Depletion of Fibrinogen Suppresses Growth of Primary Tumors and Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background & aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive, highly metastatic disease that provokes dysregulation of the coagulation system. Patients exhibit significantly elevated circulating levels of blood clotting protein fibrin(ogen). Extravascular fibrin deposits contribute to the complex tumor microenvironment in PDAC.

Methods: We depleted fibrinogen in 3 PDAC patient-derived xenograft models using technology platforms that are currently being tested clinically (antisense oligonucleotide or lipid nanoparticles containing small interfering RNAs) and monitored tumor growth and metastasis. Proteomics and spatial transcriptomics were used to interrogate the mechanisms behind the in vivo work.

Results: The role of fibrin on tumor progression was evaluated in vitro and in vivo and reduction of fibrin led to decreased tumor cell proliferation in vitro and significantly suppressed primary orthotopic tumor growth. Fibrin depletion provoked a significant shift in extracellular matrix-associated proteins and serine protease inhibitors, suggesting a decrease in the activity of serine proteases known to be responsible for extracellular matrix remodeling and metastatic dissemination. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that tumors from fibrinogen-depleted mice exhibit significantly increased presence of stromal components, including tumor-restraining cancer-associated fibroblasts. Congruently, fibrinogen knockdown in a metastatic orthotopic model markedly impaired spontaneous metastasis to the liver. However, fibrinogen knockdown did not affect liver colonization in an intrasplenic injection model, which recapitulates the late stages of metastasis.

Conclusions: These data suggest that fibrin(ogen) reprograms the primary tumor microenvironment to support growth and promote early, but not late, metastatic steps. Our findings support prospective evaluation of a novel clinical approach involving the integration of fibrin(ogen)-targeting or depleting agents into chemotherapy regimens to control the spread of pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: Extracellular Matrix; Fibrinogen; Metastasis; PDX Models; Pancreatic Cancer; Tumor Microenvironment.