Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment Factor Promotes Cancer Stemness via SPP1-CD44 Axis.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Tumor-microenvironment factors and cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the degree to which tumor-microenvironment factors promote stemness remains unexplored. Here, we examined whether cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote CSC features in PC.

Methods

PC cells were treated long-term (30, 60, and 90 days) with conditioned media (CM)-derived from normal human fibroblasts (NFs) and CAFs. The stemness features of tumorsphere formation and stemness populations, along with CSCs markers, were analyzed using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional sodium alginate bead-based co-culture models. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were performed for CSCs and fibroblast markers in autoch

SUBMITTER: Nallasamy P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10069715 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature