KRAS inhibition reverses chemotherapy resistance promoted by therapy-induced senescence-like in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Background: Emerging evidence suggests that chemotherapy can accumulate senescent-like cells within tumor tissues, a phenomenon linked to therapy resistance. The aim of this study is to analyze the senescence-like state of after-treatment persistent cells associated with KRAS mutational status to of...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Translational Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936523325001524 |
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| Summary: | Background: Emerging evidence suggests that chemotherapy can accumulate senescent-like cells within tumor tissues, a phenomenon linked to therapy resistance. The aim of this study is to analyze the senescence-like state of after-treatment persistent cells associated with KRAS mutational status to offer a therapeutic strategy to target these cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Experimental Design: Three commercial cell lines and five patient-derived primary cell cultures with different KRAS statuses were studied following gemcitabine treatment. Senescence-like status was assessed using SA-β-gal, together with cell cycle regulators such as p21. Additionally, KRAS mutations were modulated using MRTX1133 and AMG-510, and the signaling pathways ERK and AKT were analyzed and modulated in vitro. Finally, p21 expression, associated with the senescence-like state, on patient outcomes and treatment response was analyzed in publicly available bulk RNA-seq and single-nucleus datasets. Results: We observed an overexpression of p21 alongside an increase in SA-β-gal signal in response to gemcitabine treatment, indicating the induction of a senescence-like state. Specific inhibition of KRAS G12D or G12C mutations reduced SA-β-gal signal and sensitized PDAC cells to gemcitabine. Moreover, ERK inhibition but not AKT inhibition decreased SA-β-gal signal. Additionally, we characterized p21 expression levels in relation to patient outcomes and found that they are modulated by treatment. Conclusions: This dual-targeted therapeutic strategy holds promises for overcoming the challenges posed by KRAS-driven cancers, particularly in addressing the formidable obstacle of pancreatic cancer. |
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| ISSN: | 1936-5233 |