Key players in pancreatic cancer-stroma interaction: cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial and inflammatory cells

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 2678 - 2700
• Main Authors: Nielsen, Michael Friberg Bruun, Mortensen, Michael Bau, Detlefsen, Sönke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Inc 07.03.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - pharmacology; cancer;Desmoplastic; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - metabolism; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - pathology; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - therapy; Cell Communication - drug effects; cells;Pancreatic; Disease Progression; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; fibroblast;Inflammatory; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - pathology; Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation - therapy; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - therapy; Signal Transduction; ste; stroma;Cancer-associated; Stromal Cells - drug effects; Stromal Cells - metabolism; Stromal Cells - pathology; Topic Highlight; Treatment Outcome; Cancer-associated fibroblast; Inflammatory cells; Desmoplastic stroma; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic stellate cell
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i9.2678

Pancreatic cancer(PC) is the most aggressive type of common cancers, and in 2014, nearly 40000 patients died from the disease in the United States. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which accounts for the majority of PC cases, is characterized by an intense stromal desmoplastic reaction surrounding the cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs) are the main effector cells in the desmoplastic reaction, and pancreatic stellate cells are the most important source of CAFs. However, other important components of the PC stroma are inflammatory cells and endothelial cells. The aim of this review is to describe the complex interplay between PC cells and the cellular and noncellular components of the tumour stroma. Published data have indicated that the desmoplastic stroma protects PC cells against chemotherapy and radiation therapy and that it might promote the proliferation and migration of PC cells. However, in animal studies, experimental depletion of the desmoplastic stroma and CAFs has led to more aggressive cancers. Hence, the precise role of the tumour stroma in PC remains to be elucidated. However, it is likely that a contextdependent therapeutic modification, rather than pure depletion, of the PC stroma holds potential for the development of new treatment strategies for PC patients.