Abstract 2960: A novel mouse model of pancreatic cancer reveals new insights into cell cycle deregulation

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a confirmed human carcinogen associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and angiosarcoma. However, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in liver cell cycle changes under VC exposure remains unclear, which prevents research on the mechanism of VC-induced carcinogenesis. In this study, male rats were injected intraperitoneally with VC (0, 5, 25, and 125 mg/kg body weight) for 6, 8, and 12 weeks. Cell cycle analysis of liver cells, miRNA-222, miRNA-199a, miRNA-195, and miRNA-125b expression in the liver and serum, and target protein expression were performed at different time points. The results showed a higher percentage of hepatocytes in the G1/G0 and S phases at the end of 6 and 12 weeks of VC exposure, respectively. MiRNA-222 expression decreased initially and then increased, whereas miRNA-199a, miRNA-195, and miRNA-125b expression increased initially and then decreased, which corresponded with changes in cell cycle distribution and related target proteins expression (p27, cyclinA, cyclinD1, and CDK6). The corresponding expression levels of miRNAs in serum did not change. Dynamic changes in miR-222, miR-199a, miR-195, and miR-125b induced by VC can lead to cell cycle deregulation by affecting cell cycle-related proteins, and these miRNAs can serve as early biomarkers for malignant transformation caused by VC.

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Mesothelin blockage by Amatuximab suppresses cell invasiveness, enhances gemcitabine sensitivity and regulates cancer cell stemness in mesothelin-positive pancreatic cancer cells

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-020-07722-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fumihiko Matsuzawa ◽

Hirofumi Kamachi ◽

Tatsuzo Mizukami ◽

Takahiro Einama ◽

Futoshi Kawamata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Invasiveness ◽

And Migration ◽

Migration Capacity

Abstract Background Mesothelin is a 40-kDa glycoprotein that is highly overexpressed in various types of cancers, however molecular mechanism of mesothelin has not been well-known. Amatuximab is a chimeric monoclonal IgG1/k antibody targeting mesothelin. We recently demonstrated that the combine therapy of Amatuximab and gemcitabine was effective for peritonitis of pancreatic cancer in mouse model. Methods We discover the role and potential mechanism of mesothelin blockage by Amatuximab in human pancreatic cells both expressing high or low level of mesothelin in vitro experiment and peritonitis mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Results Mesothelin blockage by Amatuximab lead to suppression of invasiveness and migration capacity in AsPC-1 and Capan-2 (high mesothelin expression) and reduce levels of pMET expression. The combination of Amatuximab and gemcitabine suppressed proliferation of AsPC-1 and Capan-2 more strongly than gemcitabine alone. These phenomena were not observed in Panc-1 and MIA Paca-2 (Mesothelin low expression). We previously demonstrated that Amatuximab reduced the peritoneal mass in mouse AsPC-1 peritonitis model and induced sherbet-like cancer cell aggregates, which were vanished by gemcitabine. In this study, we showed that the cancer stem cell related molecule such as ALDH1, CD44, c-MET, as well as proliferation related molecules, were suppressed in sherbet-like aggregates, but once sherbet-like aggregates attached to peritoneum, they expressed these molecules strongly without the morphological changes. Conclusions Our work suggested that Amatuximab inhibits the adhesion of cancer cells to peritoneum and suppresses the stemness and viability of those, that lead to enhance the sensitivity for gemcitabine.

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

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research ◽

10.1186/s13046-020-01796-4 ◽

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.

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Cell Cycle Related Changes of Bone Marrow Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Their Propensity To Produce Lung Cells in an Injury Mouse Model.

10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2009.179.1_meetingabstracts.a1989 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

DW Lee ◽

J Aliotta ◽

P Quesenberry

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cell ◽

Lung Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

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PAWI-2 overcomes tumor stemness and drug resistance via cell cycle arrest in integrin β3-KRAS-dependent pancreatic cancer stem cells

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-65804-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jiongjia Cheng ◽

John R. Cashman

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Cell Cycle Arrest ◽

Specific Inhibitor ◽

Feedback Mechanism ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

Drug Inhibition

Abstract Today, pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a major health problem in the US. The fact that cancer stem cells (CSCs) become enriched in humans following anti-cancer therapy implicates CSCs as key contributors to tumor dormancy, metastasis, and relapse in PC. A highly validated CSC model (FGβ3 cells) was used to test a novel compound (PAWI-2) to eradicate CSCs. Compared to parental bulk FG cells, PAWI-2 showed greater potency to inhibit cell viability and self-renewal capacity of FGβ3 cells. For FGβ3 cells, dysregulated integrin β3-KRAS signaling drives tumor progression. PAWI-2 inhibited β3-KRAS signaling independent of KRAS. This is clinically relevant. PAWI-2 targeted the downstream TBK1 phosphorylation cascade that was negatively regulated by optineurin phosphorylation via a feedback mechanism. This was confirmed by TBK1 genetic knockdown or co-treatment with TBK1-specific inhibitor (MRT67307). PAWI-2 also overcame erlotinib (an EGFR inhibitor) resistance in FGβ3 cells more potently than bortezomib. In the proposed working model, optineurin acts as a key regulator to link inhibition of KRAS signaling and cell cycle arrest (G2/M). The findings show PAWI-2 is a new approach to reverse tumor stemness that resensitizes CSC tumors to drug inhibition.

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