AIRC-PANCREAS -- Metabolic regulation of the DNA demethylation enzymatic machinery in pancreatic cance (DIT.AD021.114)

Thematic area

Engineering, ICT and technologies for energy and transportation

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute for system analysis and computer science "Antonio Ruberti" (IASI)

Project manager

FRANCESCO SPALLOTTA
Phone number: 0649937102
Email: francesco.spallotta@iasi.cnr.it

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological studies have pointed out a correlation between dysmetabolism and gastrointestinal tumors, including pancreatic cancer. Dysmetabolism and consequent altered cellular metabolite availability impacts on the epigenetic landscape. DNA methylation and its enzymatic machinery are particularly sensitive to metabolic alterations. Indeed, the consequent alteration of cytosine methylation pattern affects stably cell transcriptome and leads to the establishment of the so- called "epi-metabolic memory". Recently, my studies shed light on the stroma as a sensor of dysmetabolism and a keeper of the epi-metabolic memory. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a scarce proportion of malignant cells and a preponderant desmoplastic stroma, abundant in extracellular matrix deposition, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), disorganized endothelium and exhausted immune cells. PDAC stroma hampers pancreatic tissue homeostasis and plays a pivotal role in refractory to therapy. Expected results: Achievements of this proposal will increase the knowledge about the dysmetabolism impact on pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis and progression and will shed light on no

Start date of activity

02/01/2020

Keywords

Metabolic regulation, Pancreas cancer

Last update: 10/05/2024