Pancreatic Cell News Volume 10.26 | Jul 9 2019

TOP STORY

A Step Forward in Combating Pancreatic Cancer

Research into how cancer cells destroy their own mitochondria could offer a promising new target for pancreatic cancer therapies. The research is part of a long-running collaboration between Dr. Tim Humpton at the CRUK Beatson Institute in Glasgow and Dr. Dave Tuveson and his group of researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. [University of Cambridge] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

mTORC1 to AMPK Switching Underlies β-Cell Metabolic Plasticity during Maturation and Diabetes

The authors found that the control of cellular signaling in β-cells fundamentally switched from the nutrient sensor target of rapamycin (mTORC1) to the energy sensor 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and that this was critical for functional maturation. [J Clin Invest] Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

Agonism of CD11b Reprograms Innate Immunity to Sensitize Pancreatic Cancer to Immunotherapies

Scientists demonstrated that the partial activation of CD11b by a small-molecule agonist led to the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages, reduction in the number of tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive myeloid cells, and enhanced dendritic cell responses. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Highlights Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity and Malignant Progression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Investigators employed single-cell RNA-seq to acquire the transcriptomic atlas of 57,530 individual pancreatic cells from primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors and control pancreases, and identified diverse malignant and stromal cell types, including two ductal subtypes with abnormal and malignant gene expression profiles respectively, in PDAC. [Cell Res] Abstract

Relaxin Gene Delivery Mitigates Liver Metastasis and Synergizes with Check Point Therapy

In colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer liver metastasis models, researchers confirmed that relaxin gene therapy resulted in significant inhibition of metastatic progression and prolonged survival. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Poly (ADP) Ribose Glycohydrolase Can Be Effectively Targeted in Pancreatic Cancer

The authors evaluated poly (ADP) ribose glycohydrolase (PARG) as a target in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma models using both genetic silencing of PARG and established small molecule PARG inhibitors, PDDX-001/004. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Expression and Role of MicroRNAs from the MiR-200 Family in the Tumor Formation and Metastatic Propensity of Pancreatic Cancer

Investigators found that miR-200a, miR-429 and miR-205 were frequently overexpressed in pancreatic tumors, while CDH1 was down regulated and ZEB1 and ZEB2 levels remained unchanged. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Abstract | Full Article

Role of Keratan Sulfate Expression in Human Pancreatic Cancer Malignancy

Scientists aimed to identify the expression of keratan sulfate (KS) epitope in human pancreatic cancer primary and metastatic tumor lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis of KS expression was performed on primary pancreatic tumors and metastatic tissues. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Tissue Amino Acid Profiles Are Characteristic of Tumor Type, Malignant Phenotype, and Tumor Progression in Pancreatic Tumors

Researchers used newly developed LC-MS/MS methods to obtain amino acid profiles, which were compared with clinicopathological data. Each tumor or lesion presented a characteristic tissue amino acid profile. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Realizing a Closed-Loop (Artificial Pancreas) System for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Recent, rapid changes in the treatment of type 1 diabetes have allowed for commercialization of an “artificial pancreas” which is better described as a closed-loop controller of insulin delivery. The authors present the current state of closed-loop control systems and expected future developments with a discussion of human factor issues in allowing automation of glucose control. [Endocr Rev] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pancreatic cell research field.

Helix Biopharma Corp. Submits L-DOS47 IND Application with US FDA for Pancreatic Cancer

Helix BioPharma Corp. announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA for approval to initiate a Phase I/II clinical study protocol with L-DOS47, to be given in combination with doxorubicin, for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. [Helix BioPharma Corp.] Press Release

Medical Research Council Funds Phase II Multi-Center Study of XBiotech’s Bermekimab in Advanced Cancer Patients

XBiotech announced that the Medical Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, has awarded funding to study bermekimab therapy in a Phase II multi-center study in advanced cancers. [XBiotech, Inc.] Press Release

Scandal-Weary Swedish Government Takes Over Research-Fraud Investigations

Bruised by a string of high-profile scientific-misconduct cases, Sweden has laid the legislative groundwork for a government agency that will handle all allegations of serious research misconduct. The country follows in the footsteps of neighboring Denmark, which created the world’s first such agency in 2017. [Nature News] Editorial

Health Canada Orders Halt to Unproven Stem Cell-Based Injection Treatments

Health Canada has launched a crackdown on clinics offering unproven, potentially unsafe treatments that inject a patient with their own cells, ordering three dozen of them to stop offering the services immediately. The clinics, located in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, advertised a variety of stem cell and platelet-rich plasma treatments for numerous conditions, including heart problems, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, hair loss and skin rejuvenation. [The Globe and Mail] Editorial

NEW 2019 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference
November 3-5, 2019
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Jak-Stat Signaling in Prostate/Pancreatic Cancer (Medical College of Wisconsin)

NEW PhD Studentship (University of Roehampton)

Research Scientist – Endocrine Pancreas Development (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Roswell Park Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Pancreas Cancer Research (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Lab Specialist – Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Behavior (University of Southern California)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Drug Response Research (University of Texas at Austin)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Jak-Stat Signaling in Prostate and Pancreatic Cancer (Medical College of Wisconsin)

Postdoctoral Position – Lung and Pancreatic Cancers (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Regenerative Medicine and Metabolic Biology (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute)

Research Positions – Pancreatic Beta-Cells (Université de Montréal)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience and Diabetes (The Child Health Institute of New Jersey)

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