scholarly journals MET/HGF Co-Targeting in Pancreatic Cancer: A Tool to Provide Insight into the Tumor/Stroma Crosstalk

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Modica ◽  
Dora Tortarolo ◽  
Paolo Comoglio ◽  
Cristina Basilico ◽  
Elisa Vigna
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Tumor Stroma ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Stromal Compartment ◽  
Tumor Onset ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth

The ‘onco-receptor’ MET (Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor) is involved in the activation of the invasive growth program that is essential during embryonic development and critical for wound healing and organ regeneration during adult life. When aberrantly activated, MET and its stroma-secreted ligand HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor) concur to tumor onset, progression, and metastasis in solid tumors, thus representing a relevant target for cancer precision medicine. In the vast majority of tumors, wild-type MET behaves as a ‘stress-response’ gene, and relies on ligand stimulation to sustain cancer cell ‘scattering’, invasion, and protection form apoptosis. Moreover, the MET/HGF axis is involved in the crosstalk between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Pancreatic cancer (namely, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by an abundant stromal compartment that is associated with early metastases and resistance to conventional and targeted therapies. Here, we discuss the role of the MET/HGF axis in tumor progression and dissemination considering as a model pancreatic cancer, and provide a proof of concept for the application of dual MET/HGF inhibition as an adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor and Macrophage-stimulating Protein “Hinge” Analogs to Treat Pancreatic Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 782-795
Author(s):  
John W. Wright ◽  
Kevin J. Church ◽  
Joseph W. Harding
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathways ◽  
Met Receptor ◽  
Macrophage Stimulating Protein ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth

Pancreatic cancer (PC) ranks twelfth in frequency of diagnosis but is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths with a 5 year survival rate of less than 7 percent. This poor prognosis occurs because the early stages of PC are often asymptomatic. Over-expression of several growth factors, most notably vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been implicated in PC resulting in dysfunctional signal transduction pathways and the facilitation of tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) acts via the Met receptor and has also received research attention with ongoing efforts to develop treatments to block the Met receptor and its signal transduction pathways. Macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), and its receptor Ron, is also recognized as important in the etiology of PC but is less well studied. Although the angiotensin II (AngII)/AT1 receptor system is best known for mediating blood pressure and body water/electrolyte balance, it also facilitates tumor vascularization and growth by stimulating the expression of VEGF. A metabolite of AngII, angiotensin IV (AngIV) has sequence homology with the “hinge regions” of HGF and MSP, key structures in the growth factor dimerization processes necessary for Met and Ron receptor activation. We have developed AngIV-based analogs designed to block dimerization of HGF and MSP and thus receptor activation. Norleual has shown promise as tested utilizing PC cell cultures. Results indicate that cell migration, invasion, and pro-survival functions were suppressed by this analog and tumor growth was significantly inhibited in an orthotopic PC mouse model.

scholarly journals Dynamic Stromal Alterations Influence Tumor-Stroma Crosstalk to Promote Pancreatic Cancer and Treatment Resistance

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3481
Author(s):  
Kendelle J. Murphy ◽  
Cecilia R. Chambers ◽  
David Herrmann ◽  
Paul Timpson ◽  
Brooke A. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Tumor Stroma ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Stromal Compartment ◽  
Clinical Prognosis ◽  
Functional Value

Many cancer studies now recognize that disease initiation, progression, and response to treatment are strongly influenced by the microenvironmental niche. Widespread desmoplasia, or fibrosis, is fundamental to pancreatic cancer development, growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance. This fibrotic landscape is largely regulated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which deposit and remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review will explore the prognostic and functional value of the stromal compartment in predicting outcomes and clinical prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We will also discuss the major dynamic stromal alterations that occur in the pancreatic TME during tumor development and progression, and how the stromal ECM can influence cancer cell phenotype, metabolism, and immune response from a biochemical and biomechanical viewpoint. Lastly, we will provide an outlook on the latest clinical advances in the field of anti-fibrotic co-targeting in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy in PDAC, providing insight into the current challenges in treating this highly aggressive, fibrotic malignancy.

Expression of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor in the regenerating rat liver

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 119-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Hoshino ◽  
Nobuyuki Enomoto ◽  
Naoya Sakamoto ◽  
Masayuki Kurosaki ◽  
Takaaki Ikeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Regenerating Rat Liver ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth
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