Lipocalin 2 may be a key factor regulating the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine

• Published in: Biochemistry and biophysics reports Vol. 31; p. 101291
• Main Authors: Zhang, He, Wu, Pengpeng, Guo, Chenbo, Zhang, Caiqin, Zhao, Yong, Tan, Dengxu, An, Jiaze, Shi, Changhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemosensitivity; Gemcitabine; Lipocalin 2; Pancreatic cancer; patient-derived xenografts; Lipocalin 2; Chemosensitivity; Gemcitabine; Pancreatic cancer; patient-derived xenografts
• ISSN: 2405-5808; 2405-5808
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101291

Owing to the high heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer, patient-derived xenografts (PDX) can compensate for the defects of cell line-derived xenografts (CDX) and also better preserve the heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment of primary tumors. Further, gemcitabine, which is used for the treatment of various cancers, is prone to tumor drug resistance, and this limits its sustained efficacy. Therefore, in this study, our objective was to screen appropriate individual therapeutic drugs for pancreatic cancer. To this end, we established pancreatic cancer PDX models from different patients and screened gemcitabine sensitivity regulatory molecules via high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Based on the results obtained, gemcitabine was identified as the most suitable chemotherapeutic drug in a variety of PDX models. Additionally, our results indicated that Lipocalin 2 (LCN 2) may play an important role in the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine treatment. Thus, the study provides a new potential intervention target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in clinical practice. •PDX model plays an important role in the screening of chemotherapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer.•Gemcitabine is the most suitable chemotherapeutic drug in a variety of PDX models of pancreatic cancer.•Lcn2 may be involved in the sensitivity of gemcitabine in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and the change of Lipocalin 2 levels determines the gemcitabine therapeutic output.