Inhibition of TGF-β signalling in combination with nal-IRI plus 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin suppresses invasion and prolongs survival in pancreatic tumour mouse models

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 19;10(1):2935. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59893-5.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. TGF-β is strongly expressed in both the epithelial and stromal compartments of PDAC, and dysregulation of TGF-β signalling is a frequent molecular disturbance in PDAC progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated whether blockade of TGF-β signalling synergizes with nal-IRI/5-FU/LV, a chemotherapy regimen for malignant pancreatic cancer, in an orthotopic pancreatic tumour mouse model. Compared to nal-IRI/5-FU/LV treatment, combining nal-IRI/5-FU/LV with vactosertib, a TGF-β signalling inhibitor, significantly improved long-term survival rates and effectively suppressed invasion to surrounding tissues. Through RNA-sequencing analysis, we identified that the combination treatment results in robust abrogation of tumour-promoting gene signatures and positive enrichment of tumour-suppressing and apoptotic gene signatures. Particularly, the expression of tumour-suppressing gene Ccdc80 was induced by vactosertib and further induced by vactosertib in combination with nal-IRI/5-FU/LV. Ectopic expression of CCDC80 suppressed migration and colony formation concomitant with decreased expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in pancreatic cancer cells. Collectively, these results indicate that combination treatment of vactosertib with nal-IRI/5-FU/LV improves overall survival rates in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer by suppressing invasion through CCDC80. Therefore, combination therapy of nal-IRI/5-FU/LV with vactosertib could provide clinical benefits to pancreatic cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology
  • Aniline Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Carcinogenesis / drug effects
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Synergism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Irinotecan / pharmacology
  • Irinotecan / therapeutic use*
  • Leucovorin / pharmacology
  • Leucovorin / therapeutic use*
  • Liposomes
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transcriptome / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Triazoles / pharmacology
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Stem Cell Assay
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Liposomes
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Triazoles
  • vactosertib
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil