Biochemical role of the collagen-rich tumour microenvironment in pancreatic cancer progression. Biochem J. 2012;441:541-552. [PMID: 22187935 DOI: 10.1042/bj20111240]

Unlocking the Potential of Marine Sidestreams in the Blue Economy: Lessons Learned from the EcoeFISHent Project on Fish Collagen

This review provides a general overview of collagen structure, biosynthesis, and biological properties, with a particular focus on marine collagen sources, especially fisheries discards and by-catches. Additionally, well-documented applications of collagen are presented, with special emphasis not only on its final use but also on the processes enabling sustainable and safe recovery from materials that would otherwise go to waste. Particular attention is given to the extraction process, highlighting key aspects essential for the industrialization of fish sidestreams, such as hygiene standards, adherence to good manufacturing practices, and ensuring minimal environmental impact. In this context, the EcoeFISHent projects have provided valuable insights, aiming to create replicable, systemic, and sustainable territorial clusters based on a multi-circular economy and industrial symbiosis. The main goal of this project is to increase the monetary income of certain categories, such as fishery and aquaculture activities, through the valorization of underutilized biomass.

A stumbling block in pancreatic cancer treatment: drug resistance signaling networks

The primary node molecules in the cell signaling network in cancer tissues are maladjusted and mutated in comparison to normal tissues, which promotes the occurrence and progression of cancer. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly fatal cancer with increasing incidence and low five-year survival rates. Currently, there are several therapies that target cell signaling networks in PC. However, PC is a "cold tumor" with a unique immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (poor effector T cell infiltration, low antigen specificity), and targeting a single gene or pathway is basically ineffective in clinical practice. Targeted matrix therapy, targeted metabolic therapy, targeted mutant gene therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, cancer vaccines, and other emerging therapies have shown great therapeutic potential, but results have been disappointing. Therefore, we summarize the identified and potential drug-resistant cell signaling networks aimed at overcoming barriers to existing PC therapies.

Role of Interleukins in Pancreatic Cancer: A Literature Review

PURPOSE

This review article summarizes the pathophysiological aspects of interleukins (ILs) including IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, and IL-10 in pancreatic cancer (PC).

METHODS

Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used for the literature review. The search was conducted until August 12, 2024, and particular keywords such as "Pancreatic Cancer," "Interleukins," "Pathophysiological Aspects," "Immunosuppression," "Invasiveness," and "Metastasis" were used. Focusing on interleukins related to pancreatic cancer, 61 original studies were included: 32 studies for human patients, 16 studies for animal models, and 13 studies for both animal models and human patients. All types of PC were considered. The timeframe of 1991 to 2024 was chosen for clinical studies.

RESULTS

In epithelial pancreatic tumors, IL-1 is a major inflammation factor. Serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2-receptor were considerably greater in patients with PC and chronic pancreatitis than in healthy individuals. In comparison to controls, pancreatic cancer patients had considerably greater levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and significantly lower levels of stem cell factor and IL-3. The tissues and cells of pancreatic cancer have higher concentrations of IL-4 receptors. IL-5 has a role in the accumulation of pancreatic fibrosis. For individuals with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a high serum level of IL-6 may be a separate risk factor for the development of widespread liver metastases. PDAC patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibit a substantial upregulation of IL-7 receptor. The role of IL-8 in the growth and spread of PC in humans. The miR-200a/β-catenin axis may be the mechanism by which IL-9 stimulates the proliferation and metastasis of PC cells. Blocking IL-10 in the local microenvironment appears to result in a significant reversal of tumor-induced immunosuppression.

CONCLUSION

The article concludes that interleukins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 played significant roles in the pathogenesis of PC.

Targeting BCL2 with Venetoclax Enhances the Efficacy of the KRASG12D Inhibitor MRTX1133 in Pancreatic Cancer

MRTX1133 is currently being evaluated in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors harboring a KRASG12D mutation. Combination strategies have the potential to enhance the efficacy of MRTX1133 to further promote cell death and tumor regression. In this study, we demonstrated that MRTX1133 increased the levels of the proapoptotic protein BIM in PDAC cells and conferred sensitivity to the FDA-approved BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. Combined treatment with MRTX1133 and venetoclax resulted in cell death and growth suppression in 3D cultures. BIM was required for apoptosis induced by the combination treatment. Consistently, BIM was induced in tumors treated with MRTX1133, and venetoclax enhanced the efficacy of MRTX1133 in vivo. Venetoclax could also resensitize MRTX1133-resistant PDAC cells to MRTX1133 in 3D cultures, and tumors established from resistant cells responded to the combination of MRTX1133 and venetoclax. These results provide a rationale for the clinical testing of MRTX1133 and venetoclax in patients with PDAC. Significance: The combination of MRTX1133 and the FDA-approved drug venetoclax promotes cancer cell death and tumor regression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, providing rationale for testing venetoclax with KRASG12D inhibitors in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Extracellular Matrix Components and Mechanosensing Pathways in Health and Disease

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) are essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with pivotal roles in cellular mechanosensing pathways. GAGs, such as heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS), interact with various cell surface receptors, including integrins and receptor tyrosine kinases, to modulate cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. PGs, comprising a core protein with covalently attached GAG chains, serve as dynamic regulators of tissue mechanics and cell behavior, thereby playing a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of GAG/PG-mediated mechanosensing pathways is implicated in numerous pathological conditions, including cancer and inflammation. Understanding the intricate mechanisms by which GAGs and PGs modulate cellular responses to mechanical forces holds promise for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting mechanotransduction pathways in disease. This comprehensive overview underscores the importance of GAGs and PGs as key mediators of mechanosensing in maintaining tissue homeostasis and their potential as therapeutic targets for mitigating mechano-driven pathologies, focusing on cancer and inflammation.

Cancer cell membrane-modified Soluplus® micelles for gemcitabine delivery to pancreatic cancer using a prodrug approach

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide and its incidence is increasing. Chemotherapy is often associated to limited efficacy, poor targeting and systemic toxicity. In this work, the hydrophilic gemcitabine (GEM), widely used in PC treatment alone or in combination, was conjugated with vitamin E succinate (VES) and encapsulated in Soluplus® micelles. This prodrug approach facilitated encapsulation of the anticancer drug into the self-assembled copolymer micelles. Soluplus®/VES-GEM micelles were optimized regarding the ratio of the components and the preparation process. The micelles were small-sized (<80 nm), monodisperse, and highly stable, efficiently retaining the conjugate drug and showing significant antiproliferative activity against BxPC3 cell line. To improve biofunctionalization and targeting properties of prepared Soluplus®/VES-GEM micelles, biomimetic modification with PC cell membrane was further attempted by co-extruding PC cell membrane (BxPC3) nanovesicles with Soluplus®/VES-GEM micelles. Several protocols were attempted to prepare the BxPC3-modified Soluplus®/VES-GEM micelles and the outcomes were analyzed in detail. Overall, the results pave the way to innovative PC-targeted nanotherapies by maximizing GEM encapsulation in hydrophobic compartments with high stability and affinity. The results also highlight the need of higher resolution techniques to characterize cell membrane coating of nanocarriers bearing highly hydrophilic shells.

Enhancing Neoadjuvant Virotherapy's Effectiveness by Targeting Stroma to Improve Resectability in Pancreatic Cancer

About one-fourth of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are categorized as borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have not yielded the anticipated outcomes in curing patients with BR/LA PDAC. The surgical resection of these tumors presents challenges owing to the unpredictability of the resection margin, involvement of vasculature with the tumor, the likelihood of occult metastasis, a higher ratio of positive lymph nodes, and the relatively larger size of tumor nodules. Oncolytic virotherapy has shown promising activity in preclinical PDAC models. Unfortunately, the desmoplastic stroma within the PDAC tumor microenvironment establishes a barrier, hindering the infiltration of oncolytic viruses and various therapeutic drugs-such as antibodies, adoptive cell therapy agents, and chemotherapeutic agents-in reaching the tumor site. Recently, a growing emphasis has been placed on targeting major acellular components of tumor stroma, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, to enhance drug penetration. Oncolytic viruses can be engineered to express proteolytic enzymes that cleave hyaluronic acid and collagen into smaller polypeptides, thereby softening the desmoplastic stroma, ultimately leading to increased viral distribution along with increased oncolysis and subsequent tumor size regression. This approach may offer new possibilities to improve the resectability of patients diagnosed with BR and LA PDAC.

Multiple aspects of matrix stiffness in cancer progression

The biophysical and biomechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are crucial in the processes of cell differentiation and proliferation. However, it is unclear to what extent tumor cells are influenced by biomechanical and biophysical changes of the surrounding microenvironment and how this response varies between different tumor forms, and over the course of tumor progression. The entire ensemble of genes encoding the ECM associated proteins is called matrisome. In cancer, the ECM evolves to become highly dysregulated, rigid, and fibrotic, serving both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic roles. Tumor desmoplasia is characterized by a dramatic increase of α-smooth muscle actin expressing fibroblast and the deposition of hard ECM containing collagen, fibronectin, proteoglycans, and hyaluronic acid and is common in many solid tumors. In this review, we described the role of inflammation and inflammatory cytokines, in desmoplastic matrix remodeling, tumor state transition driven by microenvironment forces and the signaling pathways in mechanotransduction as potential targeted therapies, focusing on the impact of qualitative and quantitative variations of the ECM on the regulation of tumor development, hypothesizing the presence of matrisome drivers, acting alongside the cell-intrinsic oncogenic drivers, in some stages of neoplastic progression and in some tumor contexts, such as pancreatic carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy Assessment in Advanced Multicellular 3D Models of Pancreatic Cancer: Unravelling the Importance of Spatiotemporal Mimicry of the Tumor Microenvironment

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenge for global health with very low survival rate and high therapeutic resistance. Hence, advanced preclinical models for treatment screening are of paramount importance. Herein, chemotherapeutic (gemcitabine) assessment on novel (polyurethane) scaffold-based spatially advanced 3D multicellular PDAC models is carried out. Through comprehensive image-based analysis at the protein level, and expression analysis at the mRNA level, the importance of stromal cells is confirmed, primarily activated stellate cells in the chemoresistance of PDAC cells within the models. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, in addition to the presence of activated stellate cells, the spatial architecture of the scaffolds, i.e., segregation/compartmentalization of the cancer and stromal zones, affect the cellular evolution and is necessary for the development of chemoresistance. These results highlight that, further to multicellularity, mapping the tumor structure/architecture and zonal complexity in 3D cancer models is important for better mimicry of the in vivo therapeutic response.

Identification and validation of key genes in gastric cancer: insights from in silico analysis, clinical samples, and functional assays

INTRODUCTION

The underlying mechanisms of gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we employed a comprehensive approach, combining computational and experimental methods, to identify potential key genes and unveil the underlying pathogenesis and prognosis of GC.

METHODS

Gene expression profiles from GEO databases (GSE118916, GSE79973, and GSE29272) were analyzed to identify DEGs between GC and normal tissues. A PPI network was constructed using STRING and Cytoscape, followed by hub gene identification with CytoHubba. Investigations included expression and promoter methylation analysis, survival modeling, mutational and miRNA analysis, gene enrichment, drug prediction, and in vitro assays for cellular behaviors.

RESULTS

A total of 83 DEGs were identified in the three datasets, comprising 41 up-regulated genes and 42 down-regulated genes. Utilizing the degree and MCC methods, we identified four hub genes that were hypomethylated and up-regulated: COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, and FN1. Subsequent validation of their expression and promoter methylation on clinical GC samples through targeted bisulfite sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis further confirmed the hypomethylation and overexpression of these genes in local GC patients. Furthermore, it was observed that these hub genes regulate tumor proliferation and metastasis in in vivo and exhibited mutations in GC patients.

CONCLUSION

We found four potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, including COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, and FN1 that may be involved in the occurrence and progression of GC.

Simultaneous fingerprinting of multiplex collagen biomarkers in connective tissues by multicolor quantum dots-based peptide probes

The accurate detection of multiplex collagen biomarkers is vital for diagnosing and treating various critical diseases such as tumors and fibrosis. Despite the attractive optical properties of quantum dots (QDs), it remains technically challenging to create stable and specific QDs-based probes for multiplex biological imaging. We report for the first time the construction of multi-color QDs-based peptide probes for the simultaneous fingerprinting of multiplex collagen biomarkers in connective tissues. A bipeptide system composed of a glutathione (GSH) host peptide and a collagen-targeting guest peptide (CTP) has been developed, yielding CTP-QDs probes that exhibit exceptional luminescence stability when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation and mildly acidic conditions. The versatile bipeptide system allows for facile one-pot synthesis of high-quality multicolor CTP-QDs probes, exhibiting superior selectivity in targeting critical collagen biomarkers including denatured collagen, type I collagen, type II collagen, and type IV collagen. The multicolor CTP-QDs probes have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in simultaneously fingerprinting multiple collagen types in diverse connective tissues, irrespective of their status, whether affected by injury, diseases, or undergoing remodeling processes. The innovative multicolor CTP-QDs probes offer a robust toolkit for the multiplex fingerprinting of the collagen suprafamily, demonstrating significant potential in the diagnosis and treatment of collagen-related diseases.

DDR1-targeted therapies: current limitations and future potential

Discoidin domain receptor (DDR)-1 has a crucial role in regulating vital processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion, and matrix remodeling. Overexpression or activation of DDR1 in various pathological scenarios makes it a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer, fibrosis, atherosclerosis, and neuropsychiatric, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we summarize current therapeutic approaches targeting DDR1 from a medicinal chemistry perspective. Furthermore, we analyze factors other than issues of low selectivity and risk of resistance, contributing to the infrequent success of DDR1 inhibitors. The complex interplay between DDR1 and the extracellular matrix (ECM) necessitates additional validation, given that DDR1 might exhibit complex and synergistic interactions with other signaling molecules during ECM regulation. The mechanisms involved in DDR1 regulation in cancer and inflammation-related diseases also remain unknown.

Fundamental insights and molecular interactions in pancreatic cancer: Pathways to therapeutic approaches

The gastrointestinal tract can be affected by a number of diseases that pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant manifestation of them. The prognosis of PC patients is unfavorable and because of their diagnosis at advanced stage, the treatment of this tumor is problematic. Owing to low survival rate, there is much interest towards understanding the molecular profile of PC in an attempt in developing more effective therapeutics. The conventional therapeutics for PC include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as emerging immunotherapy. However, PC is still incurable and more effort should be performed. The molecular landscape of PC is an underlying factor involved in increase in progression of tumor cells. In the presence review, the newest advances in understanding the molecular and biological events in PC are discussed. The dysregulation of molecular pathways including AMPK, MAPK, STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin and non-coding RNA transcripts has been suggested as a factor in development of tumorigenesis in PC. Moreover, cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis and necroptosis demonstrate abnormal levels. The EMT and glycolysis in PC cells enhance to ensure their metastasis and proliferation. Furthermore, such abnormal changes have been used to develop corresponding pharmacological and nanotechnological therapeutics for PC.

Shaping Oncogenic Microenvironments: Contribution of Fibronectin

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of proteins and glycans, dynamically remodeled and specifically tailored to the structure/function of each organ. The malignant transformation of cancer cells is determined by both cell intrinsic properties, such as mutations, and extrinsic variables, such as the mixture of surrounding cells in the tumor microenvironment and the biophysics of the ECM. During cancer progression, the ECM undergoes extensive remodeling, characterized by disruption of the basal lamina, vascular endothelial cell invasion, and development of fibrosis in and around the tumor cells resulting in increased tissue stiffness. This enhanced rigidity leads to aberrant mechanotransduction and further malignant transformation potentiating the de-differentiation, proliferation and invasion of tumor cells. Interestingly, this fibrotic microenvironment is primarily secreted and assembled by non-cancerous cells. Among them, the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a central role. CAFs massively produce fibronectin together with type I collagen. This review delves into the primary interactions and signaling pathways through which fibronectin can support tumorigenesis and metastasis, aiming to provide critical molecular insights for better therapy response prediction.

The collagen matrix regulates the survival and function of pancreatic islets

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides an appropriate microenvironment for many kinds of cells, including pancreatic cells. Collagens are the most abundant components of the ECM. Type I, IV, V and VI collagen has been detected in pancreatic islets, and each type plays important role in the proliferation, survival, function and differentiation of pancreatic cells. In some cases, collagens show behaviours similar to those of growth factors and regulate the biological behaviour of β cells by binding with certain growth factors, including IGFs, EGFs and FGFs. The transcriptional coactivator YAP/TAZ has been widely recognised as a mechanosensor that senses changes in the physical characteristics of the ECM and inhibition of YAP/TAZ enhances insulin production and secretion. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the destruction of insulin-producing β cells. The crosstalk between collagens and immune cells plays a key role in the development and differentiation of immune cells. Further, Supplementation with collagens during islet transplantation is a promising strategy for improving the quality of the islets. But, excessive collagen deposition results in pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma. Targeting inhibit Piezo, autophagy or IL-6 may reduce excessive collagen deposition-induced pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma. This review provides insights into the treatment of T1DM to prolong life expectancy and provides the potential targets for treating collagen deposition-induced pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma.

3D Coculture between Cancer Cells and Macrophages: From Conception to Experimentation

A tumor is a complex cluster with many types of cells in the microenvironment that help it grow. Macrophages, immune cells whose main role is to maintain body homeostasis, represent in the majority of cancers the most important cell population. In this context, they are called tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) because of their phenotype, which contributes to tumor growth. In order to limit the use of animals, there is a real demand for the creation of in vitro models able to represent more specifically the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in order to characterize it and evaluate new treatments. However, the two-dimensional (2D) culture, which has been used for a long time, has shown many limitations, especially in terms of tumor representation. The three-dimensional (3D) models, developed over the last 20 years, have made it possible to get closer to what happens in vivo in terms of phenotypic and functional characteristics. Due to their architectural similarity to in vivo tissues, they provide a more physiologically relevant in vitro system. Most recently, it is the development of 3D coculture models in which two or three cell lines are cultured together that has allowed a better representation of TME with cell-cell interactions. Unfortunately, there is no clear direction for the design of these models at this time. In this Review on the coculture between cancer cells and TAMs, an in-depth analysis is performed to answer multiple questions on the conception of these models: Which models to use, and with which material and cancer lineage? Which monocyte or macrophage lines should be added to the coculture? And how can these models be exploited?

Identification of common factors among fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma by network analysis

Sarcoma cancers are uncommon malignant tumors, and there are many subgroups, including fibrosarcoma (FS), which mainly affects middle-aged and older adults in deep soft tissues. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), on the other hand, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and is located in the head and neck area. Osteosarcomas (OS) is the predominant form of primary bone cancer among young adults, primarily resulting from sporadically random mutations. This frequently results in the dissemination of cancer cells to the lungs, commonly known as metastasis. Mesodermal cells are the origin of sarcoma cancers. In this study, a rather radical approach has been applied. Instead of comparing homogenous cancer types, we focus on three main subtypes of sarcoma: fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma, and compare their gene expression with normal cell groups to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Next, by applying protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we determine the hub genes and crucial factors, such as transcription factors (TFs), affected by these types of cancer. Our findings indicate a modification in a range of pathways associated with cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and DNA repair in these three malignancies. Results showed that fibrosarcoma (FS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and osteosarcoma (OS) had 653, 1270, and 2823 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Interestingly, there were 24 DEGs common to all three types. Network analysis showed that the fibrosarcoma network had two sub-networks identified in FS that contributed to the catabolic process of collagen via the G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway. The rhabdomyosarcoma network included nine sub-networks associated with cell division, extracellular matrix organization, mRNA splicing via spliceosome, and others. The osteosarcoma network has 13 sub-networks, including mRNA splicing, sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair, etc. In conclusion, the common DEGs identified in this study have been shown to play significant and multiple roles in various other cancers based on the literature review, indicating their significance.

Acquired and intrinsic gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer therapy: Environmental factors, molecular profile and drug/nanotherapeutic approaches

A high number of cancer patients around the world rely on gemcitabine (GEM) for chemotherapy. During local metastasis of cancers, surgery is beneficial for therapy, but dissemination in distant organs leads to using chemotherapy alone or in combination with surgery to prevent cancer recurrence. Therapy failure can be observed as a result of GEM resistance, threatening life of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. The mortality and morbidity of PC in contrast to other tumors are increasing. GEM chemotherapy is widely utilized for PC suppression, but resistance has encountered its therapeutic impacts. The purpose of current review is to bring a broad concept about role of biological mechanisms and pathways in the development of GEM resistance in PC and then, therapeutic strategies based on using drugs or nanostructures for overcoming chemoresistance. Dysregulation of the epigenetic factors especially non-coding RNA transcripts can cause development of GEM resistance in PC and miRNA transfection or using genetic tools such as siRNA for modulating expression level of these factors for changing GEM resistance are suggested. The overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins and survival genes can contribute to GEM resistance in PC. Moreover, supportive autophagy inhibits apoptosis and stimulates GEM resistance in PC cells. Increase in metabolism, glycolysis induction and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) stimulation are considered as other factors participating in GEM resistance in PC. Drugs can suppress tumorigenesis in PC and inhibit survival factors and pathways in increasing GEM sensitivity in PC. More importantly, nanoparticles can increase pharmacokinetic profile of GEM and promote its blood circulation and accumulation in cancer site. Nanoparticles mediate delivery of GEM with genes and drugs to suppress tumorigenesis in PC and increase drug sensitivity. The basic research displays significant connection among dysregulated pathways and GEM resistance, but the lack of clinical application is a drawback that can be responded in future.

Exploring the Role of Desmoplastic Physical Stroma in Pancreatic Cancer Progression Using a Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrix Model

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a refractory tumor with a poor prognosis, and its complex microenvironment is characterized by a fibrous interstitial matrix surrounding PDAC cells. Type I collagen is a major component of this interstitial matrix. Abundant type I collagen promotes its deposition and cross-linking to form a rigid and dense physical barrier, which limits drug penetration and immune cell infiltration and provides drug resistance and metabolic adaptations. In this study, to identify the physical effect of the stroma, type I collagen was used as a 3D matrix to culture Capan-1 cells and generate a 3D PDAC model. Using transcriptome analysis, a link between type I collagen-induced physical effects and the promotion of Capan-1 cell proliferation and migration was determined. Moreover, metabolomic analysis revealed that the physical effect caused a shift in metabolism toward a glycolytic phenotype. In particular, the high expression of proline in the metabolites suggests the ability to maintain Capan-1 cell proliferation under hypoxic and nutrient-depleted conditions. In conclusion, we identified type I collagen-induced physical effects in promoting Capan-1 cells, which cause PDAC progression, providing support for the role of dense stroma in the PDAC microenvironment and identifying a fundamental method for modeling the complex PDAC microenvironment.

Therapeutic Strategies for Pancreatic-Cancer-Related Type 2 Diabetes Centered around Natural Products

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly malignant neoplasm, is classified as one of the most severe and devastating types of cancer. PDAC is a notable malignancy that exhibits a discouraging prognosis and a rising occurrence. The interplay between diabetes and pancreatic cancer exhibits a reciprocal causation. The identified metabolic disorder has been observed to possess noteworthy consequences on health outcomes, resulting in elevated rates of morbidity. The principal mechanisms involve the suppression of the immune system, the activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and the onset of systemic metabolic disease caused by dysfunction of the islets. From this point forward, it is important to recognize that pancreatic-cancer-related diabetes (PCRD) has the ability to increase the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer. This highlights the complex relationship that exists between these two physiological states. Therefore, we investigated into the complex domain of PSCs, elucidating their intricate signaling pathways and the profound influence of chemokines on their behavior and final outcome. In order to surmount the obstacle of drug resistance and eliminate PDAC, researchers have undertaken extensive efforts to explore and cultivate novel natural compounds of the next generation. Additional investigation is necessary in order to comprehensively comprehend the effect of PCRD-mediated apoptosis on the progression and onset of PDAC through the utilization of natural compounds. This study aims to examine the potential anticancer properties of natural compounds in individuals with diabetes who are undergoing chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. It is anticipated that these compounds will exhibit increased potency and possess enhanced pharmacological benefits. According to our research findings, it is indicated that naturally derived chemical compounds hold potential in the development of PDAC therapies that are both safe and efficacious.

A network embedding approach to identify active modules in biological interaction networks

The identification of condition-specific gene sets from transcriptomic experiments is important to reveal regulatory and signaling mechanisms associated with a given cellular response. Statistical methods of differential expression analysis, designed to assess individual gene variations, have trouble highlighting modules of small varying genes whose interaction is essential to characterize phenotypic changes. To identify these highly informative gene modules, several methods have been proposed in recent years, but they have many limitations that make them of little use to biologists. Here, we propose an efficient method for identifying these active modules that operates on a data embedding combining gene expressions and interaction data. Applications carried out on real datasets show that our method can identify new groups of genes of high interest corresponding to functions not revealed by traditional approaches. Software is available at https://github.com/claudepasquier/amine.

LZTR1 deficiency exerts high metastatic potential by enhancing sensitivity to EMT induction and controlling KLHL12-mediated collagen secretion

Leucine zipper-like transcriptional regulator 1 (LZTR1), a substrate adaptor of Cullin 3 (CUL3)-based E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulates proteostasis of the RAS subfamily. Mutations in LZTR1 have been identified in patients with several types of cancer. However, the role of LZTR1 in tumor metastasis and the target molecules of LZTR1, excluding the RAS subfamily, are not clearly understood. Here, we show that LZTR1 deficiency increases tumor growth and metastasis. In lung adenocarcinoma cells, LZTR1 deficiency induced the accumulation of the RAS subfamily and enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and xenograft tumor growth. Multi-omics analysis to clarify the pathways related to tumor progression showed that MAPK signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling-related gene ontology terms were enriched in LZTR1 knockout cells. Indeed, LZTR1 deficiency induced high expression of EMT markers under TGF-β1 treatment. Our search for novel substrates that interact with LZTR1 resulted in the discovery of a Kelch-like protein 12 (KLHL12), which is involved in collagen secretion. LZTR1 could inhibit KLHL12-mediated ubiquitination of SEC31A, a component of coat protein complex II (COPII), whereas LZTR1 deficiency promoted collagen secretion. LZTR1-RIT1 and LZTR1-KLHL12 worked independently regarding molecular interactions and did not directly interfere with each other. Further, we found that LZTR1 deficiency significantly increases lung metastasis and promotes ECM deposition around metastatic tumors. Since collagen-rich extracellular matrix act as pathways for migration and facilitate metastasis, increased expression of RAS and collagen deposition may exert synergistic or additive effects leading to tumor progression and metastasis. In conclusion, LZTR1 deficiency exerts high metastatic potential by enhancing sensitivity to EMT induction and promoting collagen secretion. The functional inhibition of KLHL12 by LZTR1 provides important evidence that LZTR1 may be a repressor of BTB-Kelch family members. These results provide clues to the mechanism of LZTR1-deficiency carcinogenesis.

Extracellular matrix-derived mechanical force governs breast cancer cell stemness and quiescence transition through integrin-DDR signaling

The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves as signals that regulate specific cell states in tumor tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that extracellular biomechanical force signals are critical in tumor progression. In this study, we aimed to explore the influence of ECM-derived biomechanical force on breast cancer cell status. Experiments were conducted using 3D collagen, fibrinogen, and Matrigel matrices to investigate the role of mechanical force in tumor development. Integrin-cytoskeleton-AIRE and DDR-STAT signals were examined using RNA sequencing and western blotting. Data from 1358 patients and 86 clinical specimens were used for ECM signature-prognosis analysis. Our findings revealed that ECM-derived mechanical force regulated tumor stemness and cell quiescence in breast cancer cells. A mechanical force of ~45 Pa derived from the extracellular substrate activated integrin β1/3 receptors, stimulating stem cell signaling pathways through the cytoskeleton/AIRE axis and promoting tumorigenic potential and stem-like phenotypes. However, excessive mechanical force (450 Pa) could drive stem-like cancer cells into a quiescent state, with the removal of mechanical forces leading to vigorous proliferation in quiescent cancer stem cells. Mechanical force facilitated cell cycle arrest to induce quiescence, dependent on DDR2/STAT1/P27 signaling. Therefore, ECM-derived mechanical force governs breast cancer cell status and proliferative characteristics through stiffness alterations. We further established an ECM signature based on the fibrinogen/fibronectin/vitronectin/elastin axis, which efficiently predicts patient prognosis in breast cancer. Our findings highlight the vital role of ECM-derived mechanical force in governing breast cancer cell stemness/quiescence transition and suggest the novel use of ECM signature in predicting the clinical prognosis of breast cancer.

ECM Composition Differentially Regulates Intracellular and Extracellular pH in Normal and Cancer Pancreatic Duct Epithelial Cells

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is a challenge for the exocrine pancreas, where the luminal secretion of bicarbonate-rich fluid is accompanied by interstitial flows of acid. This acid-base transport requires a plethora of ion transporters, including bicarbonate transporters and the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1), which are dysregulated in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC progression is favored by a Collagen-I rich extracellular matrix (ECM) which exacerbates the physiological interstitial acidosis. In organotypic cultures of normal human pancreatic cells (HPDE), parenchymal cancer cells (CPCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) growing on matrices reproducing ECM changes during progression, we studied resting pHi, the pHi response to fluxes of NaHCO₃ and acidosis and the role of NHE1 in pHi regulation. Our findings show that: (i) on the physiological ECM, HPDE cells have the most alkaline pHi, followed by CSCs and CPCs, while a Collagen I-rich ECM reverses the acid-base balance in cancer cells compared to normal cells; (ii) both resting pHi and pHi recovery from an acid load are reduced by extracellular NaHCO₃, especially in HPDE cells on a normal ECM; (iii) cancer cell NHE1 activity is less affected by NaHCO₃. We conclude that ECM composition and the fluctuations of pHe cooperate to predispose pHi homeostasis towards the presence of NaHCO₃ gradients similar to that expected in the tumor.

Thymoquinone affects the gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic cancer by regulating collagen via hypoxia inducible factor-1α

Objective: To clarify the potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on pancreatic cancer and its gemcitabine (GEM) sensitivity. Methods: The expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), collagens (COL1A1, COL3A1, and COL5A1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) in pancreatic cancer and para-carcinoma tissues were compared using immunohistochemical methods, and their relationships with TNM staging were analyzed. The effects of TQ on apoptosis, migration, invasion, and GEM sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells were assessed using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression levels of HIF-1α, extracellular matrix (ECM) production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins. Results: The expression levels of HIF-1α, COL1A1, COL3A1, COL5A1, and TGFβ1 in pancreatic cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in para-carcinoma tissues and correlated with TNM staging (p < 0.05). TQ and GEM administration inhibited the migration and invasion of the human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 and promoted the apoptosis of PANC-1 cells. The combination of TQ and GEM was more effective than GEM alone. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of HIF-1α, ECM production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins were significantly decreased when TQ was used to treat PANC-1 cells (p < 0.05), and the expression levels of these proteins in the TQ + GEM group were significantly more decreased than those in the GEM group. Overexpression or knockdown of HIF-1α in PANC-1 cells showed the same effects as those induced by TQ administration. In vivo experiments showed that in PANC-1 tumor-bearing mice, tumor volume and tumor weight in mice treated with GEM and TQ were significantly lower than those in control or GEM-treated mice, whereas cell apoptosis was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that the levels of HIF-1α, ECM production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins in the GEM + TQ treatment group were further decreased compared to the control group or the GEM treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In pancreatic cancer cells, TQ can promote apoptosis, inhibit migration, invasion, and metastasis, and enhance the sensitivity to GEM. The underlying mechanism may involve the regulation of ECM production through the TGFβ/Smad pathway, in which HIF-1α plays a key role.

Cancer immune exclusion: breaking the barricade for a successful immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has changed the course of cancer treatment. The initial steps were made through tumor-specific antibodies that guided the setup of an antitumor immune response. A new and successful generation of antibodies are designed to target immune checkpoint molecules aimed to reinvigorate the antitumor immune response. The cellular counterpart is the adoptive cell therapy, where specific immune cells are expanded or engineered to target cancer cells. In all cases, the key for achieving positive clinical resolutions rests upon the access of immune cells to the tumor. In this review, we focus on how the tumor microenvironment architecture, including stromal cells, immunosuppressive cells and extracellular matrix, protects tumor cells from an immune attack leading to immunotherapy resistance, and on the available strategies to tackle immune evasion.

Hepatic myofibroblasts exert immunosuppressive effects independent of the immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 in liver metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the 4^th most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, often already with metastases. The main site of metastasis is the liver and hepatic myofibroblasts (HMF) play a pivotal role in metastatic outgrowth. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) improved treatment of several cancers but not of PDAC. Therefore, this study aimed to better understand the impact of HMF on PD-L1 expression and immune evasion of PDAC cells during liver metastasis.

Methods

Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded biopsy samples or diagnostic resection specimens from liver metastases of 15 PDAC patients were used for immunohistochemical analyses. Serial sections were stained with antibodies directed against Pan-Cytokeratin, αSMA, CD8, and PD-L1. To investigate whether the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and HMF contribute to immune escape of PDAC liver metastases, a stroma enriched 3D spheroid coculture model was established in vitro, using two different PDAC cell lines, HMF, and CD8⁺ T cells. Here, functional and flow cytometry analyses were conducted.

Results

Immunohistochemical analysis of liver tissue sections of PDAC patients revealed that HMF represent an abundant stroma population in liver metastases, with clear differences in the spatial distribution in small (1500 µm) and large (> 1500 μm) metastases. In the latter, PD-L1 expression was mainly located at the invasion front or evenly distributed, while small metastases either lacked PD-L1 expression or showed mostly weak expression in the center. Double stainings revealed that PD-L1 is predominantly expressed by stromal cells, especially HMF. Small liver metastases with no or low PD-L1 expression comprised more CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor center, while large metastases exhibiting stronger PD-L1 expression comprised less CD8⁺ T cells being mostly located at the invasion front. HMF-enriched spheroid cocultures with different ratios of PDAC cells and HMF well mimicking conditions of hepatic metastases in situ. Here, HMF impaired the release of effector molecules by CD8⁺ T cells and the induction of PDAC cell death, an effect that was dependent on the amount of HMF but also of PDAC cells. ICI treatment led to elevated secretion of distinct CD8⁺ T cell effector molecules but did not increase PDAC cell death under either spheroid condition.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate a spatial reorganization of HMF, CD8⁺ T cells, and PD-L1 expression during progression of PDAC liver metastases. Furthermore, HMF potently impair the effector phenotype of CD8⁺ T cells but the PD-L1/PD-1 axis apparently plays a minor role in this scenario suggesting that immune evasion of PDAC liver metastases relies on other immunosuppressive mechanisms.

A novel DDR1 inhibitor enhances the anticancer activity of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich carcinoma, which promotes chemoresistance by inhibiting drug diffusion into the tumor. Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) increases tumor progression and drug resistance by binding to collagen, a major component of tumor ECM. Therefore, DDR1 inhibition may be helpful in cancer therapeutics by increasing drug delivery efficiency and improving drug sensitivity. In this study, we developed a novel DDR1 inhibitor, KI-301690 and investigated whether it could improve the anticancer activity of gemcitabine, a cytotoxic agent widely used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. KI-301690 synergized with gemcitabine to suppress the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Importantly, its combination significantly attenuated the expression of major tumor ECM components including collagen, fibronectin, and vimentin compared to gemcitabine alone. Additionally, this combination effectively decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), thereby inducing apoptosis. Further, the combination synergistically inhibited cell migration and invasion. The enhanced anticancer efficacy of the co-treatment could be explained by the inhibition of DDR1/PYK2/FAK signaling, which significantly reduced tumor growth in a pancreatic xenograft model. Our results demonstrate that KI-301690 can inhibit aberrant ECM expression by DDR1/PYK2/FAK signaling pathway blockade and attenuation of ECM-induced chemoresistance observed in desmoplastic pancreatic tumors, resulting in enhanced antitumor effect through effective induction of gemcitabine apoptosis.

Autophagy: A Key Player in Pancreatic Cancer Progression and a Potential Drug Target

Pancreatic cancer is known to have the lowest survival outcomes among all major cancers, and unfortunately, this has only been marginally improved over last four decades. The innate characteristics of pancreatic cancer include an aggressive and fast-growing nature from powerful driver mutations, a highly defensive tumor microenvironment and the upregulation of advantageous survival pathways such as autophagy. Autophagy involves targeted degradation of proteins and organelles to provide a secondary source of cellular supplies to maintain cell growth. Elevated autophagic activity in pancreatic cancer is recognized as a major survival pathway as it provides a plethora of support for tumors by supplying vital resources, maintaining tumour survival under the stressful microenvironment and promoting other pathways involved in tumour progression and metastasis. The combination of these features is unique to pancreatic cancer and present significant resistance to chemotherapeutic strategies, thus, indicating a need for further investigation into therapies targeting this crucial pathway. This review will outline the autophagy pathway and its regulation, in addition to the genetic landscape and tumor microenvironment that contribute to pancreatic cancer severity. Moreover, this review will also discuss the mechanisms of novel therapeutic strategies that inhibit autophagy and how they could be used to suppress tumor progression.

Aptamers targeting a tumor-associated extracellular matrix component: The human mature collagen XIα1

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an essential role in tumor progression and invasion through its continuous remodeling. The growth of most carcinomas is associated with an excessive collagen deposition that provides the proper environment for tumor development and chemoresistance. The α1 chain of a minor human collagen, type XI, is overexpressed in some tumor stroma, but not found in normal stroma. To test the clinical utility of this collagen as a cancer biomarker, specific receptors are needed. Available antibodies do not show enough selectivity or are directed toward the propeptide region that is cleaved when the protein is released to the ECM. Here we show the selection of an aptamer for the specific C-telopeptide region using a 16-mer peptide as the target for the SELEX. The aptamer selected with a K_d of ∼25 nM was able to capture the collagen XI from cell lysates. It was also used for target detection in a mixed antibody-aptamer sandwich assay showing it can be useful for diagnostic purposes in biological fluids.

Targeting Tumor-Stromal Interactions in Pancreatic Cancer: Impact of Collagens and Mechanical Traits

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst outcomes among cancers with a 5-years survival rate of below 10%. This is a result of late diagnosis and the lack of effective treatments. The tumor is characterized by a highly fibrotic stroma containing distinct cellular components, embedded within an extracellular matrix (ECM). This ECM-abundant tumor microenvironment (TME) in PDAC plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and resistance to treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), being a dominant cell type of the stroma, are in fact functionally heterogeneous populations of cells within the TME. Certain subtypes of CAFs are the main producer of the ECM components of the stroma, with the most abundant one being the collagen family of proteins. Collagens are large macromolecules that upon deposition into the ECM form supramolecular fibrillar structures which provide a mechanical framework to the TME. They not only bring structure to the tissue by being the main structural proteins but also contain binding domains that interact with surface receptors on the cancer cells. These interactions can induce various responses in the cancer cells and activate signaling pathways leading to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ultimately metastasis. In addition, collagens are one of the main contributors to building up mechanical forces in the tumor. These forces influence the signaling pathways that are involved in cell motility and tumor progression and affect tumor microstructure and tissue stiffness by exerting solid stress and interstitial fluid pressure on the cells. Taken together, the TME is subjected to various types of mechanical forces and interactions that affect tumor progression, metastasis, and drug response. In this review article, we aim to summarize and contextualize the recent knowledge of components of the PDAC stroma, especially the role of different collagens and mechanical traits on tumor progression. We furthermore discuss different experimental models available for studying tumor-stromal interactions and finally discuss potential therapeutic targets within the stroma.

Diabetes in Humans Activates Pancreatic Stellate Cells via RAGE in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) mainly consist of cancer-associating fibroblasts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Here, we studied the implication of RAGE in PSC activation in PDAC. The activation of cultured mouse PSCs was evaluated by qPCR. The induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC cell lines was assessed under stimulation with culture supernatant from activated PSCs. A total of 155 surgically resected PDAC subjects (83 nondiabetic, 18 with ≦3-years and 54 with >3-years history of diabetes) were clinicopathologically evaluated. A high-fat diet increased the expression of activated markers in cultured PSCs, which was abrogated by RAGE deletion. Culture supernatant from activated PSCs facilitated EMT of PDAC cells with elevation of TGF-β and IL-6, but not from RAGE-deleted PSCs. Diabetic subjects complicated with metabolic syndrome, divided by cluster analysis, showed higher PSC activation and RAGE expression. In such groups, PDAC cells exhibited an EMT nature. The complication of metabolic syndrome with diabetes significantly worsened disease-free survival of PDAC subjects. Thus, RAGE in PSCs can be viewed as a new promoter and a future therapeutic target of PDAC in diabetic subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Pre-clinical Models of Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a hostile solid malignancy coupled with an extremely high mortality rate. Metastatic disease is already found in most patients at the time of diagnosis, resulting in a 5-year survival rate below 5%. Improved comprehension of the mechanisms leading to metastasis is pivotal for the development of new targeted therapies. A key field to be improved are modeling strategies applied in assessing cancer progression, since traditional platforms fail in recapitulating the complexity of PDAC. Consequently, there is a compelling demand for new preclinical models that mirror tumor progression incorporating the pressure of the immune system, tumor microenvironment, as well as molecular aspects of PDAC. We suggest the incorporation of 3D organoids derived from genetically engineered mouse models or patients as promising new tools capable to transform PDAC pre-clinical modeling and access new frontiers in personalized medicine.

PIK3CB is involved in metastasis through the regulation of cell adhesion to collagen I in pancreatic cancer

Introduction

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is an aggressive malignancy, with a major mortality resulting from the rapid progression of metastasis. Unfortunately, no effective treatment strategy has been developed for PAAD metastasis to date. Thus, unraveling the mechanisms involved in PAAD metastatic phenotype may facilitate the treatment for PAAD patients.

Objectives

PIK3CB is an oncogene implicated in cancer development and progression but less is known about whether PIK3CB participates in PAAD metastasis. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the mechanism(s) of PIK3CB in PAAD metastasis.

Methods

In our study, we examined the PIK3CB expression pattern using bioinformatic analysis and clinical material derived from patients with PAAD. Subsequently, a series of biochemical experiments were conducted to investigate the role of PIK3CB as potential mechanism(s) underlying PAAD metastasis in vivo using nude mice and in vitro using cell lines.

Results

We observed that PIK3CB was involved in PAAD progression. Notably, we identified that PIK3CB was involved in PAAD metastasis. Downregulation of PIK3CB significantly reduced PAAD metastatic potential in vivo. Furthermore, a series of bioinformatic analyses showed that PIK3CB was involved in cell adhesion in PAAD. Notably, PIK3CB depletion inhibited invasion potential specifically via suppressing cell adhesion to collagen I in PAAD cells.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings indicate that PIK3CB is involved in PAAD metastasis through cell-matrix adhesion. We proposed that PIK3CB is a potential therapeutic target for PAAD therapy.

TGF-β1 facilitates MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, also known as gelatinases or type IV collagenases, are recognized as major contributors to the proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix during tumor invasion. Latent MMP-2 (proMMP-2) is activated by membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) on the cell surface of tumor cells. We previously reported that cell-bound proMMP-9 is activated by the MT1-MMP/MMP-2 axis in HT1080 cells treated with concanavalin A in the presence of exogenous proMMP-2. However, the regulatory mechanism of proMMP-9 activation remains largely unknown. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is frequently overexpressed in tumor tissues and is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. In this study, we examined the role of TGF-β1 on MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation using human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. TGF-β1 significantly increased the expression of MMP-9. By adding exogenous proMMP-2, TGF-β1-induced proMMP-9 was activated during collagen gel culture, which was suppressed by the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling or MT1-MMP activity. This MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation was needed to facilitate TGF-β1-induced cell invasion into collagen gel. Thus, TGF-β1 may facilitate MT1-MMP-mediated MMP-9 activation and thereby stimulate invasion of tumor cells in collaboration with MT1-MMP and MMP-2.

Collagenase-Expressing Salmonella Targets Major Collagens in Pancreatic Cancer Leading to Reductions in Immunosuppressive Subsets and Tumor Growth

Therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can be attributed, in part, to a dense extracellular matrix containing excessive collagen deposition. Here, we describe a novel Salmonella typhimurium (ST) vector expressing the bacterial collagenase Streptomyces omiyaensis trypsin (SOT), a serine protease known to hydrolyze collagens I and IV, which are predominantly found in PDAC. Utilizing aggressive models of PDAC, we show that ST-SOT selectively degrades intratumoral collagen leading to decreases in immunosuppressive subsets, tumor proliferation and viability. Ultimately, we found that ST-SOT treatment significantly modifies the intratumoral immune landscape to generate a microenvironment that may be more conducive to immunotherapy.

Rigosertib elicits potent anti-tumor responses in colorectal cancer by inhibiting Ras signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

The therapeutic potency of Rigosertib (RGS) in the treatment of the myelodysplastic syndrome has been investigated previously, but little is known about its mechanisms of action.

METHODS

The present study integrates systems and molecular biology approaches to investigate the mechanisms of the anti-tumor effects of RGS, either alone or in combination with 5-FU in cellular and animal models of colorectal cancer (CRC).

RESULTS

The effects of RGS were more pronounced in dedifferentiated CRC cell types, compared to cell types that were epithelial-like. RGS inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in a cell-type specific manner, and that was dependent on the presence of mutations in KRAS, or its down-stream effectors. RGS increased both early and late apoptosis, by regulating the expression of p53, BAX and MDM2 in tumor model. We also found that RGS induced cell senescence in tumor tissues by increasing ROS generation, and impairing oxidant/anti-oxidant balance. RGS also inhibited angiogenesis and metastatic behavior of CRC cells, by regulating the expression of CD31, E-cadherin, and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and 9.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support the therapeutic potential of this potent RAS signaling inhibitor either alone or in combination with standard regimens for the management of patients with CRC.

Murine Macrophages Modulate Their Inflammatory Profile in Response to Gas Plasma-Inactivated Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Macrophages and immuno-modulation play a dominant role in the pathology of pancreatic cancer. Gas plasma is a technology recently suggested to demonstrate anticancer efficacy. To this end, two murine cell lines were employed to analyze the inflammatory consequences of plasma-treated pancreatic cancer cells (PDA) on macrophages using the kINPen plasma jet. Plasma treatment decreased the metabolic activity, viability, and migratory activity in an ROS- and treatment time-dependent manner in PDA cells in vitro. These results were confirmed in pancreatic tumors grown on chicken embryos in the TUM-CAM model (in ovo). PDA cells promote tumor-supporting M2 macrophage polarization and cluster formation. Plasma treatment of PDA cells abrogated this cluster formation with a mixed M1/M2 phenotype observed in such co-cultured macrophages. Multiplex chemokine and cytokine quantification showed a marked decrease of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL1, IL6, and the tumor growth supporting TGFβ and VEGF in plasma-treated compared to untreated co-culture settings. At the same time, macrophage-attractant CCL4 and MCP1 release were profoundly enhanced. These cellular and secretome data suggest that the plasma-inactivated PDA6606 cells modulate the inflammatory profile of murine RAW 264.7 macrophages favorably, which may support plasma cancer therapy.

Morphological Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer Reflects Structural and Functional Divergence

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, which is largely due to resistance to treatment. Tumor heterogeneity is a known cause for treatment failure and has been studied at the molecular level. Morphological heterogeneity is common but has not been investigated, despite the fact that pathology examination is an integral part of clinical diagnostics. This study assessed whether morphological heterogeneity reflects structural and functional diversity in key cancer biological processes. Using archival tissues from resected pancreatic cancer, we selected four common and distinct morphological phenotypes and demonstrated that these differed significantly for a panel of 26 structural and functional features of the cancer-cell and stromal compartments. The strong link between these features and morphological phenotypes allowed prediction of the latter based on the results for the panel of features. The findings of this study indicate that morphological heterogeneity reflects biological diversity and that its assessment may potentially provide clinically relevant information.

Abstract

Inter- and intratumor heterogeneity is an important cause of treatment failure. In human pancreatic cancer (PC), heterogeneity has been investigated almost exclusively at the genomic and transcriptional level. Morphological heterogeneity, though prominent and potentially easily assessable in clinical practice, remains unexplored. This proof-of-concept study aims at demonstrating that morphological heterogeneity reflects structural and functional divergence. From the wide morphological spectrum of conventional PC, four common and distinctive patterns were investigated in 233 foci from 39 surgical specimens. Twenty-six features involved in key biological processes in PC were analyzed (immuno-)histochemically and morphometrically: cancer cell proliferation (Ki67) and migration (collagen fiber alignment, MMP14), cancer stem cells (CD44, CD133, ALDH1), amount, composition and spatial arrangement of extracellular matrix (epithelial proximity, total collagen, collagen I and III, fibronectin, hyaluronan), cancer-associated fibroblasts (density, αSMA), and cancer-stroma interactions (integrins α2, α5, α1; caveolin-1). All features differed significantly between at least two of the patterns. Stromal and cancer-cell-related features co-varied with morphology and allowed prediction of the morphological pattern. In conclusion, morphological heterogeneity in the cancer-cell and stromal compartments of PC correlates with structural and functional diversity. As such, histopathology has the potential to inform on the operationality of key biological processes in individual tumors.

Stellate Cells Aid Growth-Permissive Metabolic Reprogramming and Promote Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

The great majority, more than 90%, of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die within less than five years after detection of the disease, despite recent treatment advances. The poor prognosis is related to late diagnosis, aggressive disease progression, and tumor resistance to conventional chemotherapy. PDAC tumor tissue is characterized by dense fibrosis and poor nutrient availability. A large portion of the tumor is made up of stromal fibroblasts, the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which are known to contribute to tumor progression in several ways. PSCs have been shown to act as an alternate energy source, induce drug resistance, and inhibit drug availability in tumor cells, however, the underlying exact molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this literature review, we discuss recent available knowledge about the contributions of PSCs to the overall progression of PDAC via changes in tumor metabolism and how this is linked to therapy resistance.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), also known as pancreatic cancer (PC), is characterized by an overall poor prognosis and a five-year survival that is less than 10%. Characteristic features of the tumor are the presence of a prominent desmoplastic stromal response, an altered metabolism, and profound resistance to cancer drugs including gemcitabine, the backbone of PDAC chemotherapy. The pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) constitute the major cellular component of PDAC stroma. PSCs are essential for extracellular matrix assembly and form a supportive niche for tumor growth. Various cytokines and growth factors induce activation of PSCs through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, which in turn promote overall tumor growth and metastasis and induce chemoresistance. To maintain growth and survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic environment of PDAC, tumor cells fulfill their high energy demands via several unconventional ways, a process generally referred to as metabolic reprogramming. Accumulating evidence indicates that activated PSCs not only contribute to the therapy-resistant phenotype of PDAC but also act as a nutrient supplier for the tumor cells. However, the precise molecular links between metabolic reprogramming and an acquired therapy resistance in PDAC remain elusive. This review highlights recent findings indicating the importance of PSCs in aiding growth-permissive metabolic reprogramming and gemcitabine chemoresistance in PDAC.

Semi-interpenetrating polymer network cryogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and collagen as potential off-the-shelf platforms for cancer cell research

In the present work, we investigated the potential of novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) cryogels, obtained through ultraviolet exposure of aqueous mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and type I collagen, as tunable off-the-shelf platforms for 3D cancer cell research. We synthesized semi-IPN cryogels with variable collagen amounts (0.1% and 1% w/v) and assessed the effect of collagen on key cryogel properties for cell culture, for example, porosity, degradation rate and mechanical stiffness. Then, we investigated the ability of the cryogels to sustain the long-term growth of two pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell populations, the parenchymal Panc1 cells and their derived cancer stem cells. Results revealed that both cell lines efficiently infiltrated, attached and expanded in the cryogels over a period of 14 days. However, only when grown in the cryogels with the highest collagen concentration, both cell lines reproduced their characteristic growth pattern previously observed in collagen-enriched organotypic cultures, biomimetic of the highly fibrotic PDAC stroma. Cellular preembedding in Matrigel, that is, the classical approach to develop/grow organoids, interfered with an efficient intra-scaffold migration and growth. Although preliminary, these findings highlight the potential of the proposed cryogels as reproducible and tunable cancer cell research platforms.

Emerging Role of Syndecans in Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Cancer

The extracellular matrix (ECM) offers a structural basis for regulating cell functions while also acting as a collection point for bioactive molecules and connective tissue cells. To perform pathological functions under a pathological condition, the involved cells need to regulate the ECM to support their altered functions. This is particularly common in the development of cancer. The ECM has been recognized as a key driver of cancer development and progression, and ECM remodeling occurs at all stages of cancer progression. Thus, cancer cells need to change the ECM to support relevant cell surface adhesion receptor-mediated cell functions. In this context, it is interesting to examine how cancer cells regulate ECM remodeling, which is critical to tumor malignancy and metastatic progression. Here, we review how the cell surface adhesion receptor, syndecan, regulates ECM remodeling as cancer progresses, and explore how this can help us better understand ECM remodeling under these pathological conditions.

Identifying MMP14 and COL12A1 as a potential combination of prognostic biomarkers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using integrated bioinformatics analysis

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal malignant neoplasm. It is necessary to improve the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and identify the key genes and signaling pathways involved in PDAC.

Methods

The microarray datasets GSE28735, GSE62165, and GSE91035 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by integrated bioinformatics analysis, including protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The PPI network was established using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and Cytoscape software. GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. Hub genes were validated via the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis tool (GEPIA) and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) website.

Results

A total of 263 DEGs (167 upregulated and 96 downregulated) were common to the three datasets. We used STRING and Cytoscape software to establish the PPI network and then identified key modules. From the PPI network, 225 nodes and 803 edges were selected. The most significant module, which comprised 11 DEGs, was identified using the Molecular Complex Detection plugin. The top 20 hub genes, which were filtered by the CytoHubba plugin, comprised FN1, COL1A1, COL3A1, BGN, POSTN, FBN1, COL5A2, COL12A1, THBS2, COL6A3, VCAN, CDH11, MMP14, LTBP1, IGFBP5, ALB, CXCL12, FAP, MATN3, and COL8A1. These genes were validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, and the encoded proteins were subsequently validated using the HPA website. The GO analysis results showed that the most significantly enriched biological process, cellular component, and molecular function terms among the 20 hub genes were cell adhesion, proteinaceous extracellular matrix, and calcium ion binding, respectively. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the 20 hub genes were mainly enriched in ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and protein digestion and absorption. These findings indicated that FBN1 and COL8A1 appear to be involved in the progression of PDAC. Moreover, patient survival analysis performed via the GEPIA using TCGA and GTEx databases demonstrated that the expression levels of COL12A1 and MMP14 were correlated with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results demonstrated that upregulation of MMP14 and COL12A1 is associated with poor overall survival, and these might be a combination of prognostic biomarkers in PDAC.

High expression of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1) is associated with a poor survival rate in human gastric cancer, a dataset approaches

Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1) is a secreted metalloprotease of the astacin M12A family of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). BMP1 activates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and BMP signaling pathways by proteolytic cleavage, which has dual roles in gastrointestinal tumor development and progression.TGF-β promotes invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) by the help of BMP1, so upregulation of the BMP1 may increase cancer invasiveness in GC. In this study,the transcriptional expression, mutations, survival rate, TFs, miRNAs, gene ontology, and signaling pathways of BMP1 were analyzed by using different web servers. We found higher transcriptional and clinicopathological characteristics expression compared to normal tissues, worsening survival rate in GC. We detected 25 missenses, 15 truncating mutations, 23 TFs, and 8 miRNAs. Finally, we identified and analyzed the co-expressed genes and found that the leukemia inhibitory factor is the most positively correlated gene. The gene ontological features and signaling pathways involved in GC development were evaluated as well. We believe that this study will provide a basis for BMP1 to be a significant biomarker for human GC prognosis.

Targeting lung cancer stem cells using combination of Tel and Docetaxel liposomes in 3D cultures and tumor xenografts

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) accounts for recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy in various tumors. Efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs is limited by tumor stromal barriers, which hinder their penetration into deep tumor sites. We have earlier shown telmisartan (Tel) pretreatment prior to Docetaxel (DTX) administration enhances anti-cancer effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, we demonstrated for the first time the efficacy of Docetaxel liposomes (DTXPL) in combination with Tel in 3D cultures of H460 cells by using polysaccharide-based hydrogels (TheWell Biosciences) and also in xenograft model of DTX resistant H460 derived CD133+ lung tumors. DTXPL and Tel combination showed enhanced cytotoxicity in H460 WT 3D cultures by two folds. In H460 3D cultures, Tel pretreatment showed increased liposomal uptake. DTXPL and Tel combination treated tumors showed reduction in tumor volume (p < .001), increased apoptosis and downregulation of CSC markers (p < .01) in H460 WT and DTX resistant CD133+ xenograft models.

Hyperthermia affects collagen fiber architecture and induces apoptosis in pancreatic and fibroblast tumor hetero-spheroids in vitro

Desmoplasia, an aberrant production of extracellular matrix (ECM), is considered as one predictive marker of malignancy of pancreatic cancer. In this paper, we study the effect of mild hyperthermia on fibrillary collagen architecture in murine Achilles tendons and in a pancreatic cancer model, in vitro, i.e. 3D hetero-type tumor spheroids, consisting of pancreatic cancer (Panc-1) cells and fibroblasts (WI-38), producing collagen fibers. We clearly demonstrate that i) mild hyperthermia (40 °C, 42 °C) damages the collagen architecture in murine Achilles tendons. ii) Mild extrinsic (hot air) and iron oxide nanoparticle based magnetic hyperthermia reduce the level of collagen fiber architecture in the generated hetero-type tumor spheroids. iii) Mild magnetic hyperthermia reduces cell vitality mainly through apoptotic and necrotic processes in the generated tumor spheroids. In conclusion, hetero-type 3D tumor spheroids are suitable for studying the effect of hyperthermia on collagen fibers, in vitro.

Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging-A Superior Approach to Assess Tumor-Stroma Ratio in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Extensive desmoplastic stroma is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and contributes to tumor progression and to the relative resistance of tumor cells towards (radio) chemotherapy. Thus, therapies that target the stroma are under intense investigation. To allow the stratification of patients who would profit from such therapies, non-invasive methods assessing the stroma content in relation to tumor mass are required. In the current prospective study, we investigated the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), a radiologic method that measures the random motion of water molecules in tissue, in the assessment of PDAC lesions, and more specifically in the desmoplastic tumor stroma. We made use of a sophisticated DW-MRI approach, the so-called diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), which possesses potential advantages over conventional and widely used monoexponential diffusion-weighted imaging analysis (cDWI). We found that the diffusion constant D from DKI is highly negatively correlated with the percentage of tumor stroma, the latter determined by histology. D performed significantly better than the widely used apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from cDWI in distinguishing stroma-rich (>50% stroma percentage) from stroma-poor tumors (≤50% stroma percentage). Moreover, we could prove the potential of the diffusion constant D as a clinically useful imaging parameter for the differentiation of PDAC-lesions from non-neoplastic pancreatic parenchyma. Therefore, the diffusion constant D from DKI could represent a valuable non-invasive imaging biomarker for assessment of stroma content in PDAC, which is applicable for the clinical diagnostic of PDAC.

Novel methods for in vitro modeling of pancreatic cancer reveal important aspects for successful primary cell culture

Background

Pancreatic cancer remains a fatal disease. Experimental systems are needed for personalized treatment strategies, drug testing and to further understand tumor biology. Cell cultures can serve as an excellent preclinical platform, but their generation remains challenging.

Methods

Tumor cells from surgically removed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) specimens were cultured under novel protocols. Cellular growth and composition were analyzed and culture conditions were continuously optimized. Characterization of cell cultures and primary tumors was performed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining.

Results

Protocols for two- and three-dimensional PDAC primary cell cultures could successfully be established. Primary cell culture depended on dissociation techniques, growth factor supplementation and extracellular matrix components containing Matrigel being crucial for the transformation to three-dimensional PDAC organoids. The generated cultures showed to be highly resemblant to established PDAC primary cell cultures. HE and IF staining for cell culture and corresponding primary tumor characterization could successfully be performed.

Conclusions

The work presented herein shows novel and effective methods to successfully establish primary PDAC cell cultures in a distinct time frame. Factors contributing to cell growth and differentiation could be identified with important implications for further primary cell culture protocols. The established protocols might serve as novel tools in personalized tumor therapy.

A Novel Scaffold-Based Hybrid Multicellular Model for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma-Toward a Better Mimicry of the in vivo Tumor Microenvironment

With a very low survival rate, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease. This has been primarily attributed to (i) its late diagnosis and (ii) its high resistance to current treatment methods. The latter specifically requires the development of robust, realistic in vitro models of PDAC, capable of accurately mimicking the in vivo tumor niche. Advancements in the field of tissue engineering (TE) have helped the development of such models for PDAC. Herein, we report for the first time a novel hybrid, polyurethane (PU) scaffold-based, long-term, multicellular (tri-culture) model of pancreatic cancer involving cancer cells, endothelial cells, and stellate cells. Recognizing the importance of ECM proteins for optimal growth of different cell types, the model consists of two different zones/compartments: an inner tumor compartment consisting of cancer cells [fibronectin (FN)-coated] and a surrounding stromal compartment consisting of stellate and endothelial cells [collagen I (COL)-coated]. Our developed novel hybrid, tri-culture model supports the proliferation of all different cell types for 35 days (5 weeks), which is the longest reported timeframe in vitro. Furthermore, the hybrid model showed extensive COL production by the cells, mimicking desmoplasia, one of PDAC's hallmark features. Fibril alignment of the stellate cells was observed, which attested to their activated state. All three cell types expressed various cell-specific markers within the scaffolds, throughout the culture period and showed cellular migration between the two zones of the hybrid scaffold. Our novel model has great potential as a low-cost tool for in vitro studies of PDAC, as well as for treatment screening.

Molecular imaging of extracellular matrix proteins with targeted probes using magnetic resonance imaging

The extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of proteins and carbohydrates that supports different biological structures and processes such as tissue development, elasticity, and preservation of organ structure. Diseases involving inflammation, fibrosis, tumor invasion, and injury are all attributed to the transition of the ECM from homeostasis to remodeling, which can significantly change the biochemical and biomechanical features of ECM components. While contrast agents have played an indispensable role in facilitating clinical diagnosis of diseases using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is a strong need to develop novel biomarker-targeted imaging probes for in vivo visualization of biological processes and pathological alterations at a cellular and molecular level, for both early diagnosis and monitoring drug treatment. Herein, we will first review the pathological accumulation and characterization of ECM proteins recognized as important molecular features of diseases. Developments in MRI probes targeting ECM proteins such as collagen, fibronectin, and elastin via conjugation of existing contrast agents to targeting moieties and their applications to various diseases, are also reviewed. We have also reviewed our progress in the development of collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent with significant improvement in relaxivity and metal binding specificity, and their applications in early detection of fibrosis and metastatic cancer. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide-Based Structures Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.