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Swain S, Narayan RK, Mishra PR. Unraveling the interplay: exploring signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer in the context of pancreatic embryogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1461278. [PMID: 39239563 PMCID: PMC11374643 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1461278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer continues to be a deadly disease because of its delayed diagnosis and aggressive tumor biology. Oncogenes and risk factors are being reported to influence the signaling pathways involved in pancreatic embryogenesis leading to pancreatic cancer genesis. Although studies using rodent models have yielded insightful information, the scarcity of human pancreatic tissue has made it difficult to comprehend how the human pancreas develops. Transcription factors like IPF1/PDX1, HLXB9, PBX1, MEIS, Islet-1, and signaling pathways, including Hedgehog, TGF-β, and Notch, are directing pancreatic organogenesis. Any derangements in the above pathways may lead to pancreatic cancer. TP53: and CDKN2A are tumor suppressor genes, and the mutations in TP53 and somatic loss of CDKN2A are the drivers of pancreatic cancer. This review clarifies the complex signaling mechanism involved in pancreatic cancer, the same signaling pathways in pancreas development, the current therapeutic approach targeting signaling molecules, and the mechanism of action of risk factors in promoting pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashikanta Swain
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ravi Kant Narayan
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
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Li H, Yao Y, Hao R, Long C. Selective and effective suppression of pancreatic cancer through MNK inhibition. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39138614 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2024.2391462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to explore the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer progression and chemoresistance, with a focus on identifying specific factors that distinguish between normal and tumor cells, thereby offering potential therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods: We analyzed levels of total and phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and β-catenin in pancreatic cancer and normal pancreatic tissues. Functional assays were used to assess the impact of eIF4E phosphorylation on β-catenin signaling, cell proliferation, and chemoresistance, with MNK kinase involvement determined through gene depletion studies. The MNK kinase inhibitor eFT508 was evaluated for its effects on eIF4E phosphorylation, β-catenin activation, and cell viability in both in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer. Results: Both total and phosphorylated eIF4E, along with β-catenin, were significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Phosphorylation of eIF4E at serine 209 was shown to activate β-catenin signaling, enhance cell proliferation, and contribute to chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Importantly, these effects were dependent on MNK kinase activity. Depletion of eIF4E reduced cell viability in both pancreatic cancer and normal cells, while depletion of MNK selectively decreased viability in pancreatic cancer cells. Treatment with eFT508 effectively inhibited eIF4E phosphorylation, suppressed β-catenin activation, and reduced pancreatic cancer cell growth and survival in vitro and in vivo, with minimal impact on normal cells. Conclusions: The MNK-eIF4E-β-catenin axis plays a critical role in pancreatic cancer progression and chemoresistance, distinguishing pancreatic cancer cells from normal cells. Targeting MNK kinases with inhibitors like eFT508 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer, with potential for selective efficacy and reduced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yao
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Hao
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Long
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, People's Republic of China
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Mahadiuzzaman ASM, Dain Md Opo FA, Alkarim S. Stem cell-based targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer: Current approaches and future prospects. Tissue Cell 2024; 89:102449. [PMID: 38924893 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102449] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Despite recent improvements in oncology, diagnosis, and therapy, pancreatic cancer remains extremely difficult to cure due to its aggressive growth pattern with early invasion and distant metastases, chemoresistance, and a lack of effective screening modalities for early detection. Here, novel therapeutic approaches for treating pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. Recently, stem cells have drawn a lot of interest as a possible treatment for pancreatic cancer due to their ability to locate tumors. Though research over the last few decades has revealed some very exciting and promising new treatment approaches, the clinical success of these stem-cell based anti-cancer medicines has been quite limited. The most effective stem cell-mediated therapeutic options will only be available with a deeper understanding of the intricate molecular biology underlying pancreatic cancer and the subsequent identification of cancer stem cells as a novel target that promotes the growth of the cancer and resistance to chemotherapy. This review will highlight the stem cell based anti-cancer therapy targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells and different molecular signaling pathways. A particular focus will be on the therapeutic potential of naïve Stem cells, anti-cancer drug loaded stem cells, genetically engineered stem cells and exosomal miRNA released by stem cells in pancreatic cancer treatment. Similarly, the role of nanotechnology in stem cell based anticancer therapy will be further discussed to better implementation of these cell-based cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S M Mahadiuzzaman
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Embryonic Stem Cell Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - F A Dain Md Opo
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Embryonic Stem Cell Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Alkarim
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Embryonic Stem Cell Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Embryonic and Cancer Stem Cell Research Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Jin W, Yao Y, Fu Y, Lei X, Fu W, Lu Q, Tong X, Xu Q, Su W, Hu X. WTAP/IGF2BP3-mediated GBE1 expression accelerates the proliferation and enhances stemness in pancreatic cancer cells via upregulating c-Myc. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:97. [PMID: 38961325 PMCID: PMC11223412 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00611-8] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most malignant cancers with highly aggressiveness and poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) have been indicated to be involved in PC development. Glucan Branching Enzyme 1 (GBE1) is mainly involved in cell glycogen metabolism. However, the function of GBE1 and Whether GBE1 occurs m6A modification in PC progression remains to be illustrated. METHODS The clinical prognosis of GBE1 was analyzed through online platform. The expression of GBE1 was obtained from online platform and then verified in normal and PC cell lines. Lentivirus was used to generated GBE1 stable-overexpression or knockdown PC cells. Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8), colony formation assay, sphere formation assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to analyze cell proliferation and stemness ability in vitro. Subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse models were used to verify the function of GBE1 in vivo. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, RNA stability experiment and western blots were conducted to explore the molecular regulation of GBE1 in PC. RESULTS GBE1 was significantly upregulated in PC and associated with poor prognosis of PC patients. Functionally, GBE1 overexpression facilitated PC cell proliferation and stemness-like properties, while knockdown of GBE1 attenuated the malignancy of PC cells. Importantly, we found the m6A modification of GBE1 RNA, and WTAP and IGF2BP3 was revealed as the m6A regulators to increase GBE1 mRNA stability and expression. Furthermore, c-Myc was discovered as a downstream gene of GBE1 and functional rescue experiments showed that overexpression of c-Myc could rescue GBE1 knockdown-induced PC cell growth inhibition. CONCLUSIONS Our study uncovered the oncogenic role of GBE1/c-Myc axis in PC progression and revealed WTAP/IGF2BP3-mediated m6A modification of GBE1, which highlight the potential application of GBE1 in the targeted therapy of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Jin
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanru Yao
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuhan Fu
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Wen Fu
- The Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qiliang Lu
- The Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiangmin Tong
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiuran Xu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaoge Hu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
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Huang Y, Zhang R, Lyu H, Xiao S, Guo D, Chen XZ, Zhou C, Tang J. LncRNAs as nodes for the cross-talk between autophagy and Wnt signaling in pancreatic cancer drug resistance. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:2698-2726. [PMID: 38725864 PMCID: PMC11077374 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.91832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with high mortality. In addition to the few symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage, the high fatality rate is attributed to its rapid development, drug resistance and lack of appropriate treatment. In the selection and research of therapeutic drugs, gemcitabine is the first-line drug for pancreatic cancer. Solving the problem of gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer will contribute to the progress of pancreatic cancer treatment. Long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides, play vital roles in cellular physiological metabolic activities. Currently, our group and others have found that some lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in pancreatic cancer cells, which can regulate the process of cancer through autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin pathways simultaneously and affect the sensitivity of cancer cells to therapeutic drugs. This review presents an overview of the recent evidence concerning the node of lncRNA for the cross-talk between autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in pancreatic cancer, together with the practicability of lncRNAs and the core regulatory factors as targets in therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Huang
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Rui Zhang
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Hao Lyu
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Shuai Xiao
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Dong Guo
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Xing-Zhen Chen
- Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G2R3
| | - Cefan Zhou
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
| | - Jingfeng Tang
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, 430068
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Song N, Cui K, Zeng L, Li M, Fan Y, Shi P, Wang Z, Su W, Wang H. Advance in the role of chemokines/chemokine receptors in carcinogenesis: Focus on pancreatic cancer. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 967:176357. [PMID: 38309677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176357] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The chemokines/chemokine receptors pathway significantly influences cell migration, particularly in recruiting immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME), impacting tumor progression and treatment outcomes. Emerging research emphasizes the involvement of chemokines in drug resistance across various tumor therapies, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. This review focuses on the role of chemokines/chemokine receptors in pancreatic cancer (PC) development, highlighting their impact on TME remodeling, immunotherapy, and relevant signaling pathways. The unique immunosuppressive microenvironment formed by the interaction of tumor cells, stromal cells and immune cells plays an important role in the tumor proliferation, invasion, migration and therapeutic resistance. Chemokines/chemokine receptors, such as chemokine ligand (CCL) 2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL20, CCL21, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL4, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL12, CXCL13, CXCL14, CXCL16, CXCL17, and C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand (CX3CL)1, derived mainly from leukocyte cells, cancer-related fibroblasts (CAFs), pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), contribute to PC progression and treatment resistance. Chemokines recruit myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and M2 macrophages, inhibiting the anti-tumor activity of immune cells. Simultaneously, they enhance pathways like epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Akt serine/threonine kinase (AKT), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2, and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), etc., elevating the risk of PC metastasis and compromising the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Notably, the CCLx-CCR2 and CXCLx-CXCR2/4 axis emerge as potential therapeutic targets in PC. This review integrates recent findings on chemokines and receptors in PC treatment, offering valuable insights for innovative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Song
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Kai Cui
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Liqun Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Mengxiao Li
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China
| | - Yanwu Fan
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Pingyu Shi
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China
| | - Wei Su
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China.
| | - Haijun Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China; Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453000, China.
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Nutsch K, Song L, Chen E, Hull M, Chatterjee AK, Chen JJ, Bollong MJ. A covalent inhibitor of the YAP-TEAD transcriptional complex identified by high-throughput screening. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:894-905. [PMID: 37920398 PMCID: PMC10619132 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00044c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Yes-associated protein (YAP), the master transcriptional effector downstream of the Hippo pathway, regulates essential cell growth and regenerative processes in animals. However, the activation of YAP observed in cancers drives cellular proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, and immune suppression, making it of key interest in developing precision therapeutics for oncology. As such, pharmacological inhibition of YAP by targeting its essential co-regulators, TEA domain transcription factors (TEADs) would likely promote tumor clearance in sensitive tumor types. From a fluorescence polarization-based high throughput screen of over 800 000 diverse small molecules, here we report the identification of a pyrazolopyrimidine-based scaffold that inhibits association of YAP and TEADs. Medicinal chemistry-based optimization identified mCMY020, a potent, covalent inhibitor of TEAD transcriptional activity that occupies a conserved, central palmitoylation site on TEADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Nutsch
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Lirui Song
- Calibr, A Division of Scripps Research La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Emily Chen
- Calibr, A Division of Scripps Research La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Mitchell Hull
- Calibr, A Division of Scripps Research La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | | | | | - Michael J Bollong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla CA 92037 USA
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Garajová I, Peroni M, Gelsomino F, Leonardi F. A Simple Overview of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment for Clinical Oncologists. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:9587-9601. [PMID: 37999114 PMCID: PMC10669959 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30110694] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive solid tumors and is showing increasing incidence. The aim of our review is to provide practical help for all clinical oncologists and to summarize the current management of PDAC using a simple "ABC method" (A-anatomical resectability, B-biological resectability and C-clinical conditions). For anatomically resectable PDAC without any high-risk factors (biological or conditional), the actual standard of care is represented by surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The remaining PDAC patients should all be treated with initial systemic therapy, though the intent for each is different: for borderline resectable patients, the intent is neoadjuvant; for locally advanced patients, the intent is conversion; and for metastatic PDAC patients, the intent remains just palliative. The actual standard of care in first-line therapy is represented by two regimens: FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. Recently, NALIRIFOX showed positive results over gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. There are limited data for maintenance therapy after first-line treatment, though 5-FU or FOLFIRI after initial FOLFIRINOX, and gemcitabine, after initial gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, might be considered. We also dedicate space to special rare conditions, such as PDAC with germline BRCA mutations, pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas, with few clinically relevant remarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Garajová
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (M.P.)
| | - Marianna Peroni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (M.P.)
| | - Fabio Gelsomino
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Leonardi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (M.P.)
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Lacalle-Gonzalez C, Florez-Cespedes M, Sanz-Criado L, Ochieng’ Otieno M, Ramos-Muñoz E, Fernandez-Aceñero MJ, Ortega-Medina L, Garcia-Foncillas J, Martinez-Useros J. DLL3 Is a Prognostic and Potentially Predictive Biomarker for Immunotherapy Linked to PD/PD-L Axis and NOTCH1 in Pancreatic Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2812. [PMID: 37893184 PMCID: PMC10604228 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102812] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive neoplasm with very poor patient survival outcomes despite available treatments. There is an urgent need for new potential treatment options and novel biomarkers for these patients. Delta-like canonical Notch ligand 3 (DLL3) interacts with the Notch receptor and causes inhibition of Notch signaling, which confers a survival advantage to PDAC cells. Thus, DLL3 expression could affect cell survival, and its inhibition could increase a patient's survival. To test this hypothesis, a survival analysis was conducted using the progression-free and overall survival from two independent datasets of PDAC patients, with one using mRNA z-score levels and the other using the Hscore protein expression level; both were carried out using a log-rank test and plotted using Kaplan-Meier curves. DLL3 at the mRNA expression level showed an association between high mRNA expression and both a longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients. Then, we designed a retrospective study with resected PDAC samples. Our primary objective with this dataset was to assess the relationship between PFS and OS and DLL3 protein expression. The secondary assessment was to provide a rationale for the use of anti-DLL3-based treatments in combination with immunotherapy that is supported by the link between DLL3 and other factors that are involved in immune checkpoints. The survival analyses revealed a protective effect of high DLL3 protein expression levels in both PFS and OS. Interestingly, high DLL3 protein expression levels were significantly correlated with PD-L1/2 and negatively correlated with NOTCH1. Therefore, DLL3 could be considered a biomarker for better prognosis in resectable PDAC patients as well as a therapeutic biomarker for immunotherapy response. These facts set a rationale for testing anti-DLL3-based treatments either alone or combined with immunotherapy or other NOTCH1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Lacalle-Gonzalez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Lara Sanz-Criado
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, Fundacion Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.S.-C.); (M.O.O.)
| | - Michael Ochieng’ Otieno
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, Fundacion Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.S.-C.); (M.O.O.)
| | - Edurne Ramos-Muñoz
- Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Group and Core Facility, RICORS2040, EATRIS, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute, (IRYCIS), C/Carretera Colmenar Km 9,100, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Maria Jesus Fernandez-Aceñero
- Pathology Department, Clinico San Carlos University Hospital, C/Profesor Martin Lagos, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.J.F.-A.); (L.O.-M.)
| | - Luis Ortega-Medina
- Pathology Department, Clinico San Carlos University Hospital, C/Profesor Martin Lagos, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.J.F.-A.); (L.O.-M.)
| | - Jesus Garcia-Foncillas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, Fundacion Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.S.-C.); (M.O.O.)
| | - Javier Martinez-Useros
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, Fundacion Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.S.-C.); (M.O.O.)
- Area of Physiology, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
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Wang H, Liu Y, Wang Y, Xu T, Xia G, Huang X. Umbelliprenin induces autophagy and apoptosis while inhibits cancer cell stemness in pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer Med 2023; 12:15277-15288. [PMID: 37409635 PMCID: PMC10417289 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Umbelliprenin is a sesquiterpene coumarin isolated from Artemisia absinthium L. and shows antitumor effects in various cancers by inducing apoptosis. However, the antitumor effect of umbelliprenin in human pancreatic cancer has not been clarified. METHODS The antitumor effects were determined by MTT and AnnexinV/PI double staining assay in vitro and xenograft mice in vivo. Autophagy was determined via immunofluorescence analysis. Apoptotic or autophagic related proteins were measured by immunoblotting. The pancreatic cancer cell stemness were determined by mammosphere formation and ALDEFLUOR assay. RESULTS It revealed that umbelliprenin inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in vitro and pancreatic cancer tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, umbelliprenin induced pancreatic cancer cell BxPC3 apoptosis and autophagy as evidenced by upregulated apoptosis and autophagy- related protein expression (p < 0.01). Blocking autophagy by 3-MA or Atg7 knockout enhanced umbelliprenin-induced apoptosis (p < 0.05). Umbelliprenin also reduced pancreatic cancer cell stemness by reducing Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 mRNA levels (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, umbelliprenin greatly inhibited Akt/mTOR and Notch1 signal pathway. CONCLUSION Umbelliprenin may be a novel therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongcheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgerySixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of General SurgeryThe Second People’ Hospital of Kashgar, 1SKashgarXinjiangChina
| | - Yongzhi Liu
- Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital Hangzhou Normal UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgerySixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgerySixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Guanggai Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgerySixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xinyu Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgerySixth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
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11
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Kozłowska M, Śliwińska A. The Link between Diabetes, Pancreatic Tumors, and miRNAs-New Players for Diagnosis and Therapy? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10252. [PMID: 37373398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in medicine, pancreatic cancer is one of the most tardily diagnosed cancer and is consequently associated with a poor prognosis and a low survival rate. The asymptomatic clinical picture and the lack of relevant diagnostic markers for the early stages of pancreatic cancer are believed to be the major constraints behind an accurate diagnosis of this disease. Furthermore, underlying mechanisms of pancreatic cancer development are still poorly recognized. It is well accepted that diabetes increases the risk of pancreatic cancer development, however the precise mechanisms are weakly investigated. Recent studies are focused on microRNAs as a causative factor of pancreatic cancer. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of pancreatic cancer and diabetes-associated microRNAs, and their potential in diagnosis and therapy. miR-96, miR-124, miR-21, and miR-10a were identified as promising biomarkers for early pancreatic cancer prediction. miR-26a, miR-101, and miR-200b carry therapeutic potential, as they not only regulate significant biological pathways, including the TGF-β and PI3K/AKT, but their re-expression contributes to the improvement of the prognosis by reducing invasiveness or chemoresistance. In diabetes, there are also changes in the expression of microRNAs, such as in miR-145, miR-29c, and miR-143. These microRNAs are involved, among others, in insulin signaling, including IRS-1 and AKT (miR-145), glucose homeostasis (hsa-miR-21), and glucose reuptake and gluconeogenesis (miR-29c). Although, changes in the expression of the same microRNAs are observed in both pancreatic cancer and diabetes, they exert different molecular effects. For example, miR-181a is upregulated in both pancreatic cancer and diabetes mellitus, but in diabetes it contributes to insulin resistance, whereas in pancreatic cancer it promotes tumor cell migration, respectively. To conclude, dysregulated microRNAs in diabetes affect crucial cellular processes that are involved in pancreatic cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Kozłowska
- Student Scientific Society of Civilization Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 251 Pomorska, 92-213 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Śliwińska
- Department of Nucleic Acid Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland
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12
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Galindo-Vega A, Maldonado-Lagunas V, Mitre-Aguilar IB, Melendez-Zajgla J. Tumor Microenvironment Role in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells. Cells 2023; 12:1560. [PMID: 37371030 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a majority of patients presenting with unresectable or metastatic disease, resulting in a poor 5-year survival rate. This, in turn, is due to a highly complex tumor microenvironment and the presence of cancer stem cells, both of which induce therapy resistance and tumor relapse. Therefore, understanding and targeting the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells may be key strategies for designing effective PDAC therapies. In the present review, we summarized recent advances in the role of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic neoplastic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Galindo-Vega
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City 04710, Mexico
| | | | - Irma B Mitre-Aguilar
- Biochemistry Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Jorge Melendez-Zajgla
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City 04710, Mexico
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13
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Ogunleye AO, Nimmakayala RK, Batra SK, Ponnusamy MP. Metabolic Rewiring and Stemness: A Critical Attribute of Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Stem Cells 2023; 41:417-430. [PMID: 36869789 PMCID: PMC10183971 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad017] [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: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive diseases with a poor 5-year survival rate. PDAC cells rely on various metabolic pathways to fuel their unlimited proliferation and metastasis. Reprogramming glucose, fatty acid, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolisms contributes to PDAC cell growth. Cancer stem cells are the primary cell types that play a critical role in the progression and aggressiveness of PDAC. Emerging studies indicate that the cancer stem cells in PDAC tumors are heterogeneous and show specific metabolic dependencies. In addition, understanding specific metabolic signatures and factors that regulate these metabolic alterations in the cancer stem cells of PDAC paves the way for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of PDAC metabolism by specifically exploring the metabolic dependencies of cancer stem cells. We also review the current knowledge of targeting these metabolic factors that regulate CSC maintenance and PDAC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoola O Ogunleye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rama Krishna Nimmakayala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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14
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Bubin R, Uljanovs R, Strumfa I. Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087030. [PMID: 37108193 PMCID: PMC10138709 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The first discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in leukaemia triggered active research on stemness in neoplastic tissues. CSCs represent a subpopulation of malignant cells, defined by unique properties: a dedifferentiated state, self-renewal, pluripotency, an inherent resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, the presence of certain epigenetic alterations, as well as a higher tumorigenicity in comparison with the general population of cancer cells. A combination of these features highlights CSCs as a high-priority target during cancer treatment. The presence of CSCs has been confirmed in multiple malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an entity that is well known for its dismal prognosis. As the aggressive course of pancreatic carcinoma is partly attributable to treatment resistance, CSCs could contribute to adverse outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the current information regarding the markers and molecular features of CSCs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the therapeutic options to remove them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Bubin
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradins University, 16 Dzirciema Street, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Romans Uljanovs
- Department of Pathology, Riga Stradins University, 16 Dzirciema Street, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ilze Strumfa
- Department of Pathology, Riga Stradins University, 16 Dzirciema Street, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
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15
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Shah K, Al Ashiri L, Nasimian A, Ahmed M, Kazi JU. Venetoclax-Resistant T-ALL Cells Display Distinct Cancer Stem Cell Signatures and Enrichment of Cytokine Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24055004. [PMID: 36902436 PMCID: PMC10003524 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24055004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapy resistance remains one of the major challenges for cancer treatment that largely limits treatment benefits and patient survival. The underlying mechanisms that lead to therapy resistance are highly complicated because of the specificity to the cancer subtype and therapy. The expression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 has been shown to be deregulated in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), where different T-ALL cells display a differential response to the BCL2-specific inhibitor venetoclax. In this study, we observed that the expression of anti-apoptotic BCL2 family genes, such as BCL2, BCL2L1, and MCL1, is highly varied in T-ALL patients, and inhibitors targeting proteins coded by these genes display differential responses in T-ALL cell lines. Three T-ALL cell lines (ALL-SIL, MOLT-16, and LOUCY) were highly sensitive to BCL2 inhibition within a panel of cell lines tested. These cell lines displayed differential BCL2 and BCL2L1 expression. Prolonged exposure to venetoclax led to the development of resistance to it in all three sensitive cell lines. To understand how cells developed venetoclax resistance, we monitored the expression of BCL2, BCL2L1, and MCL1 over the treatment period and compared gene expression between resistant cells and parental sensitive cells. We observed a different trend of regulation in terms of BCL2 family gene expression and global gene expression profile including genes reported to be expressed in cancer stem cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed enrichment of cytokine signaling in all three cell lines which was supported by the phospho-kinase array where STAT5 phosphorylation was found to be elevated in resistant cells. Collectively, our data suggest that venetoclax resistance can be mediated through the enrichment of distinct gene signatures and cytokine signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinjal Shah
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lina Al Ashiri
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ahmad Nasimian
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mehreen Ahmed
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Julhash U. Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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16
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Histone Modifications Represent a Key Epigenetic Feature of Epithelial-to-Mesenchyme Transition in Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054820. [PMID: 36902253 PMCID: PMC10003015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignant diseases due to its high invasiveness, early metastatic properties, rapid disease progression, and typically late diagnosis. Notably, the capacity for pancreatic cancer cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is key to their tumorigenic and metastatic potential, and is a feature that can explain the therapeutic resistance of such cancers to treatment. Epigenetic modifications are a central molecular feature of EMT, for which histone modifications are most prevalent. The modification of histones is a dynamic process typically carried out by pairs of reverse catalytic enzymes, and the functions of these enzymes are increasingly relevant to our improved understanding of cancer. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms through which histone-modifying enzymes regulate EMT in pancreatic cancer.
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17
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Nagaraju GP, Farran B, Luong T, El-Rayes BF. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate pancreatic cancer stem cell formation, stemness and chemoresistance: A brief overview. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 88:67-80. [PMID: 36535506 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers worldwide due to the resistances to conventional therapies and early metastasis. Recent research has shown that cancer stem cell populations modulate invasiveness, recurrence, and drug resistance in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) are characterized by their high plasticity and self-renewal capacities that endow them with unique metabolic, metastatic, and chemoresistant properties. Understanding the exact molecular and signaling mechanisms that underlay malignant processes in PaCSCs is instrumental for developing novel therapeutic modalities that overcome the limitations of current therapeutic regimens. In this paper, we provide an updated review of the latest research in the field and summarize the current knowledge of PaCSCs characteristics, cellular metabolism, stemness, and drug resistance. We explore how the crosstalk between the TME and PaCSCs influences stemness. We also highlight some of the key signalling pathways involved in PaCSCs stemness and drug evasion. The aim of this review is to explore how PaCSCs develop, maintain their properties, and drive tumor relapse in PC. The last section explores some of the latest therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting PaCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35201, USA.
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Tha Luong
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35201, USA
| | - Bassel F El-Rayes
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35201, USA.
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18
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Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by an Aqueous Extract of Codium tomentosum as Potential Antitumoral Enhancers of Gemcitabine. Mar Drugs 2022; 21:md21010020. [PMID: 36662193 PMCID: PMC9865996 DOI: 10.3390/md21010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer still poses a global threat, since a lot of tumors remain untreatable despite all the available chemotherapeutic drugs, whose side effects, it must also be noted, still raise concerns. The antitumoral properties of marine seaweeds make them a potential source of new, less toxic, and more active antitumoral agents. Furthermore, these natural extracts can be combined with nanotechnology to increase their efficacy and improve targeting. In this work, a Codium tomentosum (CT) aqueous extract was employed for the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au@CT). The complete characterization of Au@CT was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Zeta potential, electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-performance steric exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), and by the determination of their antioxidant capacity. The antiproliferative activity of Au@CT was then tested in hepatic (HEPG-2) and pancreatic (BxPC-3) cell lines. Their potential capacity as enhancers of gemcitabine, a drug frequently used to treat both types of tumors, was also tested. The activity of Au@CT was compared to the activity of the CT extract alone. A synergistic effect with gemcitabine was proven for HEPG-2. Our results showed that gold nanoparticles synthesized from seaweed extracts with antitumoral activity could be a good gemcitabine enhancer.
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19
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Troumpoukis D, Papadimitropoulou A, Charalampous C, Kogionou P, Palamaris K, Sarantis P, Serafimidis I. Targeting autophagy in pancreatic cancer: The cancer stem cell perspective. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1049436. [PMID: 36505808 PMCID: PMC9730023 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1049436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is currently the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with the estimated death toll approaching half a million annually. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common (>90% of cases) and most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, with extremely poor prognosis and very low survival rates. PDAC is initiated by genetic alterations, usually in the oncogene KRAS and tumor suppressors CDKN2A, TP53 and SMAD4, which in turn affect a number of downstream signaling pathways that regulate important cellular processes. One of the processes critically altered is autophagy, the mechanism by which cells clear away and recycle impaired or dysfunctional organelles, protein aggregates and other unwanted components, in order to achieve homeostasis. Autophagy plays conflicting roles in PDAC and has been shown to act both as a positive effector, promoting the survival of pancreatic tumor-initiating cells, and as a negative effector, increasing cytotoxicity in uncontrollably expanding cells. Recent findings have highlighted the importance of cancer stem cells in PDAC initiation, progression and metastasis. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) comprise a small subpopulation of the pancreatic tumor, characterized by cellular plasticity and the ability to self-renew, and autophagy has been recognised as a key process in PaCSC maintenance and function, simultaneously suggesting new strategies to achieve their selective elimination. In this review we evaluate recent literature that links autophagy with PaCSCs and PDAC, focusing our discussion on the therapeutic implications of pharmacologically targeting autophagy in PaCSCs, as a means to treat PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Troumpoukis
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Chrysanthi Charalampous
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Kogionou
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas Palamaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Sarantis
- Molecular Oncology Unit, Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Serafimidis
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece,*Correspondence: Ioannis Serafimidis,
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20
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Mitsufuji S, Iwagami Y, Kobayashi S, Sasaki K, Yamada D, Tomimaru Y, Akita H, Asaoka T, Noda T, Gotoh K, Takahashi H, Tanemura M, Doki Y, Eguchi H. Inhibition of Clusterin Represses Proliferation by Inducing Cellular Senescence in Pancreatic Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:4937-4946. [PMID: 35397747 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-11668-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unsatisfactory, and the identification of novel therapeutic targets is urgently needed. Clinical studies on the antisense oligonucleotide that targets clusterin (CLU) expression have been conducted and have shown efficacy in other cancers. We aimed to investigate the effects of CLU in PDAC and the underlying mechanisms with a view to the clinical application of existing drugs. METHODS We knocked down CLU in PDAC cells and evaluated changes in cell proliferation. To elucidate the mechanism responsible for these changes, we performed western blot analysis, cell cycle assay, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining. To evaluate the clinical significance of CLU, immunohistochemistry was performed, and CLU expression was analyzed in specimens resected from PDAC patients not treated with preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS Knockdown of CLU significantly decreased cell proliferation and did not induce apoptosis, but did induce cellular senescence by increasing the percentage of G1-phase and SA-β-gal staining-positive cells. A marker of DNA damage such as γH2AX and factors related to cellular senescence, such as p21 and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, were upregulated by knockdown of CLU. CLU expression in resected PDAC specimens was located in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and revealed significantly better recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the CLU-low group than in the CLU-high group. CONCLUSIONS We identified that CLU inhibition leads to cellular senescence in PDAC. Our findings suggest that CLU is a novel therapeutic target that contributes to the prognosis of PDAC by inducing cellular senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suguru Mitsufuji
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Iwagami
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shogo Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisaku Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshito Tomimaru
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Akita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Asaoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Noda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kunihito Gotoh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tanemura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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21
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Mitsufuji S, Iwagami Y, Kobayashi S, Sasaki K, Yamada D, Tomimaru Y, Akita H, Asaoka T, Noda T, Gotoh K, Takahashi H, Tanemura M, Doki Y, Eguchi H. ASO Author Reflections: A Novel Mechanism of Suppressing Proliferation After Inhibition of Clusterin in Pancreatic Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:4947-4948. [PMID: 35616749 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-11745-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Suguru Mitsufuji
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Iwagami
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shogo Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisaku Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshito Tomimaru
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Akita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Asaoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Noda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kunihito Gotoh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tanemura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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22
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Huang T, Lee JS, Klibanov AL, He J. Molecular Radiotherapy with 177Lu-Immunoliposomes Induces Cytotoxicity in Mesothelioma Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3914. [PMID: 35409274 PMCID: PMC8999793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a lethal tumor originating in the mesothelium with high chemotherapeutic resistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) persist in tumors and are critical targets responsible for tumor resistance and recurrence. The identification and characterization of CSCs may help develop effective treatment for MM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of molecular targeted radiotherapy by 177Lu-labeled immunoliposomes (177Lu-ILs) on CSCs of mesothelioma. MM CSCs were sorted based on CD26/CD24 expression level and their functional significances were established by small interference RNA. CSC potential of MM was evaluated for drug resistance, cell invasion, and cell growth rate in vitro. CSC metabolism was evaluated with the uptake of 18F-FDG. Therapeutic effects of 177Lu-labeled immunoliposomes targeting CD26 and CD24 were evaluated in vitro through proliferation and apoptotic assays. CSCs sorted from H28 cells exhibited significant drug resistance and enhanced proliferative activity as well as increased metabolism indicated by higher 18F-FDG uptake. Treatment with 177Lu-ILs, compared with 177Lu-CL and ILs, showed enhanced therapeutic effects on inhibition of proliferation, up-regulation of apoptosis, and suppression of CD26 and CD24 expression. Thus, our results suggest that molecular radiotherapy targeting both CD26 and CD24 could be a promising approach for CSC-targeting therapy for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
| | - Jae Sam Lee
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
| | - Alexander L. Klibanov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cadiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Jiang He
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
- UVa Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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23
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Qorri B, Mokhtari RB, Harless WW, Szewczuk MR. Next Generation of Cancer Drug Repurposing: Therapeutic Combination of Aspirin and Oseltamivir Phosphate Potentiates Gemcitabine to Disable Key Survival Pathways Critical for Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1374. [PMID: 35326525 PMCID: PMC8946854 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapeutics and high metastatic rates contribute to the abysmal survival rate in patients with pancreatic cancer. An alternate approach for treating human pancreatic cancer involves repurposing the anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin (ASA), with oseltamivir phosphate (OP) in combination with the standard chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine (GEM). The question is whether treatment with ASA and OP can sensitize cancer cells to the cytotoxicity induced by GEM and limit the development of chemoresistance. To assess the key survival pathways critical for pancreatic cancer progression, we used the AlamarBlue cytotoxicity assay to determine the cell viability and combination index for the drug combinations, flow cytometric analysis of annexin V apoptosis assay to detect apoptotic and necrotic cells, fluorometric QCM™ chemotaxis migration assay to assess cellular migration, fluorometric extracellular matrix (ECM) cell adhesion array kit to assess the expression of the ECM proteins, scratch wound assay using the 96-well WoundMaker™, and the methylcellulose clonogenic assay to assess clonogenic potential. The combination of ASA and OP with GEM significantly upended MiaPaCa-2 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell viability, clonogenic potential, expression of critical extracellular matrix proteins, migration, and promoted apoptosis. ASA in combination with OP significantly improves the effectiveness of GEM in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and disables key survival pathways critical to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bessi Qorri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (B.Q.); (R.B.M.)
| | - Reza Bayat Mokhtari
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (B.Q.); (R.B.M.)
| | | | - Myron R. Szewczuk
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (B.Q.); (R.B.M.)
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Patil K, Khan FB, Akhtar S, Ahmad A, Uddin S. The plasticity of pancreatic cancer stem cells: implications in therapeutic resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:691-720. [PMID: 34453639 PMCID: PMC8556195 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09979-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ever-growing perception of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as a plastic state rather than a hardwired defined entity has evolved our understanding of the functional and biological plasticity of these elusive components in malignancies. Pancreatic cancer (PC), based on its biological features and clinical evolution, is a prototypical example of a CSC-driven disease. Since the discovery of pancreatic CSCs (PCSCs) in 2007, evidence has unraveled their control over many facets of the natural history of PC, including primary tumor growth, metastatic progression, disease recurrence, and acquired drug resistance. Consequently, the current near-ubiquitous treatment regimens for PC using aggressive cytotoxic agents, aimed at ‘‘tumor debulking’’ rather than eradication of CSCs, have proven ineffective in providing clinically convincing improvements in patients with this dreadful disease. Herein, we review the key hallmarks as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic resistance mechanisms of CSCs that mediate treatment failure in PC and enlist the potential CSC-targeting ‘natural agents’ that are gaining popularity in recent years. A better understanding of the molecular and functional landscape of PCSC-intrinsic evasion of chemotherapeutic drugs offers a facile opportunity for treating PC, an intractable cancer with a grim prognosis and in dire need of effective therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Patil
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Farheen B Khan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, The United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sabah Akhtar
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aamir Ahmad
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.,Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. .,Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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