Myeloid Cell Mediated Immune Suppression in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), the most common pancreatic cancer, is a nearly-universally lethal malignancy. PDA is characterized by extensive infiltration of immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) inhibit cytotoxic T cell responses promoting carcinogenesis. Immune checkpoint therapy has not been effective in PDA, most likely due to this robust immune suppression, making it critical to elucidate mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Here, we review myeloid cell infiltration and cellular crosstalk in PDA progression and highlight current therapeutic approaches to target myeloid cell-driven immune suppression

Common activation of canonical Wnt signaling in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is an extremely aggressive malignancy, which carries a dismal prognosis. Activating mutations of the Kras gene are common to the vast majority of human PDA. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that embryonic signaling pathway such as Hedgehog and Notch are inappropriately upregulated in this disease. The role of another embryonic signaling pathway, namely the canonical Wnt cascade, is still controversial. Here, we use gene array analysis as a platform to demonstrate general activation of the canonical arm of the Wnt pathway in human PDA. Furthermore, we provide evidence for Wnt activation in mouse models of pancreatic cancer. Our results also indicate that Wnt signaling might be activated downstream of Hedgehog signaling, which is an early event in PDA evolution. Wnt inhibition blocked proliferation and induced apoptosis of cultured adenocarcinoma cells, thereby providing evidence to support the development of novel therapeutical strategies for Wnt inhibition in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Fbxw7 Deletion Accelerates KrasG12D-Driven Pancreatic Tumorigenesis via Yap Accumulation

AbstractPancreatic cancers driven by KRAS mutations require additional mutations for tumor progression. The tumor suppressor FBXW7 is altered in pancreatic cancers, but its contribution to pancreatic tumorigenesis is unknown. To determine potential cooperation between Kras mutation and Fbxw7 inactivation in pancreatic tumorigenesis, we generated P48-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D;Fbxw7fl/fl (KFCfl/fl) compound mice. We found that KFCfl/fl mice displayed accelerated tumorigenesis: all mice succumbed to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) by 40 days of age, with PDA onset occurring by 2 weeks of age. PDA in KFCfl/fl mice was preceded by earlier onset of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions, and associated with chromosomal instability and the accumulation of Fbxw7 substrates Yes-associated protein (Yap), c-Myc, and Notch. Using KFCfl/fl and FBXW7-deficient human pancreatic cancer cells, we found that Yap silencing attenuated growth promotion by Fbxw7 deletion. Our data demonstrate that Fbxw7 is a potent suppressor of KrasG12D-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis due, at least in part, to negative regulation of Yap

Mutant p53R270H drives altered metabolism and increased invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by nearly universal activating mutations in KRAS. Among other somatic mutations, TP53 is mutated in more than 75% of human pancreatic tumors. Genetically engineered mice have proven instrumental in studies of the contribution of individual genes to carcinogenesis. Oncogenic Kras mutations occur early during pancreatic carcinogenesis and are considered an initiating event. In contrast, mutations in p53 occur later during tumor progression. In our model, we recapitulated the order of mutations of the human disease, with p53 mutation following expression of oncogenic Kras. Further, using an inducible and reversible expression allele for mutant p53, we inactivated its expression at different stages of carcinogenesis. Notably, the function of mutant p53 changes at different stages of carcinogenesis. Our work establishes a requirement for mutant p53 for the formation and maintenance of pancreatic cancer precursor lesions. In tumors, mutant p53 becomes dispensable for growth. However, it maintains the altered metabolism that characterizes pancreatic cancer and mediates its malignant potential. Further, mutant p53 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer cell invasion. This work generates new mouse models that mimic human pancreatic cancer and expands our understanding of the role of p53 mutation, common in the majority of human malignancies

Structural insights into human Kif7, a kinesin involved in Hedgehog signalling

The human Kif7 motor domain structure provides insights into a kinesin of medical significance

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Current and evolving therapies

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which constitutes 90% of pancreatic cancers, is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Due to the broad heterogeneity of genetic mutations and dense stromal environment, PDAC belongs to one of the most chemoresistant cancers. Most of the available treatments are palliative, with the objective of relieving disease-related symptoms and prolonging survival. Currently, available therapeutic options are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and use of targeted drugs. However, thus far, therapies targeting cancer-associated molecular pathways have not given satisfactory results; this is due in part to the rapid upregulation of compensatory alternative pathways as well as dense desmoplastic reaction. In this review, we summarize currently available therapies and clinical trials, directed towards a plethora of pathways and components dysregulated during PDAC carcinogenesis. Emerging trends towards targeted therapies as the most promising approach will also be discussed

LRH1 as a driving factor in pancreatic cancer growth

Liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH1), directs the development and differentiation of embryonic pancreas, and is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer (PC). We hypothesized that LRH1 promotes PC growth. Cell proliferation and tumorigenicity in nude mice were compared between empty vector-transfected (control) and stable LRH1-overexpressed PC cell lines. The subsequent tumor burden, vasculature development, and histologic features were evaluated. LRH1 overexpression enhanced the expression of downstream target genes (cyclin D1/E1) and stimulated cell proliferation in PC cell lines. LRH1 upregulated cyclin E1 truncated T1/T2 isoforms expression which may occur through ERα–calpain1 signaling. Compared with the control, LRH1 overexpressing stable cells generated tumors with increased weight, proliferation index and enhanced angiogenesis. Cyclin D1/E1 and calpain1 were overexpressed in human PC tumors compared to adjacent normal pancreas. These observations demonstrate that LRH1 promotes PC growth and angiogenesis, suggesting that LRH1 is a driving factor in tumorigenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target

KDM6A Regulates Cell Plasticity and Pancreatic Cancer Progression by Non-Canonical Activin Pathway

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inactivating mutations of KDM6A, a histone demethylase, were frequently found in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We investigated the role of KDM6A in PDAC development. METHODS: We performed a pancreatic tissue microarray analysis of KDM6A protein levels. We used human PDAC cell lines for KDM6A knockout and knockdown experiments. We performed Bru-seq analysis to elucidate the effects of KDM6A loss on global transcription. We performed studies with Ptf1a(Cre); LSL-Kras(G12D); Trp53(R172H/+); Kdm6a(fl/fl or fl/Y), Ptf1a(Cre); Kdm6a(fl/fl or fl/Y), and orthotopic xenograft mice to investigate the impacts of Kdm6a deficiency on pancreatic tumorigenesis and pancreatitis. RESULTS: Loss of KDM6A was associated with metastasis in PDAC patients. Bru-seq analysis revealed upregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway in PDAC cells deficient of KDM6A. Loss of KDM6A promoted mesenchymal morphology, migration, and invasion in PDAC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, activin A and subsequent p38 activation likely mediated the role of KDM6A loss. Inhibiting either activin A or p38 reversed the effect. Pancreas-specific Kdm6a-knockout mice pancreata demonstrated accelerated PDAC progression, developed a more aggressive undifferentiated type PDAC, and increased metastases in the background of Kras and p53 mutations. Kdm6a-deficient pancreata in a pancreatitis model had a delayed recovery with increased PDAC precursor lesions compared to wild-type pancreata. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of KDM6A accelerates PDAC progression and metastasis, most likely by a non-canonical p38-dependant activin A pathway. KDM6A also promotes pancreatic tissue recovery from pancreatitis. Activin A might be utilized as a therapeutic target for KDM6A-deficient PDACs