The role of chemokine/chemokine receptor systems in tumor progression of pancreatic ductal carcinoma

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bence Sipos
• Subject Area: Pathology
• Term: from 2006 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 21951722

The mechanism by which tumor cells invade lymphatic vessels is unknown. Based on our previous studies and preliminary results we hypothesize that pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which represents one of the most aggressive malignancies and shows a high rate of lymph node metastasis without functionally relevant lymphangiogenesis, may exploit a regulatory mechanism that controls the fate and route of white blood cells from organs to lymph nodes via lymphatic vessels. This process is mediated by chemokines which are expressed in lymphatics, attracting and directing chemokine receptor bearing cells. Our main goal is (i) to define the significance of chemokine receptors expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma for invasion into lymph vessels and for metastasis to lymph nodes (ii) to define the basal chemokine expression of lymphatic endothelial cells and how it is modulated by interaction with pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells, (iii) to define the alterations in the chemokine expression in lymph vessels due to peritumoral chronic inflammation and its effect on the metastatic capacity of pancreatic carcinomas.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1190: The Tumour-Vessel Interface