Hypoxia induces TWIST-activated epithelial–mesenchymal transition and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in nude mice

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 383; no. 1; pp. 73 - 84
• Main Authors: Chen, Shi, Chen, Jiang-zhi, Zhang, Jia-qiang, Chen, Hui-xin, Yan, Mao-lin, Huang, Long, Tian, Yi-feng, Chen, Yan-lin, Wang, Yao-dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.12.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdominal Neoplasms - genetics; Abdominal Neoplasms - metabolism; Abdominal Neoplasms - secondary; Aged; Animals; Antigens, CD; Binding Sites; Biomarkers; Cadherins - genetics; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 - genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 - metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; EMT; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein - genetics; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein - metabolism; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; HEK293 Cells; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Hospitals; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - genetics; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - metabolism; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - genetics; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 - genetics; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 - metabolism; Prognosis; Promoter Regions, Genetic; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Transfection; Tumor Burden; Tumor Hypoxia; TWIST; Twist-Related Protein 1 - genetics; Twist-Related Protein 1 - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Veins & arteries; Hypoxia; Prognosis; EMT; Pancreatic cancer; TWIST; hypoxia; prognosis

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development and progression. TWIST activated by intra-tumoral hypoxia functions to promote the EMT. We hypothesized that TWIST and the downstream gene pathway could mediate PDAC progression un...