Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dannel Yeo, Althea Bastian, Heidi Strauss, Payal Saxena, Peter Grimison, John E. J. Rasko
Summary: This review summarizes the data on the utility of CTCs in PDAC and discusses the molecular profiling and culture methods of CTCs. CTCs have the potential to be used in screening, early diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and personalized management of PDAC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Francis Mugeni Wanyama, Veronique Blanchard
Summary: Ovarian cancer is a common cause of death among women worldwide, with delayed diagnosis leading to poor treatment outcomes. Research on biomarkers may provide early diagnostic strategies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna C. Lilly, Igor Astsaturov, Erica A. Golemis
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and treat, resulting in poor survival outcomes. The increasing incidence of this cancer is related to aging populations, obesity, and pancreatitis. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include signaling from fat cells, elevated levels of intrapancreatic adipocytes, inflammation from immune cells, and fibrosis caused by pancreatic obstruction and cell lysis. Further studies are needed to understand the role of adipocytes in the pre-cancerous niche and their implications in mouse models.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roman Bubin, Romans Uljanovs, Ilze Strumfa
Summary: The discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in leukemia has led to active research on stemness in neoplastic tissues. CSCs are a subpopulation of malignant cells with unique properties, including a dedifferentiated state, self-renewal, pluripotency, resistance to therapy, epigenetic alterations, and higher tumorigenicity. CSCs have been confirmed in various malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which has a poor prognosis. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the markers and molecular features of CSCs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the therapeutic options for their elimination.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ratna Sariyatun, Hiroyuki Kajiura, Juthamard Limkul, Ryo Misaki, Kazuhito Fujiyama
Summary: N-Glycosylation plays a crucial role in protein stability, activity, and characteristics, as well as in the delivery of pharmaceutical glycoproteins to target cells. A specific glycan structure, M3, has been shown to facilitate cellular uptake of glycoproteins through the mannose receptor in humans. By establishing a cell culture from an Arabidopsis alg3 mutant plant, researchers were able to produce glycoproteins with M3 and GlcNAc-terminal structures, which could potentially be beneficial for cellular delivery and safe for human therapy.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chih-Wei Lin, Yu-Jen Wang, Ting-Yen Lai, Tsui-Ling Hsu, Shin-Ying Han, Han-Chung Wu, Chia-Ning Shen, Van Dang, Ming-Wei Chen, Lan-Bo Chen, Chi-Huey Wong
Summary: The study reveals that SSEA-4 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells and associated with survival rates; targeting SSEA-4 with antibodies or CAR-T cells shows promise in inhibiting cancer growth and could be a potential immunotherapy target for pancreatic disease treatment.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
I. J. M. Levink, D. C. F. Klatte, R. G. Hanna-Sawires, G. C. M. Vreeker, I. S. Ibrahim, Y. E. M. van der Burgt, K. A. Overbeek, B. D. M. Koopmann, D. L. Cahen, G. M. Fuhler, M. Wuhrer, B. A. Bonsing, R. A. E. M. Tollenaar, F. P. Vleggaar, H. F. A. Vasen, M. E. van Leerdam, M. J. Bruno, W. E. Mesker
Summary: Surveillance for individuals at risk of developing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the potential to improve survival, but early detection based on imaging modalities alone is challenging. This study identified changes in serum glycosylation levels over time to potentially earlier detect PDAC in high-risk individuals. A total of 165 individuals were included in the study, with 10 individuals developing PDAC during 35 months of follow-up, the majority of whom carried a CDKN2A germline mutation.
Review
Cell Biology
Aaron Galindo-Vega, Vilma Maldonado-Lagunas, Irma B. Mitre-Aguilar, Jorge Melendez-Zajgla
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy due to a complex tumor microenvironment and the presence of cancer stem cells, which contribute to therapy resistance and tumor relapse. Understanding and targeting the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells may be crucial for effective PDAC therapies. This review summarizes recent advances in the role of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic neoplastic progression.
Review
Cell Biology
Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Mohammadreza Hajiesmaeili, Hamed Shoorei, Zahra Bahroudi, Mohammad Taheri, Guive Sharifi
Summary: Stem cells and cancer stem cells possess the abilities of self-renewal and differentiation, with molecular pathways like Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog influencing their functions. miRNAs and lncRNAs have been found to regulate the functions of CSCs, particularly in breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Takuya Fujimoto, Ryouichi Tsunedomi, Satoshi Matsukuma, Kiyoshi Yoshimura, Atsunori Oga, Nobuyuki Fujiwara, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Hiroto Matsui, Yoshitaro Shindo, Yukio Tokumitsu, Nobuaki Suzuki, Shogo Kobayashi, Shoichi Hazama, Hidetoshi Eguchi, Hiroaki Nagano
Summary: This study identified that high expression of lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B (CTSB) on the surface of pancreatic cancer stem-like cells (P-CSLCs) is associated with poor clinical outcomes and surgical results in patients with pancreatic cancer, suggesting CTSB may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jin-Ze Tian, Sheng Xing, Jing-Yi Feng, Shu-Hua Yang, Yan-Fu Ding, Xue-Ting Huang, Jin-Shu Yang, Wei-Jun Yang
Summary: Studies have revealed the presence of a small population of SETD4(+) cells in the adult mouse pancreas, which play critical roles in pancreatic development, homeostasis, and response to injury. These cells are essential for the regeneration of acinar cells, and their ablation can affect the regeneration process.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christabelle Rajesh, Satish Sagar, Ashok Kumar Rathinavel, Divya Thomas Chemparathy, Xianlu Laura Peng, Jen Jen Yeh, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Prakash Radhakrishnan
Summary: Elevated MUC16 levels combined with truncated O-glycan expression play crucial roles in PDAC malignancy. Genetic deletion of MUC16 reduces tumor cell migration in PDAC, with MUC16 activating the ILK/FAK signaling axis to enhance tumor malignancy, particularly in cells expressing truncated O-glycans.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
ChongFeng Gao, Luke Wisniewski, Ying Liu, Ben Staal, Ian Beddows, Dennis Plenker, Mohammed Aldakkak, Johnathan Hall, Daniel Barnett, Mirna Kheir Gouda, Peter Allen, Richard Drake, Amer Zureikat, Ying Huang, Douglas Evans, Aatur Singhi, Randall E. Brand, David A. Tuveson, Susan Tsai, Brian B. Haab
Summary: The study suggests that a glycan biomarker called sTRA may be valuable for detecting chemotherapy-resistant PDAC in clinical settings. Models expressing sTRA showed stem-like gene expression and increased resistance to chemotherapeutics, while patients with high levels of sTRA did not benefit significantly from chemotherapy. This research provides insight into the potential use of a glycan biomarker to develop tailored treatment plans and guide trials targeting resistant PDAC.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jae-Il Choi, Sung Ill Jang, Jaehyun Hong, Chul Hoon Kim, Soon Sung Kwon, Joon Seong Park, Jong-Baeck Lim
Summary: In this study, it was demonstrated that CD44(+), CD24(+) and EpCAM(+) cancer-initiating cells (CICs) were enriched in patient-derived organoids of PDAC. CD44-expressing CICs formed lumen structures within the organoids. Additionally, CD44(-) cancer cells from the organoids could re-form organoids and be re-programed as CD44-expressing CICs. The study also showed that the maintenance of CICs in PDAC organoids was mediated by interactions with endothelial cells through Wnt and Notch signaling pathways.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fumi Minoshima, Haruka Ozaki, Haruki Odaka, Hiroaki Tateno
Summary: This study demonstrated the application of single-cell sequencing to analyze both glycan and RNA simultaneously, showing clearer separation of cell types when both modalities are considered. The integrative analysis revealed known and unknown lectins specific to hiPSCs that coordinated with neural differentiation, showcasing the potential of scGR-seq in revealing cellular heterogeneity and roles of glycans across multicellular systems.
