The Translational Efficacy of Adjuvant Treatment Options Targeting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Over the past few decades, most forms of cancer have seen upward trends in their 5-year survival rates, with the exception of pancreatic cancer. This is in part due to the fact that individuals diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have one primary option for curative treatment, surgical resection, and only a small subset of patients meet the requirements for surgery. Furthermore, many patients will later develop cancer of the liver due to hepatic micrometastases not seen previously detected, leading to a poor prognosis. As such, finding an adjuvant treatment strategy that will prolong the survival of PDAC patients is a research focal point.

Currently, many pancreatic cancer treatments center upon the use of chemotherapeutic agents and small molecule inhibitors. Here we have focused on the liver microenvironment to generate effective treatment options that will translate to the clinical setting for individuals with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Tissue samples from human PDAC tumors were obtained and CyQUANT Cell Proliferation Assays were performed to quantify the responses of various pancreatic cancer cell lines to different chemotherapies and molecular inhibitors. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the impact of various immunotherapy options in promoting macrophage engulfment of tumor cells. The results of these experiments provided insight into the heterogeneity of pancreatic tumors, and as such, the need for patient-specific treatment options. Furthermore, our studies revealed the complexity of the interactions within the tumor microenvironment, emphasizing the need for continued experimentation in this field. The bioethical implications of work are discussed with regard to the eventual costs of these treatments and equity of access to all individuals.