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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NCI/NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg 10/Room 12 N-226, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    J. Strauss & A. Duffy

  2. NCI/NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 37, Room 5116B, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    C. Alewine

  3. NCI/NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg 10/Room 5A-01, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    W. D. Figg

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  1. J. Strauss
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Strauss, J., Alewine, C., Figg, W.D. et al. Targeting the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer: overcoming treatment barriers and improving local immune responses. Clin Transl Oncol 18, 653–659 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1459-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1459-8

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