Article
Oncology
Emilia Alors-Perez, Ricardo Blazquez-Encinas, Sonia Alcala, Cristina Viyuela-Garcia, Sergio Pedraza-Arevalo, Vicente Herrero-Aguayo, Juan M. Jimenez-Vacas, Andrea Mafficini, Marina E. Sanchez-Frias, Maria T. Cano, Fernando Abollo-Jimenez, Juan A. Marin-Sanz, Pablo Cabezas-Sainz, Rita T. Lawlor, Claudio Luchini, Laura Sanchez, Juan M. Sanchez-Hidalgo, Sebastian Ventura, Laura Martin-Hijano, Manuel D. Gahete, Aldo Scarpa, Alvaro Arjona-Sanchez, Alejandro Ibanez-Costa, Bruno Sainz, Raul M. Luque, Justo P. Castano
Summary: SF3B1 is overexpressed in human PDAC and associated with tumor grade and lymph-node involvement. Pladienolide-B targets both cancer cells and CSCs by increasing apoptosis and decreasing tumor-related features, reducing stemness capacity and increasing sensitivity to chemotherapy.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tianxing Zhou, Jing Liu, Yongjie Xie, Shuai Yuan, Yu Guo, Weiwei Bai, Kaili Zhao, Wenna Jiang, Hongwei Wang, Haotian Wang, Tiansuo Zhao, Chongbiao Huang, Song Gao, Xiuchao Wang, Shengyu Yang, Jihui Hao
Summary: EHF plays a key role in decreasing the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to CSCs' niche stimulus by suppressing the transcription of the CXCL12 receptor CXCR4. Rosiglitazone can target PC stem cells and inhibit the crosstalk between CSCs and their niche by upregulating EHF.
Article
Oncology
Maxime Parisotto, Nhung Vuong-Robillard, Paloma Kalegari, Thulaj Meharwade, Loick Joumier, Sebastian Igelmann, Veronique Bourdeau, Marie-Camille Rowell, Michael Pollak, Mohan Malleshaiah, Andreea Schmitzer, Gerardo Ferbeyre
Summary: The use of metformin as a single antitumor agent has been disappointing, but combining it with the NAD biosynthesis inhibitor FK866 has shown superior antitumor activity. This study reveals the mechanism of metformin's antitumor actions and suggests that targeting mitochondria and NAD biosynthesis can lead to effective antitumor therapies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ya-Hui Chen, Ying-Chih Huang, Shun-Fa Yang, Hsu-Heng Yen, Horng-Der Tsai, Ming-Chia Hsieh, Yi-Hsuan Hsiao
Summary: The combination treatment of metformin and pitavastatin significantly reduces cell viability, induces cell cycle arrest, and exerts anticancer effects through various pathways, demonstrating a synergistic interaction in pancreatic cancer cells.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
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
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Le Zhang, Qingfeng Li, Huan Wang, Yuanfei Wu, Xiujuan Ye, Zhuo Gong, Qingqing Li, Aiguo Xuan
Summary: This study found that the antidiabetic drug metformin promotes neurogenesis through Gadd45g-mediated DNA demethylation, which contributes to its antidepressive effects. The findings propose Gadd45g regulation of neurogenesis as a novel antidepressant strategy.
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.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lan Sun, Hong-Juan Yao, Jing-Cao Li, Bao-Quan Zhao, Yong -An Wang, Ying-Ge Zhang
Summary: A nanodrug delivery system using activated carbon nanoparticles (ACNP) as carriers and metformin (MET) as drug (ACNP-MET) was developed, which can selectively eliminate hepatocellular cancer stem cells (CSCs) and enhance the therapeutic effects of MET on hepatocellular cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Linh Nguyen, Lillian Yuxian Lim, Shirley Suet Lee Ding, Nur Shabrina Amirruddin, Shawn Hoon, Shiao-Yng Chan, Adrian Kee Keong Teo
Summary: The current literature lacks long-term clinical trials and mechanistic studies on in utero exposure to metformin, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand the effects of metformin on mature and developing human pancreatic beta-cells.
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
Biology
Sevim Kahraman, Debasish Manna, Ercument Dirice, Basudeb Maji, Jonnell Small, Bridget K. Wagner, Amit Choudhary, Rohit N. Kulkarni
Summary: The reaction-based probe DA-ZP1 provides a sensitive method for imaging and purifying insulin-expressing cells like pancreatic beta-cells, derived from human pluripotent stem cells. It can be used for downstream applications such as functional studies, gene-expression, and cell-cell interaction analyses. Additionally, DA-ZP1 is capable of labeling engrafted human islets and endogenous mouse islets in vivo.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacek R. Wilczynski, Milosz Wilczynski, Edyta Paradowska
Summary: This review provides an overview of the biology of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) and their impact on chemo-resistance and prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. It discusses the role of OCSCs in cancer progression and recurrence, as well as potential treatment options targeted specifically at OCSCs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elsa N. Garza Trevino, Adriana G. Quiroz Reyes, Juan Antonio Rojas Murillo, David A. de la Garza Kalife, Paulina Delgado Gonzalez, Jose F. Islas, Ana Esther Estrada Rodriguez, Carlos A. Gonzalez Villarreal
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have unique properties and are responsible for tumor recurrence, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Recent research shows that immune cells play a crucial role in regulating CSCs. Cellular immunotherapy using T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, or stem cells has shown promising results in targeting CSCs in colorectal cancer (CRC). This review summarizes CRC molecular profiles that may benefit from this therapy and discusses the challenges and advantages of combining conventional and targeted treatments in the late stages of CRC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
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)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rana Smalling, Matthew E. Bechard, Jeff Duryea, Philip J. Kingsley, Evan R. Roberts, Lawrence J. Marnett, Daniel Bilbao, Shaun R. Stauffer, Oliver G. McDonald
Summary: A novel aminopyridine compound was found to target a unique metabolic adaptation in metastatic pancreatic cancer, demonstrating effective anti-metastatic efficacy with minimal toxicity. This discovery could potentially provide new druggable targets for patients with advanced cancers.