title: Matrix control of pancreatic cancer: New insights into fibronectin signaling.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly metastatic disease that resists most current therapies. A defining characteristic of PDA is an intense fibrotic response that promotes tumor cell invasion and chemoresistance. Efforts to understand the complex relationship between the tumor and its extracellular network and to therapeutically perturb tumor-stroma interactions are ongoing. Fibronectin (FN), a provisional matrix protein abundant in PDA stroma but not normal tissues, supports metastatic spread and chemoresistance of this deadly disease. FN also supports angiogenesis, which is required for even hypovascular tumors such as PDA to develop and progress. Targeting components of the tumor stroma, such as FN, can effectively reduce tumor growth and spread while also enhancing delivery of chemotherapy. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which FN drives angiogenesis, metastasis and chemoresistance in PDA. In light of these new findings, we also discuss therapeutic strategies to inhibit FN signaling.
authors.affiliation: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and the Division of Surgical Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topalovski
authors.affiliation: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and the Division of Surgical Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Electronic address: rolf.brekken@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Rolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brekken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D002465:Cell Movement; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005353:Fibronectins
keywords: Chemoresistance; Extracellular matrix; Fibronectin; Integrin; Metastasis; Pancreatic cancer