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Li XX, Li H, Jin LQ, Tan YB. Exploration and Validation of Pancreatic Cancer Hub Genes Based on Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Immune Infiltration Score Analysis. Pharmgenomics Pers Med 2023; 16:467-480. [PMID: 37252337 PMCID: PMC10216855 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s403116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To find pancreatic cancer (PC)-related hub genes based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) construction and immune infiltration score analysis and validate them immunohistochemically by clinical cases, to generate new concepts or therapeutic targets for the early diagnosis and treatment of PC. Material and Methods In this study, WGCNA and immune infiltration score were utilized to identify the relevant core modules of PC and the hub genes within these core modules. Results Using WGCNA analysis, data from PC and normal pancreas integrated with TCGA and GTEX were analyzed and brown modules were chosen from the six modules. Five hub genes, including DPYD, FXYD6, MAP6, FAM110B, and ANK2, were discovered to have differential survival significance via validation tests utilizing survival analysis curves and the GEPIA database. The DPYD gene was the only gene associated with PC survival side effects. Validation of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database and immunohistochemical testing of clinical samples showed positive results for DPYD expression in PC. Conclusion In this study, we identified DPYD, FXYD6, MAP6, FAM110B, and ANK2, as immune-related candidate markers for PC. Only the DPYD gene had a negative impact on the survival of PC patients. Through validation of the HPA database and immunohistochemical testing of clinical cases, we believe that the DPYD gene brings novel ideas and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xi Li
- Dali University of Clinical Medicine School, Dali, Yunnan, 671000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Renhe Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Hubei, 443001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Quan Jin
- Department of General Surgery, The First of Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, 671000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun-Bo Tan
- Dali University of Clinical Medicine School, Dali, Yunnan, 671000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of General Surgery, The First of Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, 671000, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Zhang H, Xing J, Dai Z, Wang D, Tang D. Exosomes: the key of sophisticated cell-cell communication and targeted metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:9. [PMID: 35033111 PMCID: PMC8760644 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00808-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common malignancies. Unfortunately, the lack of effective methods of treatment and diagnosis has led to poor prognosis coupled with a very high mortality rate. So far, the pathogenesis and progression mechanisms of pancreatic cancer have been poorly characterized. Exosomes are small vesicles secreted by most cells, contain lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and are involved in diverse functions such as intercellular communications, biological processes, and cell signaling. In pancreatic cancer, exosomes are enriched with multiple signaling molecules that mediate intercellular communication with control of immune suppression, mutual promotion between pancreas stellate cells and pancreatic cancer cells, and reprogramming of normal cells. In addition, exosomes can regulate the pancreatic cancer microenvironment and promote the growth and survival of pancreatic cancer. Exosomes can also build pre-metastatic micro-ecological niches and facilitate the targeting of pancreatic cancer. The ability of exosomes to load cargo and target allows them to be of great clinical value as a biomarker mediator for targeted drugs in pancreatic cancer. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Juan Xing
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhujiang Dai
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Daorong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Dong Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of General Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225001, China.
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3
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Salehi M, Vafadar A, Khatami SH, Taheri-Anganeh M, Vakili O, Savardashtaki A, Negahdari B, Naeli P, Behrouj H, Ghasemi H, Movahedpour A. Gastrointestinal cancer drug resistance: the role of exosomal miRNAs. Mol Biol Rep 2021. [PMID: 34850336 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-07007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Resistance of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer cells to therapeutic agents are one of the major problems in treating this type of cancer. Although the exact mechanism of drug resistance has not yet been fully elucidated, various factors have been identified as contributing factors involved in this process. Several studies have revealed the role of exosomes, especially exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs), in GI tumorigenesis, invasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Exosomes, a type of small extracellular vesicles (EVs), are originated from endosomes and are released into the extracellular environment and body fluids by different cell types. Exosomes mediate cell-cell communication by transferring different cargos, including miRNAs, between parent and recipient cells. Therefore, identifying these exosomal miRNAs and their functions in GI cancers might provide new clues to further explore the secret of this process and thus help in drug-resistance management. This review article will discuss the roles of exosomal miRNAs and their mechanisms of action in drug resistance of different types of GI cancer cells (e.g., stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, and colon) to therapeutic agents.
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4
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Heinrich MA, Mostafa AMRH, Morton JP, Hawinkels LJAC, Prakash J. Translating complexity and heterogeneity of pancreatic tumor: 3D in vitro to in vivo models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 174:265-293. [PMID: 33895214 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive type of cancer with an overall survival rate of less than 7-8%, emphasizing the need for novel effective therapeutics against PDAC. However only a fraction of therapeutics which seemed promising in the laboratory environment will eventually reach the clinic. One of the main reasons behind this low success rate is the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC, a highly fibrotic and dense stroma surrounding tumor cells, which supports tumor progression as well as increases the resistance against the treatment. In particular, the growing understanding of the PDAC TME points out a different challenge in the development of efficient therapeutics - a lack of biologically relevant in vitro and in vivo models that resemble the complexity and heterogeneity of PDAC observed in patients. The purpose and scope of this review is to provide an overview of the recent developments in different in vitro and in vivo models, which aim to recapitulate the complexity of PDAC in a laboratory environment, as well to describe how 3D in vitro models can be integrated into drug development pipelines that are already including sophisticated in vivo models. Hereby a special focus will be given on the complexity of in vivo models and the challenges in vitro models face to reach the same levels of complexity in a controllable manner. First, a brief introduction of novel developments in two dimensional (2D) models and ex vivo models is provided. Next, recent developments in three dimensional (3D) in vitro models are described ranging from spheroids, organoids, scaffold models, bioprinted models to organ-on-chip models including a discussion on advantages and limitations for each model. Furthermore, we will provide a detailed overview on the current PDAC in vivo models including chemically-induced models, syngeneic and xenogeneic models, highlighting hetero- and orthotopic, patient-derived tissues (PDX) models, and genetically engineered mouse models. Finally, we will provide a discussion on overall limitations of both, in vitro and in vivo models, and discuss necessary steps to overcome these limitations to reach an efficient drug development pipeline, as well as discuss possibilities to include novel in silico models in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A Heinrich
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Ahmed M R H Mostafa
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK, Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Lukas J A C Hawinkels
- Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO-box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jai Prakash
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Section Targeted Therapeutics, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
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5
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Romano R, Picca A, Eusebi LHU, Marzetti E, Calvani R, Moro L, Bucci C, Guerra F. Extracellular Vesicles and Pancreatic Cancer: Insights on the Roles of miRNA, lncRNA, and Protein Cargos in Cancer Progression. Cells 2021; 10:1361. [PMID: 34205944 PMCID: PMC8226820 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most devastating digestive tract cancers worldwide. This cancer is characterized by poor diagnostic detection, lack of therapy, and difficulty in predicting tumorigenesis progression. Although mutations of key oncogenes and oncosuppressor involved in tumor growth and in immunosurveillance escape are known, the underlying mechanisms that orchestrate PC initiation and progression are poorly understood or still under debate. In recent years, the attention of many researchers has been concentrated on the role of extracellular vesicles and of a particular subset of extracellular vesicles, known as exosomes. Literature data report that these nanovesicles are able to deliver their cargos to recipient cells playing key roles in the pathogenesis and progression of many pancreatic precancerous conditions. In this review, we have summarized and discussed principal cargos of extracellular vesicles characterized in PC, such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and several proteins, to offer a systematic overview of their function in PC progression. The study of extracellular vesicles is allowing to understand that investigation of their secretion and analysis of their content might represent a new and potential diagnostic and prognostic tools for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Romano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Anna Picca
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (E.M.); (R.C.)
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leonardo Henry Umberto Eusebi
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Sant’Orsola University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuele Marzetti
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (E.M.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calvani
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (E.M.); (R.C.)
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Loredana Moro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; or
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Research Council, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Flora Guerra
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
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Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PaCa) is an insidious and highly metastatic malignancy, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. So far, the pathogenesis and progression mechanisms of PaCa have been poorly characterized. Exosomes correspond to a class of extracellular nanovesicles, produced by a broad range of human somatic and cancerous cells. These particular nanovesicles are mainly composed by proteins, genetic substances and lipids, which mediate signal transduction and material transport. A large number of studies have indicated that exosomes may play decisive roles in the occurrence and metastatic progression of PaCa. This article summarizes the specific functions of exosomes and their underlying molecular mechanisms in mediating the initiation and metastatic capability of PaCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Ren
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Zaiming Lu
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiangxuan Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.
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Gonnermann D, Oberg HH, Lettau M, Peipp M, Bauerschlag D, Sebens S, Kabelitz D, Wesch D. Galectin-3 Released by Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Suppresses γδ T Cell Proliferation but Not Their Cytotoxicity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1328. [PMID: 32695112 PMCID: PMC7338555 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment with a dense desmoplastic stroma. The expression of β-galactoside-binding protein galectin-3 is regarded as an intrinsic tumor escape mechanism for inhibition of tumor-infiltrating T cell function. In this study, we demonstrated that galectin-3 is expressed by PDAC and by γδ or αβ T cells but is only released in small amounts by either cell population. Interestingly, large amounts of galectin-3 were released during the co-culture of allogeneic in vitro expanded or allogeneic or autologous resting T cells with PDAC cells. By focusing on the co-culture of tumor cells and γδ T cells, we observed that knockdown of galectin-3 in tumor cells identified these cells as the source of secreted galectin-3. Galectin-3 released by tumor cells or addition of physiological concentrations of recombinant galectin-3 did neither further inhibit the impaired γδ T cell cytotoxicity against PDAC cells nor did it induce cell death of in vitro expanded γδ T cells. Initial proliferation of resting peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating Vδ2-expressing γδ T cells was impaired by galectin-3 in a cell-cell-contact dependent manner. The interaction of galectin-3 with α3β1 integrin expressed by Vδ2 γδ T cells was involved in the inhibition of γδ T cell proliferation. The addition of bispecific antibodies targeting γδ T cells to PDAC cells enhanced their cytotoxic activity independent of the galectin-3 release. These results are of high relevance in the context of an in vivo application of bispecific antibodies which can enhance cytotoxic activity of γδ T cells against tumor cells but probably not their proliferation when galectin-3 is present. In contrast, adoptive transfer of in vitro expanded γδ T cells together with bispecific antibodies will enhance γδ T cell cytotoxicity and overcomes the immunosuppressive function of galectin-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gonnermann
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hans-Heinrich Oberg
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Marcus Lettau
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Matthias Peipp
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, UKSH, CAU Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Dirk Bauerschlag
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, UKSH, Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, UKSH, CAU Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Dieter Kabelitz
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Wesch
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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8
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Feldmann G. Medikamentöse Therapie des Pankreaskarzinoms. Internist (Berl) 2020; 61:226-232. [DOI: 10.1007/s00108-020-00750-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Li D, Ma Y, Liu W, Ren X, Chen M, Xu X, Sheng Z, Zhang K, Zhou R, Goodin S, Zheng X. Celecoxib combined with salirasib strongly inhibits pancreatic cancer cells in 2D and 3D cultures. Int J Med Sci 2020; 17:1795-1802. [PMID: 32714082 PMCID: PMC7378654 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.47546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor. Synergistic combinations of anticancer agents for the effective treatment of pancreatic cancer patients are urgently needed. Here, we investigated the combined effect of celecoxib (CEL) and salirasib (SAL) on pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by the trypan blue assay, three-dimensional cultures, propidium iodide staining, and caspase-3 assay. NF-κB activation and the protein levels of Akt, pAkt, and Bcl-2 were determined by the luciferase reporter assay and western blot. Results: Co-treatment with CEL and SAL had stronger effects on decreasing cell viability and inducing apoptosis in Panc-1 cells as compared with each agent individually. This combination strongly inhibited NF-κB activity and reduced pAkt and Bcl-2 levels in Panc-1 cells. Conclusion: SAL in combination with CEL may represent a new approach for effective inhibition of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongli Li
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China.,International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen city, Guangdong Province 529020, China
| | - Yuran Ma
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Xiang Ren
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Xuetao Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Zhaojun Sheng
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China.,International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen city, Guangdong Province 529020, China
| | - Renping Zhou
- Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Susan Goodin
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Xi Zheng
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen city, 529020, China.,Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Savita Bisht
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Georg Feldmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Feldmann G, Brossart P, Maitra A. ‘Diseases Desperate Grown by Desperate Appliance Are Relieved, or Not at all' - Towards Finding a Cure for Pancreatic Cancer, Where Do We Stand Today? Oncol Res Treat 2018; 41:588-589. [DOI: 10.1159/000493023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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