Open AccessTargeting Endoglin Expressing Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment Does Not Inhibit Tumor Growth in a Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model
Author(s) -
Mark J.A. Schoonderwoerd,
Sarah K. Hakuno,
Martijn Sassen,
Eleonore B Kuhlemaijer,
Madelon Paauwe,
Marije Slingerland,
Marieke F. Fransen,
Lukas J.A.C. Hawinkels
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
oncotargets and therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.054
H-Index - 60
ISSN - 1178-6930
DOI - 10.2147/ott.s322276
Subject(s) - endoglin , cancer research , pancreatic cancer , tumor microenvironment , cancer associated fibroblasts , transforming growth factor , cancer , stroma , tumor progression , metastasis , biology , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunohistochemistry , tumor cells , stem cell , cd34
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer and is known to have low immunogenicity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. It is also characterized by high accumulation of dense stroma, composed of mostly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Multiple subsets of CAFs are described, with one of them expressing the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β co-receptor endoglin. In previous work, we and others have shown that endoglin-expressing CAFs stimulate tumor progression and metastasis. Therefore, in this study, we set out to investigate the role of endoglin-expressing CAFs in pancreatic cancer progression.