Metastasis-associated fibroblasts promote angiogenesis in metastasized pancreatic cancer via the CXCL8 and the CCL2 axes.

ABSTRACT: The characteristic desmoplastic stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a key contributor to its lethality. This stromal microenvironment is populated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that interact with cancer cells to drive progression and chemo-resistance. Research has focused on CAFs in the primary tumour but not in metastases, calling into question the role of analogous metastasis-associated fibroblasts (MAFs). We infer a role of MAFs in murine hepatic metastases following untargeted treatment with the anti-angiogenic drug sunitinib in vivo. Treated metastases were smaller and had fewer stromal cells, but were able to maintain angiogenesis and metastasis formation in the liver. Furthermore, sunitinib was ineffective at reducing MAFs alongside other stromal cells. We

SUBMITTER: Pausch TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7096431 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature