title: Gemcitabine triggers angiogenesis-promoting molecular signals in pancreatic cancer cells: Therapeutic implications.
abstract: Pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by poor tumor-vasculature and extensive desmoplasia that together contribute to poor response to chemotherapy. It was recently shown that targeting of TME to inhibit desmoplasiatic reaction in a preclinical model resulted in increased microvessel-density and intratumoral drug concentration, leading to improved therapeutic response. This approach, however, failed to generate a favorable response in clinical trial. In that regard, we have previously demonstrated a role of gemcitabine-induced CXCR4 signaling as a counter-defense mechanism, which also promoted invasiveness of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. Here, we investigated the effect of gemcitabine on endothelial cell phenotype. Gemcitabine-treatment of human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells (HUVECs) did not promote the growth of HUVECs; however, it was induced when treated with conditioned media from gemcitabine-treated (Gem-CM) PC cells due to increased cell-cycle progression and apoptotic-resistance. Moreover, treatment of HUVECs with Gem-CM resulted in capillary-like structure (CLS) formation and promoted their ability to migrate and invade through extracellular-matrix. Gemcitabine-treatment of PC cells induced expression of various growth factors/cytokines, including IL-8, which exhibited greatest upregulation. Further, IL-8 depletion in Gem-CM diminished its potency to promote angiogenic phenotypes. Together, these findings suggest an indirect effect of gemcitabine on angiogenesis, which, in light of our previous observations, may hold important clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad Aslam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Haseeb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zubair
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Ajay P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
keywords: IL-8; angiogenesis; gemcitabine; pancreatic cancer