Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the U. S. The median survival time after diagnosis is less than 6 months, while 5-year disease-free survival is less than 5%. Poor outcome is attributed to the relatively advanced stage of disease at time of diagnosis, with approximately 80% of patients presenting with locally aggressive or metastatic disease. PDAC is associated with an intense fibrotic reaction around the tumor known as desmoplastic reaction. This reaction is composed of interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM), predominantly type I collagen, together with proliferating fibroblastic cells. However, the functional interactions among the pancreatic ductal cells, the interstitial ECM and the stromal fibroblasts are poorly understood. According to the NCI Pancreatic Cancer Progress Review Group 'a better understanding is needed of the basic mechanisms involved in the development of the stroma, its interaction with the pancreatic cancer cells and its role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer'. We have demonstrated that extracellular matrix deposited by pancreatic fibroblasts promotes TGF-?1 expression by PDAC cells followed by increased MT1-MMP expression [Ottaviano AJ et al, Cancer Research 2006]. Our preliminary data also indicate that MT1-MMP increases cyclin D1 expression and enhances p38 MAPK signaling to promote growth in collagen-rich microenvironment. Moreover, our preliminary data suggest that expression of MT1- MMP in the pancreas using a transgenic mouse model increases fibrosis. Together these data support our central hypothesis that a feed-forward amplification loop involving cross-talk between type I collagen, TGF-?1 and MT1-MMP contributes to the aggressive phenotype of PDAC: the desmoplastic reaction promotes TGF-?1 expression and signaling to increase MT1-MMP expression, but this in turn contributes to expanded fibrosis and a further increase in TGF-?1 signaling and MT1-MMP expression, thus enhancing PDAC invasion and metastasis. Experiments proposed in Aim 1 have been designed to understand the first half of the amplification loop (fibrosis ? TGF-?1 ? MT1-MMP) by elucidating the mechanism by which the ECM, in particular type I collagen, increases TGF-?1 and MT1-MMP expression by PDAC cells.
In Aim 2 we will examine the second half of the amplification loop (MT1- MMP ? fibrosis and growth in 3D collagen) by elucidating the mechanism by which MT1-MMP promotes fibrosis and facilitates pancreatic tumor growth in a collagen-rich microenvironment using organotypic, orthotopic and transgenic models of pancreatic cancer. Our rationale for these proposed studies is that once the mechanism of cross-talk between the fibrotic reaction and PDAC cells is fully determined, this information may ultimately lead to new treatment strategies that reduce the morbidity and mortality of pancreatic cancer.

Public Health Relevance

The relatively high mortality resulting from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely due to the fact that approximately 80% of patients present with locally invasive or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. PDAC is frequently associated with an intense area of collagen-rich fibrosis surrounding the tumor known as the desmoplastic reaction. While the desmoplastic reaction is likely an important precursor to the development of PDAC local invasion, and perhaps metastases as well, the precise mechanisms that contribute to these processes are currently not well understood. The objective of this application is to delineate the molecular mechanisms by which desmoplastic reaction contributes to PDAC progression, and once the mechanism of cross-talk between the fibrotic reaction and PDAC cells is fully determined, we predict that this will lead to new treatment strategies that reduce the morbidity and mortality of pancreatic cancer. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA126888-01A1
Application #
7462052
Study Section
Tumor Microenvironment Study Section (TME)
Program Officer
Jhappan, Chamelli
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2013-01-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2009-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$273,644
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Chow, Christina R; Ebine, Kazumi; Knab, Lawrence M et al. (2016) Cancer Cell Invasion in Three-dimensional Collagen Is Regulated Differentially by G?13 Protein and Discoidin Domain Receptor 1-Par3 Protein Signaling. J Biol Chem 291:1605-18
Ebine, Kazumi; Chow, Christina R; DeCant, Brian T et al. (2016) Slug inhibits pancreatic cancer initiation by blocking Kras-induced acinar-ductal metaplasia. Sci Rep 6:29133
Kumar, Krishan; Chow, Christina R; Ebine, Kazumi et al. (2016) Differential Regulation of ZEB1 and EMT by MAPK-Interacting Protein Kinases (MNK) and eIF4E in Pancreatic Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 14:216-27
Knab, Lawrence M; Ebine, Kazumi; Chow, Christina R et al. (2014) Snail cooperates with Kras G12D in vivo to increase stem cell factor and enhance mast cell infiltration. Mol Cancer Res 12:1440-8
Principe, Daniel R; Doll, Jennifer A; Bauer, Jessica et al. (2014) TGF-?: duality of function between tumor prevention and carcinogenesis. J Natl Cancer Inst 106:djt369
Sahai, Vaibhav; Kumar, Krishan; Knab, Lawrence M et al. (2014) BET bromodomain inhibitors block growth of pancreatic cancer cells in three-dimensional collagen. Mol Cancer Ther 13:1907-17
Dangi-Garimella, Surabhi; Sahai, Vaibhav; Ebine, Kazumi et al. (2013) Three-dimensional collagen I promotes gemcitabine resistance in vitro in pancreatic cancer cells through HMGA2-dependent histone acetyltransferase expression. PLoS One 8:e64566
Shields, Mario A; Ebine, Kazumi; Sahai, Vaibhav et al. (2013) Snail cooperates with KrasG12D to promote pancreatic fibrosis. Mol Cancer Res 11:1078-87
Shields, Mario A; Krantz, Seth B; Bentrem, David J et al. (2012) Interplay between ?1-integrin and Rho signaling regulates differential scattering and motility of pancreatic cancer cells by snail and Slug proteins. J Biol Chem 287:6218-29
Shields, Mario A; Dangi-Garimella, Surabhi; Redig, Amanda J et al. (2012) Biochemical role of the collagen-rich tumour microenvironment in pancreatic cancer progression. Biochem J 441:541-52

Showing the most recent 10 out of 23 publications