BxPC-3 Pancreatic Cancer Cells Research Articles

Self-assembled coumarin- and 5-fluorouracil-PEG micelles as multifunctional drug delivery systems

The copper(I)-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition is recognized as one of the most successful click reactions to access self-assembling amphiphilic polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs). In this way, poor water-soluble drugs can be linked covalently to hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to obtain PEGylated drug micelles that can be used as versatile carriers for the delivery of diverse therapeutic agents. In this work, two novel amphiphilic PDCs that combine PEG with privileged scaffolds well-known for their anticancer properties, such as coumarin and 5-fluorouracil, have been synthesized and characterized. These conjugates were able to self-assemble into micelles at relatively high critical micellar concentration, probably due to the large portion of hydrophilic PEG. The micelles allowed to load other anticancer drugs (paclitaxel, curcumin, and gemcitabine), providing a unique opportunity to develop promising co-delivery carriers for synergistic cancer therapy. The Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model was used for describing the in vitro kinetics of drug release from the micelles. Similar sustained and controlled drug release profiles were obtained for paclitaxel and curcumin in both conjugates, which was attributed to the excellent stability driven by the strong interaction between polymeric conjugates and drugs in the micelle core. In contrast, the high instability observed for the gemcitabine-loaded micelles provided an initial uncontrolled burst release of drug. A preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity study of the micelles against human pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1 and BxPC-3 was also carried out, demonstrating that both coumarin and 5-fluorouracil retain their anticancer properties after conjugation with PEG.

Rare Carbon-Bridged Citrinin Dimers from the Starfish-Derived Symbiotic Fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2.

Four novel, rare carbon-bridged citrinin dimers, namely dicitrinones G–J (1–4), and five known analogs (5–9) were isolated from the starfish-derived fungus Penicillium sp. GGF 16-1-2. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 1–9 exhibited strong antifungal activities against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with LD50 values from 0.61 μg/mL to 16.14 μg/mL. Meanwhile, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 and PANC-1 cell lines; as a result, compound 1 showed more significant cytotoxicities than the positive control against both cell lines. In addition, based on the analyses of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Western blot, 1 could induce apoptosis by activating caspase 3 proteins (CASP3).

Abstract 6285: MicroRNA-217 affects tumor microenvironment and enhances the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and an inherently chemoresistant tumor. Dense fibrotic stroma is a major obstacle for drug delivery to the tumor cells in PDAC. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are the major stromal cells responsible for fibrotic microenvironment. MicroRNA-217 (miR-217) is known mainly as a tumor suppressor. However, the detailed roles of miR-217 on pathophysiology of PDAC remain unclarified. Methods: Expressions levels of miR-217 were measured in surgically resected human PDAC samples. Using Lipofectamine RNAiMAX, miR-217 or negative control miR (NC) were transfected in human pancreatic cancer cells, Panc-1, MIApaca-2, BxPC-3 and murine PAN02 cells, and chemosensitivities to gemcitabine and paclitaxel were investigated by MTS assay. Human hPSC-1 (obtained from Riken cell bank, Japan) was cultured in 20%FBS+DMEM and the changes of phenotypes and expression levels of miR-217 after the stimulation with TGF-β1 was measured by fluorescein microscope and digital PCR, respectively. Results: The expression level of miR-217 was markedly downregulated in PDAC tissues than in noncancerous pancreatic tissues (P<0.001, n=9). Overexpression of miR-217 significantly inhibited the proliferation of Panc-1, MIApaca-2 and BxPC-3 (P<0.001) and migration of Panc-1, MIApaca-2 and PAN02 (P<0.05). Lipofection of miR-217 further reduced the number of PAN02 exposed to 1-5nM gemcitabine (P<0.0001) and 0.01-0.1uM paclitaxel (P=0.0085) which resulted in the reduced the IC-50 as compared with NC. Human PSC-1 stimulated with TGF-β1 (10ng/ml) significantly reduced miR-217 expression compared to nascent cells. The stimulation with TGF-β1 upregulated the expression of cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) markers, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin. However, the expression levels of these markers were significantly reduced by the kipofection of miR-217. Conclusion: MiR-217 affects both cancer and stromal cells in PDAC which may regulate chemosensitivity in PDAC. Restoring miR-217 levels in tumor cells and/or PSCs could be a future therapeutic strategy. Citation Format: Yuki Kaneko, HIdeyuki Ohzawa, Yuki Kimura, Kohei Tamura, Yurie Futoh, Kazuya Takahashi, Akira Saito, Mineyuki Tojo, Hideyo Miyato, Naohiro Sata, Joji Kitayama. MicroRNA-217 affects tumor microenvironment and enhances the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 6285.

Isoprenylated Coumarin Exhibits Anti-proliferative Effects in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Under Nutrient Starvation by Inhibiting Autophagy.

Due to the lack of early detection methods and effective treatments, pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest five-year survival rates among all cancers. We have previously identified novel isoprenylated coumarin compounds that exhibit preferential cytotoxicity against pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1 exclusively under glucose deprivation conditions. Using cell cytotoxicity assays, we investigated the anti-proliferative mechanism of our most potent isoprenylated coumarin compound of the series, DCM-MJ-I-21, with respect to time, against two other pancreatic cancer cell lines, BxPC-3 and Capan-2. We used western blotting to quantify the autophagic flux influenced by our compound, autophagy inducers (starvation and Rapamycin), and autophagy inhibitors (chloroquine and wortmannin). We observed a clear dependence on glucose in DCM-MJ-I-21 in BxPC-3 and Capan-2 pancreatic cancer cell lines, suggesting that our compound targets a pathway shared by these cancer cell lines when glycolysis is not an option for survival. Our lead compound increased the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II in PANC-1, similar to the effect of chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor. In addition, Spautin-1, another autophagy inhibitor, showed almost the same anti-proliferative activities at the same concentration under nutrient-deprived conditions as our lead compound in both 2D and 3D cell cultures. Our lead isoprenylated coumarin compound induces selective pancreatic cancer cell death under nutrient-deprived conditions through inhibition of autophagy, potentially providing insights into new therapeutic options.

A comparison of 64Cu-labeled bi-terminally PEGylated A20FMDV2 peptides targeting integrin ανβ6.

Expression of epithelial-specific integrin ανβ6 is up-regulated in various aggressive cancers and serves as a prognostic marker. Integrin-targeted PET imaging probes have been successfully developed and tested in the clinic. Radiotracers based on the peptide A20FMDV2 derived from foot-and-mouth disease virus represent specific and selective PET ligands for imaging ανβ6-positive cancers. The present study aims to describe the radiolabeling, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a bi-terminally PEGylated A20FMDV2 conjugated with DOTA or PCTA for 64Cu radiolabeling. Stability studies showed radiolabeled complexes remained stable up to 24 h in PBS and human serum. In vitro cell assays in CaSki cervical cancer cells and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells confirmed that the peptides displayed high affinity for αvβ6 with Kd values of ~50 nM. Biodistribution studies revealed that [64Cu] Cu-PCTA-(PEG28)2-A20FMDV2 exhibited higher tumor uptake (1.63 ± 0.53 %ID/g in CaSki and 3.86 ± 0.58 %ID/g in BxPC-3 at 1 h) when compared to [64Cu]Cu-DOTA-(PEG28)2-A20FMDV2 (0.95 ± 0.29 %ID/g in CaSki and 2.12 ± 0.83 %ID/g in BxPC-3 at 1 h) . However, higher tumor uptake was accompanied by increased radioactive uptake in normal organs. Therefore, both peptides are appropriate for imaging ανβ6-positive lesions although further optimization is needed to improve tumor-to-normal-tissue ratios.

Efficacy of MDX-124, a novel anti-annexin-A1 antibody, in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer.

590 Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal disease with poor survival and response to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Novel approaches to treat this disease are urgently required. Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) is secreted in response to several physiological stimuli where it activates formyl peptide receptors (FPR1/2) triggering multiple oncogenic processes. High ANXA1 expression in pancreatic cancer patients is associated with poor overall survival, and influences cancer progression, drug sensitivity, migration and invasion. MDX-124 is a novel humanized antibody targeting ANXA1 and we have previously presented data demonstrating its significant antiproliferative activity. Here we present further data showing the efficacy of MDX-124 in several preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. Methods: In-vitro models utilized MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 or BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Cell cycle progression was evaluated by measuring changes in DNA content via flow cytometry. Pancreatic cancer cell viability following incubation with MDX-124 (0-10 µM) and 5FU (IC50) was assessed via MTT assay. A transwell migration assay was used to evaluate the effect of MDX-124 (0-50 µM) on pancreatic cancer cell migration. In-vivo efficacy was evaluated using an orthotopic mouse model of metastatic pancreatic cancer (FC1242luc/zsGreen; KPC-derived cell line) with bioluminescent imaging used to quantify the incidence and burden of lung metastases. Results: When compared to untreated MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells, MDX-124 treatment decreased the proportion of cells in S-phase by 29% and G2 phase by 9.1%, with a concomitant increase in G1 of 38.1%. This occurred in a dose-dependent manner and is consistent with an MDX-124 mediated increase in cell cycle arrest. MDX-124 significantly reduced the viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines versus an IgG control in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally in these two cell lines, combination of MDX-124 with 5FU (IC50) had a significant synergistic impact reducing cancer cell viability by 99.8% and 91.2% respectively. Furthermore, MDX-124 significantly reduced the migratory ability of MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells. In the orthotopic model of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the murine analog of MDX-124 (MDX-001), markedly reduced both the incidence and size of lung metastases. Conclusions: MDX-124 demonstrated significant anti-tumor efficacy in several preclinical models of pancreatic cancer as a single agent, with increased potency observed when used in combination with 5FU. Medannex will initiate a First-In-Human study in Q4 2021 to evaluate MDX-124 in solid malignancies, including pancreatic cancer.

Different pancreatic cancer microenvironments convert iPSCs into cancer stem cells exhibiting distinct plasticity with altered gene expression of metabolic pathways

BackgroundCancer stem cells (CSCs) are generated under irregular microenvironment in vivo, of which mimic is quite difficult due to the lack of enough information of the factors responsible for cancer initiation. Here, we demonstrated that mouse induced pluripotent cells (miPSCs) reprogrammed from normal embryonic fibroblasts were susceptible to the microenvironment affected by cancer cells to convert into CSCs in vivo.MethodsThree different pancreatic cancer line cells, BxPC3, PANC1, and PK8 cells were mixed with miPSCs and subcutaneously injected into immunodeficient mice. Tumors were evaluated by histological analysis and cells derived from iPSCs were isolated and selected from tumors. The isolated cells were characterized for cancer stem cell characters in vitro and in vivo as well as their responses to anticancer drugs. The impact of co-injection of iPSCs with cancer cells on transcriptome and signaling pathways of iPSCs was investigated.ResultsThe injection of miPSCs mixed with human pancreatic cancer cells into immunodeficient mice maintained the stemness of miPSCs and changed their phenotype. The miPSCs acquired CSC characteristics of tumorigenicity and self-renewal. The drug responses and the metastatic ability of CSCs converted from miPSCs varied depending on the microenvironment of cancer cells. Interestingly, transcriptome profiles of these cells indicated that the pathways related with aggressiveness and energy production were upregulated from the levels of miPSCs.ConclusionsOur result suggests that cancer-inducing microenvironment in vivo could rewire the cell signaling and metabolic pathways to convert normal stem cells into CSCs.

Selenium Induces Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death Alone and in Combination with Gemcitabine.

Survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains poor and newer treatments are urgently required. Selenium, an essential trace element, offers protection against several cancer types and has not been explored much against pancreatic cancer specifically in combination with known chemotherapeutic agents. The present study was designed to investigate selenium and Gemcitabine at varying doses alone and in combination in established pancreatic cancer cell lines growing in 2D as well as 3D platforms. Comparison of multi-dimensional synergy of combinations’ (MuSyc) model and highest single agent (HSA) model provided quantitative insights into how much better the combination performed than either compound tested alone in a 2D versus 3D growth of pancreatic cancer cell lines. The outcomes of the study further showed promise in combining selenium and Gemcitabine when evaluated for apoptosis, proliferation, and ENT1 protein expression, specifically in BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

Integrative Analysis Uncovers Metabolic Subtypes with Potential Therapeutic Target in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a high relapse rate, even in resectable pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to identify the prognostic significance and therapeutic chance of the metabolic subtypes for resectable pancreatic cancer. Method: We obtained transcriptomic data from the TCGA-PAAD cohort via the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal (n=182). After integrative analysis of transcriptomic data in the discovery cohort, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed in the independent cohort to validate the molecule of interest. Experimental testing for the molecule of interest was performed using pancreatic cancer cell lines, including AsPC1, BxPC3, MIA PaCa-2, and PANC-1 in vitro. Results: Two subtypes showing distinct gene expression patterns in the TCGA-PAAD dataset were identified. The active glucose metabolism subtype showed significantly lower survival regarding cancer relapse after surgical resection. The genes SLC2A1 (GLUT1) and SLC16A3 (MCT4) were highly enriched in the active metabolism subtype. The validation cohort showed high IHC staining intensity for MCT4 and a significantly high relapse rate (P=0.01). Several molecular pathways associated with aggressive tumor biology regarding cell cycle, Myc, and mTOR downstream signaling were highly enriched in the high glucose uptake subtype as well as distinct response for immunotherapy. MCT4 inhibition suppressed pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and showed a synergetic effect with gemcitabine treatment. Conclusion: MCT4 was identified from integrative analysis as a potential therapeutic target in resectable pancreatic cancer. The precision strategy for resectable pancreatic cancer should be validated in a clinical setting with a prospective study design.

Comparative Study on Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Resveratrol Gold Nanoparticles and a Resveratrol Nanoemulsion Prepared from Grape Skin.

Resveratrol, a phenolic compound possessing vital biological activities such as anti-cancer, is present abundantly in grape skin, a waste produced during the processing of grape juice. The objectives of this study were to prepare resveratrol-gold nanoparticles and a resveratrol nanoemulsion from grape skin and study their inhibition effects on pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3. The spherical-shaped citrate gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and resveratrol-gold nanoparticles (R-GNPs) were, respectively, prepared with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 528 and 538 nm, mean particle size of 20.8 and 11.9 nm, and zeta-potential at −32.7 and −66.7 mV, by controlling an appropriate concentration of citrate/resveratrol and gold chloride as well as stirring time and temperature. The resveratrol nanoemulsion, composed of soybean oil, Tween 80, and sucrose fatty acid ester in glycerol and water, possessed a high storage stability with a mean particle size of 14.1 nm, zeta-potential of −49.7 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 95.5%. An antiproliferation study revealed that both R-GNPs and resveratrol nanoemulsion could effectively inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3, with the latter showing a higher inhibition effect. Western blot analysis implied that both can down-regulate expressions of cyclin A, cyclin B, CDK1, and CDK2 and up-regulate expressions of p53 and p21, accompanied by enhancing cytochrome C expression, decreasing BcL-2 expression, increasing Bax expression, and leading to the elevation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activities for cell apoptosis execution. Future research is needed to study the inhibition of pancreatic tumors in vivo by R-GNPs and resveratrol nanoemulsions.

Impact of LMWH and Specific Factor Xa Inhibitors, Apixaban and Fondaparinux, on Cancer Cell Biology and Procoagulant Properties of Cancer Microenvironment

Background Cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) or at risk of VTE are treated with antithrombotic agents. Cancer cells express procoagulant properties and induce hypercoagulability in the microenvironment, that could impact the efficiency of the antithrombotic agents.Aims In the present study, we investigated the interaction between antithrombotic agents with pancreatic cancer cells, as well as with their microenvironment. The impact of apixaban, fondaparinux, enoxaparin and tinzaparin on the procoagulant properties of pancreatic cancer cells BXPC3 was examinated. Reciprocally, we also investigated the impact of BXPC3 on the potency of these antithrombotic agents.Methods BXPC3 cells (400 cells/μl) were exposed for 48 hours to apixaban (2 µg/ml), fondaparinux (2 µg/ml), enoxaparin, tinzaparin (2 anti-Xa IU/ml) or NaCL (control). Then, conditioned media (CM) and BXPC3 cells were harvested, separated and put in contact with normal platelet-poor plasma (PPP). Subsequently, thrombin generation (TG) was assessed using Thrombogram-Thrombinoscope® assay (Diagnostica Stago). Cells' viability was also assessed with the MTT assay. Gene expression for Tissue Factor (TF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Thrombospondin 1 (THSB1) was assessed with RT-qPCR at the cells exposed or not to the antithrombotic agents. Expression of TF protein and activity of cancer cells was assessed using ELISA method. Residual anti-Xa activity in CM was measured using specific amidolytic assays for each antithrombotic agent.Results Apixaban, fondaparinux, enoxaparin, and tinzaparin significantly reduced cell viability by 25%, 12%, 14%, and 11% respectively. In the control experiment non treated BXPC3 cells enhanced TG. Pre-treatment of BXPC3 with the antithrombotic agents did not significantly modify their capacity to trigger and enhance TG. Among the studied agents only apixaban resulted in significant decrease of TF mRNA expression. However, protein expression of TF was not significantly modified by any of the antithrombotic agents. VEGF's mRNA expression was significantly decreased by fondaparinux and enoxaparin. THBS1's mRNA expression was significantly increased by apixaban. The concentrations of the anti-Xa activity of fondaparinux, enoxaparin and tinzaparin in the CM obtained at 48h after exposure of cells were reduced by 27%, 48% and 26% respectively as compared to those initially added in the culture medium. In contrast, the concentration of apixaban in the CM did not significantly change. The CM obtained by cells exposed to apixaban, fondaparinux, enoxaparin and tinzaparin inhibited TG by 70%, 30%, 40% and 90% respectively.Conclusion. Antithrombotic agents reduced the viability of BXPC3 cells. Among the studied agents, apixaban had the most pronounced effect on cells' viability. The antithrombotic agents had a potential downregulating effect on the proangiogenetic properties of BXPC3 via the decrease of VEGF gene expression (fondaparinux and enoxaparin) and enhancement of THBS1 gene expression (apixaban). Nevertheless, preincubation of BXPC3 with the antithrombotic agents did not alter the expression of TF protein and their effect on thrombin generation. Moreover, BXPCE exerted a “degradation” effect on LMWH and fondaparinux. Apixaban appeared to escape from this effect of the cancer cells. A significant inhibitory effect on thrombin generation was exerted by the residual concentrations of the antithrombotic agents in the microenvironment of cancer cells. The ensemble of these data highlight for the first time that the presence of antithrombotic agents in cancer cell microenvironment alters the biology of cancer cells and offer a constant antithrombotic effect in the microenvironment. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

KIF20B Promotes Cell Proliferation and May Be a Potential Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Cancer.

KIFs have been reported to play a critical role in a variety of tumors, and KIF20B is a protein in KFIs. In this research, KIF20B was highly expressed in the GEO database and our hospital's data, and high expression of KIF20B suggested poor prognosis. We detect the expression of KIF20B in pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues using immunohistochemistry. Knockdown of KIF20B in pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells, inhibited cell proliferation which are detected by colony formation assays, CCK8, and western bolt of Ki-67 and PCNA. Xenograft assay showed a similar result in vivo. KIF20B is a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

Drug Repurposing Patent Applications April–June 2021

Drug Repurposing Patent Applications April–June 2021

Anticancer Activity of Aqueous Fenugreek Seed Extract Against Pancreatic Cancer, Histological Evidence.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignant tumors in the digestive system all over the world. It has a very low survival rate. Although there is a great advancement in its therapy either through radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other therapies, the overall survival is still less than 24months. Another problem for pancreatic cancer is the resistance to its conventional chemotherapy (e.g., gemcitabine). From this point of view, there is an urgent need to find an effective drug treatment METHODS: The anticancer activity of the germinated fenugreek seed extract is examined in vitro and in vivo against BXPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Two groups of albino mice were injected with BXPC-3 cells: the first group remained non-treated and the second group was injected with IC50 of the fenugreek extract. The body weight and the survival rate were observed in the two groups and histological examination of the pancreatic tissue was observed RESULTS: Germinated fenugreek seed extract can be efficiently maximized the survival rate in pancreatic cancer mice and protect the pancreatic tissue from lesions related to cancer. Germinated fenugreek seed extract can be used to fight pancreatic cancer.

Dickkopf-related protein 3 alters aerobic glycolysis in pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 cells, promoting CD4+ T-cell activation and function

BackgroundTo investigate the value of Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) on aerobic glycolysis in pancreatic cancer cells, where DKK3-overexpression is used to determine its effects on CD4+ T cells.MethodsThe BxPC-3-DKK3 cell line was constructed, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) was prepared. After isolated the CD4+ T cells, the lactic acid, glucose uptake ability, cellular viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and markers were detected by PCR and western blot, and the concentrations of multiple cytokines were determined using the ELISA method.ResultsAfter co-culture with pancreatic cancer cells overexpressing DKK3, the glucose uptake markedly, proliferation enhanced and apoptosis inhibited in CD4+ T cells. The co-culture model also revealed that DKK3-overexpression promotes the activation and regulates the metabolism and function of CD4+ T cells.ConclusionsDKK3 alters the metabolic microenvironment of pancreatic cancer cells and further facilitates the function of CD4+T cells which suggesting that DKK3 may have a therapeutic potential in pancreatic cancer.

Tissue Architecture Influences the Biological Effectiveness of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy in In Vitro/In Silico Three-Dimensional Self-Assembly Cell Models of Pancreatic Cancers

Simple SummaryBoron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is becoming one of the most promising radiotherapies for aggressive cancers, but the detailed cellular mechanisms of BNCT remain largely underexplored. Solid tumors are composed of heterogeneous cell populations, which create a 3-dimensional complicated microenvironment for tumor progression. To recapture the influences of the microenvironment on BNCT efficacy, we applied a self-assembly 3D cell culture system with two different types of pancreatic cancer cells. In contrast to previous findings with γ-ray exposure, we found that the 3D architecture of pancreatic tumor can facilitate the susceptibility of cancer cells to BNCT, as compared to 2D tissue structure; a computer simulation model was established to further confirm this unexpected finding. These outcomes can contribute to better understanding of the radiobiology of BNCT, and the developed models may facilitate the recent development in personalized radiotherapy.Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is one of the promising radiotherapy techniques for patients with pancreatic cancer. In this study, we evaluated the biological effectiveness of BNCT at multicellular levels using in vitro and in silico models. To recapture the phenotypic characteristic of pancreatic tumors, we developed a cell self-assembly approach with human pancreatic cancer cells Panc-1 and BxPC-3 cocultured with MRC-5 fibroblasts. On substrate with physiological stiffness, tumor cells self-assembled into 3D spheroids, and the cocultured fibroblasts further facilitated the assembly process, which recapture the influence of tumor stroma. Interestingly, after 1.2 MW neutron irradiation, lower survival rates and higher apoptosis (increasing by 4-fold for Panc-1 and 1.5-fold for BxPC-3) were observed in 3D spheroids, instead of in 2D monolayers. The unexpected low tolerance of 3D spheroids to BNCT highlights the unique characteristics of BNCT over conventional radiotherapy. The uptake of boron-containing compound boronophenylalanine (BPA) and the alteration of E-cadherin can partially contribute to the observed susceptibility. In addition to biological effects, the probability of induced α-particle exposure correlated to the multicellular organization was speculated to affect the cellular responses to BNCT. A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was also established to further interpret the observed survival. Intracellular boron distribution in the multicellular structure and related treatment resistance were reconstructed in silico. Simulation results demonstrated that the physical architecture is one of the essential factors for biological effectiveness in BNCT, which supports our in vitro findings. In summary, we developed in vitro and in silico self-assembly 3D models to evaluate the effectiveness of BNCT on pancreatic tumors. Considering the easy-access of this 3D cell-assembly platform, this study may not only contribute to the current understanding of BNCT but is also expected to be applied to evaluate the BNCT efficacy for individualized treatment plans in the future.

The Role of Long Noncoding RNA AL161431.1 in the Development and Progression of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is known for its notorious fast progression and poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) AL161431.1 has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of different cancers. In this study, we explored the role of lncRNA AL161431.1 in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer by bioinformatic analysis, in vitro and in vivo experiments in pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 and SW1990 cells, as well as clinical samples. We found that lncRNA AL161431.1 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. Knock down of lncRNA AL161431.1 led to increased cancer cell death and cell cycle arrest. Xenograft growth of SW1990 cells with stable knockdown of lncRNA AL161431.1 in mice was significantly slower than that of SW1990 cells with scrambled control shRNA. Finally, we showed the involvement of lncRNA AL161431.1 in pancreatic cancer was related to its promotion of epithelial mesenchymal transition process.

Abstract 2329: ONC212-induced impairment of oxidative phosphorylation is synergistic with glycolysis inhibition in treatment of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo

Abstract ONC212 is a fluorinated imipridone shown to have preclinical efficacy against multiple cancers, including pancreatic cancer. One of the binding targets of ONC212 is the mitochondrial peptidase, ClpP, but its role in the anticancer activity of ONC212 is incompletely understood. Understanding the effects of ONC212 on the bioenergetics of pancreatic cancer could facilitate understanding and amplification of its anti-tumor effects. On extracellular flux analysis, ONC212 impairs mitochondrial ATP production and oxidative phosphorylation in multiple pancreatic cancer lines. However, pancreatic adenocarcinoma uses both glycolysis and mitochondrial function to meet its energy demands. Some pancreatic cancer cell lines are resistant to ONC212 inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation alone, but co-treatment with glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) synergizes with ONC212 and increases tumor cell death in vitro. Suppression of ClpX, the regulatory binding protein of ClpP, occurs with ONC212 treatment and was used as a biomarker of ONC212 activity. This suppression was demonstrated in multiple pancreatic cancer lines in vitro and in vivo. In a xenograft mouse tumor model of pancreatic cancer using both the ONC212 resistant Bxpc3 pancreatic cancer cell line and the more sensitive HPAF-II cell line, the combination of ONC212 and 2-DG treatment significantly decreased tumor growth and reduced the intertumoral variability. Immunohistochemistry also revealed increased apoptotic markers in these tumors. There was no significant toxicity from dual treatment in mice, which suggests that tumor energy deprivation from dual inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis via ONC212 and 2-DG has a therapeutic window and should be explored further as a potential combination therapy. In addition, if this effect holds true across other models and cancer types, baseline mitoATP percentage could be used as a functional biomarker of sensitivity to ONC212. Citation Format: Anna Donovan Louie, Isacco Ferrarini, Lanlan Zhou, Wafik S. El-Deiry. ONC212-induced impairment of oxidative phosphorylation is synergistic with glycolysis inhibition in treatment of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2329.

MCT4 as a potential therapeutic target to augment gemcitabine chemosensitivity in resected pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a high relapse rate, even in resectable pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to identify the prognostic significance and therapeutic chance of the metabolic subtypes for resectable pancreatic cancer. We obtained transcriptomic data from the TCGA-PAAD cohort via the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal (n = 182). After integrative analysis of transcriptomic data in the discovery cohort, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed in the independent cohort to validate the molecule of interest. Experimental testing for the molecule of interest was performed using pancreatic cancer cell lines, including AsPC1, BxPC3, MIA PaCa-2, and PANC-1 in vitro. Two subtypes showing distinct gene expression patterns in the TCGA-PAAD dataset were identified. The active glucose metabolism subtype showed significantly lower survival regarding cancer relapse after surgical resection. The genes SLC2A1 (GLUT1) and SLC16A3 (MCT4) were highly enriched in the active metabolism subtype. The validation cohort showed high IHC staining intensity for MCT4 and a significantly high relapse rate (p = 0.01). Several molecular pathways associated with aggressive tumor biology regarding cell cycle, Myc, and mTOR downstream signaling were highly enriched in the high glucose uptake subtype as well as distinct response for immunotherapy. MCT4 inhibition suppressed pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and showed a synergetic effect with gemcitabine treatment. MCT4 was identified from integrative analysis as a potential therapeutic target in resectable pancreatic cancer. The precision strategy for resectable pancreatic cancer should be validated in a clinical setting with a prospective study design.

Gemcitabine-Based Chemoradiotherapy Enhanced by a PARP Inhibitor in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a devastating disease with a 5-year overall survival of 9% for all stages. Gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer is highly toxic. We conducted an in vitro study to determine whether poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibition radiosensitized gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MIA PaCa-2, AsPC-1, BxPC-3 and PANC-1 were treated with gemcitabine (10 nM) and/or olaparib (1 µM). Low-LET gamma single dose of 2, 5 and 10 Gy radiations were carried out. Clonogenic assay, PAR immunoblotting, cell cycle distribution, γH2Ax, necrotic and autophagic cell death quantifications were performed. Treatment with olaparib alone was not cytotoxic, but highly radiosensitized cell lines, particularly at high dose per fraction A non-cytotoxic concentration of gemcitabine radiosensitized cells, but less than olaparib. Interestingly, olaparib significantly enhanced gemcitabine-based radiosensitization in PDAC cell lines with synergistic effect in BxPC-3 cell line. All cell lines were radiosensitized by the combination of gemcitabine and olaparib, through an increase of unrepaired double-strand, a G2 phase block and cell death. Radiosensitization was increased with high dose of radiation. The combination of olaparib with gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy could lead to an enhancement of local control in vivo and an improvement in disease-free survival.