This U54 application submitted in response to RFA CA10-021 Tumor Microenvironment (TMEN) is from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The overall goal of this application is to define the role of interactions between pancreatic tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment during the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. A hallmark of pancreatic cancer is an extreme fibrotic response, and it is our collective hypothesis that fibrosis promotes signaling to the tumor cells, which promotes tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Specifically, we will investigate interactions, regulation and contributio of secreted and cell surface molecules expressed by stromal cells, premalignant epithelial cells, and malignant cells. This project brings together investigators with experience in the biology of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN) will include 4 research projects and 3 shared resources. Project 1: Interplay of tumor microenvironment and MUC4 in pancreatic cancer. Surinder K. Batra, Ph. D. Project 2: Lymphangiogeneis and metastasis during pancreatic cancer. Michael A. Hollingsworth, Ph. D Project 3: Role of N-cadherin in pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Keith Johnson, Ph.D. Project 4: CXCR2-dependent pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. Rakesh K. Singh. Shared resource 1: Administrative Core;Shared resource 2: Rapid Autopsy Program (RAP) Core Shared resource 3: Genetically engineered Model (GEM) Core, Kay Wagner, Ph.D. The four research projects will investigate the role of microenvironment in the early stages of tumor development (Project 1), tumor progression (Projects 3 and 4) and angiogenesis and metastasis (Project 2). Together the group of investigators will exploit the powerful resources comprising of clinical samples, in vitro cell models and genetically engineered animal models of spontaneous tumorigenesis that exist at UNMC, to unravel the complex interplay between the components of tumor microenvironment and tumor cells in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression. With the expertise of the involved investigators in TME, we seek to improve our understanding of the underappreciated role of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer and establish potential therapeutic relevance.

Public Health Relevance

There is increasing realization that microenvironment plays a critical role in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. It is thus essential to understand how this nexus between the microenvironment and tumor cells operates during both early and late stages of tumorigenesis? The overall objective is to understand this complex interplay between the components of TME with tumor cells using cell models, clinical samples and genetically engineered animal models in PC.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Specialized Center--Cooperative Agreements (U54)
Project #
5U54CA163120-03
Application #
8527741
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-3 (O1))
Program Officer
Mohla, Suresh
Project Start
2011-09-26
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$854,923
Indirect Cost
$280,104
Name
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68198
Barkeer, Srikanth; Chugh, Seema; Batra, Surinder K et al. (2018) Glycosylation of Cancer Stem Cells: Function in Stemness, Tumorigenesis, and Metastasis. Neoplasia 20:813-825
Saxena, Sugandha; Hayashi, Yuri; Wu, Lingyun et al. (2018) Pathological and functional significance of Semaphorin-5A in pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. Oncotarget 9:5931-5943
Roy, Sohini; Bag, Arup K; Dutta, Samikshan et al. (2018) Macrophage-Derived Neuropilin-2 Exhibits Novel Tumor-Promoting Functions. Cancer Res 78:5600-5617
Saxena, Sugandha; Purohit, Abhilasha; Varney, Michelle L et al. (2018) Semaphorin-5A maintains epithelial phenotype of malignant pancreatic cancer cells. BMC Cancer 18:1283
Kaur, Sukhwinder; Smith, Lynette M; Patel, Asish et al. (2017) A Combination of MUC5AC and CA19-9 Improves the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter Study. Am J Gastroenterol 112:172-183
Gebregiworgis, Teklab; Purohit, Vinee; Shukla, Surendra K et al. (2017) Glucose Limitation Alters Glutamine Metabolism in MUC1-Overexpressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells. J Proteome Res 16:3536-3546
Karmakar, Saswati; Seshacharyulu, Parthasarathy; Lakshmanan, Imayavaramban et al. (2017) hPaf1/PD2 interacts with OCT3/4 to promote self-renewal of ovarian cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 8:14806-14820
Krishn, Shiv Ram; Kaur, Sukhwinder; Sheinin, Yuri M et al. (2017) Mucins and associated O-glycans based immunoprofile for stratification of colorectal polyps: clinical implication for improved colon surveillance. Oncotarget 8:7025-7038
Kumar, Sushil; Cruz, Eric; Joshi, Suhasini et al. (2017) Genetic variants of mucins: unexplored conundrum. Carcinogenesis 38:671-679
Lakshmanan, Imayavaramban; Salfity, Shereen; Seshacharyulu, Parthasarathy et al. (2017) MUC16 Regulates TSPYL5 for Lung Cancer Cell Growth and Chemoresistance by Suppressing p53. Clin Cancer Res 23:3906-3917

Showing the most recent 10 out of 102 publications