Involvement of the Interferon Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To examine interferon (IFN) signaling pathways in human pancreatic cancer cells and their therapeutic application for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We examined the effects of IFNα on cytotoxicity, migration, as well as on the levels of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway-associated genes expression in pancreatic cancer cells. We also examined the additive effects of IFNα and poly(I-C) on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-induced cytotoxicity. We performed transcriptome analysis (RNA-Seq) of clinical samples and compared the profile between pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) and PDACs.

RESULTS

IFNα suppressed cell viability and cell migration, and affected TLR signaling pathways, in pancreatic cancer cells. TLR3 is one of the potential genes involved in IFN-treated pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, similar to IFN, extracellular addition of poly(I-C) enhanced TKI-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells. RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that IFN signaling is one of the potential pathways involved in the progression of PanIN to PDAC.

CONCLUSION

IFN signaling may be involved in the development of PDAC. Treatments that target the IFN and TLR3 signaling pathways may be therapeutic options against PDAC.