scholarly journals Targeting SRC Kinase Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7437
Author(s):  
Sonia Alcalá ◽  
Víctor Mayoral-Varo ◽  
Laura Ruiz-Cañas ◽  
Juan Carlos López-Gil ◽  
Christopher Heeschen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Src Kinases ◽  
Tyrosine Protein Kinase ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Future Treatment Option

The proto-oncogene nonreceptor tyrosine-protein kinase SRC is a member of the SRC family of tyrosine kinases (SFKs), and its activation and overexpression have been shown to play a protumorigenic role in multiple solid cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC is currently the seventh-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and, by 2030, it is predicted to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. PDAC is characterized by its high lethality (5-year survival of rate of <10%), invasiveness, and chemoresistance, all of which have been shown to be due to the presence of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) within the tumor. Due to the demonstrated overexpression of SRC in PDAC, we set out to determine if SRC kinases are important for PaCSC biology using pharmacological inhibitors of SRC kinases (dasatinib or PP2). Treatment of primary PDAC cultures established from patient-derived xenografts with dasatinib or PP2 reduced the clonogenic, self-renewal, and tumor-initiating capacity of PaCSCs, which we attribute to the downregulation of key signaling factors such as p-FAK, p-ERK1-2, and p-AKT. Therefore, this study not only validates that SRC kinases are relevant and biologically important for PaCSCs but also suggests that inhibitors of SRC kinases may represent a possible future treatment option for PDAC patients, although further studies are still needed.

scholarly journals Induction of Lysosome Membrane Permeabilization as a Therapeutic Strategy to Target Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy P. Cash ◽  
Sonia Alcalá ◽  
María del Rosario Rico-Ferreira ◽  
Elena Hernández-Encinas ◽  
Jennifer García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Membrane Permeabilization ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Chemical Library ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Despite significant efforts to improve pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) clinical outcomes, overall survival remains dismal. The poor response to current therapies is partly due to the existence of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs), which are efficient drivers of PDAC tumorigenesis, metastasis and relapse. To find new therapeutic agents that could efficiently kill PaCSCs, we screened a chemical library of 680 compounds for candidate small molecules with anti-CSC activity, and identified two compounds of a specific chemical series with potent activity in vitro and in vivo against patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cultures. The anti-CSC mechanism of action of this specific chemical series was found to rely on induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), which is likely associated with the increased lysosomal mass observed in PaCSCs. Using the well characterized LMP-inducer siramesine as a tool molecule, we show elimination of the PaCSC population in mice implanted with tumors from two PDX models. Collectively, our approach identified lysosomal disruption as a promising anti-CSC therapeutic strategy for PDAC.

scholarly journals The Role of miRNAs in the Regulation of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Bimonte ◽  
Antonio Barbieri ◽  
Maddalena Leongito ◽  
Giuseppe Palma ◽  
Vitale del Vecchio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is currently one of the deadliest cancers with low overall survival rate. This disease leads to an aggressive local invasion and early metastases and is poorly responsive to treatment with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Several studies have shown that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) play different roles in the regulation of drug resistance and recurrence in pancreatic cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA), a class of newly emerging small noncoding RNAs, is involved in the modulation of several biological activities ranging from invasion to metastases development, as well as drug resistance of pancreatic cancer. In this review, we synthesize the latest findings on the role of miRNAs in regulating different biological properties of pancreatic cancer stem cells.

scholarly journals Targeting Cancer Stem Cells for Chemoprevention of Pancreatic Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 2585-2594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dharmalingam Subramaniam ◽  
Gaurav Kaushik ◽  
Prasad Dandawate ◽  
Shrikant Anant
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
The United States ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Major Health Problem

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in United States. Regardless of the advances in molecular pathogenesis and consequential efforts to suppress the disease, this cancer remains a major health problem in United States. By 2030, the projection is that pancreatic cancer will be climb up to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Pancreatic cancer is a rapidly invasive and highly metastatic cancer, and does not respond to standard therapies. Emerging evidence supports that the presence of a unique population of cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs) as potential cancer inducing cells and efforts are underway to develop therapeutic strategies targeting these cells. CSCs are rare quiescent cells, and with the capacity to self-renew through asymmetric/symmetric cell division, as well as differentiate into various lineages of cells in the cancer. Studies have been shown that CSCs are highly resistant to standard therapy and also responsible for drug resistance, cancer recurrence and metastasis. To overcome this problem, we need novel preventive agents that target these CSCs. Natural compounds or phytochemicals have ability to target these CSCs and their signaling pathways. Therefore, in the present review article, we summarize our current understanding of pancreatic CSCs and their signaling pathways, and the phytochemicals that target these cells including curcumin, resveratrol, tea polyphenol EGCG (epigallocatechin- 3-gallate), crocetinic acid, sulforaphane, genistein, indole-3-carbinol, vitamin E δ- tocotrienol, Plumbagin, quercetin, triptolide, Licofelene and Quinomycin. These natural compounds or phytochemicals, which inhibit cancer stem cells may prove to be promising agents for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancers.

scholarly journals HNF1A is a Novel Oncogene and Central Regulator of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan V. Abel ◽  
Masashi Goto ◽  
Brian Magnuson ◽  
Saji Abraham ◽  
Nikita Ramanathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

ABSTRACTThe biological properties of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) remain incompletely defined and the central regulators are unknown. By bioinformatic analysis of a PCSC-enriched gene signature, we identified the transcription factor HNF1A as a putative central regulator of PCSC function. Levels of HNF1A and its target genes were found to be elevated in PCSCs and tumorspheres, and depletion of HNF1A resulted in growth inhibition, apoptosis, impaired tumorsphere formation, PCSC depletion, and downregulation of OCT4 expression. Conversely, HNF1A overexpression increased PCSC numbers and tumorsphere formation in pancreatic cancer cells and drove PDA cell growth. Importantly, depletion of HNF1A in primary tumor xenografts impaired tumor growth and depleted PCSCs in vivo. Finally, we established an HNF1A-dependent gene signature in PDA cells that significantly correlated with reduced survivability in patients. These findings identify HNF1A as a central transcriptional regulator of the PCSC state and novel oncogene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

scholarly journals Integrated lipidomics and proteomics reveal cardiolipin alterations, upregulation of HADHA and long chain fatty acids in pancreatic cancer stem cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Di Carlo ◽  
Bebiana C. Sousa ◽  
Marcello Manfredi ◽  
Jessica Brandi ◽  
Elisa Dalla Pozza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Fatty Acid Elongase ◽  
Acyl Chains ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Long Chain

AbstractPancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) play a key role in the aggressiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC); however, little is known about their signaling and metabolic pathways. Here we show that PCSCs have specific and common proteome and lipidome modulations. PCSCs displayed downregulation of lactate dehydrogenase A chain, and upregulation of trifunctional enzyme subunit alpha. The upregulated proteins of PCSCs are mainly involved in fatty acid (FA) elongation and biosynthesis of unsaturated FAs. Accordingly, lipidomics reveals an increase in long and very long-chain unsaturated FAs, which are products of fatty acid elongase-5 predicted as a key gene. Moreover, lipidomics showed the induction in PCSCs of molecular species of cardiolipin with mixed incorporation of 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 acyl chains. Our data indicate a crucial role of FA elongation and alteration in cardiolipin acyl chain composition in PCSCs, representing attractive therapeutic targets in PDAC.

206 Identification and Whole Transcriptome Characterization of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. S-50-S-51
Author(s):  
Christina Vorvis ◽  
George A. Poultsides ◽  
Jeffrey A. Norton ◽  
Maria Hatziapostolou ◽  
Dimitrios Iliopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Whole Transcriptome ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells for cancer therapy

2012 ◽  
Vol 1826 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Xia ◽  
Changjie Chen ◽  
Zhiwen Chen ◽  
Lucio Miele ◽  
Fazlul H. Sarkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

scholarly journals Cancer stem cells markers associated with development and aggressive phenotype in pancreatic cancer

2020 ◽  
pp. 102-122
Author(s):  
Camila Juliano Salvador Rodrigues ◽  
Elita Ferreira da Silveira ◽  
Rafael da Silveira Vargas ◽  
Giordano Gatti de Giacomo ◽  
Marino Muxfeldt Bianchin
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Staining Intensity ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Clinicopathological Parameters ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
New Ideas

Background: Cancer stem cells, also known as tumor-initiating cells, are suggested to be responsible for drug resistance and cancer development due in part to their ability to self-renew themselves and differentiate into heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the role of cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer. Methods: A retrospective clinicopathological analysis was undertaken in 112 patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2005 and 2010, and immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies against CD133, CD24, and OCT4. Positive nuclear, cytoplasmic or membrane staining for each antibody was rated on staining intensity, being classified into low/moderate or strong staining groups. Results were analyzed relative to each patient’s clinicopathological parameters. Results: There was an established relationship between the staining of the markers with some variables associated with worse prognosis, being the three markers present in most tumor cells and associated with tumor progression. We suppose that cancer stem cells are present from the beginning of tumor initiation and are intrinsically related to tumor development. Although the presence of stem cells has been associated with molecular biology of various tumors, their expression in pancreatic cancer has not yet been clinically reported. Conclusion: The presence of stem cells and their role in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis may be considered as valuable prognostic factors, although the mechanism involved needs further investigation. Increasing insights into role of cancer stem cells and carcinogenesis can ultimately generate new ideas for molecularly based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

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