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Review
. 2023 Jun 20:13:1185093.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1185093. eCollection 2023.

Pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic cancer: as potential targets for future therapy

Zhengfeng Wang  1 , Ru He  2 , Shi Dong  2 , Wence Zhou  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic cancer: as potential targets for future therapy

Zhengfeng Wang et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a strongly malignant gastrointestinal carcinoma characterized by late detection, high mortality rates, poor patient prognosis and lack of effective treatments. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic strategies for this disease. Pancreatic stellate cells, which constitute a significant component of the mesenchymal cellular layer within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, play a pivotal role in modulating this environment through their interactions with pancreatic cancer cells. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which pancreatic stellate cells inhibit antitumor immune responses and promote cancer progression. We also discuss preclinical studies focusing on these cells, with the goal of providing some theoretical references for the development of new therapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: drug theraphy; molecular targets; oxidative stress; pancreatic cancer; pancreatic stellate cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Activation of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic cancer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Specific mechanisms by which pancreatic stellate cells promote the progression of pancreatic cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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