Combined Loss of HIF Family Members in Myofibroblastic Cancer Associated Fibroblasts Inhibits Tumor Growth

Authors

David Rakay, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineFollow
Sahar Fattani, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Matthew Cribb, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dadi Jiang, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Albert Koong, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cullen Taniguchi, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Michael Spiotto, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Files

Description

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive form of cancer characterized by a hypoxic tumor microenvironment that is driven in part by Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs). One mechanism through which hypoxia mediates tumor aggression and treatment resistance in PDAC is through activation of the HIF Pathway. A variety of different CAF subtypes exist in the tumor microenvironment with their precise roles in tumorigenesis still being studied. Previous studies showed that the loss of Hif1α in inflammatory CAFs promoted tumor growth and that the loss of Hif2α in myofibroblastic CAFs promoted survival in mice. Based on this data, it was hypothesized that the expression of Hif2α, but not Hif2α, in myofibroblastic CAFs was necessary for pancreatic tumor growth.

Program Affiliation

Med Student SOAR Program

Publication Date

8-2025

Publisher

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Keywords

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts, Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Hypoxia Signaling, Hypoxia-Inducible Factors

Recommended Citation

Rakay, David; Fattani, Sahar; Cribb, Matthew; Jiang, Dadi; Koong, Albert; Taniguchi, Cullen; and Spiotto, Michael, "Combined Loss of HIF Family Members in Myofibroblastic Cancer Associated Fibroblasts Inhibits Tumor Growth" (2025). Students Summer in Oncology at Anderson Research (SOAR) 2025. 3.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/soar25/3