Gemcitabine Resistance is Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Induction of HIF-1 in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Gemcitabine Resistance is Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Induction of HIF-1 in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.
Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2014 Feb 25;
Authors: Wang R, Cheng L, Xia J, Wang Z, Wu Q, Wang Z
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of highly aggressive malignant diseases worldwide. To achieve the better treatment outcome of pancreatic cancer, in the current study we explore the underlying molecular mechanism of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. We found that resistance to gemcitabine is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in a panel of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Notably, gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells acquired EMT phenotype. Moreover, gemcitabine-resistant cells have increased migration and invasion activities. Furthermore, we observed the high expression of HIF-1α in gemcitabine-resistant cells. More importantly, inhibition of HIF-1α in gemcitabine-resistant cells caused partial reversal of EMT phenotype, suggesting that HIF-1α was critically involved in gemcitabine-resistant-mediated EMT. Therefore, targeting HIF-1α could be an effective strategy for treatment of pancreatic cancer.
PMID: 24575976 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Cancer Drug Targets - February 25, 2014 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Wang R, Cheng L, Xia J, Wang Z, Wu Q, Wang Z Tags: Curr Cancer Drug Targets Source Type: research