biostudies-literatureNguyen HDU.S. Department of DefenseNational Cancer InstituteNCI NIH HHSNIH203-215https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10958777biostudies-literatureUnknown177The tumor microenvironment (TME) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a complex milieu of cellular and non-cellular components. Pancreatic cancer cells (PCC) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are two major cell types in PDAC TME, whereas the non-cellular components are enriched with extracellular matrices (ECM) that contribute to high stiffness and fast stress-relaxation. Previous studies have suggested that higher matrix rigidity promoted aggressive phenotypes of tumors, including PDAC. However, the effects of dynamic viscoelastic matrix properties on cancer cell fate remain largely unexplored. The focus of this work was to understand the effects of such dynamic matrix properties on PDAC cell behaviors, particularly in the context of PCC/CAF co-culture. To this end, we engineered Acta biomaterialiaViscoelastic stiffening of gelatin hydrogels for dynamic culture of pancreatic cancer spheroids.PMC10958777R01CA227737R01 CA227737W81XWH2210864Lin CCNguyen HDfalseViscoelastic stiffening of gelatin hydrogels for dynamic culture of pancreatic cancer spheroids.The tumor microenvironment (TME) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a complex milieu of cellular and non-cellular components. Pancreatic cancer cells (PCC) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are two major cell types in PDAC TME, whereas the non-cellular components are enriched with extracellular matrices (ECM) that contribute to high stiffness and fast stress-relaxation. Previous studies have suggested that higher matrix rigidity promoted aggressive phenotypes of tumors, including PDAC. However, the effects of dynamic viscoelastic matrix properties on cancer cell fate remain largely unexplored. The focus of this work was to understand the effects of such dynamic matrix properties on PDAC cell behaviors, particularly in the context of PCC/CAF co-culture. To this end, we engineered 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2025-04-04T01:29:02.867Z2025-04-04T01:29:02.867ZS-EPMC109587773835487410.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.010