Targeting the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer: overcoming treatment barriers and improving local immune responses

J. Strauss*, C. Alewine, W. D. Figg, A. Duffy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Historically, patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer have faced a grim prognosis. The survival benefit seen with systemic chemotherapies and even combinations thereof have been disappointing. However, growing data suggest that the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer may be contributing to this poor prognosis. This microenvironment has a dense fibrotic stroma, and is hypoxic and highly immunosuppressive, all of which pose barriers to treatment. Newer strategies looking to disrupt the fibrotic stroma, target hypoxic areas, and improve local immune responses in the tumor microenvironment are currently undergoing clinical evaluation and seem to offer great promise. In addition to these therapies, preclinical work evaluating novel cytotoxic agents including nanoparticles has also been encouraging. While much research still needs to be done, these strategies offer new hope for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)653-659
Number of pages7
JournalClinical and Translational Oncology
Volume18
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Immune responses
  • Microenvironment
  • Pancreatic cancer

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