Pancreatic Cell News Volume 11.19 | May 19 2020

TOP STORY

Targeting Dual Signaling Pathways in Concert with Immune Checkpoints for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Patient-derived cell lines and xenograft models were used to define the response to CDK4/6 and MEK inhibition in the tumor compartment. [Gut] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

Glucose Response by Stem Cell-Derived β Cells In Vitro Is Inhibited by a Bottleneck in Glycolysis

Scientists profiled metabolism of stem cell derived-β cells and islets to quantify their capacity to sense glucose and identified reduced anaplerotic cycling in the mitochondria as the cause of reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in stem cell derived-β cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Costus pictus D. Don Leaf Extract Stimulates GLP-1 Secretion from GLUTag L-Cells and Has Cytoprotective Effects in BRIN-BD11 β-Cells

Costus pictus D. Don leaf extract significantly enhanced cell viability in both BRIN-BD11 and GLUTag cells and protected BRIN-BD11 cells against palmitate- and proinflammatory cytokine-induced toxicity. [J Ethnopharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

PANCREATIC CANCER

HNF4A and GATA6 Loss Reveals Therapeutically Actionable Subtypes in Pancreatic Cancer

Loss of genes that drive endodermal lineage specification, HNF4A and GATA6, switch metabolic profiles from classical to predominantly squamous, with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta a key regulator of glycolysis. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

BCL-xL/BCL2L1 Is a Critical Anti-Apoptotic Protein That Promotes the Survival of Differentiating Pancreatic Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Early perturbation of BCL-xL during pancreatic specification had subsequent detrimental effects on the formation of INS⁺ pancreatic beta-like cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

COX6B2 Drives Metabolic Reprogramming toward Oxidative Phosphorylation to Promote Metastasis in Pancreatic Ductal Cancer Cells

Transcriptome and clinical analyses revealed that cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6B2 (COX6B2) positively associated with metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Repurposed Analog of GLP-1 Ameliorates Hyperglycemia in Type 1 Diabetic Mice through Pancreatic Cell Reprogramming

Scientists selected liraglutide for its predictive efficacy values for neogenesis, transdifferentiation of α-cells, and/or replication of pre-existing β-cells. [Front Endocrinol] Abstract

Blockade of Endothelin Receptor A Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

The authors demonstrated that ET-1/ETAR axis gene expression was upregulated in pancreatic cancer cells after treatment with gemcitabine. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Anti-Cancer Potential of Oxialis obtriangulata in Pancreatic Cancer Cell through Regulation of the ERK/Src/STAT3-Mediated Pathway

Researchers investigated the anti-cancer effect of O. obtriangulata methanol extract and its regulatory actions on pancreatic carcinoma. [Molecules] Full Article

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Genetic Alterations Featuring Biological Models to Tailor Clinical Management of Pancreatic Cancer Patients

The authors provide a summary of some of the systems used to study pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, including established and primary cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and newer models such as organoids and organ-on-chip. [Cancers] Full Article

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

NantKwest and ImmunityBio to Initiate a Phase II Study of Immunotherapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

NantKwest, Inc. announced plans for a Phase II, randomized, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of their combination immunotherapy: NantKwest’s PD-L1 t-haNK, ImmunityBio’s N-803, and aldoxorubicin HCI plus standard of care, versus standard-of-care chemotherapy for first- and second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. [NantKwest, Inc.] Press Release

Tarveda Therapeutics Reports Complete Data from Phase I Portion of Phase I/IIa Study of PEN-866 to be Presented at the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program

Tarveda Therapeutics, Inc. announced the complete data from the Phase I dose escalation portion of a Phase I/IIa study of PEN-866 in advanced solid tumor malignancies. [Tarveda Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Open-Access Science Funders Announce Price Transparency Rules for Publishers

Science journals will have to disclose the costs of publishing articles in order for them to be paid for by a coalition of research funders pushing for open access. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Publishers Launch Joint Effort to Tackle Altered Images in Research Papers

The world’s largest science publishers are teaming up to discuss how to automatically flag altered or duplicated images in research papers. A new working group – the first formal cross-industry initiative to discuss the issue – aims to set standards for software that screens papers for problematic images during peer review. [Nature News] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Pancreas and Islet Biology Research (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Diabetic Endothelial Cell Remodeling (Aarhus University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Pancreatic Progenitor Research (University of Copenhagen)

PhD/MD/MCh Medical Traineeship – Pancreatic Cancer (University College Dublin)

Laboratory Manager – Diabetes (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Inflammatory Cell Death (Genentech)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Cancer Therapeutics (NIH National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (The University of Alabama at Birmingham)

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

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