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Cortez NE, Mackenzie GG. Ketogenic Diets in Pancreatic Cancer and Associated Cachexia: Cellular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093202. [PMID: 34579079 PMCID: PMC8471358 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive and extremely therapy-resistant cancer. It is estimated that up to 80% of PDAC patients present with cachexia, a multifactorial disorder characterized by the involuntary and ongoing wasting of skeletal muscle that affects therapeutic response and survival. During the last decade, there has been an increased interest in exploring dietary interventions to complement the treatment of PDAC and associated cachexia. Ketogenic diets (KDs) have gained attention for their anti-tumor potential. Characterized by a very low carbohydrate, moderate protein, and high fat composition, this diet mimics the metabolic changes that occur in fasting. Numerous studies report that a KD reduces tumor growth and can act as an adjuvant therapy in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. However, research on the effect and mechanisms of action of KDs on PDAC-associated cachexia is limited. In this narrative review, we summarize the evidence of the impact of KDs in PDAC treatment and cachexia mitigation. Furthermore, we discuss key cellular mechanisms that explain KDs’ potential anti-tumor and anti-cachexia effects, focusing primarily on reprogramming of cell metabolism, epigenome, and the gut microbiome. Finally, we provide a perspective on future research needed to advance KDs into clinical use.
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Sun H, Zhang D, Huang C, Guo Y, Yang Z, Yao N, Dong X, Cheng R, Zhao N, Meng J, Sun B, Hao J. Hypoxic microenvironment induced spatial transcriptome changes in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Biol Med 2021; 18:j.issn.2095-3941.2021.0158. [PMID: 34086429 PMCID: PMC8185871 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2021.0158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hypoxia is a significant feature of solid tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It is associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, the spatial distribution of hypoxia-related heterogeneity in PDAC remains unclear. METHODS Spatial transcriptomics (STs), a new technique, was used to investigate the ST features of engrafted human PDAC in the ischemic hind limbs of nude mice. Transcriptomes from ST spots in the hypoxic tumor and the control were clustered using differentially-expressed genes. These data were compared to determine the spatial organization of hypoxia-induced heterogeneity in PDAC. Clinical relevance was validated using the Tumor Cancer Genome Atlas and KM-plotter databases. The CMAP website was used to identify molecules that may serve as therapeutic targets for PDAC. RESULTS ST showed that the tumor cell subgroups decreased to 7 subgroups in the hypoxia group, compared to 9 subgroups in the control group. Different subgroups showed positional characteristics and different gene signatures. Subgroup 6 located at the invasive front showed a higher proliferative ability under hypoxia. Subgroup 6 had active functions including cell proliferation, invasion, and response to stress. Expressions of hypoxia-related genes, LDHA, TPI1, and ENO1, induced changes. CMAP analysis indicated that ADZ-6482, a PI3K inhibitor, was targeted by the invasive subgroup in hypoxic tumors. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to describe hypoxic microenvironment-induced spatial transcriptome changes in PDAC, and to identify potential treatment targets for PDAC. These data will provide the basis for further investigations of the prognoses and treatments of hypoxic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhi Sun
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Danfang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Chongbiao Huang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Yuhong Guo
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Zhao Yang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Nan Yao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Xueyi Dong
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Runfen Cheng
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jie Meng
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jihui Hao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
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