Research project

Contributo FIMP 2021 (DSB.AD001.202)

Thematic area

Biomedical sciences

Project area

Oncologia e Immunologia (DSB.AD001)

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of genetics and biophysics "Adriano Buzzati Traverso" (IGB)

Project manager

DONATELLA DELLECAVE
Phone number: +396132412
Email: donatella.dellecave@igb.cnr.it

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating and essentially incurable disease, with
an overall 5-year-survival rate of ~ 8% due to late diagnosis and high chemoresistance1
. Incidence
and mortality are increasing dramatically and only ~20% of pancreatic cancer patients are eligible
for surgical resection. Hence, PDAC is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancerrelated death by 20302,3. PDAC is characterized by a pronounced resistance to radiation, cytotoxic,
and molecular-targeting therapies4
. This resistance is partially attributed to the prominent
desmoplastic reaction, which consists of dense fibrotic stroma covering over 90% of the tumor
volume5
. Desmoplasia is the result of the activation and increased proliferation of myofibroblastslike cells, in particular pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs), and
is also accompanied by augmented deposition of different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins,
such as collagens, hyaluronans, laminins and fibronectin. Fibrillar collagens (i.e., collagen I and III)
are the most abundant ECM components, accounting for up to 80% of ECM mass. Fibrillar
collagens have been considered: ...

Goals

The main goal of this project is to unravel the role of cancer-cell-derived fibrillar
collagen in L1low tumors and stratify the patients based on their tumor epithelial collagen
expression to improve personalized treatments

Start date of activity

01/10/2021

Keywords

Metastatic, Pancreas, Adenocarcinoma

Last update: 09/11/2024