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Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) is a key regulator of embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis, and lesion repair. In tumors, TGF-β is a potent inhibitor of early stage tumorigenesis and promotes late stage tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we review the roles of TGF-β as well as components of its signaling pathways in tumorigenesis. We will discuss how a core property of TGF-β, namely its ability to change cell differentiation, leads to the transition of epithelial cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts to a myofibroblastoid phenotype, changes differentiation and polarization of immune cells, and induces metabolic reprogramming of cells, all of which contribute to the progression of epithelial tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina H. Stuelten
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ying E. Zhang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Mehra S, Deshpande N, Nagathihalli N. Targeting PI3K Pathway in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Rationale and Progress. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4434. [PMID: 34503244 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains among the deadliest solid tumors that remain treatment-refractory and show a dismal prognosis. More than 90% of PDAC tumors harbor mutations in the K-Ras that exert a strong pro-tumorigenic effect by activating several downstream effector pathways, including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt. The role of frequently activated PI3K/Akt pathway in promoting PDAC aggressiveness is well established. Therapeutic approaches targeting PI3K and downstream signaling components in different cellular compartments, including tumor, stromal and immune cells, have directly impacted the tumor burden in this cancer type. Our previous work has demonstrated that targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway reduced tumor growth and improved survival in the genetic mouse model of PDAC. Here, we discuss the significance of targeting PI3K signaling and the biological impact of PI3K inhibition in modulating the tumor-stromal immune crosstalk within the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, this review updates on the current challenges involving the therapeutic implications of targeting this pathway in PDAC.
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Goliwas KF, Ashraf HM, Wood AM, Wang Y, Hough KP, Bodduluri S, Athar M, Berry JL, Ponnazhagan S, Thannickal VJ, Deshane JS. Extracellular Vesicle Mediated Tumor-Stromal Crosstalk Within an Engineered Lung Cancer Model. Front Oncol 2021; 11:654922. [PMID: 33968758 PMCID: PMC8103208 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.654922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-stromal interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) influence lung cancer progression and response to therapeutic interventions, yet traditional in vitro studies fail to replicate the complexity of these interactions. Herein, we developed three-dimensional (3D) lung tumor models that mimic the human TME and demonstrate tumor-stromal crosstalk mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs released by tumor cells, independent of p53 status, and fibroblasts within the TME mediate immunomodulatory effects; specifically, monocyte/macrophage polarization to a tumor-promoting M2 phenotype within this 3D-TME. Additionally, immune checkpoint inhibition in a 3D model that included T cells showed an inhibition of tumor growth and reduced hypoxia within the TME. Thus, perfused 3D tumor models incorporating diverse cell types provide novel insights into EV-mediated tumor-immune interactions and immune-modulation for existing and emerging cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla F Goliwas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Hannah M Ashraf
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Anthony M Wood
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Kenneth P Hough
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Sandeep Bodduluri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mohammad Athar
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Joel L Berry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Selvarangan Ponnazhagan
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Victor J Thannickal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Jessy S Deshane
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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