scholarly journals Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Preclinical in vitro and ex vivo Models

Author(s):  
Beate Gündel ◽  
Xinyuan Liu ◽  
Matthias Löhr ◽  
Rainer Heuchel

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most overlooked cancers despite its dismal median survival time of 6 months. The biggest challenges in improving patient survival are late diagnosis due to lack of diagnostic markers, and limited treatment options due to almost complete therapy resistance. The past decades of research identified the dense stroma and the complex interplay/crosstalk between the cancer- and the different stromal cells as the main culprits for the slow progress in improving patient outcome. For better ex vivo simulation of this complex tumor microenvironment the models used in PDAC research likewise need to become more diverse. Depending on the focus of the investigation, several in vitro and in vivo models for PDAC have been established in the past years. Particularly, 3D cell culture such as spheroids and organoids have become more frequently used. This review aims to examine current PDAC in vitro models, their inherent limitations, and their successful implementations in research.

2021 ◽  
pp. 43-62
Author(s):  
Britney He

One of the largest hurdles to the efficacy of cancer therapeutics, and a main cause of relapse, is therapy resistance. In response, researchers have developed model systems to better understand therapy resistance. Cancer research employs several model systems that reflect the biology of actual human tumors: in vitro models (2D, 3D cell cultures), in vivo models (PDX, GEMMS, transgenic), proteomic models, and computational or mathematical models. One cancer that has been extensively modeled is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC is the third most common cause of annual cancer deaths in developed countries; as its incidence and mortality rates continue to increase, PDAC is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030. Although chemotherapy is a pillar of clinical PDAC treatment, its outcome typically leads to multi-drug resistance, drastically restricting the curative effect of drugs for a variety of tumors. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms for resistance through different models is essential for the development of new strategies and therapies. This review provides insight into the range of in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer used in preclinical research. This paper provides an overview of platforms for cancer research with a focus on those devoted to resistance mechanisms in PDAC and to the primary therapeutic intervention for PDAC, gemcitabine (GEM).


Oncotarget ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 6952-6967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Dayot ◽  
Daniela Speisky ◽  
Anne Couvelard ◽  
Pierre Bourgoin ◽  
Valérie Gratio ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Chan ◽  
Francis Robert ◽  
Christian Oertlin ◽  
Dana Kapeller-Libermann ◽  
Daina Avizonis ◽  
...  

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment options. Although metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of many cancers, including PDA, previous attempts to target metabolic changes therapeutically have been stymied by drug toxicity and tumour cell plasticity. Here, we show that PDA cells engage an eIF4F-dependent translation program that supports redox and central carbon metabolism. Inhibition of the eIF4F subunit, eIF4A, using the synthetic rocaglate CR-1-31-B (CR-31) reduced the viability of PDA organoids relative to their normal counterparts. In vivo, CR-31 suppresses tumour growth and extends survival of genetically-engineered murine models of PDA. Surprisingly, inhibition of eIF4A also induces glutamine reductive carboxylation. As a consequence, combined targeting of eIF4A and glutaminase activity more effectively inhibits PDA cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our work demonstrates the importance of eIF4A in translational control of pancreatic tumour metabolism and as a therapeutic target against PDA.


Radiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 277 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Laeseke ◽  
Ru Chen ◽  
R. Brooke Jeffrey ◽  
Teresa A. Brentnall ◽  
Jürgen K. Willmann

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyun Jo ◽  
Sun A Kim ◽  
Jeong Hoon Lee ◽  
Yu Rang Park ◽  
Chanyang Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in carcinogenesis, cancer progression, and recurrence. Several biomarkers have been described for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) CSCs; however, their function and mechanism remain unclear. Method In this study, secretome analysis was performed in pancreatic CSC-enriched spheres and control adherent cells for biomarker discovery. Glutaredoxin3 (GLRX3), a novel candidate upregulated in spheres, was evaluated for its function and clinical implication. Results PDAC CSC populations, cell lines, patient tissues, and blood samples demonstrated GLRX3 overexpression. In contrast, GLRX3 silencing decreased the in vitro proliferation, migration, clonogenicity, and sphere formation of cells. GLRX3 knockdown also reduced tumor formation and growth in vivo. GLRX3 was found to regulate Met/PI3K/AKT signaling and stemness-related molecules. ELISA results indicated GLRX3 overexpression in the serum of patients with PDAC compared to that in healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of GLRX3 for PDAC diagnosis were 80.0 and 100%, respectively. When GLRX3 and CA19–9 were combined, sensitivity was significantly increased to 98.3% compared to that with GLRX3 or CA19–9 alone. High GLRX3 expression was also associated with poor disease-free survival in patients receiving curative surgery. Conclusion Overall, these results indicate GLRX3 as a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for PDAC targeting CSCs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqiong Wang ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Yanmiao Dai ◽  
Xiangyu Kong ◽  
Xian Zhu ◽  
...  

It has been shown that aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways plays an important role in the pancreatic carcinogenesis, and KRAS mutation is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Until now, the role of KRAS mutation in the context of crosstalk between Hh and NF-κB signaling pathways in PDAC has not been investigated. This study was to determine whether the crosstalk between the Hh and NF-κB pathways is dependent on KRAS mutation in PDAC. The correlation between Gli1, Shh, NF-κB p65 expression and KRAS mutation in PDAC tissues was firstly examined by immunohistochemistry. Next, Western blotting, qPCR, and immunofluorescence were conducted to examine the biological effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as NF-κB signaling agonists, Shh as an Hh ligand alone or in combination with KRAS small interfering RNA (si-KRAS) in KRAS-mutant PDAC cells (MT-KRAS; SW1990 and Panc-1), wild-type KRAS PDAC cells (WT-KRAS; BxPC-3) and mutant KRAS knock-in BxPC-3 cells in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. KRAS mutation-dependent crosstalk between Hh and NF-κB in PDAC cells was further assessed by Ras activity and luciferase reporter assays. The aberrant Hh and NF-κB pathway activation was found in PDAC tissues with KRAS mutation. The same findings were confirmed in MT-KRAS PDAC cells and MT-KRAS knock-in BxPC-3 cells, whereas this activation was not observed in WT-KRAS PDAC cells. However, the activation was significantly down-regulated by KRAS silencing in MT-KRAS PDAC cells. Furthermore, MT-KRAS cancer cell proliferation and survival in vitro and tumor growth after inoculation with MT-KRAS cells in vivo were promoted by NF-κB and Hh signaling activation. The pivotal factor for co-activation of NF-κB and Hh signaling is MT-KRAS protein upregulation, showing that positive crosstalk between Hh and NF-κB pathways is dependent upon KRAS mutation in PDAC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 1670-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann Wallez ◽  
Charles R. Dunlop ◽  
Timothy Isaac Johnson ◽  
Siang-Boon Koh ◽  
Chiara Fornari ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jing Chen ◽  
Cui-Cui Zhao ◽  
Fei-Ran Chen ◽  
Guo-Wei Feng ◽  
Fei Luo ◽  
...  

Background. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract, which is difficult to diagnose and treat due to bad early diagnosis. We aimed to explore the role of kinesin superfamily 4A (KIF4A) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods. We first used the bioinformatic website to screen the data of pancreatic cancer in TCGA, and KIF4A protein was detected among the 86 specimens of patients in our hospital combined with clinic-pathological characteristics and survival analysis. KIF4A loss-expression cell lines were established by RNA interference (RNAi). In addition, we performed in vitro cell assays to detect the changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The proteins involved in the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells were also detected by western blot. The above results could be proved in vivo. Further, the correlation between KIF4A and CDC5L was analyzed by TCGA and IHC data. Results. We first found a high expression of KIF4A in pancreatic cancer, suggesting a role of KIF4A in the development of pancreatic cancer. KIF4A was found to be differentially expressed ( P < 0.05 ) among the 86 specimens of patients in our hospital and was significantly associated with PDAC TNM stages and tumor size. High KIF4A expression also significantly worsened overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rate (DFS) ( P < 0.05 , respectively). In addition, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited by the KIF4A-shRNA group compared with the control ( P < 0.05 , respectively). In the end, knockdown of KIF4A could inhibit tumor development and metastasis in vivo. Further, the positive correlation between KIF4A and CDC5L existed, and KIF4A might promote pancreatic cancer proliferation by affecting CDC5L expression. Conclusion. In conclusion, the high expression level of KIF4A in PDAC was closely related to poor clinical and pathological status, lymphatic metastasis, and vascular invasion. KIF4A might be involved in promoting the development of PDAC in vitro and in vivo, which might be a new therapeutic target of PDAC.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin J Ciecielski ◽  
Antonio Mulero-Sanchez ◽  
Alexandra Berninger ◽  
Laura Ruiz Canas ◽  
Astrid Bosma ◽  
...  

Mutant KRAS is present in over 90% of pancreatic as well as 30-40% of lung and colorectal cancers and is one of the most common oncogenic drivers. Despite decades of research and the recent emergence of isoform-specific KRASG12C-inhibitors, most mutant KRAS isoforms, including the ones frequently associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cannot be targeted directly. Moreover, targeting single RAS downstream effectors induces adaptive mechanisms leading to tumor recurrence or resistance. We report here on the combined inhibition of SHP2, a non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase upstream of KRAS, and ERK, a serine/threonine kinase and a key molecule downstream of KRAS in PDAC. This combination shows synergistic anticancer activity in vitro, superior disruption of the MAPK pathway, and significantly increased apoptosis induction compared to single-agent treatments. In vivo, we demonstrate good tolerability and efficacy of the combination. Concurrent inhibition of SHP2 and ERK induces significant tumor regression in multiple PDAC mouse models. Finally, we show evidence that 18F-FDG PET scans can be used to detect and predict early drug responses in animal models. Based on these compelling results, we will investigate this drug combination in a clinical trial (SHERPA, SHP2 and ERK inhibition in pancreatic cancer, NCT04916236), enrolling patients with KRAS-mutant PDAC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Kramer ◽  
Luuk de Haan ◽  
Marjolein Vermeer ◽  
Thomas Olivier ◽  
Thomas Hankemeier ◽  
...  

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers due to a high chemoresistance and poor vascularization, which results in an ineffective systemic therapy. PDAC is characterized by a high intratumoral pressure, which is not captured by current 2D and 3D in vitro models. Here, we demonstrated a 3D microfluidic interstitial flow model to mimic the intratumoral pressure in PDAC. We found that subjecting the S2-028 PDAC cell line to interstitial flow inhibits the proliferation, while maintaining a high viability. We observed increased gemcitabine chemoresistance, with an almost nine-fold higher EC50 as compared to a monolayer culture (31 nM versus 277 nM), and an alleviated expression and function of the multidrug resistance protein (MRP) family. In conclusion, we developed a 3D cell culture modality for studying intratissue pressure and flow that exhibits more predictive capabilities than conventional 2D cell culture and is less time-consuming, and more scalable and accessible than animal models. This increase in microphysiological relevance might support improved efficiency in the drug development pipeline.


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