CCK Receptor Inhibition Reduces Pancreatic Tumor Fibrosis and Promotes Nanoparticle Delivery

Autor: Thomas Abraham, Michael Armold, Christopher McGovern, John F. Harms, Matthew C. Darok, Christopher Gigliotti, Bernadette Adair, Jennifer L. Gray, Deborah F. Kelly, James H. Adair, Gail L. Matters
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Biomedicines, Vol 12, Iss 5, p 1024 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2227-9059
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051024
Popis: The poor prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients is due in part to the highly fibrotic nature of the tumors that impedes delivery of therapeutics, including nanoparticles (NPs). Our prior studies demonstrated that proglumide, a cholecystokinin receptor (CCKR) antagonist, reduced fibrosis pervading PanIN lesions in mice. Here, we further detail how the reduced fibrosis elicited by proglumide achieves the normalization of the desmoplastic tumor microenvironment (TME) and improves nanoparticle uptake. One week following the orthotopic injection of PDAC cells, mice were randomized to normal or proglumide-treated water for 3–6 weeks. Tumors were analyzed ex vivo for fibrosis, vascularity, stellate cell activation, vascular patency, and nanoparticle distribution. The histological staining and three-dimensional imaging of tumors each indicated a reduction in stromal collagen in proglumide-treated mice. Proglumide treatment increased tumor vascularity and decreased the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Additionally, PANC-1 cells with the shRNA-mediated knockdown of the CCK2 receptor showed an even greater reduction in collagen, indicating the CCK2 receptors on tumor cells contribute to the desmoplastic TME. Proglumide-mediated reduction in fibrosis also led to functional changes in the TME as evidenced by the enhanced intra-tumoral distribution of small (
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