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Chen C, Demirkhanyan L, Gondi CS. The Multifaceted Role of miR-21 in Pancreatic Cancers. Cells 2024; 13:948. [PMID: 38891080 PMCID: PMC11172074 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110948] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
With the lack of specific signs and symptoms, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed at late metastatic stages, resulting in poor survival outcomes. Among various biomarkers, microRNA-21 (miR-21), a small non-coding RNA, is highly expressed in PDAC. By inhibiting regulatory proteins at the 3' untranslated regions (UTR), miR-21 holds significant roles in PDAC cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, as well as cancer invasion, metastasis, and resistance therapy. We conducted a systematic search across major databases for articles on miR-21 and pancreatic cancer mainly published within the last decade, focusing on their diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic, and biological roles. This rigorous approach ensured a comprehensive review of miR-21's multifaceted role in pancreatic cancers. In this review, we explore the current understandings and future directions regarding the regulation, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of targeting miR-21 in PDAC. This exhaustive review discusses the involvement of miR-21 in proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis modulation, angiogenesis, and its role in therapy resistance. Also discussed in the review is the interplay between various molecular pathways that contribute to tumor progression, with specific reference to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
| | - Lusine Demirkhanyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
| | - Christopher S. Gondi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Health Science Education and Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605, USA
- Health Care Engineering Systems Center, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Che PP, Gregori A, Bergonzini C, Ali M, Mantini G, Schmidt T, Finamore F, Rodrigues SMF, Frampton AE, McDonnell LA, Danen EH, Slotman BJ, Sminia P, Giovannetti E. Differential Sensitivity to Ionizing Radiation in Gemcitabine-Resistant and Paclitaxel-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 118:1328-1343. [PMID: 37914140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Chemoresistance remains a major challenge in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although chemoradiation has proven effective in other tumor types, such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, its role in PDAC and effect on acquired chemoresistance have yet to be fully explored. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of gemcitabine-resistant (GR) and paclitaxel-resistant (PR) PDAC cells to ionizing radiation (IR) and their underlying mechanisms. METHODS AND MATERIALS GR and PR clones were generated from PANC-1, PATU-T, and SUIT2-007 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Cell survival after radiation was assessed using clonogenic assay, sulforhodamine B assay, apoptosis, and spheroid growth by bioluminescence. Radiation-induced DNA damage was assessed using Western blot, extra-long polymerase chain reaction, reactive oxygen species production, and immunofluorescence. Autophagy and modulation of the Hippo signaling pathway were investigated using proteomics, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS In both 2- and 3-dimensional settings, PR cells were more sensitive to IR and showed decreased β-globin amplification, indicating more DNA damage accumulation compared with GR or wild-type cells after 24 hours. Proteomic analysis of PR PATU-T cells revealed that the protein MST4, a kinase involved in autophagy and the Hippo signaling pathway, was highly downregulated. A differential association was found between autophagy and radiation treatment depending on the cell model. Interestingly, increased yes-associated protein nuclear localization and downstream Hippo signaling pathway target gene expression were observed in response to IR. CONCLUSIONS This was the first study investigating the potential of IR in targeting PDAC cells with acquired chemoresistance. Our results demonstrate that PR cells exhibit enhanced sensitivity to IR due to greater accumulation of DNA damage. Additionally, depending on the specific cellular context, radiation-induced modulation of autophagy and the Hippo signaling pathway emerged as potential underlying mechanisms, findings with potential to inform personalized treatment strategies for patients with acquired chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Pei Che
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Gregori
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Physics of Life Processes, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cecilia Bergonzini
- Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mahsoem Ali
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Imaging and Biomarkers, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Mantini
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Fondazione Pisana per La Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- Physics of Life Processes, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Stephanie M Fraga Rodrigues
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adam E Frampton
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | - Erik H Danen
- Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ben J Slotman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Sminia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Fondazione Pisana per La Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Italy.
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