DPYD, down-regulated by the potentially chemopreventive agent luteolin, interacts with STAT3 in pancreatic cancer

Abstract The 5-year survival rate of pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) patients is <10% despite progress in clinical medicine. Strategies to prevent the development of PDAC are urgently required. The flavonoids Luteolin (Lut) and hesperetin (Hes) may be cancer-chemopreventive, but effects on pancreatic carcinogenesis in vivo have not been studied. Here, the chemopreventive effects of Lut and Hes on pancreatic carcinogenesis are assessed in the BOP-induced hamster PDAC model. Lut but not Hes suppressed proliferation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and reduced the incidence and multiplicity of PDAC in this model. Lut also inhibited the proliferation of hamster and human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Multi-blot and microarray assays revealed decreased phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) on Lut exposure. To explore the relationship between DPYD and STAT3 activity, the former was silenced by RNAi or overexpressed using expression vectors, and the latter was inactivated by small molecule inhibitors or stimulated by IL6 in human PDAC cells. DPYD knock-down decreased, and overexpression increased, pSTAT3 and cell proliferation. DPYD expression was decreased by inactivation of STAT3 and increased by its activation. The frequency of pSTAT3-positive cells and DPYD expression was significantly correlated and was decreased in parallel by Lut in the hamster PDAC model. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis in 73 cases of human PDAC demonstrated that DPYD expression was positively correlated with the Ki-67 labeling index, and high expression was associated with poor prognosis. These results indicate that Lut is a promising chemopreventive agent for PDAC, targeting a novel STAT3-DPYD pathway.

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In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Efficacy of Docetaxel and Sorafenib Combination in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Current Cancer Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1568210204916170096 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 999 (999) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

P. Ulivi ◽

C. Arienti ◽

W. Zoli ◽

M. Scarsella ◽

S. Carloni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Antitumor Efficacy ◽

Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells

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Effect of Low Molecular Weight Heparins and Fondaparinux Upon Thrombin Generation Triggered by Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells BXPC3

Current Vascular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/157016111206141210121441 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 893-902 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Grigoris Gerotziafas ◽

Vassiliki Galea ◽

Elisabeth Mbemba ◽

Mouna Sassi ◽

Marie-Paule Roman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Molecular Weight ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Thrombin Generation ◽

Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Low Molecular Weight Heparins ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells

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Ca2+ Signaling and Its Potential Targeting in Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13123085 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 3085

Author(s):

Louay Bettaieb ◽

Maxime Brulé ◽

Axel Chomy ◽

Mel Diedro ◽

Malory Fruit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Exocrine Pancreas ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽

Molecular Devices ◽

Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Aberrant Expression ◽

Common Cause ◽

Cancer Hallmarks ◽

Cancer Mutations

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a major cause of cancer-associated mortality in Western countries (and estimated to be the second cause of cancer deaths by 2030). The main form of PC is pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death, and this situation has remained virtually unchanged for several decades. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is inherently linked to the unique physiology and microenvironment of the exocrine pancreas, such as pH, mechanical stress, and hypoxia. Of them, calcium (Ca2+) signals, being pivotal molecular devices in sensing and integrating signals from the microenvironment, are emerging to be particularly relevant in cancer. Mutations or aberrant expression of key proteins that control Ca2+ levels can cause deregulation of Ca2+-dependent effectors that control signaling pathways determining the cells’ behavior in a way that promotes pathophysiological cancer hallmarks, such as enhanced proliferation, survival and invasion. So far, it is essentially unknown how the cancer-associated Ca2+ signaling is regulated within the characteristic landscape of PDAC. This work provides a complete overview of the Ca2+ signaling and its main players in PDAC. Special consideration is given to the Ca2+ signaling as a potential target in PDAC treatment and its role in drug resistance.

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Cyathus striatus Extract Induces Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Inhibits Xenograft Tumor Growth In Vivo

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13092017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 2017

Author(s):

Lital Sharvit ◽

Rinat Bar-Shalom ◽

Naiel Azzam ◽

Yaniv Yechiel ◽

Solomon Wasser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line ◽

Cancer Cell Line ◽

Culture Liquid ◽

Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽

P53 Signaling ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease with limited options for effective therapy and the lowest survival rate of all cancer forms. Therefore, a new, effective strategy for cancer treatment is in need. Previously, we found that a culture liquid extract of Cyathus striatus (CS) has a potent antitumor activity. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Cyathus striatus extract (CSE) on the growth of pancreatic cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. The proliferation assay (XTT), cell cycle analysis, Annexin/PI staining and TUNEL assay confirmed the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis by CSE. A Western blot analysis demonstrated the involvement of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. In addition, a RNAseq analysis revealed the involvement of the MAPK and P53 signaling pathways and pointed toward endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis. The anticancer activity of the CSE was also demonstrated in mice harboring pancreatic cancer cell line-derived tumor xenografts when CSE was given for 5 weeks by weekly IV injections. Our findings suggest that CSE could potentially be useful as a new strategy for treating pancreatic cancer.

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Patterns and Relevance of Langerhans Islet Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13020249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 249

Author(s):

Ruediger Goess ◽

Ayse Ceren Mutgan ◽

Umut Çalışan ◽

Yusuf Ceyhun Erdoğan ◽

Lei Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Islet Cells ◽

Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Type I ◽

Type Iv ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Background: Pancreatic cancer‐associated diabetes mellitus (PC‐DM) is present in most patients with pancreatic cancer, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to characterize tumor infiltration in Langerhans islets in pancreatic cancer and determine its clinical relevance. Methods: Langerhans islet invasion was systematically analyzed in 68 patientswith pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using histopathological examination and 3D in vitro migration assays were performed to assess chemoattraction of pancreatic cancer cells to isletcells. Results: Langerhans islet invasion was present in all patients. We found four different patterns of islet invasion: (Type I) peri‐insular invasion with tumor cells directly touching the boundary, but not penetrating the islet; (Type II) endo‐insular invasion with tumor cells inside the round islet; (Type III) distorted islet structure with complete loss of the round islet morphology; and (Type IV)adjacent cancer and islet cells with solitary islet cells encountered adjacent to cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer cells did not exhibit any chemoattraction to islet cells in 3D assays in vitro. Further, there was no clinical correlation of islet invasion using the novel Islet Invasion Severity Score (IISS), which includes all invasion patterns with the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. However, Type IV islet invasion was related to worsened overall survival in our cohort. Conclusions: We systematically analyzed, for the first time, islet invasion in human pancreatic cancer. Four different main patterns of islet invasion were identified. Diabetes mellitus was not related to islet invasion. However, moreresearch on this prevailing feature of pancreatic cancer is needed to better understand underlying principles.

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HGF/c-Met Inhibition as Adjuvant Therapy Improves Outcomes in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13112763 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2763

Author(s):

Tony C. Y. Pang ◽

Zhihong Xu ◽

Alpha Raj Mekapogu ◽

Srinivasa Pothula ◽

Therese Becker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Stellate Cell ◽

Smooth Muscle Actin ◽

Primary Tumour ◽

Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Pancreatic Stellate Cell ◽

Orthotopic Mouse Model ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽

Angiogenic Effect

Background: Inhibition of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway, a major mediator of pancreatic stellate cell (PSC)−PC cell interactions, retards local and distant cancer progression. This study examines the use of this treatment in preventing PC progression after resection. We further investigate the postulated existence of circulating PSCs (cPSCs) as a mediator of metastatic PC. Methods: Two orthotopic PC mouse models, produced by implantation of a mixture of luciferase-tagged human pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC-1), and human PSCs were used. Model 1 mice underwent distal pancreatectomy 3-weeks post-implantation (n = 62). One-week post-resection, mice were randomised to four treatments of 8 weeks: (i) IgG, (ii) gemcitabine (G), (iii) HGF/c-MET inhibition (HiCi) and (iv) HiCi + G. Tumour burden was assessed longitudinally by bioluminescence. Circulating tumour cells and cPSCs were enriched by filtration. Tumours of Model 2 mice progressed for 8 weeks prior to the collection of primary tumour, metastases and blood for single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). Results: HiCi treatments: (1) reduced both the risk and rate of disease progression after resection; (2) demonstrated an anti-angiogenic effect on immunohistochemistry; (3) reduced cPSC counts. cPSCs were identified using immunocytochemistry (α-smooth muscle actin+, pan-cytokeratin−, CD45−), and by specific PSC markers. scRNA-seq confirmed the existence of cPSCs and identified potential genes associated with development into cPSCs. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of adjuvant HGF/c-Met inhibition for PC and provides the first confirmation of the existence of circulating PSCs.

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