scholarly journals O-P03 A composite polymeric nanoparticle as a sensitiser for sonodynamic therapy (SDT)-based treatment of pancreatic cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sian Farrell ◽  
Heather Nesbitt ◽  
Laura Mairs ◽  
Nikolitsa Nomikou ◽  
Bridgeen Callan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Composite Nanoparticles ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Residual Tumour ◽  
Tumour Stroma ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most recalcitrant forms of cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. SDT is a novel, targeted approach to the treatment of solid tumours. Based on the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) following the exposure of a sonosensitiser to ultrasound, the approach is designed to extracorporeally target less accessible lesions. Here we describe the production of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), Rose Bengal (RB) and indocyanine green (ICG) containing composite nanoparticles and describe their use in SDT-mediated treatment of pancreatic cancer using both in vitro and in vivo target models. Methods Nanoparticles were prepared using an oil in water emulsion and solvent diffusion-based approach. These were designated RB-ICGNP. In vitro SDT treatment consisted of exposing BxPC3 (human PDAC cells), T110029 (murine PDAC cells) or hPSC (immortalised human pancreatic stellate cells) to RB-ICGNP and subsequently treating with ultrasound for 30 s at a frequency of 1 MHz, a power density of 3.0 W/cm2 (SATP) using a duty cycle of 50% at a pulse repetition frequency of 100 Hz. For in vivo studies, BxPC3 (xenograft) and T110029 (syngeneic) tumours were treated with a power density of 3.5 W/cm2 ultrasound for 3.5 min. Results Conclusions Using in vitro and in vivo (human xenograft and murine syngeneic) models of pancreatic cancer, RB-ICGNP composite nanoparticles may be employed as a sensitiser for SDT-based treatment of pancreatic cancer. Since pancreatic stellate cells were more sensitive to SDT, the latter may have an impact on tumour stroma. Staining of residual tumour tissues from SDT-treated animals for connective tissue (stroma) confirmed the latter. Since tumour stroma presents a significant challenge to treatment of pancreatic cancer and represents a negative prognostic marker, the impact delivered by SDT may be exploited to potentiate alternative therapeutic approaches.

scholarly journals HGF/MET Axis Induces Tumor Secretion of Tenascin-C and Promotes Stromal Rewiring in Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3519
Author(s):  
Chiara Modica ◽  
Martina Olivero ◽  
Francesca Zuppini ◽  
Melissa Milan ◽  
Cristina Basilico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Stromal Compartment ◽  
Tenascin C ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive tumor characterized by the presence of an abundant stromal compartment contributing significantly to the malignant phenotype. Pancreatic stellate cells are peculiar fibroblasts present in the stroma and represent the predominant source of extracellular matrix proteins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Exploiting a co-culture system of human pancreatic stellate cells and cancer cells, we demonstrated that fibroblast activation was reduced upon HGF/MET axis inhibition. To unveil the signaling pathways sustaining stroma modulation orchestrated by MET activation in the tumor, we analyzed the gene expression profile in pancreatic cancer cells stimulated with HGF and treated with HGF/MET inhibitors. Transcriptome analysis showed that, among all the genes modulated by HGF, a subset of 125 genes was restored to the basal level following treatment with the inhibitors. By examining these genes via ingenuity pathway analysis, tenascin C emerged as a promising candidate linking MET signaling and tumor microenvironment. MET-dependent tenascin C modulation in pancreatic cancer cells was validated at RNA and protein levels both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, this work identifies tenascin C as a gene modulated by MET activation, suggesting a role in MET-mediated tumor-stroma interplay occurring during pancreatic tumor progression.

scholarly journals Indirect cholinergic activation slows down pancreatic cancer growth and tumor-associated inflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo L. Pfitzinger ◽  
Laura Fangmann ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Elke Demir ◽  
Engin Gürlevik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Tumor Stage ◽  
Ache Inhibitors ◽  
Impact On Survival ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ache Expression ◽  
Cholinergic Activation

Abstract Background Nerve-cancer interactions are increasingly recognized to be of paramount importance for the emergence and progression of pancreatic cancer (PCa). Here, we investigated the role of indirect cholinergic activation on PCa progression through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) via clinically available AChE-inhibitors, i.e. physostigmine and pyridostigmine. Methods We applied immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, MTT-viability, invasion, flow-cytometric-cell-cycle-assays, phospho-kinase arrays, multiplex ELISA and xenografted mice to assess the impact of AChE inhibition on PCa cell growth and invasiveness, and tumor-associated inflammation. Survival analyses were performed in a novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable mouse model of PCa under adjuvant treatment with gemcitabine+/−physostigmine/pyridostigmine (n = 30 mice). Human PCa specimens (n = 39) were analyzed for the impact of cancer AChE expression on tumor stage and survival. Results We discovered a strong expression of AChE in cancer cells of human PCa specimens. Inhibition of this cancer-cell-intrinsic AChE via pyridostigmine and physostigmine, or administration of acetylcholine (ACh), diminished PCa cell viability and invasion in vitro and in vivo via suppression of pERK signaling, and reduced tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. In the novel genetically-induced, surgically-resectable PCa mouse model, adjuvant co-therapy with AChE blockers had no impact on survival. Accordingly, survival of resected PCa patients did not differ based on tumor AChE expression levels. Patients with higher-stage PCa also exhibited loss of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT), in their nerves. Conclusion For future clinical trials of PCa, direct cholinergic stimulation of the muscarinic signaling, rather than indirect activation via AChE blockade, may be a more effective strategy.

scholarly journals ITGA5 inhibition in pancreatic stellate cells attenuates desmoplasia and potentiates efficacy of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. eaax2770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praneeth R. Kuninty ◽  
Ruchi Bansal ◽  
Susanna W. L. De Geus ◽  
Deby F. Mardhian ◽  
Jonas Schnittert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Tumor Stroma ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Tumor Penetration ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma ◽  
Integrin Α5

Abundant desmoplastic stroma is the hallmark for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which not only aggravates the tumor growth but also prevents tumor penetration of chemotherapy, leading to treatment failure. There is an unmet clinical need to develop therapeutic solutions to the tumor penetration problem. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of integrin α5 (ITGA5) receptor in the PDAC stroma. ITGA5 was overexpressed in the tumor stroma from PDAC patient samples, and overexpression was inversely correlated with overall survival. In vitro, knockdown of ITGA5 inhibited differentiation of human pancreatic stellate cells (hPSCs) and reduced desmoplasia in vivo. Our novel peptidomimetic AV3 against ITGA5 inhibited hPSC activation and enhanced the antitumor effect of gemcitabine in a 3D heterospheroid model. In vivo, AV3 showed a strong reduction of desmoplasia, leading to decompression of blood vasculature, enhanced tumor perfusion, and thereby the efficacy of gemcitabine in co-injection and patient-derived xenograft tumor models.

TUMOR-ASSOCIATED PANCREATIC STELLATE CELLS STIMULATE ANGIOGENESIS IN VITRO AND IN AN ORTHOTOPIC MODEL OF PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreas ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 492
Author(s):  
A. Rivera ◽  
T. Moore ◽  
V. Ramachandran ◽  
T. Arumugam ◽  
C. D. Logsdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Orthotopic Model

scholarly journals TGF-βRII Knock-down in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Promotes Tumor Growth and Gemcitabine Resistance. Importance of STAT3 Phosphorylation on S727

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Drubay ◽  
Nicolas Skrypek ◽  
Lucie Cordiez ◽  
Romain Vasseur ◽  
Céline Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Western World ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽  
Stat3 Phosphorylation ◽  
The Impact

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly cancers in the Western world because of a lack of early diagnostic markers and efficient therapeutics. At the time of diagnosis, more than 80% of patients have metastasis or locally advanced cancer and are therefore not eligible for surgical resection. Pancreatic cancer cells also harbour a high resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs such as gemcitabine that is one of the main palliative treatments for PDAC. Proteins involved in TGF-β signaling pathway (SMAD4 or TGF-βRII) are frequently mutated in PDAC (50–80%). TGF-β signalling pathway plays antagonistic roles during carcinogenesis by initially inhibiting epithelial growth and later promoting the progression of advanced tumors and thus emerged as both tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathways. In order to decipher the role of TGF-β in pancreatic carcinogenesis and chemoresistance, we generated CAPAN-1 and CAPAN-2 cell lines knocked down for TGF-βRII (first actor of TGF-β signaling). The impact on biological properties of these TGF-βRII-KD cells was studied both in vitro and in vivo. We show that TGF-βRII silencing alters tumor growth and migration as well as resistance to gemcitabine. TGF-βRII silencing also leads to S727 STAT3 and S63 c-Jun phosphorylation, decrease of MRP3 and increase of MRP4 ABC transporter expression and induction of a partial EMT phenotype. These markers associated with TGF-β signaling pathways may thus appear as potent therapeutic tools to better treat/manage pancreatic cancer.

scholarly journals Differential Gemcitabine Sensitivity in Primary Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Paired Stellate Cells Is Driven by Heterogenous Drug Uptake and Processing

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3628
Author(s):  
Manoj Amrutkar ◽  
Nils Tore Vethe ◽  
Caroline S. Verbeke ◽  
Monica Aasrum ◽  
Anette Vefferstad Finstadsveen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Drug Uptake ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽  
The Impact

Gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is attributed to cancer cell-intrinsic drug processing and the impact of the tumor microenvironment, especially pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). This study uses human PDAC-derived paired primary cancer cells (PCCs) and PSCs from four different tumors, and the PDAC cell lines BxPC-3, Mia PaCa-2, and Panc-1, to assess the fate of gemcitabine by measuring its cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and LC-MS/MS-based metabolite analysis. Expression analysis and siRNA-mediated knockdown of key regulators of gemcitabine (hENT1, CDA, DCK, NT5C1A) was performed. Compared to PSCs, both the paired primary PCCs and cancer cell lines showed gemcitabine-induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity, high uptake, as well as high and variable intracellular levels of gemcitabine metabolites. PSCs were gemcitabine-resistant and demonstrated significantly lower drug uptake, which was not influenced by co-culturing with their paired PCCs. Expression of key gemcitabine regulators was variable, but overall strong in the cancer cells and significantly lower or undetectable in PSCs. In cancer cells, hENT1 inhibition significantly downregulated gemcitabine uptake and cytotoxicity, whereas DCK knockdown reduced cytotoxicity. In conclusion, heterogeneity in gemcitabine processing among different pancreatic cancer cells and stellate cells results from the differential expression of molecular regulators which determines the effect of gemcitabine.

Hepatic and pancreatic stellate cells in focus

2009 ◽  
Vol 390 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus Kordes ◽  
Iris Sawitza ◽  
Dieter Häussinger
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Stellate Cell ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Undifferentiated Cells ◽  
Cell Niche ◽  
Space Of Disse

Abstract Stellate cells are vitamin A-storing cells of liver and pancreas and have been described in all vertebrates ranging from lampreys (primitive fish) to humans, demonstrating their major importance. This cell type is thought to contribute to fibrosis, a condition characterized by an excess deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Recently, the expression of stem/progenitor cell markers, such as CD133 (prominin-1) and Oct4, was discovered in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of rats. Moreover, HSCs possess signaling pathways important for maintenance of stemness and cell differentiation, such as hedgehog, β-catenin-dependent Wnt, and Notch signaling, and are resistant to CD95-mediated apoptosis. In analogy to a stem cell niche, some characteristics of quiescent HSC are maintained by aid of a special microenvironment located in the space of Dissé. Finally, stellate cells display a differentiation potential as investigated in vitro and in vivo. Collectively all these properties are congruently found in stem/progenitor cells and support the concept that stellate cells are undifferentiated cells, which might play an important role in liver regeneration. The present review highlights findings related to this novel aspect of stellate cell biology.

scholarly journals High Glucose Aggravates the Detrimental Effects of Pancreatic Stellate Cells on Beta-Cell Function

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zha ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Qing Zhai ◽  
Fengfei Li ◽  
Bijun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Gk Rats ◽  
Chop Expression

Background and Aims. We here assess the effects of PSCs onβ-cell function and apoptosisin vivoandin vitro.Materials and Methods.PSCs were transplanted into Wistar and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Sixteen weeks after transplantation,β-cell function, apoptosis, and islet fibrosis were assessed.In vitrothe effects of PSCs conditioned medium (PSCs-CM) and/or high concentration of glucose on INS-1 cell function was assessed by measuring insulin secretion, INS-1 cell survival, apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) associated CHOP expression.Results. PSCs transplantation exacerbated the impairedβ-cell function in GK rats, but had no significant effects in Wistar rats.In vitro, PSCs-CM caused impaired INS-1 cell viability and insulin secretion and increased apoptosis, which were more pronounced in the presence of high glucose.Conclusion.Our study demonstrates that PSCs induceβ-cell failurein vitroandin vivo.

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