scholarly journals CXCL12 in Pancreatic Cancer: Its Function and Potential as a Therapeutic Drug Target

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Shivani Malik ◽  
Jill M. Westcott ◽  
Rolf A. Brekken ◽  
Francis J. Burrows
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Farnesyl Transferase ◽  
Chemokine Cxcl12 ◽  
Tumor Environment ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma ◽  
Activated Fibroblasts

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a disease with limited therapeutic options and dismal long-term survival. The unique tumor environment of PDAC, consisting of desmoplastic stroma, immune suppressive cells, and activated fibroblasts, contributes to its resistance to therapy. Activated fibroblasts (cancer-associated fibroblasts and pancreatic stellate cells) secrete chemokines and growth factors that support PDAC growth, spread, chemoresistance, and immune evasion. In this review, we focus on one such chemokine, CXCL12, secreted by the cancer-associated fibroblasts and discuss its contribution to several of the classical hallmarks of PDAC and other tumors. We review the various therapeutic approaches in development to target CXCL12 signaling in PDAC. Finally, we propose an unconventional use of tipifarnib, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, to inhibit CXCL12 production in PDAC.

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.

scholarly journals Distinct populations of inflammatory fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in pancreatic cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 214 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Öhlund ◽  
Abram Handly-Santana ◽  
Giulia Biffi ◽  
Ela Elyada ◽  
Ana S. Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Tumor Biology ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Neoplastic Cells ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) differentiate into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that produce desmoplastic stroma, thereby modulating disease progression and therapeutic response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). However, it is unknown whether CAFs uniformly carry out these tasks or if subtypes of CAFs with distinct phenotypes in PDA exist. We identified a CAF subpopulation with elevated expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) located immediately adjacent to neoplastic cells in mouse and human PDA tissue. We recapitulated this finding in co-cultures of murine PSCs and PDA organoids, and demonstrated that organoid-activated CAFs produced desmoplastic stroma. The co-cultures showed cooperative interactions and revealed another distinct subpopulation of CAFs, located more distantly from neoplastic cells, which lacked elevated αSMA expression and instead secreted IL6 and additional inflammatory mediators. These findings were corroborated in mouse and human PDA tissue, providing direct evidence for CAF heterogeneity in PDA tumor biology with implications for disease etiology and therapeutic development.

scholarly journals Pentraxin 3 is a stromally-derived biomarker for detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Goulart ◽  
Jennifer Watt ◽  
Imran Siddiqui ◽  
Rita T. Lawlor ◽  
Ahmet Imrali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽  
All Trans Retinoic Acid ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma ◽  
Predictive Role

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by dense desmoplastic stroma laid down by pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), has no reliable diagnostic biomarkers for timely detection. A multi-center cohort of PDAC patients and controls (chronic pancreatitis, intra-ductal papillary neoplasms, gallstones and otherwise healthy) donated serum in an ethically approved manner. Serum PTX3 above 4.34 ng/mL has a higher sensitivity (86%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 65–97%) and specificity (86%, 95% CI: 79–91%), positive predictive value (97%) and likelihood ratio (6.05), and is superior when compared to serum CA19-9 and CEA for detection of PDAC. In vitro and ex vivo analyses of PTX3, in human PDAC samples, PSCs, cell lines and transgenic mouse model for PDAC, suggest that PTX3 originates from stromal cells, mainly PSC. In activated PSC, PTX3 secretion could be downregulated by rendering PSC quiescent using all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). PTX3 organizes hyaluronan in conjunction with tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) and facilitates stellate and cancer cell invasion. In SCALOP clinical trial (ISRCTN96169987) testing chemo-radiotherapy without stromal targeting, PTX3 had no prognostic or predictive role. However, in STARPAC clinical trial (NCT03307148), stromal modulation by ATRA even at first dose is accompanied with serum PTX3 response in patients who later go on to demonstrate disease control but not those in whom the disease progresses. PTX3 is a putative stromally-derived biomarker for PDAC which warrants further testing in prospective, larger, multi-center cohorts and within clinical trials targeting stroma.

scholarly journals Targeting integrin alpha5 receptor in pancreatic stellate cells to diminish tumor-promoting effects in pancreatic cancer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praneeth R. Kuninty ◽  
Ruchi Bansal ◽  
Sanne W.L. De Geus ◽  
Jonas Schnittert ◽  
Joop van Baarlen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
Poor Overall Survival ◽  
Fibronectin Receptor ◽  
Cancer Aggressiveness ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

AbstractPancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are the main precursors of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), known to induce cancer aggressiveness. Integrin alpha5 (ITGA5), a fibronectin receptor, was found to be overexpressed by CAFs in stroma and linked to poor overall survival (log-rank p=0.022, n=137) of patients with PDAC. In vitro, knockdown of ITGA5 in human PSCs (hPSCs) inhibited their adhesion, migration, and proliferation and also inhibited TGF-β-mediated differentiation. In vivo, co-injection of PANC-1 tumor cells and hPSCs (sh-ITGA5) developed tumors with reduced fibrosis and slower growth rate compared to those composed of PANC-1 and hPSC (sh-Ctrl). Furthermore, we developed a ITGA5-antagonizing peptidomimetic (AV3) which inhibited TGFβ-mediated hPSC differentiation by blocking ITGA5/FAK pathway. In vivo, treatment with AV3 intraperitoneally attenuated tumor fibrosis and thereby enhanced the efficacy of gemcitabine in patient-derived xenografts in mice. Altogether, this study reports the therapeutic importance of ITGA5 in PDAC and provides novel therapeutic peptidomimetic to enhance the effect of chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Reversal of pancreatic desmoplasia by a tumour stroma-targeted nitric oxide nanogel overcomes TRAIL resistance in pancreatic tumours

Gut ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. gutjnl-2021-325180
Author(s):  
Hsi-Chien Huang ◽  
Yun-Chieh Sung ◽  
Chung-Pin Li ◽  
Dehui Wan ◽  
Po-Han Chao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Phage Display ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Tumour Stroma ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma ◽  
Trail Resistance

ObjectiveStromal barriers, such as the abundant desmoplastic stroma that is characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), can block the delivery and decrease the tumour-penetrating ability of therapeutics such as tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which can selectively induce cancer cell apoptosis. This study aimed to develop a TRAIL-based nanotherapy that not only eliminated the extracellular matrix barrier to increase TRAIL delivery into tumours but also blocked antiapoptotic mechanisms to overcome TRAIL resistance in PDAC.DesignNitric oxide (NO) plays a role in preventing tissue desmoplasia and could thus be delivered to disrupt the stromal barrier and improve TRAIL delivery in PDAC. We applied an in vitro–in vivo combinatorial phage display technique to identify novel peptide ligands to target the desmoplastic stroma in both murine and human orthotopic PDAC. We then constructed a stroma-targeted nanogel modified with phage display-identified tumour stroma-targeting peptides to co-deliver NO and TRAIL to PDAC and examined the anticancer effect in three-dimensional spheroid cultures in vitro and in orthotopic PDAC models in vivo.ResultsThe delivery of NO to the PDAC tumour stroma resulted in reprogramming of activated pancreatic stellate cells, alleviation of tumour desmoplasia and downregulation of antiapoptotic BCL-2 protein expression, thereby facilitating tumour penetration by TRAIL and substantially enhancing the antitumour efficacy of TRAIL therapy.ConclusionThe co-delivery of TRAIL and NO by a stroma-targeted nanogel that remodels the fibrotic tumour microenvironment and suppresses tumour growth has the potential to be translated into a safe and promising treatment for PDAC.

scholarly journals Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: An Update on Heterogeneity and Therapeutic Targeting

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13408
Author(s):  
Utpreksha Vaish ◽  
Tejeshwar Jain ◽  
Abhi C. Are ◽  
Vikas Dudeja
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Pancreatic Tumor ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Western World ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
Term Survival

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the western world, with limited therapeutic strategies and dismal long-term survival. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, maintaining the extracellular matrix, while also being involved in intricate crosstalk with cancer cells and infiltrating immunocytes. Therefore, they are potential targets for developing therapeutic strategies against PDAC. However, recent studies have demonstrated significant heterogeneity in CAFs with respect to their origins, spatial distribution, and functional phenotypes within the PDAC tumor microenvironment. Therefore, it is imperative to understand and delineate this heterogeneity prior to targeting CAFs for PDAC therapy.

scholarly journals Dissecting FGF Signalling to Target Cellular Crosstalk in Pancreatic Cancer

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 847
Author(s):  
Edward P. Carter ◽  
Abigail S. Coetzee ◽  
Elena Tomas Bort ◽  
Qiaoying Wang ◽  
Hemant M. Kocher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma ◽  
Fgf Signalling ◽  
Late Detection ◽  
Proliferation And Invasion

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor prognosis with a 5 year survival rate of less than 8%, and is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Alongside late detection, which impacts upon surgical treatment, PDAC tumours are challenging to treat due to their desmoplastic stroma and hypovascular nature, which limits the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which form a key part of this stroma, become activated in response to tumour development, entering into cross-talk with cancer cells to induce tumour cell proliferation and invasion, leading to metastatic spread. We and others have shown that Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) signalling can play a critical role in the interactions between PDAC cells and the tumour microenvironment, but it is clear that the FGFR signalling pathway is not acting in isolation. Here we describe our current understanding of the mechanisms by which FGFR signalling contributes to PDAC progression, focusing on its interaction with other pathways in signalling networks and discussing the therapeutic approaches that are being developed to try and improve prognosis for this terrible disease.

scholarly journals Reversal of pancreatic desmoplasia by re-educating stellate cells with a tumour microenvironment-activated nanosystem

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuexiang Han ◽  
Yiye Li ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Xiao Zhao ◽  
Yinlong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Pancreatic Stellate Cells ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Combination Strategy ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is characterised by a dense desmoplastic stroma composed of stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). This barrier severely impairs drug delivery and penetration. Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a key role in establishing this unique pathological obstacle, but also offer a potential target for anti-tumour therapy. Here, we construct a tumour microenvironment-responsive nanosystem, based on PEGylated polyethylenimine-coated gold nanoparticles, and utilise it to co-deliver all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, an inducer of PSC quiescence) and siRNA targeting heat shock protein 47 (HSP47, a collagen-specific molecular chaperone) to re-educate PSCs. The nanosystem simultaneously induces PSC quiescence and inhibits ECM hyperplasia, thereby promoting drug delivery to pancreatic tumours and significantly enhancing the anti-tumour efficacy of chemotherapeutics. Our combination strategy to restore homoeostatic stromal function by targeting activated PSCs represents a promising approach to improving the efficacy of chemotherapy and other therapeutic modalities in a wide range of stroma-rich tumours.

scholarly journals Crosstalk between Tumor and Stromal Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Sperb ◽  
Miltiadis Tsesmelis ◽  
Thomas Wirth
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Tumor ◽  
Cellular Component ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Suppressive Capacity ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Desmoplastic Stroma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a lethal cancer. The poor prognosis calls for a more detailed understanding of disease biology in order to pave the way for the development of effective therapies. Typically, the pancreatic tumor is composed of a minority of malignant cells within an excessive tumor microenvironment (TME) consisting of extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells. Research conducted in recent years has particularly focused on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which represent the most prominent cellular component of the desmoplastic stroma. Here, we review the complex crosstalk between CAFs, tumor cells, and other components of the TME, and illustrate how these interactions drive disease progression. We also discuss the emerging field of CAF heterogeneity, their tumor-supportive versus tumor-suppressive capacity, and the consequences for designing stroma-targeted therapies in the future.

scholarly journals Alpha-Fetoprotein- and CD40Ligand-Expressing Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3375
Author(s):  
Annabelle Vogt ◽  
Farsaneh Sadeghlar ◽  
Tiyasha H. Ayub ◽  
Carlo Schneider ◽  
Christian Möhring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Tumor Regression ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Tumor Environment ◽  
The Impact

Dendritic cells (DC) as professional antigen presenting cells are able to prime T-cells against the tumor-associated antigen α-fetoprotein (AFP) for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a strong immunosuppressive tumor environment limits their efficacy in patients. The co-stimulation with CD40Ligand (CD40L) is critical in the maturation of DC and T-cell priming. In this study, the impact of intratumoral (i.t.) CD40L-expressing DC to improve vaccination with murine (m)AFP-transduced DC (Ad-mAFP-DC) was analyzed in subcutaneous (s.c.) and orthotopic murine HCC. Murine DC were adenovirally transduced with Ad-mAFP or Ad-CD40L. Hepa129-mAFP-cells were injected into the right flank or the liver of C3H-mice to induce subcutaneous (s.c.) and orthotopic HCC. For treatments, 106 Ad-mAFP-transduced DC were inoculated s.c. followed by 106 CD40L-expressing DC injected intratumorally (i.t.). S.c. inoculation with Ad-mAFP-transduced DC, as vaccine, induced a delay of tumor-growth of AFP-positive HCC compared to controls. When s.c.-inoculation of Ad-mAFP-DC was combined with i.t.-application of Ad-CD40L-DC synergistic antitumoral effects were observed and complete remissions and long-term survival in 62% of tumor-bearing animals were achieved. Analysis of the tumor environment at different time points revealed that s.c.-vaccination with Ad-mAFP-DC seems to stimulate tumor-specific effector cells, allowing an earlier recruitment of effector T-cells and a Th1 shift within the tumors. After i.t. co-stimulation with Ad-CD40L-DC, production of Th1-cytokines was strongly increased and accompanied by a robust tumor infiltration of mature DC, activated CD4+-, CD8+-T-cells as well as reduction of regulatory T-cells. Moreover, Ad-CD40L-DC induced tumor cell apoptosis. Intratumoral co-stimulation with CD40L-expressing DC significantly improves vaccination with Ad-mAFP-DC in pre-established HCC in vivo. Combined therapy caused an early and strong Th1-shift in the tumor environment as well as higher tumor apoptosis, leading to synergistic tumor regression of HCC. Thus, CD40L co-stimulation represents a promising tool for improving DC-based immunotherapy of HCC.

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