Intratumoural leukocyte infiltration is a prognostic indicator among pancreatic cancer patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes can impact cellular immunity in solid tumors

Cancer is increasingly prevalent worldwide, often coexisting with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent breakthroughs reveal the immune system's pivotal role in eliminating tumors and how the metabolic environment, such as glucose availability, affects antitumor immunity. Diabetes is known to dysregulate both innate and adaptive immune responses, while cancer creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We hypothesize that diabetes in cancer subjects may exacerbate this immunosuppression. Here, we examine the current understanding of the interplay between T2D and solid tumors and the associated challenges. Despite inconsistencies in data from mouse models and human tissues, evidence suggests that T2D can impact the antitumor response. Possible mechanisms may involve myeloid cells, inducing local immunosuppression and impairing antigen presentation, and certain lymphoid cell populations, exhibiting exhaustion.

Autotaxin-lysolipid signaling suppresses a CCL11-eosinophil axis to promote pancreatic cancer progression

Lipids and their modifying enzymes regulate diverse features of the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. The secreted enzyme autotaxin (ATX) hydrolyzes extracellular lysophosphatidylcholine to generate the multifunctional lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and supports the growth of several tumor types, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here we show that ATX suppresses the accumulation of eosinophils in the PDAC microenvironment. Genetic or pharmacologic ATX inhibition increased the number of intratumor eosinophils, which promote tumor cell apoptosis locally and suppress tumor progression. Mechanistically, ATX suppresses eosinophil accumulation via an autocrine feedback loop, wherein ATX-LPA signaling negatively regulates the activity of the AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun, in turn suppressing the expression of the potent eosinophil chemoattractant CCL11 (eotaxin-1). Eosinophils were identified in human PDAC specimens, and rare individuals with high intratumor eosinophil abundance had the longest overall survival. Together with recent findings, this study reveals the context-dependent, immune-modulatory potential of ATX-LPA signaling in cancer.

Neutrophils in pancreatic cancer: Potential therapeutic targets

Pancreatic cancer is a digestive system malignancy and poses a high mortality worldwide. Traditionally, neutrophils have been thought to play a role in acute inflammation. In contrast, their importance during tumor diseases has been less well studied. Generally, neutrophils are recruited into the tumor microenvironment and exert inflammation and tumor-promoting effects. As an essential part of the tumor microenvironment, neutrophils play diverse roles in pancreatic cancer, such as angiogenesis, progression, metastasis and immunosuppression. Additionally, neutrophils can be a new potential therapeutic target in cancer. Inhibitors of cytokines, chemokines and neutrophil extracellular traps can exert antitumor effects. In this review, we describe the role of neutrophils in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, discuss their potential as therapeutic targets, and aim to provide ideas for improving the prognosis of patients with this malignant tumor disease.

A review of lifestyle and environment risk factors for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PaCa) is one of the deadliest cancers known and its incidence is increasing in the developed countries. Because of the lack of biomarkers that allow early detection and the tendency of the disease to be asymptomatic, the diagnosis comes often too late for effective surgical or chemotherapy intervention. Lifestyle factors, that may cause common genetic modifications occurring in the disease, interfere with pancreatic physiology or function, and play a role in PaCa development, have been of concern recently, since a strategy to prevent this severe cancer is needed. This review identifies the latest evidences related to increased risk of developing PaCa due to dietary habits such as high alcohol, fructose and red or processed meat intake, and pathological conditions such as diabetes, obesity and infections in addition to stress and smoking behaviour. It aims to highlight the importance of intervening on modifiable risk factors: the action on these factors could prevent a considerable number of new cases of PaCa.

Functional response difference between diabetic/normal cancerous patients to inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stresses after radiotherapy

Diabetes, which is considered as a chronic metabolic disorder leads to an increase in inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stresses. Studies have shown several functional differences in the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines responses in diabetic/normal cancerous patients candidate for radiotherapy. Also, radiotherapy as a cancer treatment modality is known as a carcinogen due to oxidative damage via generation of reactive oxygen metabolites and also causing inflammation of the tissue by increasing the inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, the consequence of diabetes on oxidative stress and increased inflammatory factors and synergistic effects of radiotherapy on these factors cause complications in diabetics undergoing radiotherapy. It is considered as one of the most interesting objectives to control inflammation and oxidative stress in these patients. This review aims to concentrate on the influence of factors such as MPO, MDA, IL-1β, and TNF-α in diabetic patients by emphasizing the effects related to radiation-induced toxicity and inflammation by proposing therapeutic approaches which could be helpful in reduction of the complications.

Pancreatic cancer: disease dynamics, tumor biology and the role of the microenvironment

Pancreatic cancer is known for its propensity to metastasize. Recent studies have challenged the commonly held belief that pancreatic cancer is a stepwise process, where tumor cells disseminate late in primary tumor development. Instead it has been suggested that pancreatic tumor cells may disseminate early and develop independently and in parallel to the primary tumor. Circulating tumor cells can be found in most patients with pancreatic cancer, even in those with localized stage. Also, recent phylogenetic analyses have revealed evidence for a branched evolution where metastatic lineages can develop early in tumor development. In this Review, we discuss current models of pancreatic cancer progression and the importance of the tumor microenvironment, in order to better understand the recalcitrant nature of this disease.