Recent studies have found that hypoxia contributes to tumor progression and drug resistance by inducing the secretion of exosomes. However, the mechanism underlying this resistance in pancreatic cancer remains to be explored. In this study, we investigated the effect of hypoxia-induced tumor-derived exosomes (Hexo) on stemness and resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Firstly, we discovered that hypoxia promoted stemness and induced resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Secondly, we showed that exosomes secreted by pancreatic cancer cells under normoxic or hypoxic conditions can be transfected into tumor cells. Thirdly, it was demonstrated that Hexo promotes proliferation, stemness, and resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells, as well as inhibits the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by gemcitabine. Finally, it was verified that Hexo inactivated the Hippo/Yes-associated protein (Hippo/YAP) pathway in pancreatic cancer cells by transferring exosomal long non-coding RNA regulator of reprogramming (lncROR). In summary, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment could promote stemness and induce resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, Hexo enhanced stemness to promote chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells by transferring lncROR via Hippo signaling. Thus, exosomal lncROR may serve as a candidate target of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
Keywords: Exosomes; chemoresistance; hypoxia; lncROR; pancreatic cancer; stemness.
© The author(s).