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ABSTRACT: Background
Stromal-tumour interactions facilitate pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway is upregulated in PC and mediates the interaction between cancer cells and stromal pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). This study assessed the effect of HGF/c-MET inhibition plus gemcitabine (G) on the progression of advanced PC.Methods
Orthotopic PC was produced by implantation of luciferase-tagged human cancer cells + human PSCs into mouse pancreas. Tumours were allowed to develop without treatment for 4 weeks. Mice were then treated for 6 weeks with one of the following: IgG, G, HGF inhibitor (Hi), c-MET inhibitor (Ci), Hi + Ci, Hi + G, Ci + G, or Hi + Ci + G.Results
Bioluminescence imaging showed similar tumour sizes in all mice at the initiation of treatments. Triple therapy (Hi + Ci + G): (1) completely eliminated metastasis; (2) significantly reduced tumour size as assessed by bioluminescence and at necropsy; (3) significantly reduced proliferating cancer cell density and stem cell marker DCLK1 expression in tumours. In vitro 3D culture studies supported our in vivo findings.Conclusion
Even at an advanced disease stage, a two-pronged approach, targeting (a) HGF/c-MET with relevant inhibitors and (b) cancer cells with chemotherapy, completely eliminated metastasis and significantly decreased tumour growth, suggesting that this is a promising treatment approach for PC.
SUBMITTER: Xu Z
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7217847 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Xu Zhihong Z Pang Tony C Y TCY Liu Adele C AC Pothula Srinivasa P SP Mekapogu Alpha Raj AR Perera Chamini J CJ Murakami Takashi T Goldstein David D Pirola Romano C RC Wilson Jeremy S JS Apte Minoti V MV
British journal of cancer 20200323 10
<h4>Background</h4>Stromal-tumour interactions facilitate pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway is upregulated in PC and mediates the interaction between cancer cells and stromal pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). This study assessed the effect of HGF/c-MET inhibition plus gemcitabine (G) on the progression of advanced PC.<h4>Methods</h4>Orthotopic PC was produced by implantation of luciferase-tagged human cancer cells + human PSCs into mouse pancrea ...[more]