The role of mesenchymal cells in cholangiocarcinoma

The tumour microenvironment (TME) significantly influences tumour formation and progression through dynamic interactions. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a highly desmoplastic tumour, lacks early diagnostic biomarkers and has limited effective treatments owing to incomplete understanding of its molecular...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disease models & mechanisms 2024-12, Vol.17 (12)
Main Authors: Sueca-Comes, Mireia, Rusu, Elena Cristina, Ashworth, Jennifer C, Collier, Pamela, Probert, Catherine, Ritchie, Alison, Meakin, Marian, Mongan, Nigel P, Egbuniwe, Isioma U, Andersen, Jesper Bøje, Bates, David O, Grabowska, Anna M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bile Duct Neoplasms - genetics
Bile Duct Neoplasms - pathology
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
Cholangiocarcinoma - genetics
Cholangiocarcinoma - pathology
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism
Mesenchymal Stem Cells - pathology
Mice
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism
Signal Transduction
Spheroids, Cellular - metabolism
Spheroids, Cellular - pathology
Tumor Microenvironment
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Summary:The tumour microenvironment (TME) significantly influences tumour formation and progression through dynamic interactions. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a highly desmoplastic tumour, lacks early diagnostic biomarkers and has limited effective treatments owing to incomplete understanding of its molecular pathogenesis. Investigating the role of the TME in CCA progression could lead to better therapies. RNA sequencing was performed on seven CCA patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and their corresponding patient samples. Differential expression analysis was conducted, and Qiagen Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to predict dysregulated pathways and upstream regulators. PDX- and cell line-derived spheroids, with and without immortalised mesenchymal stem cells, were grown and analysed for morphology, growth and viability. Histological analysis confirmed biliary phenotypes. RNA sequencing indicated upregulation of extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and PI3K-AKT pathways in the presence of mesenchymal cells, with several genes linked to poor survival. Mesenchymal cells restored the activity of inhibited cancer-associated kinases. Thus, adding mesenchymal cells to CCA spheroid models restored key paracrine signalling pathways lost in PDXs, enhancing tumour growth and viability. These findings highlight the importance of including stromal components in cancer models to improve pre-clinical studies.
ISSN:1754-8403
1754-8411
1754-8411
DOI:10.1242/dmm.050716