Experimental models of pancreatic cancer desmoplasia

Lab Invest. 2018 Jan;98(1):27-40. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2017.127. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

Abstract

Desmoplasia is a fibro-inflammatory process and a well-established feature of pancreatic cancer. A key contributor to pancreatic cancer desmoplasia is the pancreatic stellate cell. Various in vitro and in vivo methods have emerged for the isolation, characterization, and use of pancreatic stellate cells in models of cancer-associated fibrosis. In addition to cell culture models, genetically engineered animal models have been established that spontaneously develop pancreatic cancer with desmoplasia. These animal models are currently being used for the study of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and for evaluating therapeutics against pancreatic cancer. Here, we review various in vitro and in vivo models that are being used or have the potential to be used to study desmoplasia in pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomedical Research / methods*
  • Biomedical Research / trends
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Drugs, Investigational / pharmacology
  • Drugs, Investigational / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fibroma / drug therapy
  • Fibroma / etiology*
  • Fibroma / immunology
  • Fibroma / pathology
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation / methods
  • Neoplasm Transplantation / trends
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / drug effects
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / immunology
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / pathology
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / transplantation
  • Rats
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / methods

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drugs, Investigational