage tracing and function. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1081919. [PMID: 36726981 PMCID: PMC9884680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1081919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasingly, patients with gastrointestinal tumors can benefit from immunotherapy, but not patients with pancreatic cancer. While this lack of benefit has been attributed to lower T-cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer, other studies have demonstrated the presence of numerous T cells in pancreatic cancer, suggesting another mechanism for the poor efficacy of immunotherapy. Single-cell RNA sequencing studies on the pancreatic cancer immune microenvironment have demonstrated the predominance of innate immune cells (e.g., macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, and innate immune lymphoid cells). Therefore, in-depth research on the source and function of innate immune lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer could guide pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longyun Ye
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Saimeng Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine Research, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China,Cancer Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Wei Chen,
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Li QW, Ma LF, Liu CB, Zhou J, Ma BY, Zhuang YX, Zhang KR. Cinobufacini Inhibits the Development of Pancreatic Cancer Cells through the TGF β/Smads Pathway of Pancreatic Stellate Cells. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:3719857. [PMID: 35815263 PMCID: PMC9262525 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3719857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to test cinobufacini therapeutic potential for pancreatic cancer, verify its potential molecular mechanism, and evaluate the cinobufacini impact on pancreatic cancer microenvironment. First, the effect of cinobufacini-treated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) supernatant on the value-added ability of pancreatic cancer (PCCs) was tested. The results show that cinobufacini can effectively reduce the ability of PSCs supernatant to promote the value-added PCCs. Further results show that cinobufacini can effectively reduce the concentration of TGFβ in the supernatant of PSCs. Subsequently, the impact of cinobufacini on the transcription and translation levels of key genes in the TGFβ/Smads pathway was examined. The results showed that the impact of cinobufacini on the transcription levels of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad7 was in a concentration-dependent manner, while the transcriptional activity of collagen I mRNA was decreased with the increase of cinobufacini concentration. The results of protein expression showed that cinobufacini could upregulate the expression of inhibitory protein Smad7, inhibit the phosphorylation level of p-Smad2/3, and then suppress the expression of type I collagen (collagen I). On the one hand, this study shows that cinobufacini can inhibit the promotion of PSCs on the proliferation of PCCs. On the other hand, cinobufacini can upregulate the expression of the inhibitory molecule, Smad7, through the TGFβ/Smads pathway and reduce the phosphorylation level of p-Smad2/3, thereby inhibiting the expression of collagen I and pancreatic fibrosis. cinobufacin can inhibit the proliferation of SW1900 cells by blocking the TGFβ/Smads pathway of pancreatic stellate cells. These results provide a clinical basis for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Wang Li
- Department of Oncology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Long-Fei Ma
- Basic College of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan-Bo Liu
- Department of Oncology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bin-Ya Ma
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Xue Zhuang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ke-Rui Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Fleming Martinez AK, Döppler HR, Bastea LI, Edenfield BH, Liou GY, Storz P. Ym1 + macrophages orchestrate fibrosis, lesion growth, and progression during development of murine pancreatic cancer. iScience 2022; 25:104327. [PMID: 35602933 PMCID: PMC9118688 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Desmoplasia around pancreatic lesions is a barrier for immune cells and a hallmark of developing and established pancreatic cancer. However, the contribution of the innate immune system to this process is ill-defined. Using the KC mouse model and primary cells in vitro, we show that alternatively activated macrophages (AAM) crosstalk with pancreatic lesion cells and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) to mediate fibrosis and progression of lesions. TGFβ1 secreted by AAM not only drives activation of quiescent PSCs but also in activated PSCs upregulates expression of TIMP1, a factor previously shown as crucial in fibrosis. Once activated, PSCs auto-stimulate proliferation via CXCL12. Furthermore, we found that TIMP1/CD63 signaling mediates PanIN lesion growth and TGFβ1 contributes to a cadherin switch and drives structural collapse of lesions, indicating a potential progression step. Taken together, our data indicate TGFβ1 produced by Ym1+ AAM as a major driver of processes that initiate the development of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heike R. Döppler
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Ligia I. Bastea
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Brandy H. Edenfield
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Geou-Yarh Liou
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA,Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Cancer Research & Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Peter Storz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA,Corresponding author
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Opitz FV, Haeberle L, Daum A, Esposito I. Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246188. [PMID: 34944807 PMCID: PMC8699458 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very aggressive neoplasm with a poor survival rate. This is mainly due to late detection, which substantially limits therapy options. A better understanding of the early phases of pancreatic carcinogenesis is fundamental for improving patient prognosis in the future. In this article, we focused on the tumor microenvironment (TME), which provides the biological niche for the development of PDAC from its most common precursor lesions, PanIN (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias). Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. A characteristic of PDAC is the formation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that facilitates bypassing of the immune surveillance. The TME consists of a desmoplastic stroma, largely composed of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immunosuppressive immune cells, immunoregulatory soluble factors, neural network cells, and endothelial cells with complex interactions. PDAC develops from various precursor lesions such as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), and possibly, atypical flat lesions (AFL). In this review, we focus on the composition of the TME in PanINs to reveal detailed insights into the complex restructuring of the TME at early time points in PDAC progression and to explore ways of modifying the TME to slow or even halt tumor progression.
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11
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Mebendazole disrupts stromal desmoplasia and tumorigenesis in two models of pancreatic cancer. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1326-1338. [PMID: 34262644 PMCID: PMC8274724 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The five-year survival rate for metastatic pancreatic cancer is currently only 3%, which increases to 13% with local invasion only and to 39% with localized disease at diagnosis. Here we evaluated repurposed mebendazole, an approved anthelminthic drug, to determine how mebendazole might work at the different stages of pancreatic cancer formation and progression. We asked if mebendazole could prevent initiation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia precursor lesions, interfere with stromal desmoplasia, or suppress tumor growth and liver metastasis. In both the Kras LSL.G12D/+; Pdx1-Cre (KC) mouse model of caerulein-induced inflammatory pancreatitis and the Kras LSL.G12D/+; Tp53 R172H/+; Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mouse model of advanced pancreatic cancer, mebendazole significantly reduced pancreas weight, dysplasia and intraepithelial neoplasia formation, compared to controls. Mebendazole significantly reduced trichrome-positive fibrotic connective tissue and α-SMA-positive activated pancreatic stellate cells that heralds fibrogenesis. In the aggressive KPC model, mebendazole significantly suppressed pancreatic tumor growth, both as an early and late intervention. Mebendazole reduced the overall incidence of pancreatic cancer and severity of liver metastasis in KPC mice. Using early models of pancreatic cancer, treatment with mebendazole resulted in less inflammation, decreased dysplasia, with the later stage model additionally showing a decreased tumor burden, less advanced tumors, and a reduction of metastasis. We conclude that mebendazole should be investigated further as a component of adjuvant therapy to slow progression and prevent metastasis, and well as for primary prevention in the highest risk patients.
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Ahmad RS, Eubank TD, Lukomski S, Boone BA. Immune Cell Modulation of the Extracellular Matrix Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11060901. [PMID: 34204306 PMCID: PMC8234537 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a five-year survival rate of only 9%. PDAC is characterized by a dense, fibrotic stroma composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This desmoplastic stroma is a hallmark of PDAC, representing a significant physical barrier that is immunosuppressive and obstructs penetration of cytotoxic chemotherapy agents into the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, dense ECM promotes hypoxia, making tumor cells refractive to radiation therapy and alters their metabolism, thereby supporting proliferation and survival. In this review, we outline the significant contribution of fibrosis to the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, with a focus on the cross talk between immune cells and pancreatic stellate cells that contribute to ECM deposition. We emphasize the cellular mechanisms by which neutrophils and macrophages, specifically, modulate the ECM in favor of PDAC-progression. Furthermore, we investigate how activated stellate cells and ECM influence immune cells and promote immunosuppression in PDAC. Finally, we summarize therapeutic strategies that target the stroma and hinder immune cell promotion of fibrogenesis, which have unfortunately led to mixed results. An enhanced understanding of the complex interactions between the pancreatic tumor ECM and immune cells may uncover novel treatment strategies that are desperately needed for this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiz S. Ahmad
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
| | - Timothy D. Eubank
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (T.D.E.); (S.L.)
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Slawomir Lukomski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (T.D.E.); (S.L.)
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Brian A. Boone
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (T.D.E.); (S.L.)
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Correspondence:
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Poh AR, Ernst M. Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Therapeutic Opportunities and Clinical Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122860. [PMID: 34201127 PMCID: PMC8226457 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Macrophages are a major component of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, and their increased abundance is associated with poor patient survival. Given the multi-faceted role of macrophages in promoting pancreatic tumor development and progression, these cells represent promising targets for anti-cancer therapy. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignant disease with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Macrophages are one of the earliest infiltrating cells in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, and are associated with an increased risk of disease progression, recurrence, metastasis, and shorter overall survival. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated an unequivocal role of macrophages in PDAC by contributing to chronic inflammation, cancer cell stemness, desmoplasia, immune suppression, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Several macrophage-targeting therapies have also been investigated in pre-clinical models, and include macrophage depletion, inhibiting macrophage recruitment, and macrophage reprogramming. However, the effectiveness of these drugs in pre-clinical models has not always translated into clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that underpin macrophage heterogeneity within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, and examine the contribution of macrophages at various stages of PDAC progression. We also provide a comprehensive update of macrophage-targeting therapies that are currently undergoing clinical evaluation, and discuss clinical challenges associated with these treatment modalities in human PDAC patients.
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Ahmad IM, Dafferner AJ, O’Connell KA, Mehla K, Britigan BE, Hollingsworth MA, Abdalla MY. Heme Oxygenase-1 Inhibition Potentiates the Effects of Nab-Paclitaxel-Gemcitabine and Modulates the Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2264. [PMID: 34066839 PMCID: PMC8125955 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Tumor hypoxia plays an active role in promoting tumor progression, malignancy, and resistance to therapy in PDAC. We present evidence that nab-paclitaxel-gemcitabine (NPG) and/or a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) up-regulate heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), providing a survival advantage for tumors. Using PDAC cells in vitro and a PDAC mouse model, we found that NPG chemotherapy up-regulated expression of HO-1 in PDAC cells and increased its nuclear translocation. Inhibition of HO-1 with ZnPP and SnPP sensitized PDAC cells to NPG-induced cytotoxicity (p < 0.05) and increased apoptosis (p < 0.05). Additionally, HO-1 expression was increased in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells (p < 0.05), and HO-1 inhibition increased GEM-resistant PDAC sensitivity to NPG (p < 0.05). NPG combined with HO-1 inhibitor inhibited tumor size in an orthotopic model. In parallel, HO-1 inhibition abrogated the influx of macrophages and FoxP3+ cells, while increasing the proportion of CD8+ infiltration in the pancreatic tumors. These effects were mediated primarily by reducing expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman M. Ahmad
- College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Alicia J. Dafferner
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Kelly A. O’Connell
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (K.A.O.); (K.M.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Kamiya Mehla
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (K.A.O.); (K.M.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Bradley E. Britigan
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Nebraska Western Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine and Research Service, Omaha, NE 68105, USA;
| | - Michael A. Hollingsworth
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (K.A.O.); (K.M.); (M.A.H.)
| | - Maher Y. Abdalla
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
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Thakur G, Kumar R, Kim SB, Lee SY, Lee SL, Rho GJ. Therapeutic Status and Available Strategies in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020178. [PMID: 33670230 PMCID: PMC7916947 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most severe and devastating cancer is pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the major pancreatic exocrine cancer with a poor prognosis and growing prevalence. It is the most deadly disease, with an overall five-year survival rate of 6% to 10%. According to various reports, it has been demonstrated that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) are the main factor responsible for the tumor development, proliferation, resistance to anti-cancer drugs, and recurrence of tumors after surgery. PCSCs have encouraged new therapeutic methods to be explored that can specifically target cancer cells. Furthermore, stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are known as influential anti-cancer agents as they function through anti-inflammatory, paracrine, cytokines, and chemokine's action. The properties of MSCs, such as migration to the site of infection and host immune cell activation by its secretome, seem to control the microenvironment of the pancreatic tumor. MSCs secretome exhibits similar therapeutic advantages as a conventional cell-based therapy. Moreover, the potential for drug delivery could be enhanced by engineered MSCs to increase drug bioactivity and absorption at the tumor site. In this review, we have discussed available therapeutic strategies, treatment hurdles, and the role of different factors such as PCSCs, cysteine, GPCR, PKM2, signaling pathways, immunotherapy, and NK-based therapy in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitika Thakur
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (G.T.); (S.-B.K.); (S.-Y.L.); (S.-L.L.)
| | - Raj Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan 173 234, Himachal Pradesh, India;
| | - Saet-Byul Kim
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (G.T.); (S.-B.K.); (S.-Y.L.); (S.-L.L.)
| | - Sang-Yeob Lee
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (G.T.); (S.-B.K.); (S.-Y.L.); (S.-L.L.)
| | - Sung-Lim Lee
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (G.T.); (S.-B.K.); (S.-Y.L.); (S.-L.L.)
| | - Gyu-Jin Rho
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea; (G.T.); (S.-B.K.); (S.-Y.L.); (S.-L.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Stromal Protein-Mediated Immune Regulation in Digestive Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13010146. [PMID: 33466303 PMCID: PMC7795083 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Solid cancers are surrounded by a network of non-cancerous cells comprising different cell types, including fibroblasts, and acellular protein structures. This entire network is called the tumor microenvironment (TME) and it provides a physical barrier to the tumor shielding it from infiltrating immune cells, such as lymphocytes, or therapeutic agents. In addition, the TME has been shown to dampen efficient immune responses of infiltrated immune cells, which are key in eliminating cancer cells from the organism. In this review, we will discuss how TME proteins in particular are involved in this dampening effect, known as immunosuppression. We will focus on three different types of digestive cancers: pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer. Moreover, we will discuss current therapeutic approaches using TME proteins as targets to reverse their immunosuppressive effects. Abstract The stromal tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of immune cells, vascular and neural structures, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as well as extracellular matrix (ECM), and favors immune escape mechanisms promoting the initiation and progression of digestive cancers. Numerous ECM proteins released by stromal and tumor cells are crucial in providing physical rigidity to the TME, though they are also key regulators of the immune response against cancer cells by interacting directly with immune cells or engaging with immune regulatory molecules. Here, we discuss current knowledge of stromal proteins in digestive cancers including pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer, focusing on their functions in inhibiting tumor immunity and enabling drug resistance. Moreover, we will discuss the implication of stromal proteins as therapeutic targets to unleash efficient immunotherapy-based treatments.
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17
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Han X, Zhang WH, Wang WQ, Yu XJ, Liu L. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer: Present situation, predicaments, and perspectives. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188444. [PMID: 33031899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal, and the most effective treatment is curative resection followed by chemotherapy. Unfortunately, chemoresistance is an extremely common occurrence, and novel treatment modalities, such as immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy, have shown limited success in clinical practice. Pancreatic cancer is characterized by an abundant stromal compartment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the extracellular matrix they deposit account for a large portion of the pancreatic tumor stroma. CAFs interact directly and indirectly with pancreatic cancer cells and can compromise the effects of, and even promote tumorigenic responses to, various treatment approaches. To eliminate these adverse effects, CAFs depletion strategies were developed. Instead of the anticipated antitumor effects of CAFs depletion, more aggressive tumor phenotypes were occasionally observed. The failure of universal stromal depletion led to the investigation of CAFs heterogeneity that forms the foundation for stromal remodeling and normalization. This review analyzes the role of CAFs in therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer and discusses potential CAFs-targeting strategies basing on the diverse biological functions of CAFs, thus to improve the outcome of pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Han
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wu-Hu Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Quan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xian-Jun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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18
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Macrophages in pancreatitis: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 131:110693. [PMID: 32882586 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis that is a common gastrointestinal disease. Particularly, macrophages differentiate into different phenotypes and exert diverse functions in acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), respectively. In AP, macrophages in the pancreas and other related organs are mainly activated and differentiated into a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and furthermore secrete inflammatory cytokines and mediators, causing local inflammation of the pancreas, and even intractable systemic inflammatory response or multiple organ failure. In CP, macrophages often exhibit a M2 polarisation and interact with pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in an autocrine and paracrine cytokine-dependent manner to promote the progression of pancreatic fibrosis. As the severity of pancreatic fibrosis aggravates, the proportion of M2/M1 macrophage cytokines in the pancreas increases. The discovery of macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis has promoted the research of targeted drugs, which provides great potential for the effective treatment of pancreatitis. This paper provides an overview of the roles of various macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and the current research status of pancreatitis immunotherapy targeting macrophages. The findings addressed in this review are of considerable significance for understanding the pivotal role of macrophages in pancreatitis.
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19
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Huang X, He C, Hua X, Kan A, Mao Y, Sun S, Duan F, Wang J, Huang P, Li S. Oxidative stress induces monocyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation through p38 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10:e41. [PMID: 32508052 PMCID: PMC7403727 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are among the most prominent cells during the desmoplastic reaction in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, CAFs are heterogeneous and the precise origins are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore whether monocytes can transdifferentiate into fibroblasts in PDAC and evaluate the clinical significance of this event. METHODS CD14+ monocytes were freshly isolated from human peripheral blood. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blot, flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expression of αSMA, fibronectin, and other relevant molecules. In addition, latex beads with a mean particle size of 2.0 µm were used to assess the phagocytic capacity. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to identify the differences induced by H2 O2 and the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS Immunofluorescence identified αSMA and fibroblast-specific protein 1 expression by tumor-associated macrophages in PDAC. The in vitro experiment revealed that oxidative stress (H2 O2 or radiation) induced monocyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (MMT), as identified by upregulated αSMA expression at both the RNA and protein levels. In addition, compared with freshly isolated monocytes, human monocyte-derived macrophages increased fibronectin expression. RNA-seq analysis identified p53 activation and other signatures accompanying this transdifferentiation; however, the p53 stabilizer nutlin-3 induced αSMA expression through reactive oxygen species generation but not through the p53 transcription/mitochondria-dependent pathway, whereas the p38 inhibitor SB203580 could partially inhibit αSMA expression. Finally, MMT produced a unique subset of CAFs with reduced phagocytic capacity that could promote the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS Oxidative stress in the tumor microenvironment could induce MMT in PDAC, thus inducing reactive stroma, modulating immunosuppression, and promoting tumor progression. Reducing oxidative stress may be a promising future therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chaobin He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xin Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Medical OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Anna Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Hepatic SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yize Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Shuxin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Fangting Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Peng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Shengping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Experimental ResearchSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
- Department of Pancreatobiliary SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
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Pothula SP, Pirola RC, Wilson JS, Apte MV. Pancreatic stellate cells: Aiding and abetting pancreatic cancer progression. Pancreatology 2020; 20:409-418. [PMID: 31928917 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumour-stromal interactions have now been acknowledged to play a major role in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. The abundant collagenous stroma is produced by a specific cell type in the pancreas-the pancreatic stellate cell (PSC). Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are a unique resident cell type of pancreas and with a critical role in both healthy and diseased pancreas. Accumulating evidence indicates that PSCs interact closely with cancer cells as well as with other cell types of the stroma such as immune cells, endothelial cells and neuronal cells, to set up a growth permissive microenvironment for pancreatic tumours, which facilitates local tumour growth as well as distant metastasis. Consequently, recent work in the field has focused on the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting the stroma to inhibit PC progression. Such a multi-pronged approach targeting both tumour and stromal elements of PC has been successfully applied in pre-clinical settings. The challenge now is to translate the pre-clinical findings into the clinical setting to achieve better outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa P Pothula
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia
| | - Romano C Pirola
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Wilson
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia
| | - Minoti V Apte
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia.
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21
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Fan JQ, Wang MF, Chen HL, Shang D, Das JK, Song J. Current advances and outlooks in immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:32. [PMID: 32061257 PMCID: PMC7023714 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01151-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an incurable cancer resistant to traditional treatments, although a limited number of early-stage patients can undergo radical resection. Immunotherapies for the treatment of haematological malignancies as well as solid tumours have been substantially improved over the past decades, and impressive results have been obtained in recent preclinical and clinical trials. However, PDAC is likely the exception because of its unique tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review, we summarize the characteristics of the PDAC TME and focus on the network of various tumour-infiltrating immune cells, outlining the current advances in PDAC immunotherapy and addressing the effect of the PDAC TME on immunotherapy. This review further explores the combinations of different therapies used to enhance antitumour efficacy or reverse immunodeficiencies and describes optimizable immunotherapeutic strategies for PDAC. The concordant combination of various treatments, such as targeting cancer cells and the stroma, reversing suppressive immune reactions and enhancing antitumour reactivity, may be the most promising approach for the treatment of PDAC. Traditional treatments, especially chemotherapy, may also be optimized for individual patients to remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment for enhanced therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-qiao Fan
- Third General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Meng-Fei Wang
- Third General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hai-Long Chen
- Third General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Third General Surgery Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jugal K. Das
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX USA
| | - Jianxun Song
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX USA
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22
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Xu S, Xu H, Wang W, Li S, Li H, Li T, Zhang W, Yu X, Liu L. The role of collagen in cancer: from bench to bedside. J Transl Med 2019; 17:309. [PMID: 31521169 PMCID: PMC6744664 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-2058-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 404] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Collagen is the major component of the tumor microenvironment and participates in cancer fibrosis. Collagen biosynthesis can be regulated by cancer cells through mutated genes, transcription factors, signaling pathways and receptors; furthermore, collagen can influence tumor cell behavior through integrins, discoidin domain receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors, and some signaling pathways. Exosomes and microRNAs are closely associated with collagen in cancer. Hypoxia, which is common in collagen-rich conditions, intensifies cancer progression, and other substances in the extracellular matrix, such as fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, laminin, and matrix metalloproteinases, interact with collagen to influence cancer cell activity. Macrophages, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts play a role with collagen in cancer immunity and progression. Microscopic changes in collagen content within cancer cells and matrix cells and in other molecules ultimately contribute to the mutual feedback loop that influences prognosis, recurrence, and resistance in cancer. Nanoparticles, nanoplatforms, and nanoenzymes exhibit the expected gratifying properties. The pathophysiological functions of collagen in diverse cancers illustrate the dual roles of collagen and provide promising therapeutic options that can be readily translated from bench to bedside. The emerging understanding of the structural properties and functions of collagen in cancer will guide the development of new strategies for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaishuai Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaxiang Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenquan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianjiao Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wuhu Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Wang N, Zhao TT, Li SM, Li YH, Wang YJ, Li DS, Wang WF. Fibroblast growth factor 21 ameliorates pancreatic fibrogenesis via regulating polarization of macrophages. Exp Cell Res 2019; 382:111457. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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24
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Shi C, Pan FC, Kim JN, Washington MK, Padmanabhan C, Meyer CT, Kopp JL, Sander M, Gannon M, Beauchamp RD, Wright CV, Means AL. Differential Cell Susceptibilities to Kras G12D in the Setting of Obstructive Chronic Pancreatitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 8:579-594. [PMID: 31310834 PMCID: PMC6889613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Activating mutation of the KRAS gene is common in some cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, but rare in other cancers. Chronic pancreatitis is a predisposing condition for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but how it synergizes with KRAS mutation is not known. METHODS We used a mouse model to express an activating mutation of Kras in conjunction with obstruction of the main pancreatic duct to recapitulate a common etiology of human chronic pancreatitis. Because the cell of origin of PDAC is not clear, Kras mutation was introduced into either duct cells or acinar cells. RESULTS Although KrasG12D expression in both cell types was protective against damage-associated cell death, chronic pancreatitis induced p53, p21, and growth arrest only in acinar-derived cells. Mutant duct cells did not elevate p53 or p21 expression and exhibited increased proliferation driving the appearance of PDAC over time. CONCLUSIONS One mechanism by which tissues may be susceptible or resistant to KRASG12D-initiated tumorigenesis is whether they undergo a p53-mediated damage response. In summary, we have uncovered a mechanism by which inflammation and intrinsic cellular programming synergize for the development of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Shi
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Fong Cheng Pan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jessica N Kim
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Christian T Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Janel L Kopp
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Maike Sander
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Maureen Gannon
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - R Daniel Beauchamp
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Christopher V Wright
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Anna L Means
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
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25
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Cortes E, Sarper M, Robinson B, Lachowski D, Chronopoulos A, Thorpe SD, Lee DA, Del Río Hernández AE. GPER is a mechanoregulator of pancreatic stellate cells and the tumor microenvironment. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e46556. [PMID: 30538117 PMCID: PMC6322386 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201846556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment are emerging as attractive targets for the development of therapies. Tamoxifen, an agonist of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), is widely used to treat estrogen-positive breast cancer. Here, we show that tamoxifen mechanically reprograms the tumor microenvironment through a newly identified GPER-mediated mechanism. Tamoxifen inhibits the myofibroblastic differentiation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer in an acto-myosin-dependent manner via RhoA-mediated contractility, YAP deactivation, and GPER signaling. This hampers the ability of PSCs to remodel the extracellular matrix and to promote cancer cell invasion. Tamoxifen also reduces the recruitment and polarization to the M2 phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages. Our results highlight GPER as a mechanical regulator of the tumor microenvironment that targets the three hallmarks of pancreatic cancer: desmoplasia, inflammation, and immune suppression. The well-established safety of tamoxifen in clinics may offer the possibility to redirect the singular focus of tamoxifen on the cancer cells to the greater tumor microenvironment and lead a new strategy of drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Cortes
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Muge Sarper
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Robinson
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Dariusz Lachowski
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Antonios Chronopoulos
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen D Thorpe
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - David A Lee
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Armando E Del Río Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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26
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Wang Y, Lu S, Xiong J, Singh K, Hui Y, Zhao C, Brodsky AS, Yang D, Jolly G, Ouseph M, Schorl C, DeLellis RA, Resnick MB. ColXα1 is a stromal component that colocalizes with elastin in the breast tumor extracellular matrix. JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH 2018; 5:40-52. [PMID: 30207088 PMCID: PMC6317058 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment regulates tissue development and homeostasis, and its dysregulation contributes to neoplastic progression. Increased expression of type X collagen α‐1 (ColXα1) in tumor‐associated stroma correlates with poor pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancers. Evaluation of ColXα1 expression patterns suggests a potential connection with elastin fibers. To investigate the possible interaction between ColXα1 and elastin, we evaluated the expression of ColXα1 in relation to elastin fibers in normal breast tissue, ductal carcinoma in situ, and invasive breast carcinomas at cellular and subcellular levels. Our findings demonstrate that ColXα1 colocalizes with elastin in invasive breast cancer‐associated stroma by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. In 212 invasive breast carcinomas, this complex was aberrantly and selectively expressed in tumor extracellular matrix in 79% of ER+/HER2−, 80% of ER+/HER2+, 76% of ER−/HER2+, and 58% of triple negative breast cancers. In contrast, ColXα1 was generally absent, while elastin was present perivascularly in normal breast tissue. ColXα1 and elastin were coexpressed in 58% of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in periductal areas. In mass‐forming DCIS with desmoplastic stroma, the complex was intensely expressed in periductal areas as well as within the tumor‐associated stroma in all cases. Our data suggest that the breast carcinoma neoplastic process may involve aberrant expression of ColXα1 and elastin in the tumor microenvironment emerging early at the DCIS stage. Enrichment of these complexes in tumor‐associated stroma may represent a stromal signature indicative of intrinsic differences between breast cancers. These findings shed light on investigation into the role of aberrant collagen complex expression in tumorigenesis and tumor progression which may be leveraged in therapeutic and theranostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Shaolei Lu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jinjun Xiong
- Department of Pathology, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kamaljeet Singh
- Department of Pathology, Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Yiang Hui
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Chaohui Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Alexander S Brodsky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Dongfang Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Grant Jolly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Madhu Ouseph
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Christoph Schorl
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ronald A DeLellis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Murray B Resnick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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27
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Sun Q, Zhang B, Hu Q, Qin Y, Xu W, Liu W, Yu X, Xu J. The impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts on major hallmarks of pancreatic cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:5072-5087. [PMID: 30429887 PMCID: PMC6217060 DOI: 10.7150/thno.26546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) constitutes one of the most challenging lethal tumors and has a very poor prognosis. In addition to cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment created by a repertoire of resident and recruited cells and the extracellular matrix also contribute to the acquisition of hallmarks of cancer. Among these factors, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical components of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs originate from the activation of resident fibroblasts and pancreatic stellate cells, the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. CAFs acquire an activated phenotype via various cytokines and promote tumor proliferation and growth, accelerate invasion and metastasis, induce angiogenesis, promote inflammation and immune destruction, regulate tumor metabolism, and induce chemoresistance; these factors contribute to the acquisition of major hallmarks of PDAC. Therefore, an improved understanding of the impact of CAFs on the major hallmarks of PDAC will highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic values of these targeted cells.
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28
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Ren B, Cui M, Yang G, Wang H, Feng M, You L, Zhao Y. Tumor microenvironment participates in metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:108. [PMID: 30060755 PMCID: PMC6065152 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0858-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 345] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with high mortality due to difficulties in its early diagnosis and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment induced by interactions between pancreatic epithelial/cancer cells and stromal cells is critical for pancreatic cancer progression and has been implicated in the failure of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Microenvironment formation requires interactions between pancreatic cancer cells and stromal cells. Components of the pancreatic cancer microenvironment that contribute to desmoplasia and immunosuppression are associated with poor patient prognosis. These components can facilitate desmoplasia and immunosuppression in primary and metastatic sites or can promote metastasis by stimulating angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion/migration, and pre-metastatic niche formation. Some molecules participate in both microenvironment formation and metastasis. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of pancreatic cancer microenvironment formation and discuss how the pancreatic cancer microenvironment participates in metastasis, representing a potential target for combination therapy to enhance overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanyu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyu Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Murthy D, Attri KS, Singh PK. Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling Pathway in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression, Pathogenesis, and Therapeutics. Front Physiol 2018; 9:335. [PMID: 29670543 PMCID: PMC5893816 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by its sudden manifestation, rapid progression, poor prognosis, and limited therapeutic options. Genetic alterations in key signaling pathways found in early pancreatic lesions are pivotal for the development and progression of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplastic lesions into invasive carcinomas. More than 90% of PDAC tumors harbor driver mutations in K-Ras that activate various downstream effector-signaling pathways, including the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. The PI3K pathway also responds to stimuli from various growth factor receptors present on the cancer cell surface that, in turn, modulate downstream signaling cascades. Thus, the inositide signaling acts as a central node in the complex cellular signaling networks to impact cancer cell growth, motility, metabolism, and survival. Also, recent publications highlight the importance of PI3K signaling in stromal cells, whereby PI3K signaling modifies the tumor microenvironment to dictate disease outcome. The high incidence of mutations in the PI3K signaling cascade, accompanied by activation of parallel signaling pathways, makes PI3K a promising candidate for drug therapy. In this review, we describe the role of PI3K signaling in pancreatic cancer development and progression. We also discuss the crosstalk between PI3K and other major cellular signaling cascades, and potential therapeutic opportunities for targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Murthy
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Kuldeep S Attri
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
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30
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Ko J, Bhagwat N, Yee SS, Ortiz N, Sahmoud A, Black T, Aiello NM, McKenzie L, O'Hara M, Redlinger C, Romeo J, Carpenter EL, Stanger BZ, Issadore D. Combining Machine Learning and Nanofluidic Technology To Diagnose Pancreatic Cancer Using Exosomes. ACS NANO 2017; 11:11182-11193. [PMID: 29019651 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b05503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Circulating exosomes contain a wealth of proteomic and genetic information, presenting an enormous opportunity in cancer diagnostics. While microfluidic approaches have been used to successfully isolate cells from complex samples, scaling these approaches for exosome isolation has been limited by the low throughput and susceptibility to clogging of nanofluidics. Moreover, the analysis of exosomal biomarkers is confounded by substantial heterogeneity between patients and within a tumor itself. To address these challenges, we developed a multichannel nanofluidic system to analyze crude clinical samples. Using this platform, we isolated exosomes from healthy and diseased murine and clinical cohorts, profiled the RNA cargo inside of these exosomes, and applied a machine learning algorithm to generate predictive panels that could identify samples derived from heterogeneous cancer-bearing individuals. Using this approach, we classified cancer and precancer mice from healthy controls, as well as pancreatic cancer patients from healthy controls, in blinded studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jina Ko
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Neha Bhagwat
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Stephanie S Yee
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Natalia Ortiz
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Amine Sahmoud
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Taylor Black
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Nicole M Aiello
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Lydie McKenzie
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Mark O'Hara
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Colleen Redlinger
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Janae Romeo
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Erica L Carpenter
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - David Issadore
- Department of Bioengineering and ∥Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and §Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine and ⊥Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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31
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Erdogan B, Ao M, White LM, Means AL, Brewer BM, Yang L, Washington MK, Shi C, Franco OE, Weaver AM, Hayward SW, Li D, Webb DJ. Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote directional cancer cell migration by aligning fibronectin. J Cell Biol 2017; 216:3799-3816. [PMID: 29021221 PMCID: PMC5674895 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201704053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 359] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the carcinoma microenvironment that promote tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which CAFs regulate cancer cell migration are poorly understood. In this study, we show that fibronectin (Fn) assembled by CAFs mediates CAF-cancer cell association and directional migration. Compared with normal fibroblasts, CAFs produce an Fn-rich extracellular matrix with anisotropic fiber orientation, which guides the cancer cells to migrate directionally. CAFs align the Fn matrix by increasing nonmuscle myosin II- and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α-mediated contractility and traction forces, which are transduced to Fn through α5β1 integrin. We further show that prostate cancer cells use αv integrin to migrate efficiently and directionally on CAF-derived matrices. We demonstrate that aligned Fn is a prominent feature of invasion sites in human prostatic and pancreatic carcinoma samples. Collectively, we present a new mechanism by which CAFs organize the Fn matrix and promote directional cancer cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begum Erdogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Mingfang Ao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Lauren M White
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Anna L Means
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Bryson M Brewer
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Lijie Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Chanjuan Shi
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Omar E Franco
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Alissa M Weaver
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Simon W Hayward
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL
| | - Deyu Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Donna J Webb
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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32
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Park H, Lee Y, Lee H, Kim JW, Hwang JH, Kim J, Yoon YS, Han HS, Kim H. The prognostic significance of cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317718403. [PMID: 29025374 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317718403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts are abundant in the desmoplastic stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and are considered to play important roles in tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the expression status of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, periostin, fibroblast-activated protein, and the newly developed proCOL11A1 antibody in the stroma of surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and their prognostic implications. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 155 surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and paired non-neoplastic pancreata and from another independent set of 48 normal/benign pancreata, and immunohistochemical stains were performed for proCOL11A1, fibroblast-activated protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, and periostin. The immunohistochemical stain results were correlated with clinicopathological features and survival data. proCOL11A1, fibroblast-activated protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, and periostin expression was significantly increased in the intratumoral stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas compared to paired non-neoplastic pancreata (proCOL11A1: 145/155 (93.5%) vs 26/154 (16.9%); fibroblast-activated protein: 139/143 (97.2%) vs 82/132 (62.1%); secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine: 113/150 (75.3%) vs 49/132 (37.1%); periostin: 135/151 (89.4%) vs 45/135 (33.3%); p < 0.001, all). While the four markers were expressed at lower levels in normal/benign pancreata, there were no significant differences in the expression frequencies among normal pancreas, acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis. Interestingly, on survival analysis, low intratumoral fibroblast-activated protein+ cancer-associated fibroblast counts (<100/high-power field) were associated with a significantly reduced overall survival compared to those with high fibroblast-activated protein+ cancer-associated fibroblast counts (p = 0.010; hazard ratio 5.2 (95% confidence interval 1.3-21.3)). Similar patterns were seen for proCOL11A and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine and overall and disease-free survival, although not statistically significant. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor stroma may not always be associated with a poor prognosis as suggested in many studies; on the contrary, it may even be associated with prolonged survival, supporting the recent experimental findings that tumor stroma may have a protective role rather than enhance aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Park
- 1 Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yangkyu Lee
- 2 Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyejung Lee
- 1 Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Won Kim
- 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin-Hyeok Hwang
- 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jaihwan Kim
- 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Yoo-Seok Yoon
- 4 Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Ho-Seong Han
- 4 Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Haeryoung Kim
- 1 Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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33
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Basso D, Gnatta E, Padoan A, Fogar P, Furlanello S, Aita A, Bozzato D, Zambon CF, Arrigoni G, Frasson C, Franchin C, Moz S, Brefort T, Laufer T, Navaglia F, Pedrazzoli S, Basso G, Plebani M. PDAC-derived exosomes enrich the microenvironment in MDSCs in a SMAD4-dependent manner through a new calcium related axis. Oncotarget 2017; 8:84928-84944. [PMID: 29156694 PMCID: PMC5689584 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor genetics and escape from immune surveillance concur in the poor prognosis of PDAC. In this study an experimental model was set up to verify whether SMAD4, deleted in about 55% PDAC and associated with poor prognosis, is involved in determining immunosuppression through Exosomes (Exo). Potential mechanisms and mediators underlying SMAD4-dependent immunosuppression were evaluated by studying intracellular calcium (Fluo-4), Exo-miRNAs (microarray) and Exo-proteins (SILAC). Two PDAC cell lines expressing (BxPC3-SMAD4+) or not-expressing (BxPC3) SMAD4 were used to prepare Exo-enriched conditioned media, employed in experiments with blood donors PBMCs. Exo expanded myeloid derived suppressor cells (gMDSC and mMDSC, flow cytometry) and altered intracellular calcium fluxes in an SMAD4 dependent manner. BxPC3-SMAD4+, but mainly BxPC3 Exo, increased calcium fluxes of PBMCs (p = 0.007) and this increased intracellular calcium trafficking characterized mMDSCs. The analysis of de-regulated Exo-miRNAs and transfection experiments revealed hsa-miR-494-3p and has-miR-1260a as potential mediators of SMAD4-associated de-regulated calcium fluxes. Eleven main biological processes were identified by the analysis of SMAD4-associated de-regulated Exo-proteins, including translation, cell adhesion, cell signaling and glycolysis. A reverse Warburg effect was observed by treating PBMCs with PDAC-derived Exo: BxPC3 Exo induced a higher glucose consumption and lactate production than BxPC3-SMAD4+ Exo. Conclusion: PDAC-derived Exo from cells with, but mainly from those without SMAD4 expression, create an immunosuppressive myeloid cell background by increasing calcium fluxes and glycolysis through the transfer of SMAD4-related differentially expressed miRNAs and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Basso
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Gnatta
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Padoan
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Fogar
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Furlanello
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ada Aita
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Dania Bozzato
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Arrigoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Proteomic Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Frasson
- Department of Woman and Child Health, Oncohematology Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cinzia Franchin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Proteomic Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Moz
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Thomas Brefort
- Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH, Ebersberg, Germany.,Comprehensive Biomarker Center GmbH (Recently re-named to Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Laufer
- Comprehensive Biomarker Center GmbH (Recently re-named to Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Filippo Navaglia
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Basso
- Department of Woman and Child Health, Oncohematology Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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34
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Drosos Y, Escobar D, Chiang MY, Roys K, Valentine V, Valentine MB, Rehg JE, Sahai V, Begley LA, Ye J, Paul L, McKinnon PJ, Sosa-Pineda B. ATM-deficiency increases genomic instability and metastatic potential in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11144. [PMID: 28894253 PMCID: PMC5593966 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline mutations in ATM (encoding the DNA-damage signaling kinase, ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated) increase Familial Pancreatic Cancer (FPC) susceptibility, and ATM somatic mutations have been identified in resected human pancreatic tumors. Here we investigated how Atm contributes to pancreatic cancer by deleting this gene in a murine model of the disease expressing oncogenic Kras (KrasG12D). We show that partial or total ATM deficiency cooperates with KrasG12D to promote highly metastatic pancreatic cancer. We also reveal that ATM is activated in pancreatic precancerous lesions in the context of DNA damage and cell proliferation, and demonstrate that ATM deficiency leads to persistent DNA damage in both precancerous lesions and primary tumors. Using low passage cultures from primary tumors and liver metastases we show that ATM loss accelerates Kras-induced carcinogenesis without conferring a specific phenotype to pancreatic tumors or changing the status of the tumor suppressors p53, p16Ink4a and p19Arf. However, ATM deficiency markedly increases the proportion of chromosomal alterations in pancreatic primary tumors and liver metastases. More importantly, ATM deficiency also renders murine pancreatic tumors highly sensitive to radiation. These and other findings in our study conclusively establish that ATM activity poses a major barrier to oncogenic transformation in the pancreas via maintaining genomic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiannis Drosos
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - David Escobar
- Department of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ming-Yi Chiang
- Department of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kathryn Roys
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Virginia Valentine
- Department of Cytogenetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Marc B Valentine
- Department of Cytogenetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jerold E Rehg
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Vaibhav Sahai
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Lesa A Begley
- Department of General Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jianming Ye
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Leena Paul
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Peter J McKinnon
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Beatriz Sosa-Pineda
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
- Department of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.
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35
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Chen K, Qian W, Li J, Jiang Z, Cheng L, Yan B, Cao J, Sun L, Zhou C, Lei M, Duan W, Ma J, Ma Q, Ma Z. Loss of AMPK activation promotes the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer through an HSF1-dependent pathway. Mol Oncol 2017; 11:1475-1492. [PMID: 28783244 PMCID: PMC5623818 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with a mortality rate that closely parallels its incidence rate, and a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the invasion and distant metastasis is required. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a very highly conserved factor in eukaryotes that regulates the protective heat shock response. Here, we show that HSF1 is abnormally activated in pancreatic cancer. The knockdown of HSF1 impaired the invasion and migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro; however, the upregulation of HSF1 showed the opposite effects. In vivo, the pharmacological inhibition of HSF1 significantly reduced the tumor burden, decreased the incidence of invasion, and prolonged the overall survival of transgenic mice harboring the spontaneous pancreatic cancer. We suggest that the loss of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation mediates the abnormal activation of HSF1 based on the findings that phospho‐HSF1 (p‐HSF1) was highly expressed in human PDAC tissues with a low expression of p‐AMPK and that in those tissues with a high p‐AMPK expression, the level of p‐HSF1 was decreased. The in vivo and in vitro activation of AMPK impaired the activity of HSF1, and HSF1 mediated the effects of the AMPK knockdown‐induced pancreatic cancer invasion and migration. Our study revealed a novel mechanism by which the loss of AMPK activation amplifies the activity of HSF1 to promote the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Weikun Qian
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Zhengdong Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Junyu Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Liankang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Cancan Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Meng Lei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Wanxing Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Jiguang Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Qingyong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
| | - Zhenhua Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
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36
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Ding L, Liou GY, Schmitt DM, Storz P, Zhang JS, Billadeau DD. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β ablation limits pancreatitis-induced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. J Pathol 2017. [PMID: 28639695 DOI: 10.1002/path.4928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) is a reversible epithelial transdifferentiation process that occurs in the pancreas in response to acute inflammation. ADM can rapidly progress towards pre-malignant pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions in the presence of mutant KRas and ultimately pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In the present work, we elucidate the role and related mechanism of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) in ADM development using in vitro 3D cultures and genetically engineered mouse models. We show that GSK-3β promotes TGF-α-induced ADM in 3D cultured primary acinar cells, whereas deletion of GSK-3β attenuates caerulein-induced ADM formation and PanIN progression in KrasG12D transgenic mice. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GSK-3β ablation influences ADM formation and PanIN progression by suppressing oncogenic KRas-driven cell proliferation. Mechanistically, we show that GSK-3β regulates proliferation by increasing the activation of S6 kinase. Taken together, these results indicate that GSK-3β participates in early pancreatitis-induced ADM and thus could be a target for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis and the prevention of PDAC progression. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ding
- Division of Oncology Research and Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Geou-Yarh Liou
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Peter Storz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jin-San Zhang
- Division of Oncology Research and Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Center for Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University; Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Daniel D Billadeau
- Division of Oncology Research and Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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37
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Liu Q, Liao Q, Zhao Y. Chemotherapy and tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2017; 17:68. [PMID: 28694739 PMCID: PMC5498917 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-017-0437-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an extremely dismal malignance. Chemotherapy has been widely applied to treat this intractable tumor. It has exclusive tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by dense desmoplasia and profound infiltrations of immunosuppressive cells. Interactions between stromal cells and cancer cells play vital roles to affect the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer. Targeting the stromal components of pancreatic cancer has shown promising results. In addition to the direct toxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on cancer cells, they can also remodel the TME, eventually affecting their efficacy. Herein, we reviewed the following four aspects; (1) clinical landmark advances of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer, since 2000; (2) interactions and mechanisms between stromal cells and pancreatic cancer cells; (3) remodeling effects and mechanisms of chemotherapy on TME; (4) targeting stromal components in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaofei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1# Shuai Fu Yuan, Dong Dan District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Quan Liao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1# Shuai Fu Yuan, Dong Dan District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 1# Shuai Fu Yuan, Dong Dan District, Beijing, 100730 China
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38
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Crosstalk between stromal cells and cancer cells in pancreatic cancer: New insights into stromal biology. Cancer Lett 2017; 392:83-93. [PMID: 28189533 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. Increasing evidence has confirmed the pivotal role of stromal components in the regulation of carcinogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in PC. Interaction between neoplastic cells and stromal cells builds a specific microenvironment, which further modulates the malignant properties of cancer cells. Instead of being a "passive bystander", stroma may play a role as a "partner in crime" in PC. However, the role of stromal components in PC is complex and requires further investigation. In this article, we review recent advances regarding the regulatory roles and mechanisms of stroma biology, especially the cellular components such as pancreatic stellate cells, macrophages, neutrophils, adipocytes, epithelial cells, pericytes, mast cells, and lymphocytes, in PC. Crosstalk between stromal cells and cancer cells is thoroughly investigated. We also review the prognostic value and molecular therapeutic targets of stroma in PC. This review may help us further understand the molecular mechanisms of stromal biology and its role in PC development and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, targeting stroma components may provide new therapeutic strategies for this stubborn disease.
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39
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Cullis J, Siolas D, Avanzi A, Barui S, Maitra A, Bar-Sagi D. Macropinocytosis of Nab-paclitaxel Drives Macrophage Activation in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 5:182-190. [PMID: 28108630 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that is largely refractory to currently available treatment strategies. Therapeutic resistance is partially attributed to the dense stromal reaction of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors that includes a pervasive infiltration of immunosuppressive (M2) macrophages. Nab-paclitaxel (trade name Abraxane) is a nanoparticle albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel that, in combination with gemcitabine, is currently the first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer. Here, we show that macrophages internalized nab-paclitaxel via macropinocytosis. The macropinocytic uptake of nab-paclitaxel induced macrophage immunostimulatory (M1) cytokine expression and synergized with IFNγ to promote inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in a TLR4-dependent manner. Nab-paclitaxel was internalized by tumor-associated macrophages in vivo, and therapeutic doses of nab-paclitaxel alone, and in combination with gemcitabine, increased the MHCII+CD80+CD86+ M1 macrophage population. These data revealed an unanticipated role for nab-paclitaxel in macrophage activation and rationalized its potential use to target immune evasion in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(3); 182-90. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Despina Siolas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Antonina Avanzi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Sugata Barui
- Departments of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Departments of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Dafna Bar-Sagi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
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40
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Nagathihalli NS, Castellanos JA, VanSaun MN, Dai X, Ambrose M, Guo Q, Xiong Y, Merchant NB. Pancreatic stellate cell secreted IL-6 stimulates STAT3 dependent invasiveness of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 7:65982-65992. [PMID: 27602757 PMCID: PMC5323208 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a dynamic tumor supported by several stromal elements such as pancreatic stellate cells (PSC). Significant crosstalk exists between PSCs and tumor cells to stimulate oncogenic signaling and malignant progression of PDAC. However, how PSCs activate intercellular signaling in PDAC cells remains to be elucidated. We have previously shown that activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling is a key component in the progression of pancreatic neoplasia. We hypothesize that PSC secreted IL-6 activates STAT3 signaling to promote PanIN progression to PDAC. Human PDAC and mouse PanIN cells were treated with PSC-conditioned media (PSC-CM), and phospho- and total-STAT3 levels by immunoblot analysis were determined. IL-6 was quantified in PSC-CM and cell invasion and colony formation assays were performed in the presence or absence of a neutralizing IL-6 antibody and the JAK/STAT3 inhibitor AZD1480. Serum from Ptf1aCre/+;LSL-KrasG12D/+;Tgfbr2flox/flox (PKT) and LSL-KrasG12D/+; Trp53R172H/+; Pdx1Cre/+ (KPC) mice demonstrated increased levels of IL-6 compared to serum from non-PDAC bearing KC and PK mice. PSC secreted IL-6 activated STAT3 signaling in noninvasive, precursor PanIN cells as well as PDAC cells, resulting in enhanced cell invasion and colony formation in both cell types. There was a significant positive linear correlation between IL-6 concentration and the ratio of phosphorylated STAT3/total STAT3. IL-6 neutralization or STAT3 inhibition attenuated PSC-CM induced activation of STAT3 signaling and tumorigenicity. These data provide evidence that PSCs are directly involved in promoting the progression of PanINs towards invasive carcinoma. This study demonstrates a novel role of PSC secreted IL-6 in transitioning noninvasive pancreatic precursor cells into invasive PDAC through the activation of STAT3 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagaraj S. Nagathihalli
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jason A. Castellanos
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael N. VanSaun
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Xizi Dai
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Qiaozhi Guo
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yanhua Xiong
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nipun B. Merchant
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, USA
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Kaneda MM, Cappello P, Nguyen AV, Ralainirina N, Hardamon CR, Foubert P, Schmid MC, Sun P, Mose E, Bouvet M, Lowy AM, Valasek MA, Sasik R, Novelli F, Hirsch E, Varner JA. Macrophage PI3Kγ Drives Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression. Cancer Discov 2016; 6:870-85. [PMID: 27179037 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-1346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with a low 5-year survival rate, yet new immunotherapeutic modalities may offer hope for this and other intractable cancers. Here, we report that inhibitory targeting of PI3Kγ, a key macrophage lipid kinase, stimulates antitumor immune responses, leading to improved survival and responsiveness to standard-of-care chemotherapy in animal models of PDAC. PI3Kγ selectively drives immunosuppressive transcriptional programming in macrophages that inhibits adaptive immune responses and promotes tumor cell invasion and desmoplasia in PDAC. Blockade of PI3Kγ in PDAC-bearing mice reprograms tumor-associated macrophages to stimulate CD8(+) T-cell-mediated tumor suppression and to inhibit tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and desmoplasia. These data indicate the central role that macrophage PI3Kγ plays in PDAC progression and demonstrate that pharmacologic inhibition of PI3Kγ represents a new therapeutic modality for this devastating tumor type. SIGNIFICANCE We report here that PI3Kγ regulates macrophage transcriptional programming, leading to T-cell suppression, desmoplasia, and metastasis in pancreas adenocarcinoma. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of PI3Kγ restores antitumor immune responses and improves responsiveness to standard-of-care chemotherapy. PI3Kγ represents a new therapeutic immune target for pancreas cancer. Cancer Discov; 6(8); 870-85. ©2016 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 803.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Kaneda
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Paola Cappello
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy. Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Abraham V Nguyen
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Natacha Ralainirina
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Chanae R Hardamon
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Philippe Foubert
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ping Sun
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Department of Pathology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Evangeline Mose
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrew M Lowy
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Mark A Valasek
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Roman Sasik
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Francesco Novelli
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy. Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
| | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. Molecular Biotechnology Center, Torino, Italy.
| | - Judith A Varner
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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Kleeff J, Korc M, Apte M, La Vecchia C, Johnson CD, Biankin AV, Neale RE, Tempero M, Tuveson DA, Hruban RH, Neoptolemos JP. Pancreatic cancer. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016; 2:16022. [PMID: 27158978 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1154] [Impact Index Per Article: 144.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-associated mortality, with a dismal overall prognosis that has remained virtually unchanged for many decades. Currently, prevention or early diagnosis at a curable stage is exceedingly difficult; patients rarely exhibit symptoms and tumours do not display sensitive and specific markers to aid detection. Pancreatic cancers also have few prevalent genetic mutations; the most commonly mutated genes are KRAS, CDKN2A (encoding p16), TP53 and SMAD4 - none of which are currently druggable. Indeed, therapeutic options are limited and progress in drug development is impeded because most pancreatic cancers are complex at the genomic, epigenetic and metabolic levels, with multiple activated pathways and crosstalk evident. Furthermore, the multilayered interplay between neoplastic and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment challenges medical treatment. Fewer than 20% of patients have surgically resectable disease; however, neoadjuvant therapies might shift tumours towards resectability. Although newer drug combinations and multimodal regimens in this setting, as well as the adjuvant setting, appreciably extend survival, ∼80% of patients will relapse after surgery and ultimately die of their disease. Thus, consideration of quality of life and overall survival is important. In this Primer, we summarize the current understanding of the salient pathophysiological, molecular, translational and clinical aspects of this disease. In addition, we present an outline of potential future directions for pancreatic cancer research and patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorg Kleeff
- NIHR Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Murray Korc
- Departments of Medicine, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, and the Pancreatic Cancer Signature Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Minoti Apte
- SWS Clinical School, University of New South Wales, and Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carlo La Vecchia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Colin D Johnson
- University Surgical Unit, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Andrew V Biankin
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Rachel E Neale
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaret Tempero
- UCSF Pancreas Center, University of California San Francisco - Mission Bay Campus/Mission Hall, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David A Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John P Neoptolemos
- NIHR Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK
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Nielsen MFB, Mortensen MB, Detlefsen S. Key players in pancreatic cancer-stroma interaction: Cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial and inflammatory cells. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:2678-2700. [PMID: 26973408 PMCID: PMC4777992 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i9.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most aggressive type of common cancers, and in 2014, nearly 40000 patients died from the disease in the United States. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which accounts for the majority of PC cases, is characterized by an intense stromal desmoplastic reaction surrounding the cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main effector cells in the desmoplastic reaction, and pancreatic stellate cells are the most important source of CAFs. However, other important components of the PC stroma are inflammatory cells and endothelial cells. The aim of this review is to describe the complex interplay between PC cells and the cellular and non-cellular components of the tumour stroma. Published data have indicated that the desmoplastic stroma protects PC cells against chemotherapy and radiation therapy and that it might promote the proliferation and migration of PC cells. However, in animal studies, experimental depletion of the desmoplastic stroma and CAFs has led to more aggressive cancers. Hence, the precise role of the tumour stroma in PC remains to be elucidated. However, it is likely that a context-dependent therapeutic modification, rather than pure depletion, of the PC stroma holds potential for the development of new treatment strategies for PC patients.
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Genrich G, Kruppa M, Lenk L, Helm O, Broich A, Freitag-Wolf S, Röcken C, Sipos B, Schäfer H, Sebens S. The anti-oxidative transcription factor Nuclear factor E2 related factor-2 (Nrf2) counteracts TGF-β1 mediated growth inhibition of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells -Nrf2 as determinant of pro-tumorigenic functions of TGF-β1. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:155. [PMID: 26915435 PMCID: PMC4766703 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2191-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear factor E2 related factor-2 (Nrf2) is an oxidative stress inducible transcription factor being essential in regulating cell homeostasis. Thus, acute induction of Nrf2 in epithelial cells exposed to inflammation confers protection from oxidative cell damage and mutagenesis supporting an anti-tumorigenic role for Nrf2. However, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by persistent Nrf2 activity conferring therapy resistance which points to a pro-tumorigenic role of Nrf2. A similar dichotomous role in tumorigenesis is described for the Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). The present study therefore aimed at elucidating whether the switch of Nrf2 function towards a tumor promoting one relates to the modulation of TGF-β1 induced cell responses and whether this might occur early in PDAC development. METHODS In situ analysis comprised immunohistochemical stainings of activated (phosphorylated) Nrf2 and Ki67 in pancreatic tissues containing normal ducts and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs). In vitro, Nrf2 levels in benign (H6c7-pBp), premalignant (H6c7-kras) and malignant (Colo357) pancreatic ductal epithelial cells were modulated by Nrf2 specific siRNA or Nrf2 overexpression. Then, the effect of Nrf2 alone and in combination with TGF-β1 on cell growth and survival was investigated by cell counting, Ki67 staining and apoptosis assays. The underlying cell signaling was investigated by western blotting. Statistical analysis was performed by Shapiro-Wilk test for normal distribution. Parametric data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, while non-parametric data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks. RESULTS Significantly elevated expression of activated Nrf2 and Ki67 could be detected in PanINs but not in normal pancreatic ductal epithelium. While the effect of Nrf2 on basal cell growth of H6c7-pBp, H6c7-kras and Colo357 cells was minor, it clearly attenuated the growth inhibiting effects of TGF-β1 in all cell lines. This enhanced Nrf2-mediated cell survival was predominantly based on an enhanced proliferative activity. Accordingly, expression of p21 expression along with expression of phospho-p38 and phospho-Smad3 was diminished whereas Erk-phosphorylation was enhanced under these conditions. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data demonstrate that Nrf2 being elevated in early precursor lesions counteracts the growth inhibiting function of TGF-β1 already in benign and premalignant pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. This could represent one fundamental mechanism underlying the functional switch of both- TGF-β1 and Nrf2 - which may manifest already in early stages of PDAC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeske Genrich
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Marcus Kruppa
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Lennart Lenk
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ole Helm
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Anna Broich
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Sandra Freitag-Wolf
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, UKSH Campus Kiel, Brunswiker Str. 10, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Department of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 14, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Bence Sipos
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Liebermeisterstr. 8, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Heiner Schäfer
- Laboratory of Molecular Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 6, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Group Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Building 17, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
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Bansal R, van Baarlen J, Storm G, Prakash J. The interplay of the Notch signaling in hepatic stellate cells and macrophages determines the fate of liver fibrogenesis. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18272. [PMID: 26658360 PMCID: PMC4677309 DOI: 10.1038/srep18272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) known as "master producers" and macrophages as "master regulators", are the key cell types that strongly contribute to the progression of liver fibrosis. Since Notch signaling regulates multiple cellular processes, we aimed to study the role of Notch signaling in HSCs differentiation and macrophages polarization and to evaluate its implication in liver fibrogenesis. Notch pathway components were found to be significantly upregulated in TGFβ-activated HSCs, inflammatory M1 macrophages, and in mouse and human fibrotic livers. Interestingly, inhibition of Notch using a selective γ-secretase inhibitor, Avagacestat, significantly inhibited TGFβ-induced HSC activation and contractility, and suppressed M1 macrophages. Additionally, Avagacestat inhibited M1 driven-fibroblasts activation and fibroblasts-driven M1 polarization (nitric oxide release) in fibroblasts and macrophages co-culture, and conditioned medium studies. In vivo, post-disease treatment with Avagacestat significantly attenuated fibrogenesis in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model. These effects were attributed to the reduction in HSCs activation, and inhibition of inflammatory M1 macrophages and upregulation of suppressive M2 macrophages. These findings suggest that Notch signaling plays a crucial role in HSC activation and M1/M2 polarization of macrophages in liver fibrosis. These results provide new insights for the development of novel therapies against liver fibrosis through modulation of Notch signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Bansal
- Targeted Therapeutics, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7522NB, The Netherlands
| | - Joop van Baarlen
- Laboratorium Pathologie Oost-Nederland, Hengelo, 7555 BB, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Storm
- Targeted Therapeutics, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7522NB, The Netherlands.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CG, The Netherlands
| | - Jai Prakash
- Targeted Therapeutics, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7522NB, The Netherlands
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Piao RL, Xiu M, Brigstock DR, Gao RP. An immortalized rat pancreatic stellate cell line RP-2 as a new cell model for evaluating pancreatic fibrosis, inflammation and immunity. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2015; 14:651-9. [PMID: 26663014 DOI: 10.1016/s1499-3872(15)60415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis and have emerging functions as progenitor cells, immune cells or intermediaries in pancreatic exocrine secretion. Increasing evidence has shown that desmin as an exclusive cytoskeleton marker of PSC is only expressed in part of these cells. This study was to establish a desmin-positive PSC cell line and evaluate its actions on pancreatic fibrosis, inflammation and immunity. METHODS The presence of cytoskeletal proteins, integrin α5β1 or TLR4, was determined by immunocytochemistry while the production of desmin, collagen I, MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-2, or CD14 was evaluated by Western blotting. The levels of desmin, collagen I, IL-1 and IL-6 mRNA were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The secretion of cytokines was detected by ELISA. Cell function was assessed using adhesion, migration, or proliferation assays. RESULTS A stable activated rat PSC cell line (designated as RP-2) was established by RSV promoter/enhancer-driven SV40 large T antigen expression. RP-2 cells retained typical PSC properties, exhibited a myofibroblast-like phenotype and persistently produced desmin. The cells produced collagen I protein, matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors thereof. RP-2 cells demonstrated typical PSC functions, including proliferation, adherence, and migration, the latter two of which occurred in response to fibronectin and were mediated by integrin α5β1. TLR4 and its response genes including proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha) and chemotactic cytokines (MCP-1, MIP-1α, Rantes) were produced by RP-2 cells and activated by LPS. LPS-induced IL-1 or IL-6 mRNA expression in this cell line was fully blocked with MyD88 inhibitor. CONCLUSION RP-2 cells provide a novel tool for analyzing the properties and functions of PSCs in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, inflammation and immunity in the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Li Piao
- Department of Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Medicine, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Zhu B, Lin N, Zhang M, Zhu Y, Cheng H, Chen S, Ling Y, Pan W, Xu R. Activated hepatic stellate cells promote angiogenesis via interleukin-8 in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2015; 13:365. [PMID: 26593962 PMCID: PMC4655083 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0730-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemokines have been recognized as important modulators of angiogenesis, and they play critical roles in the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although their origins and latent molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate how activated hepatic stellate cells (a-HSCs) promote angiogenesis in HCC. METHODS A total of 22 HCC patients were enrolled randomly. We used immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to analyse the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in a-HSCs derived from HCC tissues. The angiogenic effects of IL-8 in vitro and in vivo were assessed by ELISA, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, capillary tube formation assay, and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. RESULTS The present study showed that IL-8 was enriched predominantly in the tumour stroma of HCC tissues and was mainly derived from a-HSCs, rather than from hepatoma cells, in vivo and in vitro. Angiogenesis was most active at the invading edge, which was close to the a-HSCs. The angiogenic effect was dramatically attenuated by an IL-8 neutralizing antibody both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the IL-8 neutralizing antibody down-regulated Ser727-phosphorylated STAT3 levels in hepatoma cells treated with a-HSCs conditioned medium. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal that a-HSCs within the stroma of HCC contribute to tumour angiogenesis via IL-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Nan Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The 4th Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Huanhuan Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shuxian Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yunbiao Ling
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Weidong Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ruiyun Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
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Pothula SP, Xu Z, Goldstein D, Pirola RC, Wilson JS, Apte MV. Key role of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2015; 381:194-200. [PMID: 26571462 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are responsible for producing the collagenous stroma in pancreatic cancer. Findings from the majority of in vitro and in vivo studies to date indicate that PSCs interact with cancer cells as well as with other cellular elements in the stroma including immune cells, endothelial cells and neuronal cells to set up a growth permissive microenvironment for pancreatic tumours. However, two recent studies reporting a protective effect of myofibroblasts in pancreatic cancer have served to remind researchers of the possibility that the role of PSCs in this disease may be context and time-dependent, such that any possible early protective role of PSCs is subverted in later stages by the ability of cancer cells to turn PSCs into cancer-promoting aides. This concept is supported by the development in recent years of several novel therapeutic approaches targeting the stroma that have been successfully applied in pre-clinical settings to inhibit disease progression. A multi-pronged approach aimed at tumour cells as well as stromal elements may be the key to achieving better clinical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa P Pothula
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Zhihong Xu
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - David Goldstein
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Romano C Pirola
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Wilson
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Minoti V Apte
- Pancreatic Research Group, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
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Drifka CR, Tod J, Loeffler AG, Liu Y, Thomas GJ, Eliceiri KW, Kao WJ. Periductal stromal collagen topology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma differs from that of normal and chronic pancreatitis. Mod Pathol 2015; 28:1470-80. [PMID: 26336888 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2015.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma continues to be one of the most difficult diseases to manage with one of the highest cancer mortality rates. This is due to several factors including nonspecific symptomatology and subsequent diagnosis at an advanced stage, aggressive metastatic behavior that is incompletely understood, and limited response to current therapeutic regimens. As in other cancers, there is great interest in studying the role of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and whether components of this environment could serve as research and therapeutic targets. In particular, attention has turned toward the desmoplastic collagen-rich pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stroma for both biological and clinical insight. In this study, we used quantitative second harmonic generation microscopy to investigate stromal collagen organization and structure in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pathology tissues compared with non-neoplastic tissues. Collagen topology was characterized in whole-tissue microarray cores and at specific pathology-annotated epithelial-stroma interfaces representing 241 and 117 patients, respectively. We quantitatively demonstrate that a unique collagen topology exists in the periductal pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stroma. Specifically, collagen around malignant ducts shows increased alignment, length, and width compared with normal ducts and benign ducts in a chronic pancreatitis background. These findings indicate that second harmonic generation imaging can provide quantitative information about fibrosis that complements traditional histopathologic insights and can serve as a rich field for investigation into pathogenic and clinical implications of reorganized collagen as a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma disease marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole R Drifka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jo Tod
- Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Agnes G Loeffler
- Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yuming Liu
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gareth J Thomas
- Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - W John Kao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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50
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ever since the first descriptions of methods to isolate pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) from rodent and human pancreas 17 years ago, rapid advances have been made in our understanding of the biology of these cells and their functions in health and disease. This review updates recent literature in the field, which indicates an increasingly complex role for the cells in normal pancreas, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. RECENT FINDINGS Work reported over the past 12 months includes improved methods of PSC immortalization, a role for PSCs in islet fibrosis, novel factors causing PSC activation as well as those inducing quiescence, and translational research aimed at inhibiting the facilitatory effects of PSCs on disease progression in chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreatic cancer. SUMMARY Improved understanding of the role of PSCs in pancreatic pathophysiology has prompted a focus on translational studies aimed at developing novel approaches to modulate PSC function in a bid to improve clinical outcomes of two major fibrotic diseases of the pancreas: chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
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